Will the Minister outline the support available to tenants following changes unveiled in the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016?
Any new law bringing in changes as significant and wide-reaching as the Renting Homes (Wales) Act will involve a period of adjustment. The Welsh Government has ensured this process is as smooth as possible for both landlords and tenants.
Detailed guidance and resources relating to all of the major changes resulting from the Act are available at https://gov.wales/housing-law-changing-renting-homes, including downloadable model contracts and plain language guides to the contracts, and tailored guidance for both landlords and tenants on the new fitness for human habitation obligation. There is also an easy-read guide available for tenants. In addition to my officials attending numerous events organised by bodies representing tenants and landlords, there is free training on the 2016 Act on the Rent Smart Wales website (see https://rentsmart.gov.wales/en/rentinghomes/).
There is an ongoing multi-channel communications and awareness-raising campaign to support implementation for landlords, tenants and the general public in addition to Rent Smart Wales issuing regular updates to landlords on topics such as the new fitness for human habitation obligation. There are also targeted communications aimed at tenants, including a WalesOnline article on 28 September, which also appeared in hard copy editions of The Western Mail and Daily Post on 1 October: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/special-features/important-things-know-renter-wales-25016182.