The Welsh Green Party has unveiled a housing manifesto ahead of the Senedd elections on 7 May, proposing significant reforms aimed at improving tenant protections and addressing housing affordability in Wales. Central to their plans are rent controls, the abolition of no-fault evictions, and financial penalties for landlords who breach rent caps.

Addressing unaffordable rents and housing challenges

Anthony Slaughter, leader of the Wales Green Party, criticised the current political leadership, stating: “Failing Labour, in Wales and in Westminster, has let Wales down.” He highlighted the ongoing struggle faced by many in Wales, particularly young people, who find rents unaffordable and home ownership increasingly out of reach.

Slaughter emphasised the broader social impact, noting that young people often leave their communities due to a lack of decent-paying jobs and affordable housing. He said: “It feels like we’re paying more and more every day while getting less and less back.” The manifesto pledges to freeze rents, replace the council tax system, reduce bus fares, and increase investment in the green economy as part of a wider strategy to improve living standards.

Proposals for rent controls and landlord penalties

The manifesto sets out a commitment to “create a fairer rental market” by introducing rent controls and banning no-fault evictions. Landlords who accept offers above the capped rent would face financial penalties of up to £7,000. This measure aims to curb rental bidding wars and ensure rents remain within affordable limits for tenants.

Additionally, the Welsh Green Party plans to extend the Welsh Housing Quality Standard to the private rental sector. This would strengthen protections against issues such as damp, mould, and unsafe living conditions. The party also proposes that landlords should not be able to unreasonably refuse tenants the right to keep pets, reflecting a more tenant-friendly approach.

Expanding affordable housing supply

The manifesto includes a 10-year programme to deliver 60,000 affordable homes. To achieve this, the party intends to use compulsory purchase powers to bring long-term empty properties into public housing stock. Alongside this, they plan to expand the Social Housing Grant to enable local authorities and Registered Social Landlords to purchase homes, build new social housing, and refurbish empty or derelict buildings.

This approach aims to increase the availability of affordable housing, addressing both the quantity and quality of homes available to those in need.

What this means for landlords

If implemented, these proposals would represent a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for landlords in Wales. The introduction of rent caps and penalties for exceeding them would require landlords to carefully review their pricing strategies to ensure compliance. The ban on no-fault evictions would also limit landlords’ ability to regain possession without cause, potentially affecting property management and investment decisions.

Extending the Welsh Housing Quality Standard to the private sector would impose stricter requirements on property conditions, necessitating greater attention to maintenance and repairs. The proposed pet-friendly policies could also require landlords to reconsider tenancy agreements and property suitability.

Overall, these measures reflect a move towards stronger tenant protections and greater accountability for landlords, with an emphasis on affordability and quality in the rental market.

Source: Based on reporting from Property118

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