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Welsh renters given six-month notice period until March next year
A temporary increase in notice period for evictions in Wales will extend until the end of March next year, the Welsh government has announced.
Notice periods for all tenancies in Wales will now be set at six months, apart from instances involving anti-social behaviour or domestic violence, for which notice periods will revert to their pre-pandemic duration.
Measures put in place by the Welsh government to extend eviction notice periods were due to run out at the end of the month.
Ministers said the new arrangements announced this week will be reviewed in December.
The extension is part of a series of measures being introduced by the Welsh government to combat the impact of COVID-19 on both tenants and landlords.
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These include a new low-interest loan for tenants who have struggled to pay their rent as a result of the pandemic, which will be paid directly to landlords or agents and can be repaid over a period of up to five years at a rate of 1% APR.
The government is also funding a private rented sector helpline run by Citizens Advice Cymru to advise tenants on ways in which they can maximise their income and manage debt.
It follows a similar move by the UK government, which introduced six-month notice periods for renters until the end of March.
This does not apply to anti-social behaviours and domestic abuse cases, or to tenants who have accrued six months’ of arrears.
Welsh housing minister Julie James said: “The coronavirus pandemic is continuing to have a significant impact on daily life and is still posing major challenges for all of us.
“I have therefore acted to give additional protection to renters by extending the current six-month notice period for eviction, other than the notice periods for possession grounds relating to anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse, which will revert to the pre-COVID position.
“I am committed to ensuring we continue to protect renters while at the same time mitigating impacts on landlords and protecting communities from the harmful effects of ongoing anti-social behaviour.
“Where rent arrears have accumulated due to COVID-19, private rented sector tenants will soon be able to apply for a loan through the Tenancy Saver Loan scheme when it opens for applications at the end of this month.”
