Fact sheet: Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Welsh Government seek agents’ views on proposals to limit the building insurance charges that freeholders, property managing agents and landlords can ask leaseholders to pay. There are long-standing concerns about unjustified and unfair fees which leaseholders are unable to properly scrutinise and challenge.

A survey of 1,500 UK renters has revealed that three in ten tenancies do not benefit from a property inventory, leaving agents, landlords, and tenants more vulnerable to costly disputes further down the line.

Lettings agents must protect the interests of landlords, tenants, and their agencies, so understanding the basics of deposit protection is key and knowing the do’s and don’ts will help minimise disputes and reduce the risk of costly penalties.

Letting agents and landlords will be familiar with this phrase, however grasping the meaning and recognising the limits of this term can often be a disputed topic, particularly when making a deposit deduction.