I am in the process of renewing the contract with the current tenants, but the newly generated PDF contract document still indicates a fixed term of 12 months.
This could lead to significant complications regarding a potential eviction in the future, as it is legally inaccurate. It is imperative that this is amended to reflect a rolling contract as soon as possible.
I am unable to proceed with the renewal until this change is made.
Assume this is Rent Now… could you copy and paste the wording here?
Yes i’m trying to renew with current tenants. But it’s exactly the same as their previous contract
‘‘Fixed term standard occupation contract’’
No mention of it being a rolling contract, no mention of two months notice, nothing showing the change since Renters Rights Bill
And this needs to be sorted, as this a huge loophole when seeking grounds for an eviction
Please can you explain why you are trying to ‘renew’ the tenancy?
Your existing one will be entirely valid simply with any reference to fixed terms (or any other clauses not allowed by RRA such as automatic rent increases ) will already be null and void and unenforceable. Your existing contract will already be converted into an APT rolling contract by RRA. So there’s no obvious need to renew?.
What is the full clause that needs removing?
Meanwhile hopefully @mod_emma or @mod_harry can help
Best
Because the current contract ends in a week, i’m assuming i now need to renew this
No you don’t!
It became an APT rolling contract on 1 may due to RRA. No action needed. Extract from the guidance below
Best
On 1 May 2026, all assured tenancies, including assured shorthold tenancies, automatically became rolling tenancies. If the tenancy had an end date, it will no longer apply.
You did not need to do anything for this change to take effect
No contracts end anymore (arguably they never ended anyway). I strongly suggest you read up on the changes that the RRA introduced to tenancy agreements. David’s link is a good place to start.
Very dangerous to ‘assume’ anything when it comes to the PRS world. @David240 @tatemono are spot on. RRA just changed all previous ‘assumptions’ as of 1st May 2026.
In England Only. !!
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I assume this is in Wales, as your text refers to an ‘Occupation Contract’. Am I right?
@tatemono & @David240 Does your advice reflect this?
I have not any properties in Wales, so am unfamiliar with the rules there, so cannot provide reliable advice, but believe fixed terms are still permitted.
well yes…but clarified below
@Jason64 indicated concerns about the draft renewal contract referring to a fixed term whilst apparently understanding RRA abolished fixed terms (which it did in England)
If @Jason64 's contract is in wales then RRA has not abolished fixed terms there and his concerns over the wording of the draft renewal contract are unfounded and he can go ahead with the renewal contract which mentions fixed terms. If his contract is in England then the advice to let his existing contract continue as an APT stands
Best
It is in Wales.
So do we still have fixed term 12 month contracts in Wales? I thought this stopped everywhere.
Do i need to renew the contract or do nothing
Most of the changes in RRA didnt apply to wales. Changes due to RRA detailed here Renting Homes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026: guidance for landlords [HTML] | GOV.WALES
I’d check with a lawyer or nrla but I ‘think’ in wales it becomes a rolling periodic contract at end of fixed term automatically so no action needed. See eg
You can issue a fixed term standard contract of any length but if a new fixed term contract is not agreed before the end of the fixed term and the tenant (contract-holder) remains in occupation after the end of the fixed term, a periodic standard contract will automatically arise. Importantly, a fixed term contract cannot generally be ended by issuing a Landlord’s Notice during the fixed term period
"What happens at the end of my fixed term standard occupation contract?
If you continue living in your home after the fixed term ends, your occupation contract will automatically become a periodic standard contract unless you and your landlord agree to a new contract. "
So I think you can choose to let it become periodic by doing nothing or choose to ‘renew’ in Openrent which will create a brand new 12m fixed tenancy contract I think (and which then needs agreement with tenant I expect) - the latter up to you and tenant- you/they might want to commit in that way or you/they might prefer periodic.
Best
Well there’s a problem here, because if I do nothing and let it become a periodic contract
From research I am supposed to serve the tenant a copy of the new peridotic contract within 14 days
How can I serve a contract i haven’t created yet on Openrent
I’ve also read I can only serve Section 173 (Welsh no fault eviction) if i state this in the contract.
Openrent needs to produce periodic contracts now, because them simply saying ‘‘You have to do nothing, everyone goes on a periodic contract’’ is basically going to cause a sh*tstorm when trying to evict someone.
@Jason64 maybe some LL training specific to Wales would be a good idea.
A starting point would be reading all of the guidance at Renting from a private landlord | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES
There’s a previous link Contract Holder Notice WALES!
saying
what you’ll need according to the thread is provide a written statement of terms within 14 days - pretty sure there will be templates available online for this but the contract itself may contain most of the detail.. It says OR were going to provide guidance. Check with OR support or DM @Dan4 .
This seems most unlikely- not mentioned as a reason an s173 could be invalid by Shelter cymru
And not mentioned in the wales gov flowchart as a reason why a s173 would be invalid
Source: gov.wales Issuing a valid landlord’s notice under section 173: flowchart | GOV.WALES
But again you could also check with OR support/ @Dan4
Best
Why is openrent not producing a new periodic contract for me?
I pay for the service, why do I now need to go and create a written statement/contract which I know nothing about doing
How do i contact OP support please
because it’s unnecessary? You existing contract already sets out all the terms and conditions and nothing new needs to be produced or signed.
Because you have chosen the cheapest possible option for creating a contract, instead of paying a traditional agent who would do this sort of stuff but at a fee (of 10%? of monthly rent). It means you have to do some stuff yourself including knowing all the rules. If you dont want any of that, pay for full service from a traditional letting agency
you contact OR support by pressing the ‘ask a question’ link at the bottom of the OR page [OpenRent | Property To Rent From Private Landlords and every other OR page]
Good luck