Landlords in Wales will need to give tenants six-months’ notice when repossessing homes under new rules announced by the Welsh Government today in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
Landlords have reacted with anger and disappointment to the plans, which will leave some without rent for over the year and are being implemented with immediate effect.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) said the new rules will punish those landlords who have tried to do the right thing and support their tenants and could have devastating consequences on those reliant on rent payments as their income.
It is now calling on the Welsh Government to provide loans to cover tenants’ rents that are paid directly to landlords.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA said:
“The news that the notice period will be increased from three to six months will come as a real hammer blow to landlords in Wales.
“Some may already have tenants who were building up arrears prior to Covid, now not only have they been hit by the five-month moratorium on repossessions but they will have to give a further six-months’ notice.
“Even after this, it is unlikely the courts will be able to hear these cases straight away, so landlords could quite easily be looking at 18 months with no income.
“Effectively depriving a landlord of their right to evict as we come out of lockdown is unacceptable.
“The Welsh Government must act swiftly to address this, by offering interest free loans to tenants to cover unpaid rent and remove any risk of eviction.
“Where tenants refuse to apply for loans but continue to build arrears, landlords will need greater assistance.”
The Welsh Government said the changes – which will exclude cases of anti-social behaviour – are ‘temporary’ to give tenants greater increased security and give them more time to resolve any problems.
Governments have lost the plot they are so anti landlords they are intent on destroying the rented sector but who will be the real losers? Tenants. Perhaps the people who come up with these ideas need to educate themselves and the rent housing market between 1976 and 1984. Politicians need to break out of their bubbles and get some work and life experience in the real world.
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I am thakful that I do not own any property in Wales, but mindful that the UK government will induce a similar ruling in England.
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What this stupid Labour Welsh Govt has done is effectively introduce the old concept of a sitting tenant. It will take over a year to evict when normality returns. As the article highlights it will take even longer to get rid of rogue tenants when evictions are allowed. This is simply daylight robbery from LL. Just imagine shoppers saying to supermarkets we will legally shoplift and we won’t be paying you anything for over a year!! Then once you’ve managed to legally stop us legally shoplifting we’ll just use another supermarket and start again. These regulations signal the end of the Welsh PRS. As a LL NO way would I invest in Welsh property unless as a FHL. How many LL could survive with mortgage commitments and no money to pay them if tenants DON’T pay rent. The Welsh Govt is essentially sanctioning bankruptcy for many LL The tenants will be evicted by lenders who don’t have to follow the LL protracted eviction process. Once a lender has appointed LPA receivers it doesn’t take long for a tenant to be removed and the property repossessed. It will probably mean bankruptcy and homelessness for the LL. It makes no more business sense to be a Welsh AST LL. As has been mentioned loans or grants should be used to pay all rent arrears to avoid bankrupting LL. Recovery from tenants may be sought via the tax system. If I was a Welsh LL I would convert to FHL and if not possible I would sell up. I would also try and convert to a residential mortgage and take in lodgers. This 6 month NTQ effectively destroys the Welsh PRS. You’d have to be a complete idiot to buy anymore Welsh BTL properties. It seems Scotland and Wales have gone even more bonkers than England. There remains just a vestige of sanity in England though with the abolishment of the AST and S21 England will be joining the looney Welsh and Scots very soon. Thank Christ I’ve determined to get out of the AST sector ASAP!! It was the concept of the sitting tenant that destroyed the PRS until Thatcher very sensibly introduced the AST and S21 and S8. Returning to those days will inevitably substantially reduce the PRS. I feel very sorry for the Welsh LL but that is what a Labour Govt gets you……………..complete dysfunction!!!
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