Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many private sector properties are not registered with Rent Smart Wales?
The Welsh Government does not keep data on the number of private sector properties not registered with Rent Smart Wales. A number of properties will be exempt from a requirement to register, for example university owned accommodation or where the residential dwelling is part of an agricultural agreement.
Where Rent Smart Wales are informed that a landlord is letting a property who should be registered then they will investigate and where appropriate take action. To date, they have issued over 1,720 fixed penalty notices to landlords for failure to be registered or licenced. Rent Smart Wales have a notification form on their website for tenants or members of the public to report landlords who they think are not registered - Contact us - Rent Smart Wales (gov.wales)
An independent evaluation of Rent Smart Wales is currently underway.