Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Renting Homes (Fees) (Wales) Act 2019 (‘the Act’) ensures tenants are not subject to additional – sometimes hidden \- and often unreasonable extra costs.


The Act is focused on assured shorthold tenancies, which is the predominant form of tenancy in the private rented sector.


Since the Act came into force tenants know that, when they enter into or renewa rental agreement they cannot be asked for any other payments in addition to the rent, beyond those permitted under the Act.  Permitted payments include security and holding deposits. This means tenants cannot be charged for an accompanied viewing, receiving an inventory, signing a contract, or renewing a tenancy.


It is estimated the Act is saving tenants, on average, almost £200 per tenancy.


In recent weeks, we have become aware of the way the Act is impacting on some assured shorthold tenancies in the social rented sector.  These include ‘starter tenancies’ and ‘market rent tenancies’ issued by housing associations and some tenancies issued by supported accommodation providers.


The vast majority of housing association tenancies are assured tenancies, which are not affected.


The issue specifically relates to service charges made in connection with assured shorthold tenancies and whether these are prohibited under the Act.  Where assured shorthold tenancies have been granted by housing associations and supported accommodation providers, service charges, and potentially other related charges, may have been charged in contravention of the provisions of the Act.


Having carefully considered the core intention of the Act and the implications for housing associations and supported accommodation providers, I believe the Act has created an unintended difference between the way in which different tenancies in the social sector are permitted to operate, as the Act applies only to assured shorthold tenancies.


It is important that this unintended difference is remedied as soon as possible.


This is a complex issue and in order to address it there are two key areas where I intend to take action immediately.


Firstly, I will bring forward, at the earliest opportunity a Statutory Instrument to amend the schedule of payments allowed under the Act to include these charges as appropriate. This will be subject to the affirmative procedure and therefore Members will have the opportunity to debate it at that time.


Secondly, my officials will continue to work closely with providers to identify interim arrangements to avoid the continuation of any charges in breach of the Act and to identify whether this will leave providers in financial difficulty.


This work is being taken forward as a matter of priority and I will keep Members informed of developments. I would like to reassure tenants that this issue will not impact on them.  This is an issue for landlords – registered social landlords or third sector partners – and the Welsh Government to manage. I would also like to thank Community Housing Cymru, Cymorth Cymru and other partners across the sector for working with us to ensure that issues are resolved as fully and quickly as possible.







Translation:


 
Mae Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Ffioedd etc.) (Cymru) 2019 (“y Ddeddf”) yn sicrhau nad yw tenantiaid yn gorfod talu costau afresymol ychwanegol, sydd weithiau’n gostau cudd.


Mae’r Ddeddf yn canolbwyntio ar denantiaethau byrddaliadol sicr, sef y denantiaeth fwyaf gyffredin yn y sector rhentu preifat.


Ers i'r Ddeddf ddod i rym mae tenantiaid yn gwybod, pan fyddant yn ymrwymo i gytundeb rhentu neu'n adnewyddu’r cytundeb hwnnw, na ellir gofyn iddynt am unrhyw daliadau eraill yn ychwanegol at y rhent, y tu hwnt i'r rhai a ganiateir o dan y Ddeddf. Mae’r taliadau a ganiateir yn cynnwys blaendaliadau sicrwydd a blaendaliadau cadw. Mae hyn yn golygu na ellir codi tâl ar denantiaid am ymweliadau yng nghwmni rhywun, derbyn rhestr eiddo, llofnodi contract, nac adnewyddu tenantiaeth.


Amcangyfrifir bod y Ddeddf yn arbed bron £200 y denantiaeth, ar gyfartaledd, i’r tenant.


Yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, rydym wedi dod yn ymwybodol o'r ffordd y mae'r Ddeddf yn effeithio ar rai tenantiaethau byrddaliadol sicr yn y sector rhentu cymdeithasol. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys 'tenantiaethau cychwynnol' a 'thenantiaethau rhent y farchnad' sy’n cael eu rhoi gan gymdeithasau tai a rhai tenantiaethau sy’n cael eu rhoi gan ddarparwyr llety â chymorth.


Mae'r mwyafrif helaeth o denantiaethau cymdeithasau tai yn denantiaethau sicr, nad ydynt yn cael eu heffeithio.


Mae'r broblem yn ymwneud yn benodol â thaliadau gwasanaeth a wneir mewn cysylltiad â thenantiaethau byrddaliadol sicr a ph’un a yw’r taliadau hynny’n cael eu gwahardd o dan y Ddeddf. Os yw cymdeithasau tai a darparwyr llety â chymorth wedi rhoi tenantiaethau byrddaliadol sicr, mae'n bosibl bod taliadau gwasanaeth, a thaliadau cysylltiedig eraill o bosibl, wedi cael eu codi a hynny’n groes i ddarpariaethau'r Ddeddf.


Ar ôl ystyried bwriad craidd y Ddeddf yn ofalus a'r goblygiadau i gymdeithasau tai a darparwyr llety â chymorth, credaf fod y Ddeddf wedi creu gwahaniaeth anfwriadol rhwng y ffordd y caniateir i wahanol denantiaethau weithredu yn y sector cymdeithasol, gan fod y Ddeddf ond yn berthnasol i denantiaethau byrddaliadol sicr.


Mae'n bwysig bod y gwahaniaeth anfwriadol hwn yn cael ei gywiro cyn gynted â phosibl.


Mae hwn yn fater cymhleth ac er mwyn mynd i'r afael ag ef mae’n fwriad gennyf i weithredu ar unwaith.


Yn gyntaf, byddaf yn cyflwyno Offeryn Statudol cyn gynted â phosibl i ddiwygio'r rhestr o daliadau a ganiateir o dan y Ddeddf i gynnwys y taliadau hyn fel y bo'n briodol. Bydd hyn yn ddarostyngedig i'r weithdrefn gadarnhaol ac felly caiff yr Aelodau gyfle i'w drafod bryd hynny.


Yn ail, bydd fy swyddogion yn parhau i gydweithio’n agos â darparwyr i ganfod trefniadau dros dro i osgoi parhau ag unrhyw daliadau sy’n groes i’r Ddeddf, ac i nodi p’un a fydd hyn yn gadael darparwyr mewn trafferthion ariannol.


Mae’r gwaith hwn yn flaenoriaeth, a byddaf yn rhoi gwybod i Aelodau am unrhyw ddatblygiadau. Hoffwn sicrhau tenantiaid na fydd y broblem hon yn effeithio arnyn nhw. Problem i landlordiaid \- landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig neu bartneriaid trydydd sector \- ac i Lywodraeth Cymru fynd i’r afael â hi yw hon. Hoffwn ddiolch i Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru, Cymorth Cymru a phartneriaid eraill ar draws y sector am gydweithio â ni er mwyn sicrhau bod problemau’n cael eu datrys mor llawn a chyflym â phosibl.