Work enforcing a new law which makes renting homes in Wales fairer will be carried out in Powys by Cardiff City Council.

The capital city’s council is the single licensing authority for the Rent Smart Wales scheme for the whole of Wales.

At Powys Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 21, councillors formally adopted the legal requirements for the new measures, which are intended to protect tenants from additional fees for renting homes.

Portfolio holder James Evans said: “The Renting of Homes Act 2019 came into force on May 5, 2019.

“From September 1,  2019, it bans letting agents and landlords who manage their own properties from charging any fees before, during or after a tenancy unless specifically exempted by the act.

“Such a banned payment is called a prohibited payment.”

Cllr Evans explained that the cabinet needed to delegate powers to a single director and to allow Cardiff City Council to act on its behalf on enforcement.”

The act is intended to give people greater security during tenancies, with the Welsh Government saying its aim is to ensure costs in the private rental sector are “reasonable, affordable and transparent”.

Agents and landlords will only be able to charge tenants for rent, holding and security deposits, payment of utilities, and payments in default.

The decision was approved unanimously by cabinet.