‘Confused’ landlords may need agent help, says Propertymark
Summary
Propertymark says many Welsh landlords receiving fixed penalty notices have failed to complete the correct Rent Smart Wales registration and licensing steps. The article stresses that registration and licensing are separate obligations, and that agents should verify both status and keep records up to date before undertaking regulated work.
Why it matters
Residential surveyors involved in lettings, management or portfolio due diligence in Wales need to understand the distinction between registration and licensing under Rent Smart Wales. Incorrect status can create compliance risk for landlords and agents, and may affect instructions, management arrangements and record-keeping expectations.
Key points
- Most of the 3,198 FPNs issued in the period cited were linked to missing registration or licensing.
- Being registered with Rent Smart Wales does not automatically mean a landlord is licensed.
- Agents should confirm the landlord, property and responsible party are correctly registered before marketing or managing.
- Evidence of checks, reference numbers and expiry dates should be retained and reviewed periodically.
- Applications should be submitted early because approval times can take several weeks.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
