Rent stopping order
A rent stopping order (RSO) is a sanction used in Wales under the Rent Smart Wales regime when a private landlord or their agent is not properly registered or licensed. An RSO is made by the Residential Property Tribunal (Wales) on application from the licensing authority or a Local Housing Authority (LHA).
For the period stated in the order, the contract-holder (tenant) is not legally required to pay rent, and the law treats that rent as if it has already been paid. You cannot chase “arrears” for that period or rely on non-payment covered by the RSO as a basis for regaining possession.
Rent stopping orders sit alongside other enforcement tools such as civil penalty notices and Rent Repayment Orders, and can also restrict a landlord’s ability to use certain notice routes to end a contract.
Although RSOs are specific to Wales, they reflect the wider UK trend, reinforced in England by the Renters’ Rights Act of linking landlords’ income and ability to recover possession to proper licensing, rental standards and professional conduct across the Private Rented Sector (PRS).
Also see our landlord blog articles.
