The Welsh Government have announced that Wales will enter a “firebreak” lockdown as of 6pm this Friday (23rd October) until Monday 9th November. This will replace the local lockdown restrictions that are currently in place in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
With England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland still working on different safety restriction systems, it can be confusing and frustrating trying to work out what rules apply where and when.
These are the key rules landlords with property in Wales need to know:
- No physical “in person” viewings
- Only emergency maintenance repairs should be conducted, though all issues will need to logged as they occur and repairs scheduled once restrictions allow
- If emergency repairs are conducted, contractors must provide risk assessments updated to include considerations for COVID-19
- Self managing landlords need to document conversations they have with tenants and contractors re: whether they have any COVID-19 symptoms for track and trace purposes.
- No estate or letting agent offices are allowed to open
- Surveyors can’t enter properties to conduct valuations for sale or re-mortgages
- No house moves allowed unless they are essential
- As of 24th July 2020, the notice period for Section 21 and Section 8 notices is extended to 6 months. This legislation is still in place.
As a landlord – and particularly as a self managing landlord – you have legal liabilities and responsibilities when it comes to property maintenance that you’re obliged to take care of, even during lockdown.
We’ve been in touch with our landlords throughout the various stages of lockdown so far, advising what we’re doing to continue letting their properties quickly and managing their tenancies effectively and compliantly.
If you’re not confident in how your agent is managing your tenancies during lockdown, or if you’re a self managing landlord concerned about handling what could be a cycle of “firebreak” lockdowns as we go through the winter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Sources: Welsh Govt / Welsh Govt FAQs / Welsh Govt – Working in Others’ Homes
Related: Top 5 Rental Trends Revealed as Tenants’ Priorities Change / UK Landlords Struggling with Conflicting Laws
