Rent Smart Wales — Add a Property, Change Your Letting Agent, Update Your Details

The 28-Day Rule

Every change to your circumstances must be reported to Rent Smart Wales within 28 calendar days of the change occurring. This is a statutory obligation under Sections 16 and 23 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, and failing to report on time is an offence that can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £150 or licence revocation.

Changes that trigger the 28-day rule:

• Acquiring a property in Wales that is already subject to a domestic tenancy
• Selling or transferring a registered property
• Appointing a new letting agent
• Terminating an agent agreement
• Changing your name, address, email or phone number
• Changes to company directors or designated responsible persons (for corporate landlords)

All updates are free and processed through the RSW online portal.

Adding a New Property

When you buy a new rental property in Wales — or convert an existing property to residential rental — log in to your RSW account and add the property address. You do not need a new registration or a new fee. Your existing £60 registration covers your entire Welsh portfolio. Register before marketing a property you already own that you intend to let.

If the property comes with an existing domestic tenancy, the 28-day clock starts from the date of legal assignment or completion. Do not wait until the tenancy agreement is renegotiated or a new contract is issued.

For each new property, you must also declare whether it is self-managed or managed by a licensed agent, and link the appropriate licence.

Removing a Property

When you sell a property or it leaves your rental portfolio permanently, remove it from your RSW profile through the portal. Removing a property does not cancel your registration — your registration remains active for any other properties you still own.

If you have disposed of every Welsh rental property and do not intend to let again, submit a formal "Registration No Longer Required" notification. Otherwise, your registration will remain on the books and you will receive renewal reminders in five years.

Changing Your Letting Agent

Switching from one agent to another, or moving from agent management to self-management (or vice versa), requires careful sequencing:

Switching agents:

1. Unlink the current agent from the property on the portal
2. Link the new agent by entering their RSW licence number — the system sends them a notification to accept
3. Wait for the new agent to accept the linkage from their account

Moving to self-management:

1. Unlink the current agent
2. If you do not already hold a Landlord Licence, you must complete approved training and apply for one before carrying out any management tasks
3. There must be no gap where the property has neither a licensed agent nor a self-managing licence holder covering it

Appointing an agent for the first time:

1. Verify the agent's RSW licence status on the public register
2. Link the agent to the property and wait for acceptance
3. Once the agent is linked, your own Landlord Licence is no longer required for that property (though you may keep it active for other self-managed properties)

Updating Personal or Corporate Details

Name changes, new correspondence addresses, updated email addresses and phone numbers can all be edited directly in the portal. For corporate landlords, changes to company directors or the registered office address must also be reported.

The 28-day deadline applies to every type of detail change, not just property and agent updates. An outdated email address is particularly risky — RSW sends renewal reminders and enforcement notices by email. If they go to an old address, that does not excuse non-compliance.

Why Staying Current Matters

An outdated RSW profile creates legal exposure at the worst possible moment. If you need to serve a possession notice and your registration does not show the correct property or the correct agent, the notice may be challenged. Judges at Welsh possession hearings routinely check RSW records — any mismatch between the register and reality gives the tenant's solicitor grounds to contest.

For a structured system to track property additions, agent changes and renewal deadlines across your portfolio, see our Rent Smart Wales guide.

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