Tenant Eviction in Cardiff

How possession works in Wales

The landlord's notice you need depends on why you want the property back. These are the three you'll use most for a standard occupation contract:

• Section 173, the "no fault" notice (form RHW16). At least 6 months' notice, and it can't be given in the first 6 months of the occupation. You must make your court claim within 2 months after the notice ends. The court must order possession unless it finds the claim is retaliatory.
• Serious rent arrears, section 181 (form RHW20). At least 2 months' rent unpaid if rent is paid monthly, or 8 weeks if it's paid weekly or fortnightly, both when you give notice and at the hearing. Possession is then mandatory. You can claim 14 days after giving notice.
• Breach of contract, section 157 (form RHW23). You can claim 1 month after giving notice, or straight away for anti-social behaviour. The court decides whether possession is reasonable.

The Welsh Government has said it will legislate to restrict no-fault evictions during this Senedd term. Nothing has changed yet, and section 173 still applies.

Before you give a section 173 notice

A section 173 notice can't be given at all if any of these apply, so check them first:

• You're not registered with Rent Smart Wales, or neither you nor your agent holds a Rent Smart Wales licence.
• The deposit isn't protected in an authorised scheme, or the required information wasn't given.
• You haven't given a written statement of the contract. If it was given late, you must wait 6 months from the date you gave it.
• You haven't given your address for notices, or an Energy Performance Certificate where one is required.
• Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, the electrical condition report or the gas safety record aren't in order.
• You took a prohibited payment or holding deposit and haven't repaid it.

These restrictions apply to "no fault" notices. They don't stop you giving a notice for serious rent arrears or breach of contract, but the rest of your paperwork still needs to be right.

Going to court in Cardiff

1. The claim. Our panel solicitors issue it at Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre on forms N5 Wales and N119 Wales. After a section 173 notice, a possession-only claim can use the accelerated procedure on form N5B Wales, which is usually decided without a hearing. The court fee is £415.
2. The hearing. For rent arrears and breach claims, there's normally a hearing. We arrange representation through our panel solicitors.
3. Enforcement. If the contract-holder doesn't leave by the date in the order, we apply for a warrant of possession (court fee £152) for County Court bailiffs, or arrange High Court enforcement where appropriate.

HMO licensing in Cardiff

Cardiff's licensing is run by Shared Regulatory Services. Additional HMO licensing covers Cathays, where the current scheme started on 1 February 2023 and runs for five years. The previous Plasnewydd scheme has ended, and the council is consulting on a new one. Larger HMOs anywhere in the city need a mandatory licence. Check the Shared Regulatory Services HMO licensing page for your address.

Why Cardiff landlords use Helpland

• One of only two NRLA-recommended eviction suppliers.
• Rated 4.8/5 on Google.
• Over 3,200 evictions completed, with a 92% success rate.
• Fixed fees, agreed before we start.
• We know the Welsh rules, so you get the right notice the first time.

Useful guides

• Welsh Government: Renting Homes forms for landlords
• Welsh Government: Renting Homes FAQs for landlords
• Accelerated possession after Section 21: England and Wales compared

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