Renting Homes Wales Written StatementRenting Homes Wales Written Statement

A written statement is a mandatory document that landlords in Wales must provide to contract-holders (tenants). It sets out the terms of the occupation contract, including all fundamental terms, supplementary terms, and any additional terms agreed between the parties. It must be provided within 14 days of the occupation date and serves as the official record of the tenancy agreement.

Under Section 31 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, landlords must provide the written statement within 14 days of the "occupation date" — the date the contract-holder is entitled to begin occupying the property. This is typically the tenancy start date. Providing the statement at signing (before occupation starts) is the safest approach and what our template enables.

Failing to provide the written statement within 14 days has serious consequences: (1) You cannot serve a Section 173 (no-fault) possession notice until you have provided it, (2) The contract-holder can apply to court for a declaration of terms and compensation, (3) You may face financial penalties. The restriction on possession notices continues until the statement is properly provided.

The written statement must include: (1) Names of the landlord and all contract-holders, (2) Property address, (3) Occupation date, (4) Rent amount and payment date, (5) All fundamental terms (set by law), (6) All supplementary terms (defaults or as modified), (7) Any additional terms agreed, (8) Whether it is a standard or secure occupation contract, (9) Key information about rights and obligations.

The written statement IS the formal documentation of the occupation contract. While the contract itself exists from the occupation date (even if verbal), the written statement is the legal record of its terms. Our template serves as both the occupation contract and the written statement, fulfilling all requirements in one document.

Fundamental terms are set by law and cannot be changed or removed. They include: the landlord's obligation to keep the property fit for human habitation, the landlord's repair obligations, the contract-holder's right to occupy, prohibition on anti-social behaviour, and rules about variation and termination. Our template includes all fundamental terms as required by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act.

Supplementary terms are default terms that apply unless the parties agree to change them. They cover matters like rent payment methods, deposit handling, access for repairs, subletting, and keeping pets. Some supplementary terms can be modified or removed by agreement; others must be included. Our wizard helps you customise supplementary terms appropriately.

Yes, but only through proper procedures. Changes require either: (1) Agreement from all parties in writing, or (2) Following the statutory variation procedure with proper notice. Fundamental terms cannot be changed at all. Any variation should be documented as an addendum to the original written statement.

There is no legal requirement to provide the written statement in Welsh, but contract-holders have the right to communicate with you in Welsh if they choose. If a contract-holder requests Welsh language documents, you should make reasonable efforts to accommodate this. Our templates use the correct Welsh legal terminology in English.

If a contract-holder believes the written statement doesn't accurately reflect the agreed terms, they can apply to the county court within 6 months for a declaration of the correct terms. The court can order corrections and, if the landlord deliberately or negligently provided incorrect information, award compensation. This is why using a professionally drafted template is important.

No. You must still provide: (1) EPC before marketing and at occupation, (2) Gas Safety Certificate annually (if applicable), (3) EICR for electrical safety, (4) Deposit protection prescribed information within 30 days. The written statement confirms you have (or will) provide these documents but doesn't replace them.

Using a generic document draft is risky. The written statement must include specific fundamental and supplementary terms as defined by Welsh regulations. Generic UK templates or England ASTs don't contain the correct Welsh terms. Our Wales-specific template ensures all required terms are included and properly formatted.