Form RHW20: Notice of possession claim due to serious rent arrears

Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, if you let a property under a standard occupation contract (fixed-term or periodic) and you want to evict your contract-holders (i.e. tenants) due to serious rent arrears, this is the formal notice you must give them.

It tells them that you intend to make a court claim to evict them, which you can do from 14 days after serving the notice. It replaces the section 8 notice under the old rules.

Serious rent arrears means at least:

• 8 weeks' rent is in arrears (if the rent is paid weekly, fortnightly or every 4 weeks)
• 2 months' rent is in arrears (if rent is paid monthly)
• One quarter's rent is more than 3 months in arrears (if rent is paid quarterly)
• 25% of the rent is more than 3 months in arrears (if rent is paid each year)

If you've been told that the contract-holder has been granted breathing space under the debt respite scheme, you can't send this notice during this period without first getting a court's permission.