Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. The Welsh Government does not agree that a grounds-based approach to possession is currently the right one for Wales, and I reiterate once again that, under our Bill, tenants in Wales will have greater security of tenure in relation to a no-fault notice than anywhere else in the UK. Our six-month notice period represents a reasonable balance between the interests of landlords and contract holders—a position previously supported by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee in its Stage 1 report on the Bill. Six months provides an appropriate length of time to ensure someone is able to find a suitable home if they are served with a notice. There will always be circumstances where someone might want longer, but we have to consider the impact providing this would have on the rights of the landlord. So, again, I reiterate, this is a suitable balance between the two. Longer or shorter notice periods would upset the balance between the rights of the contract holder and the landlord.

We do not support the introduction of new mandatory grounds within a Bill that is aimed at increasing security of tenure. The basis of the Bill is to provide a minimum of six months' notice to a contract holder who has done nothing wrong during their occupation. I understand a landlord may have good reason to want to sell their property or live in it themselves, but these are not the fault of the contract holder and certainly should not take priority over their ability to find another suitable home. All Members should want to protect the rights of contract holders in these circumstances, and therefore I really do hope that Members will support this Bill today in order to give them those rights.

I'm happy to provide Laura with the reassurance that we are looking into the exemption for serving armed forces personnel. As I explained at Stage 3, it's not possible to put that on the face of the Bill without creating some unintended consequences, and we already have the regulation powers necessary to do that and we are in that discussion. I'm very happy to keep her and other Members briefed on that as we go forward. In relation to church-owned properties, we discussed this at Stage 2 and Stage 3, and I've made the Government's position clear. We're keeping the matter under review and look to use the available subordinate legislation powers to address any issues here if required. We're looking to hear the views of all parties who are potentially affected by the arrangements, and this will be part of our engagement work moving forwards.

I'm grateful to the committee clerks and the members of the committee, in particular in regard to the purpose of the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019, which was to prohibit landlords and letting agents in the commercial sector from requiring payments from contract holders and tenants under standard occupation contracts unless they're permitted under the Act. As I explained at Stage 3, it prohibits the payment of service charges in relation to a minority of tenancies in the social housing sector, which has led to unintended consequences, and I am very pleased that the Senedd will take the opportunity to vote to put that right and protect those tenants in particular.

Overall, Deputy Presiding Officer, I think that we have a reasonable compromise here between the rights of the landlords and our need to ensure that contract holders in Wales have the best protection available anywhere in the United Kingdom. On those grounds, I commend this Act to the Senedd. Diolch.