Rent Smart Wales, the brand name for the new registration and licensing requirements under Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, will be launched on 23 November 2015. From this date, the Rent Smart Wales team will be in place and the website (www.rentsmart.gov.wales) and helpline will be live.

Landlords who need to register, and landlords and agents who need to become licensed, will be able to register and apply for a licence from this date. They will have 12 months from 23 November 2015 in which to comply with the new legislation.  During this first year there will be a focus on raising awareness of the new requirements and encouraging compliance.

Rent Smart Wales will improve the image of the private rented sector, and will benefit people who rent their home in the sector and improve the practices of landlords and agents and help to tackle the bad practice amongst some private landlords.

Following its launch, the next 12 months will see landlords registering with Rent Smart Wales and, for some, they will be considering whether they wish to become licensed themselves, or commission a licensed agent to manage and let their properties. Alternatively, of course, they may choose an approach including both.