Changes to Signing Notices In Wales

The Welsh Assembly has passed an amendment to the Housing (Wales) Bill, bringing the principality into line with England, where the Leasehold Reform (Amendment) Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 13 March this year and came into force on 13 May.

When collectively enfranchising or extending their leases under the 1993 Act, the need for tenants to sign notices personally has sometimes caused problems - for example when an individual tenant has a disability and has given a power of attorney to a third party, or when notices need to be signed by tenants who are based overseas. Under the amendment, solicitors or someone else duly authorised on a tenant’s behalf will be able to sign the notices.