Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government – in the Senedd at 3:11 pm on 17 July 2019.
Yes, indeed, and of course it goes alongside our Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019, which we've only very recently passed through the Assembly, which sets Rent Smart Wales out as the organisation that 'polices' it for Wales. We did of course look carefully at the experience in Scotland as well, and there is an issue about local authority capacity to police the systems there. But I'm very sure, Llywydd, that this system will introduce a completely different set of arrangements in Wales, which this Assembly passed through because it was very visionary in doing so. Our new arrangements and the consultation on section 173 will make sure that we don't have any loopholes where tenants can be evicted on a short turnover. The fees Act prevents them from being recharged the fees. We have the security deposits arrangements. There are a whole series of other things that I urge Members to renew their acquaintance with in that Act that protect tenants from the kinds of things that section 21 is being used for in the old housing Act.