What is Rent Smart Wales?

What is Rent Smart Wales?

Rent Smart Wales is a newly created service within Cardiff Council. The Welsh Ministers designated Cardiff Council as the Licensing Authority for the whole of Wales in 2015. The designation can be read on the legislation website 

In its role as Licensing Authority under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, the Rent Smart Wales service must process landlord registrations and grant licences to landlords and agents who are required to comply with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

The reason the Welsh Government chose one Council to act as administrator for the whole of Wales is to make the service easier for landlords, agents and tenants to access. The central register means that landlords only have to complete one registration and if they self- manage only apply for one licence to cover them for the whole country. The same applies to agents, who need only apply for one licence.

The Licensing Authority will work with Local Authorities to carry out their functions under the Act. And in some cases the local authority will lead enforcement action against those landlords and agents not complying with their legal obligations on behalf of the Licensing Authority.

In order to offer a complete service for the private rented sector in Wales, Rent Smart Wales also has information available to assist tenants living in, or looking at living in, the private rented sector. This includes a Tenant Guide, we can be found on the Resource Page.

Letting Agents operating in Wales are required to register with Rent Smart Wales. Part of their membership criteria is that they have purchased professional indemnity insurance, are a member of a consumer redress scheme and are able to offer their landlords and tenants client money protection.