For information on how to register click here, or for how to obtain a licence, click here. Find answers to less common questions below.
No - only properties located in Wales need to be declared on your registration.
You will not be able to register a property that is already registered to another landlord.
If you are trying to register a property that is registered to someone else you will need to provide us with documentary evidence that you are the landlord of the property so that we are able to release the property for you to add to your landlord registration.
Examples of the types of evidence that you can send us to prove that you are the landlord of a property are listed below:
You can send this evidence via our Contact Us Form or via post to Rent Smart Wales, PO Box 1106, Cardiff, CF11 1UA
Once we have received the evidence and determined that it is acceptable, we will contact you to advise that the property is available to register.
If you require any further assistance please contact us on 03000133344
If you hold Power of Attorney, you will need to create a Rent Smart Wales user account in your name providing all required information. You will then need to create a landlord registration on behalf of the landlord (donor). Information provided such as name, date of birth and correspondence information (address, telephone and email) should be yours to ensure that we only correspond with you.
The type of registration you need to select will depend on the Power of Attorney arrangement in place. If you are the only person who holds Power of Attorney, you will need to select the type as 'Individual'. If there are multiple attorneys, you will need to select the type as 'Joint'. If you select a 'Joint' registration, you will be asked to provide the name, date of birth and email address of the additional attorneys.
When the registration asks you for an additional name, you will need to select 'Power of Attorney' from the drop down list.
If you as the Attorney conduct the letting and / or management activities at the rental property(ies) on behalf of the landlord, you will be required to apply for an Agent Licence. If you do not conduct the letting and/or management activities at the landlord’s rental property(ies) and an agent has been appointed, you should link them to the property(ies) when completing the landlord registration.
There are two payment options:
Option 1 - Full licence fee payment made when the application is submitted: this is the discounted option.
Option 2 - Split licence fee payment: This option allows you to split the licence fee in two parts. Part 1 must be paid prior to submitting the licence application, and Part 2 is required to be paid within 14 days of contact from Rent Smart Wales. Option 2 is more expensive as it includes an additional £39 to cover the cost of additional administration. If you do not pay Part 2 of the split fee when requested to do, your licence application will not be considered submitted and it is likely that you will not be complying with your legal obligations.
View Fee Policy here.
If you are unable to travel, live outside of Wales or cannot attend a classroom course due to work commitments, you can complete your training online with us or through an approved external trainer. View the online training options here.
A landlord requires a licence if undertaking any of the activities listed below. Where a landlord does not employ an agent he/she is deemed to be undertaking these activities by default.
Landlord Letting Activities
Landlord Property Management Activities:
* If you are purely undertaking repairs at a property and not involved in any other letting and management activities, you are not required to obtain a landlord licence.
An agent requires a licence if collecting rent or acting on instruction from a landlord or a tenant to undertake more than one of the activities listed below.
Agent letting activities
Agent management activities
*If you are purely undertaking repairs at a property and not involved in letting and management activities (as described), you are not required to obtain an agent licence.
Licences are issued for a 5 year period, but do not expire on the 5 year anniversary if a valid application is made up to 84 days prior to the expiry date of the existing licence. This means that if you have correctly submitted an application for renewal of a licence but Rent Smart Wales does not approve it until after the stated expiry of the current licence, you can continue to operate legally until the renewal application is determined. This provision is set out in section 26 (1) of the Housing (Wales) act 2014.
Yes, the requirements of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 are additional to the licensing requirements for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the Housing Act 2004. However, unlike HMO licensing, which is specific to a rental property, a landlord or agent only needs to obtain one Rent Smart Wales licence to cover them for any property in Wales.
Resident landlords may not need to comply with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, depending on whether the property is purpose built or converted and the type of tenancy agreement created.
If you grant a tenancy but are a 'resident landlord', then the tenancy will not be an assured or shorthold tenancy. This rule generally applies to shared and converted houses. If your only or main home is a flat in a building which has been converted into flats and you then let another flat in that same building, the arrangement will not be an assured or shorthold tenancy. You do not need to share any accommodation with the occupier to be held to be a resident landlord. It is enough that you live in the same building.
However, if you live in a purpose built block of flats and you let one of the other flats in the same block, you will not be deemed a resident landlord and the tenant will be an assured or shorthold tenant. If you live in a purpose built block, you will only be a resident landlord if you let a part of a flat which you yourself occupy as your home.
Yes. The trust is the legal owner of the property and thus the landlord. If you rent out on an Assured, Assured Shorthold or Regulated Tenancy then you will need to be registered.
The details provided should be those of the trust, not the individual trustee(s) completing the registration.
If the property is managed by an agency, this agency would need to be licensed.
If one or more of the trustees themselves are responsible for property management work, then a single licence can be applied for (again, using the details of the trust); all individual persons carrying out management work at the property would then need to complete training.
If you have forgotten your username and/or your password, go to the Login page and select the grey 'Forgot Password' button. Here you can enter in your username and email address, or if you have also forgotten your username you can click 'Forgotten Username' and enter your email address. This will need to be the same email address that you created your account with.
You should receive an email within five minutes which will contain your username and a link to reset your password.
You could also try searching your emails to find your username. Search for the subject line 'Account Activation for Rent Smart Wales / Actifadu Cyfrif Rhentu Doeth Cymru' or emails from noreply@rentsmart.gov.wales.
Firstly, check your spam/junk mail folder to see if the email has gone there. Password reset emails come from the email address noreply@rentsmart.gov.wales. If your email is not in the spam folder, you can try adding noreply@rentsmart.gov.wales to your 'Safe Senders' list through your email provider, to ensure these emails come through. There is currently a known issue where less common email domains reject emails from rentsmart.gov.wales. We are working to resolve this issue; however, you can also contact your email administrator and report the issue.
If you are still unable to get the email, please call us on 03000 133344. Do not use the Contact Us form as we are unable to supply temporary passwords by email.
Here are some common troubleshooting tips if you are struggling to log in:
This could mean that you have duplicate accounts under your name, or perhaps a close relative used the same email address as you. Please contact us to recover your username.
Rent Smart Wales is a self-funded service but not for profit. Income generated from fees cover the cost of delivering the service as permitted by law.
This includes work to process applications, help and support customers, and to secure improvements in the sector. This is achieved by ensuring licensees comply with their licence conditions and complaints and intelligence received are thoroughly investigated.
You can deduct these costs in arriving at your taxable profits on the fees you have paid, as it is a mandatory scheme for all landlords with Welsh property.