Changes to Your Occupation Contract: Frequently Asked Questions
From 1 June 2026, the Welsh Government introduced new regulations to protect contract holders from discrimination. Because of this, CCHA has sent you a Notice of Variation to update your occupation contract.
Below are answers to the most common questions about what this means for you.
Why have I received a Notice of Variation?
The Welsh Government has updated the law under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Because the law has changed, we are legally required to formally notify you that these new rules have been automatically added to your existing contract.
Do I need to sign a new contract or do anything?
No. You do not need to sign anything or return the notice to us. The new terms are automatically part of your contract. Please simply keep the Notice of Variation safe alongside your original written statement.
Will this change my rent or other responsibilities?
No. All other terms of your contract remain exactly the same. Your rent, your responsibilities, and CCHA’s duties to look after your home are completely unaffected.
What actually changes with these new rules?
The new rules are designed to stop discrimination in housing. They explicitly make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against people who receive welfare benefits or people who have children.
While CCHA already prides itself on being an open and fair social landlord, these laws make those protections official in your contract.
What does the “Right for children to live at or visit the dwelling” mean?
You have the full right to have children under the age of 18 live with you or visit your home.
The only time a landlord could ever limit this is if there is a very specific, proportionate, and legitimate reason—for example, if a property is designated as a 50+ scheme.
What does the “Right to claim benefits” mean?
It means that no landlord can ban or penalise you for claiming welfare benefits (such as Universal Credit or Housing Benefit).
I have questions or need this information in another language. What should I do?
We are here to help. If you need a translated version of the notice, or if you want to chat through what it means, you can contact the team:
Email: info@ccha.org.uk or Phone: 029 2046 8490