July 14, 2026 - 171 views
The Welsh Government is set to introduce new legislation aimed at strengthening the rights of renters, improving housing fairness and giving communities greater power over important local assets.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth will outline the first phase of the Government’s new legislative programme in a statement to the Senedd today, with housing among the key areas of focus.
A new bill will be brought forward to improve protections for people living in privately rented accommodation, as part of wider plans to tackle housing affordability and security.
The Government says further legislation will follow during the four-year Senedd term to improve affordability, make rents fairer and restrict the use of no-fault evictions by private landlords.
The plans come amid continued concerns across Wales, including in North Wales, about housing pressures, rising rents, shortages of affordable homes and the challenges facing people trying to find secure accommodation.
Communities across the region have highlighted concerns around the availability of homes for local people, with issues including second homes, holiday lets and affordability affecting some rural and coastal areas.
The Welsh Government has also confirmed plans to introduce legislation creating a Community Right to Buy scheme.
The scheme would allow eligible community groups to identify and register buildings, land or other assets considered important to their local area. If owners decide to sell those assets, communities would be given the opportunity to make a bid before they are sold on the open market.
The Government says the move is designed to help protect valued community spaces such as local facilities, buildings and amenities that are considered central to the identity of towns and villages.
The First Minister will also announce legislation requiring the needs of rural communities to be considered when policies are developed, a process known as ‘rural proofing’.
Speaking ahead of the statement, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the measures reflected the Government’s commitment to fairness and protecting communities across Wales.
He said: “The value my government places on fairness has motivated us to take action to strengthen the rights of tenants in the private rented sector.”
He added that the Government was developing proposals to legislate for a Right to Adequate Housing, saying no one should face the anxiety and stigma associated with having nowhere safe to call home.
The First Minister said Wales was “a rich tapestry of urban and rural, north and south, young and old” and that the planned community right-to-buy legislation would help protect places that matter to local people.
The announcement follows the Welsh Government’s wider commitment to deliver 20,000 additional social homes by 2030, with ministers saying increasing the supply of affordable housing remains a priority.
Housing organisations and local authorities are expected to watch closely as further details emerge on how the new legislation will work in practice, particularly around private rents, eviction protections and the role communities will play in shaping local development.
