header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
13 June 2019 / Hywel James
Issue: 7844 / Categories: Features , Landlord&tenant , Housing
printer mail-detail

Section 21: when ‘or’ actually means ‘and’

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Do landlords have to be both registered and licensed when serving a section 21 notice? DJ Hywel James considers the lessons from Evans v Fleri
  • The decision of HHJ Jarman QC in Evans v Fleri is the first occasion an appellate court has considered the interpretation of the 2014 Act.
  • Breach of these provisions constitutes a criminal offence.

Housing law in Wales is an area of law which has been devolved and primary legislation is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly. The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (H(W)A 2014) among other matters established a regime requiring private landlords to be registered. A landlord carrying out letting or property management activities must also be licensed or in the alternative appoint a person who is licensed to undertake such work. Breach of these provisions constitutes a criminal offence.

The requirements for registration and licensing have consequences in terms of the service of a section 21 notice terminating a tenancy upon the giving of two months’ notice. Section 44 (1) of H(W)A 2014

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
Womble Bond Dickinson—Paula Myers

Womble Bond Dickinson—Paula Myers

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Paula Myers to private capital team in Leeds

mfg Solicitors—five promotions

mfg Solicitors—five promotions

Law firm mfg Solicitors announces five promotions at Birmingham office

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners adds six to partnership in record year for partner promotions

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: Beyond AI hallucinations
The legal profession's AI challenge extends far beyond fabricated case citations, according to a warning about the next phase of technological risk
NLJ this week: AML supervision shake-up
Law firms should use the transition period before the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumes anti-money laundering (AML) supervision to strengthen governance and compliance, experts have warned
NLJ this week: Options for global evidence gathering
Cross-border disputes increasingly demand creative approaches to gathering evidence, with litigators needing to look beyond traditional letters of request
NLJ this week: Indefinite or forever?
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified the distinction between contracts of 'indefinite' and 'perpetual' duration, with potentially significant implications for commercial drafting
NLJ this week: Proscription appeal upheld
The Court of Appeal was entitled to uphold the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, according to an analysis of the ruling
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll