The Welsh Government is calling on landlords to help tenants who are struggling to find the money to pay their rent and day-to-day bills.
Ministers want landlords to signpost where tenants can find help if they cannot make ends meet due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In an online document called Support available if you are a tenant living in Wales – COVID-19, the Welsh Government pools information about pay, benefits and grants available to private tenants.
“The current crisis is impacting on people’s ability to pay their rent and household bill. While we have called on landlords to be supportive and offer flexibility throughout this time, we recognise that this won’t make the debt incurred during this time just go away,” said a government spokesman.
“Although there is lots of support out there, the challenge is knowing who to turn to and how to access it.
“Written in a practical way, the guidance outlines the types of financial support that tenants may be able to access, the circumstances in which it is available and where to go to for help and advice. It also explains what emergency help people can access if they have severe financial challenges.
“It is vitally important that tenants are made aware of the help that’s out there. This is why we are asking you to share this guidance as widely as you can to ensure that tenants have the right information in order to act quickly and put measures in place which will improve their physical and emotional well-being during the crisis, but also to prevent housing issues escalating in the months following COVID-19.”
The government wants landlords to tell renters about the guide and to send them a link to the online document.
The guidance has also been added to the useful links section of the coronavirus hub.
