What is an occupation contract in Wales?

For people who rent their home in Wales, and their landlords.

Applies to: Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

In Wales, most people who rent their home do so under an occupation contract, and tenants are called contract-holders.

Councils and housing associations usually use secure contracts; private landlords mainly use standard contracts.
Your landlord must give you a written statement of your contract within 14 days of you moving in.
On a new periodic standard contract, a no-fault notice must give at least 6 months and cannot be served in the first 6 months.
Landlords must keep the home fit to live in, with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Tenants are now contract-holders
Written statement within 14 days
No-fault notice: at least 6 months
Applies in Wales only

What an occupation contract is

Wales changed its housing law on 1 December 2022 under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act. Most tenancies and licences became "occupation contracts". People who rent are now called "contract-holders" instead of tenants.

All the terms of your contract must be set out in a document called a written statement.

Types of contract

Contract	Usually used by	Replaces
Secure occupation contract	Councils and housing associations	Secure tenancies and housing association assured tenancies
Standard occupation contract	Private landlords (sometimes councils and housing associations too)	Most private tenancies

Your written statement

If you moved in on or after 1 December 2022, your landlord must give you the written statement within 14 days of the start of your contract.
If you rented before that date, your tenancy changed into an occupation contract automatically. Landlords had until 1 June 2023 to give a written statement.

If your landlord does not give you a written statement, you can get compensation. They also cannot serve a no-fault notice until they have given you one.

Notice to leave (no-fault notices)

A "no-fault" notice is when the landlord wants the home back without you having done anything wrong.

Type of contract	Minimum notice
New periodic standard contract (from 1 December 2022)	6 months, and not in the first 6 months
Periodic contract converted on 1 December 2022	6 months from 1 June 2023

This means a new contract-holder normally gets at least 12 months in their home.

Safety: fit to live in

Your landlord must keep the home fit for human habitation. This includes:

a working, hard-wired smoke alarm on each floor
a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a gas, oil or solid fuel appliance
an electrical safety check at least every 5 years, with a copy of the report for you

Rent is not payable for any time the home is not fit to live in.

Other things to know

Joint contracts: contract-holders can be added or removed without ending the contract and starting a new one.
No discrimination (from 1 June 2026): your contract now includes terms that stop your landlord discriminating against you because you claim benefits, or because a child lives with you or visits your home.
Succession: when a contract-holder dies, the contract can pass on up to two times. Carers can now also have a right to take it over.

Free help

Citizens Advice in Wales can help you understand your contract and your rights for free.

If you live in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland

Occupation contracts only exist in Wales. The rest of the UK has different tenancy rules.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Read Welsh Government guidance

Common questions

What if my landlord does not give me a written statement?

You can get compensation, and the landlord cannot give you a no-fault notice until they provide it.

Did my old tenancy change?

Yes. Existing tenancies became occupation contracts automatically on 1 December 2022.

Do I pay rent if my home is not fit to live in?

No. Rent is not payable for any time the home is not fit for human habitation.

Official sources

1.Tenants: housing law has changed (Renting Homes) (GOV.WALES)www.gov.wales/tenants-housing-law-has-changed-renting-homes
2.Renting Homes: frequently asked questions for tenants (GOV.WALES)www.gov.wales/renting-homes-frequently-asked-questions-tenants
3.Renting Homes: tenants (GOV.WALES)www.gov.wales/renting-homes-tenants

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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