Your Rights When Facing a Rent Increase in Shared Homes in Wales

If you live in a shared home in Wales, understanding rent increase rules can help you avoid surprises and protect your rights. Whether you’re in a house share with friends or renting with other individuals, the law offers clear steps landlords must follow before raising your rent. This article explains your rights as a renter in Wales, the official process your landlord must use, and what you can do if you think a rent increase is unfair or incorrect. Knowing these details means you can make informed decisions and stand up for your interests.

Who Does Rent Increase Law Apply To?

Since December 2022, most renters in Wales are known as ‘contract-holders’ under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. If you rent a room in a shared house or flat (often called a ‘shared home’ or ‘house in multiple occupation’/HMO), this guidance applies to you. The law also covers joint contracts and single rooms, but not lodgers living with their landlord.

How Can a Landlord Increase Your Rent in a Shared Home?

Landlords in Wales must use the proper legal process to increase rent for contract-holders, including those in shared accommodation.

• Written notice is required. Your landlord cannot raise the rent informally or by asking verbally.
• They must serve an official notice: Form RHW12 (Notice of Variation of Rent)

Official Rent Increase Notice: Form RHW12

• Name: Form RHW12 (Notice of Variation of Rent)
• When is it used? Your landlord must issue this form if they want to legally increase the rent for a "periodic standard contract" (the most common type for private renters in shared homes).
• How is it used? Your landlord must give you at least two months’ notice before the new rent starts, using this form. They cannot increase the rent more than once in any 12-month period.
• Where to get it: Official Form RHW12 and guidance (Welsh Government)

Practical Example: If your landlord wants to raise rent from £350 to £400 per month, they must serve you Form RHW12 at least two months before the new rent would apply. If your rent increase is less than a year after the last one, it is not valid.

How to Challenge an Unfair Rent Increase

If you think your rent is being raised unfairly, too much, or without proper notice, you have the right to challenge it. Here’s how:

• Check the notice. Make sure it’s Form RHW12, and that you received it at least 2 months before the new rent would start.
• Talk to your landlord. You may be able to negotiate a lower increase or get clarification.
• If unresolved, apply to the tribunal. In Wales, the Residential Property Tribunal Wales can review your case and decide if the increase is fair or should be changed.

Steps to Challenge a Rent Increase Through The Tribunal

• You must apply within the time stated in your notice (usually during the two-month notice period or before the new rent takes effect).
• Complete the Rental Contract-Holder’s Application to Tribunal (no standard form number; details and guidance on the official site).
• Submit supporting evidence about local comparable rents, your current contract, and the notice you received.
• Find more details and the application process at the Residential Property Tribunal Wales website.

Your Rights and Protections Under the Law

The key protections for renters in shared homes in Wales include:

• You must receive at least 2 months' written notice before a rent increase.
• Rent can only be raised once in 12 months during a periodic contract.
• You can challenge a proposed rent increase through the Residential Property Tribunal Wales.
• Your landlord cannot evict you just for disputing a rent increase, as long as you pay your current rent and follow your agreement.

These rules are set out in the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.

FAQ: Rent Increases in Shared Homes in Wales

1. How often can my landlord increase the rent in my shared house in Wales?
   Once every 12 months, and only with at least 2 months’ written notice using Form RHW12.
2. What should I do if I did not get a proper rent increase notice?
   Your landlord must use Form RHW12 and give you 2 months’ notice. If they don’t, you can refuse the increase or challenge it through the Residential Property Tribunal Wales.
3. Can I be evicted for challenging a rent increase in Wales?
   No, as long as you keep paying your current rent and follow your contract, you can challenge an increase without fear of legal eviction for that reason alone.
4. How do I apply to the Residential Property Tribunal Wales?
   Visit the Tribunal’s website to find the contract-holder application form, guidance, and instructions for submitting your evidence.
5. Does this process also apply to students in HMOs?
   Yes, if you have a standard occupation contract in a shared home, the rules and notice periods are the same, whether or not you are a student.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Official Renting Homes (Wales) Act Guidance – Government guidance for renters
• Residential Property Tribunal Wales – The tribunal for rent disputes in Wales
• Shelter Cymru – Free, confidential advice on rent increases and housing rights
• Citizens Advice Cymru – Help with challenging a rent increase and understanding your rights

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1. Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016
2. Form RHW12: Official Notice of Variation of Rent (Welsh Government)
3. Residential Property Tribunal Wales

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