A summary of the additional sections is here:
Empty homes
Restrictions on home moving are still in place but the Welsh Government are advising that if landlords have an empty property and they are looking to let it, they could contact the Local Authority to see whether it could be used to support homeless people who are currently in temporary accommodation or key workers who are seeking temporary accommodation in the area who are needing to isolate away from their family.
Cleaning properties
Landlords’ repair obligations have not changed and all non-urgent visits to properties should be postponed. This includes property viewings, cleaning services, non-urgent repairs, and/or maintenance which do not present an urgent health and safety issue.
Where applicable the Welsh Government are advising landlords and agents to work with tenants and for example, any requirement to change an agreed cleaning services process, such as communal areas in houses in multiple occupation, should be communicated to tenants, and alternative arrangements agreed, such as providing cleaning products to tenants to undertake this themselves, for the time being.
Keep audit trails
The Welsh Government advise that it is important that agents and landlords keep an audit trail where they were unable to carry out legal obligations because of coronavirus. This will help to provide documented evidence that landlords and agents have done whatever they can to comply with the law. For example, where the tenant is self-isolating, landlords and agents are unable to visit the property, or they are unable to undertake work at the property because a tenant is self-isolating.
Tenant's possessions
Landlords and letting agents should be aware that the Welsh Government has issued new advice to tenants. The document entitled Collecting your possessions after moving out of your home: Coronavirus is aimed at tenants, including students, who have already vacated their rented accommodation because of the Coronavirus pandemic and who wish to return to that accommodation for the sole purpose of collecting their possessions.
Propertymark is continuing to work with the Welsh Government on policies and guidance to ensure the safe reopening of the property market in Wales.
