Welsh Elections: What could a change in Government mean for the PRS?

 With the latest polls indicating a change in Government for Wales after May’s election public affairs officer Joshua Helm-Cowley examines what this could mean for the private rented sector (PRS). 

The Welsh election is now just weeks away, with Plaid Cymru, Reform and the Welsh Conservatives all having published detailed plans for the future of the Welsh PRS. Here’s what they have had to say and how their proposals could impact you.

Plaid Cymru:

While it has yet to publish a full manifesto, in its initial 100 day plan for Government Plaid Cymru says housing will be a key priority of any Plaid-led Government. Of particular note is the foreword in the housing section which states Plaid will “protect tenants” and “improve the quality and energy efficiency of Welsh Housing.”  

On the legislative specifics, Plaid commits itself to bringing forward proposals to ‘make renting fairer’ and begin legislating for a ‘right to adequate housing’. 

You may remember that the current Welsh Government previously consulted on this issue back in 2024. In the White Paper that followed, the Welsh Government accepted a number of our recommendations such as rejecting rent-capping, a move that would be disastrous for supply at a time of supply crisis.  

While we do not know the exact details of what will be included in Plaid’s proposals the commitment outlined in their 100-day plan does indicate that they will be revisiting this question. 

Plaid’s plan also looks to make Welsh homes, including those in the PRS, warmer and more energy efficient. It commits to reviewing Wales’ existing Warm Homes Programme and implementing changes to ensure it goes ‘further and faster on improving home energy efficiency. 

A key ask of the NRLA’s Senedd Election Manifesto was for reform of the way energy efficiency measures for PRS properties are funded, specifically through a higher rate LTT rebate. 

Reform

While the Reform manifesto does not focus as specifically on housing and the PRS as Plaid Cymru’s, it does have some key points,  mainly focussed on HMOs.  

In its manifesto, Reform says it will “strengthen powers … to stop there being too many HMOs in certain areas.” While the exact ‘powers’ are not specified, it is clear Reform intends to clamp down on HMOs in areas with high concentrations. However, it is unclear if this crackdown will be in relation to all HMOs, for example housing students in Cardiff, or limited to HMOs housing migrants, as the manifesto does also explicitly reference these as a reason for implementing new restrictions these properties.

Conservative

A key proposal from the Conservative manifesto is a plan to “Review the operation of Rent Smart Wales.” Issues regarding the operation of Rent Smart Wales (RSW) have been well-documented, with consistent feedback that the service suffers lengthy administration delays and is inconsistent  when it comes to its effectiveness across the regions.  Although the pledge does not state explicitly what changes the Conservatives would make to Rent Smart Wales, the call for a review is a clear area of interest.

Conclusion

 As election day on 7th May approaches – and with the dissolution of the  Senedd  on 8th April – more parties are likely be releasing plans for Government soon. We will be updating you as and when the parties do finally release their manifestos, and explaining what their proposals may mean for you and the Welsh PRS as a whole. 

We are also continuing our work to engage with the parties on what we want to see from the next Welsh Government. You can find more on our asks here.

More information

The NRLA is hosting an All-Wales Webinar where our experts will explain what the Renters’ Rights Act and the Welsh Election means for landlords in Wales. Sign up here to attend and stay informed on the latest developments affecting the Welsh PRS.