Rental property registration and licensing of landlords and agents is mandatory in Wales, through Rent Smart Wales. Established following the introduction of the Housing (Wales) Act, Rent Smart Wales has been in place since November 2015 and enforced since November 2016.
For landlords, Rent Smart Wales means:
• Compulsory registration through a single body
• Provision of information and training opportunities
• Possibility of licenses being revoked if compliance is not met
Evaluation in 2018 found that while the scheme provided good quality information and guidance, local authorities lacked clarity on enforcement as well as the roles and responsibilities of those involved. Additionally, authorities reported a lack of enforcement capacity both locally and nationally.
Research by the NRLA highlighted issues arising from councils’ retained ability to introduce local licensing schemes leading to higher fees and additional paperwork for landlords.
