How To Check If A Property Is Registered For Rent

What is Rent Smart Wales?

Hire Smart Wales is responsible for landlord and rental belongings registration and licensing of landlords and agents.

The goal is to improve belongings standards, management practices and relationships betwixt landlords, agents and tenants. This volition ultimately lead to more than confidence in the private rented sector and improve experiences for all those with a stake in information technology. This is being accomplished by providing landlords and agents with regular information and training in a range of formats, acting on intelligence from tenants and advice agencies, referring matters to other relevant bodies and taking enforcement action where needed.

What is your landlord or agent required to do?

Landlords and agents have a duty to comply with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

Under this legislation:

Landlords are required to register both themselves and any rental property they own. Those responsible for letting and/or direction activities (self-managing landlords) will demand to apply for a licence.
Agents are required to employ for a licence, allowing them to conduct letting and/or management activities on behalf of others. Agents are not required to register.

You tin can check if your landlord or agent is compliant anonymously by using our public register here.

Your responsibilities

Don't forget, equally a tenant you take responsibilities also.

The Rent Smart Wales Tenant Guide is invaluable to anyone currently renting or looking for a business firm or flat to rent. It provides a comprehensive listing of your rights and responsibilities at every milestone in your tenancy.

Download the Tenant Guide here.

Seeking help

We understand that tenants tin can face up a range of issues when living in rental holding. Some matters can be directly resolved past the landlord responding appropriately and in a timely manner. However, at times, assistance will be needed from elsewhere and where to become for this can sometimes be daunting. Set out below is a table which summarises some of the central support organisations and their main expanse of focus.

If you lot tin't find what you need, please contact Rent Smart Wales.

National Government

Hire Smart Wales
(Licensing Authority)

Unsuitable landlord or agent (fitness and propriety) concerns
Unregistered landlord/property
Unlicensed rental holding manager
Breach of licence conditions

Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Authorities Approved)

Checking if a deposit is protected
Getting a deposit back
Deposit disputes

Property Redress (Government Approved)

Complaints which cannot be resolved straight with the letting agent

All licensed commercial agents should be a member of a Belongings Redress Scheme to comply with their licence atmospheric condition. The tenant needs to contact the scheme with which the letting agent is a fellow member. The schemes are Property Ombudsman Express and The Holding Redress Scheme.

Your Local Dominance

Ecology Health

Property atmospheric condition and management (east.g. clammy and mould, repairs, amenities, noise and infestation)
Unsuitable landlord or agent (fitness and propriety) concerns
Business firm in Multiple Occupation (shared house) concerns
Prohibited tenant fees charged

Housing Options

Threat of homelessness
Illegal eviction and harassment
Budgeting and affordability
Aid with rent and utility payments
Bonds and Guarantors
Rental holding search

Trading Standards

No Energy Operation Certificate or energy performance is below standard (F or 1000)
Furniture supplied is non fire resistant
Unfair terms in tenancy agreement

To discover your local authority click here.

Back up Organisations

Citizens Communication Bureau

Comprehensive and detailed advice on a range of housing bug
Help with hire and utility payments
Support in applying for Universal Credit

Shelter Cymru

Threat of homelessness
Illegal eviction and harassment
Budgeting and affordability
Bonds and guarantors
Unfair terms in the tenancy agreement
Support with taking court cases forward
Rental holding search

Credit Unions of Wales

Tenancy Saver Loans Scheme – support with Coronavirus-related rent arrears

Tai Pawb

Concerns nearly discrimination and harassment recognised under the Equality Deed 2010

Tenant Participation Advisory Service

Hosts of Tenant Pulse, a forum to influence policy and decision-making

Mind Cymru

When y'all're living with a mental health problem, having access to the right information is vital. Resources available include:

Tips for everyday living
Your legal rights and
Support services

BAME helpline

National multi-lingual telephone helpline
Housing information in a range of community languages
Signposting to relevant and specialist organisations and services in your area

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

Help with paying your pecker (for those on certain benefits, with a wellness effect or larger families)
Help with owed or missed payments
Access to the Priority Services Register - free support when you lot need it (e.g. bottled water in an emergency)

Intendance and Repair Cymru

Generally support those aged 60+ or those who take sensory loss, stroke or dementia. Services include:

Telephone aid and advice
A "Healthy Homes Cheque" and "benefit check"'
Back up to organise and fund home adaptations, dwelling house repairs and energy efficiency works and
Delivery of a Rapid Response Adaptations service;
And much more - Click "In Your Expanse" for details