The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022

Gwnaed: 7 Ionawr 2022

Gosodwyd gerbron Senedd Cymru: 12 Ionawr 2022

Yn dod i rym yn unol â rheoliad 1

Mae Gweinidogion Cymru yn gwneud y Rheoliadau a ganlyn drwy arfer y pwerau a roddir iddynt gan adrannau 94(1), (2)(b) a (3) a 256(1) o Ddeddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016[^f00001].

Title and commencement

1

The title of these Regulations is the Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 and they come into force on 1 December 2022 (the day on which section 239 of the Act comes into force) [^f00002].

Interpretation

2

• (1) Words and expressions used in these Regulations have the same meaning as they have in the Act.

• (2) In these Regulations—

• “period of occupation” (“cyfnod meddiannaeth”) means, in relation to an occupation contract, the period—starting with the occupation date of the contract, andending when the contract ends; and

• “the Act” (“y Ddeddf”)means the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.

• (3) This regulation is subject to regulation 7.

Determining fitness for human habitation

3

Wrth benderfynu at ddibenion adran 91(1) o’r Ddeddf a yw annedd yn ffit i bobl fyw ynddi ai peidio, rhaid rhoi sylw i bresenoldeb neu fodolaeth, neu bresenoldeb tebygol neu fodolaeth debygol, y materion a’r amgylchiadau a restrir yn yr Atodlen.

Occupation contracts to which regulations 5 to 8 apply

4

Nid yw rheoliadau 5 i 8 yn gymwys ond mewn perthynas ag —

• (a) contract diogel,

• (b) contract safonol cyfnodol, ac

• (c) contract safonol cyfnod penodol a wnaed am gyfnod o lai na 7 mlynedd[^f00003],

sy’n ymgorffori adran 91 o’r Ddeddf fel un o delerau’r contract.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms

5

• (1) The landlord must ensure that, during each period of occupation, on each storey of the dwelling there is a smoke alarm which is—

• (a) in repair and proper working order,

• (b) connected to the dwelling’s electrical supply, and

• (c) linked to every other smoke alarm in the dwelling which is connected to the electrical supply.

• (2) The landlord must ensure that, during each period of occupation, a carbon monoxide alarm which is in repair and proper working order is in each room of the dwelling which contains a gas appliance, an oil-fired combustion appliance or a solid fuel burning combustion appliance.

• (3) A dwelling is to be treated as unfit for human habitation at a time when the landlord is not in compliance with a requirement imposed by paragraph (1) or (2).

• (4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), a landlord who has not complied with—

• (a) paragraph (1) is to be treated as in compliance with that paragraph from the time the landlord ensures that a smoke alarm is (or smoke alarms are) present in the dwelling as described in that paragraph;

• (b) paragraph (2) is to be treated as in compliance with that paragraph from the time the landlord ensures that a carbon monoxide alarm is (or carbon monoxide alarms are) present in the dwelling as described in that paragraph.

• (5) In this regulation—

• “gas” (“nwy”) has the meaning given by section 48(1) of the Gas Act 1986[^f00004];

• “gas appliance” (“cyfarpar nwy”) means an appliance designed for use by a consumer of gas for heating, lighting, cooking or other purposes for which gas can be used, but it does not include—a portable or mobile appliance supplied with gas from a cylinder, or the cylinder, pipes and other fittings used for supplying gas to that appliance, oran appliance which the contract-holder is entitled to remove from the dwelling under the terms of the occupation contract;

• “room” (“ystafell”) includes a hall, landing or corridor.

Electrical safety

6

• (1) The landlord must ensure that there is a valid electrical condition report in respect of the dwelling during each period of occupation.

• (2) An electrical condition report—

• (a) is a condition report setting out the results of an electrical safety inspection carried out by a qualified person;

• (b) is valid—

• (i) until the end of the period of 5 years beginning with the day on which the electrical safety inspection is carried out (“the inspection date”), or

• (ii) if the electrical condition report states that the next electrical safety inspection should be carried out less than 5 years after the inspection date, until the end of the day by which, in accordance with the report, the next electrical safety inspection should be carried out.

• (3) The landlord must ensure that the contract-holder is, before the end of the period of 14 days starting with the occupation date, given—

• (a) a copy of the most recent electrical condition report, and

• (b) where investigatory or remedial work has been carried out on or in relation to an electrical service installation in the dwelling after the electrical safety inspection to which that report relates (and before the occupation date), written confirmation of work.

• (4) Where an electrical safety inspection is carried out after the occupation date, the landlord must ensure that the contract-holder is given a copy of the electrical condition report relating to the inspection before the end of the period of 14 days starting with the day on which the inspection was completed.

• (5) Where investigatory or remedial work is carried out on or in relation to an electrical service installation in the dwelling after the occupation date, the landlord must ensure that the contract-holder is given written confirmation of work before the end of the period of 14 days starting with the day on which the landlord received the confirmation.

• (6) A dwelling is to be treated as unfit for human habitation at a time when the landlord is not in compliance with a requirement imposed by this regulation.

• (7) For the purposes of paragraph (6), a landlord—

• (a) who has not complied with paragraph (1) is to be treated as in compliance with that paragraph at any time when—

• (i) the landlord has obtained an electrical condition report, and

• (ii) that report is valid.

• (b) who has not complied with paragraph (3)(a) or (4) is to be treated as in compliance with the provision in question from the time the contract-holder is given a copy of the most recent valid electrical condition report;

• (c) who has not complied with paragraph (3)(b) or (5) is to be treated as in compliance with the provision in question from the time the contract-holder is given written confirmation of work.

• (8) In this regulation—

• “electrical safety inspection” (“archwiliad diogelwch trydanol”) means the inspection and testing of every electrical service installation in a dwelling in accordance with the electrical safety standards[^f00005];

• “electrical safety standards” (“safonau diogelwch trydanol”) means the standards for electrical service installations set out in the eighteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671:2018+A2:2022;

• “electrical service installation” (“gosodiad gwasanaeth trydanol”) means an installation for the supply of electricity; and references to an electrical service installation in a dwelling include, where the dwelling forms part only of a building, an electrical service installation which directly or indirectly serves the dwelling, and which either—forms part of any part of the building in which the landlord has an estate or interest, oris owned by the landlord or is under the landlord’s control;

• “qualified person” (“person cymwysedig”) means a person who is competent to undertake the inspection and testing of an electrical service installation, and any further investigative or remedial work, in accordance with the electrical safety standards;

• “written confirmation of work” (“cadarnhad ysgrifenedig o’r gwaith”) means, in relation to investigatory or remedial work, a copy of written confirmation, from a qualified person, that the work in question has been carried out.

Application to converted contracts

7

• (1) This regulation applies in relation to a converted contract.

• (2) In regulations 5(1) and 6(1), “period of occupation” means the period—

• (a) starting with the day which is 12 months after the conversion date, and

• (b) ending when the contract ends.

• (3) In regulation 5(2), “period of occupation” means the period—

• (a) starting with the conversion date, and

• (b) ending when the contract ends.

• (4) In regulation 6(3), “occupation date” means the day which is 12 months after the conversion date.

• (5) Regulation 6 is to be read as if for paragraph (4) there were substituted—

(4) Where an electrical safety inspection is carried out after the contract-holder has been given a report in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (3) (as modified by regulation 7(4)), the landlord must ensure that the contract-holder is given a copy of the electrical condition report relating to the inspection before the end of the period of 14 days starting with the day on which the inspection was completed.

• (6) In this regulation, “conversion date”, in relation to a converted contract, means the date on which the tenancy or licence became an occupation contract under section 240 of the Act[^f00007].

Transitional provision relating to regulation 6: pre-existing electrical condition reports

8

At ddibenion rheoliad 6(1), nid oes wahaniaeth os cafwyd yr adroddiad ar gyflwr trydanol dilys cyn i’r Rheoliadau hyn ddod i rym.

YR ATODLEN — Materion ac Amgylchiadau

Damp, mites and mould or fungal growth

1

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â gwiddon llwch mewn cartrefi, lleithder, tyfiant llwydni neu dyfiant ffwngaidd.

Cold

2

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â thymereddau rhy isel.

Heat

3

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â thymereddau rhy uchel.

Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres

4

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â ffibrau asbestos neu ffibrau mwynau a weithgynhyrchwyd.

Biocides

5

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â chemegolion a ddefnyddir i drin pren neu dyfiant llwydni.

Carbon monoxide and fuel combustion products

6

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â’r canlynol—

• (a) carbon monocsid;

• (b) nitrogen diocsid;

• (c) sylffwr diocsid a mwg.

Lead

7

Amlyncu plwm.

Radiation

8

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad ag ymbelydredd.

Uncombusted fuel gas

9

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â nwy tanwydd nas hylosgwyd.

Volatile organic compounds

10

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â chyfansoddion organig anweddol.

Crowding and space

11

Diffyg gofod digonol ar gyfer byw a chysgu.

Entry by intruders

12

Anawsterau wrth gadw’r annedd yn ddiogel rhag i bobl nas awdurdodir ddod i mewn.

Lighting

13

Diffyg golau digonol.

Noise

14

Bod mewn cysylltiad â sŵn.

Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse

15

• (1) Dyluniad, cynllun neu adeiladwaith gwael fel na ellir yn hawdd gadw’r annedd yn lân.

• (2) Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â phlâu.

• (3) Darpariaeth annigonol ar gyfer storio gwastraff tŷ a’i waredu’n hylan.

Food safety

16

Darpariaeth annigonol o gyfleusterau ar gyfer storio, paratoi a choginio bwyd.

Personal hygiene, sanitation and drainage

17

Darpariaeth annigonol—

• (a) o gyfleusterau i gynnal hylendid personol da;

• (b) o garthffosiaeth a draeniau.

Water supply

18

Cyflenwad annigonol o ddŵr sydd heb ei halogi, er mwyn ei yfed ac at ddibenion domestig eraill.

Falls associated with baths etc.

19

Cwympo sy’n gysylltiedig â thoiledau, baddonau, cawodydd neu gyfleusterau ymolchi eraill.

Falling on surfaces

20

Cwympo ar arwyneb.

Falling on stairs etc.

21

Cwympo ar risiau, stepiau neu rampiau.

Falling between surfaces

22

Cwympo o un arwyneb i un arall (gan gynnwys cwympo o uchder).

Electrical hazards

23

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â thrydan.

Fire

24

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â thân afreolus a’r mwg sy’n gysylltiedig ag ef.

Flames, hot surfaces etc.

25

Bod mewn cyffyrddiad â’r canlynol—

• (a) tân neu fflamau a reolir;

• (b) Gwrthrychau, hylifau neu anweddau poeth.

Collision and entrapment

26

Taro yn erbyn drysau, ffenestri neu nodweddion pensaernïol eraill, neu rannau o’r corff yn mynd yn sownd ynddynt.

Explosions

27

Ffrwydrad yn yr annedd.

Position and operability of amenities etc.

28

Safle, lleoliad a gweithrediad amwynderau, ffitiadau ac offer.

Structural collapse and falling elements

29

Yr annedd gyfan neu ran ohoni yn dymchwel gan gynnwys elfennau’n disgyn.

Signed

Julie James — Minister for Climate Change, one of the Welsh Ministers — 2022-01-07

Explanatory note

(Nid yw’r nodyn hwn yn rhan o’r Rheoliadau)

NODYN ESBONIADOL

Mae adran 91 o Ddeddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 (dccc 1) (“y Ddeddf”) yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i landlord, o dan gontract diogel, contract safonol cyfnodol neu gontract safonol cyfnod penodol a wneir am gyfnod o lai na 7 mlynedd, sicrhau bod yr annedd yn ffit i bobl fyw ynddi, ac mae adran 92 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’r landlord gadw’r annedd mewn cyflwr da.

Mae adran 94(1) yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i Weinidogion Cymru ragnodi materion ac amgylchiadau y mae rhaid rhoi sylw iddynt wrth benderfynu a yw annedd yn ffit i bobl fyw ynddi ai peidio, ac mae adran 94(2) yn galluogi Gweinidogion Cymru i ragnodi materion ac amgylchiadau a allai godi oherwydd methiant landlord i gadw’r annedd mewn cyflwr da. Mae adran 94(3) yn galluogi Gweinidogion Cymru i osod gofynion ar landlordiaid at ddiben atal y materion neu’r amgylchiadau hynny rhag codi ac i ragnodi os na chydymffurfir â’r gofynion hynny, bod yr annedd i’w thrin fel pe na bai’n ffit i bobl fyw ynddi.

Mae rheoliad 3 a’r Atodlen yn rhagnodi’r materion a’r amgylchiadau y mae rhaid rhoi sylw iddynt wrth benderfynu a yw annedd yn ffit i bobl fyw ynddi ai peidio. Mae hyn yn cynnwys materion ac amgylchiadau penodol a allai godi oherwydd methiant landlord i gadw’r annedd mewn cyflwr da.

Mae rheoliad 4 yn darparu bod rheoliadau 5 i 8 yn gymwys mewn perthynas â chontract diogel, contract safonol cyfnodol neu gontract safonol cyfnod penodol a wnaed am gyfnod o lai na 7 mlynedd, ac sy’n ymgorffori adran 91 o’r Ddeddf fel un o delerau’r contract. Mae rheoliad 4 yn cymhwyso rheoliadau 5 i 8 i’r un mathau o gontract meddiannaeth â rheoliad 3.

Mae rheoliadau 5 a 6 yn gosod gofynion ar landlord at ddiben atal unrhyw faterion neu amgylchiadau rhag codi a allai beri nad yw annedd yn ffit i bobl fyw ynddi.

Mae rheoliad 5 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i larymau mwg a larymau carbon monocsid, sydd mewn cyflwr da ac yn gweithio’n iawn, fod yn bresennol mewn annedd.

Mae rheoliad 6 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’r gosodiadau gwasanaeth trydanol mewn annedd gael eu harchwilio a’u profi (“archwiliad diogelwch trydanol”) gan berson cymwysedig fesul ysbaid o 5 mlynedd neu lai; ac yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gopi o’r adroddiad ar gyflwr sy’n nodi canlyniadau’r archwiliad diogelwch trydanol gael ei roi i ddeiliad y contract. Os caiff gwaith ei wneud ar osodiadau gwasanaeth trydanol annedd rhwng archwiliadau diogelwch trydanol, rhaid i’r landlord sicrhau y rhoddir i ddeiliad y contract gadarnhad ysgrifenedig bod y gwaith wedi ei wneud.

Pan fo landlord yn methu â chydymffurfio â gofyniad a osodir gan reoliad 5 neu 6, mae’r annedd i’w thrin fel pe na bai’n ffit i bobl fyw ynddi a bydd yn parhau i’w thrin fel pe na bai’n ffit i bobl fyw ynddi o dan y rheoliadau hynny hyd nes y bydd y landlord wedi cywiro’r methiant (gweler Rhan 4 o’r Ddeddf am ddarpariaeth bellach ynghylch amgylchiadau pan fo rhwymedigaethau ac atebolrwyddau landlord o dan y Rhan honno yn codi). Os yw’r methiant yn digwydd eto ar ôl ei gywiro bydd yr annedd, unwaith eto, i’w thrin fel pe na bai’n ffit i bobl fyw ynddi hyd nes y caiff y methiant ei gywiro.

Mae’r landlord, mewn unrhyw achos, yn ddarostyngedig i’r rhwymedigaethau yn adran 92 o’r Ddeddf (os ydynt wedi eu hymgorffori yn y contract meddiannaeth) i gadw gosodiadau gwasanaeth trydanol mewn cyflwr da ac yn gweithio’n iawn. Bydd y rhwymedigaethau hynny yn berthnasol pan fo archwiliad diogelwch trydanol yn datgelu bod materion yn codi mewn cysylltiad â gosodiad.

Mae rheoliad 7 yn gwneud darpariaeth ynghylch sut y mae’r rheoliadau hyn yn gweithredu mewn perthynas â thenantiaethau a thrwyddedau presennol a ddaw yn gontractau meddiannaeth pan ddaw’r Ddeddf i rym. O dan y contractau hynny, bydd gan landlordiaid amser ychwanegol i sicrhau cydymffurfiaeth o’i fewn.