How the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 Changes Our Understanding of Land Law

Following the devolution of certain primary legislative powers to the National Assembly for Wales after a referendum in 2011, one of the Welsh Government’s priorities has been to improve housing, particularly in the domestic rented sector where there have been concerns about poor quality housing and insufficient safeguards for tenants having been perceived to be significant problems. As a response to these concerns, two key statutes have been enacted; the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and it is the latter of these that is the focus of this article. It is contended that this Act not only changes some fundamental principles of land law in England and Wales, but also to the constitution of the United Kingdom more generally.