Occupation contract for a room in Wales checklist

Read the document to make sure it meets your needs and that you’ve provided all of the necessary information about the contract holder’s occupation of the room. Make sure that everybody involved (ie all landlords, all contract holders, and any guarantors) agree to all of the terms. Remember that, if you have any questions, you can Ask a lawyer for advice.

All of the parties (ie all contract holders, all landlords, and any guarantors) must sign the Contract. If the landlord is a company or an LLP, its representative (ie signatory) must sign. 

You can sign your Occupation Contract by either:

• signing in print. Print a copy for all parties. All parties should then sign and date all copies by hand

• signing online using RocketSign

The landlord can have an agent sign on their behalf. If there are multiple landlords, contract holders, or guarantors, make sure that all of them sign.

Each party should keep their own original signed Occupation Contract.

A copy of your Occupation Contract for a Room in Wales will also be stored automatically in your Rocket Lawyer account ‘Dashboard’.

Attach to the Occupation Contract a copy of your inventory for the room and the common areas of the dwelling that the contract holder can use. This should set out all fixtures and fittings in these spaces and their condition.

Landlords must provide contract holders with an inventory within 14 days of the date on which the contract holder is allowed to move into the room and dwelling. This Occupation Contract states that an inventory is attached to it, to help landlords ensure they meet this obligation.

You can use our template to create your inventory.

Residential property law requires that landlords do certain things when renting out a dwelling. If you don’t do all of these things, this may preclude you from, for example, using some eviction methods down the line. 

For instance, when starting an Occupation Contract, landlords should always:

• register, and become licensed (or work through an agent who is licensed) with Rent Smart Wales

• protect the contract holder’s deposit in an authorised deposit scheme, comply with the scheme’s rules, and provide the contract holder with the required information about the chosen deposit scheme

• provide the contract holder with a current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), electrical condition report, and gas safety record

• ensure the dwelling is fit for human habitation (including having adequate smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed)

• obtain HMO licences, if required

It’s also good practice to give contract holders a copy of Rent Smart Wales’ guide ‘A Home in the Private Sector: a Guide for Tenants in Wales’.

For more information, read Legal obligations of a landlord.