AN AWARD-WINNING estate agent will hold free events to support landlords and tenants ahead of a landmark transformation in Welsh rental laws.

Williams Estates is to host drop-in sessions and advice clinics at its offices in Ruthin, Rhyl, Denbigh, Mold, Prestatyn and Rhuddlan in the run up to July 15, when The Renting Homes Act 2016 is set to be introduced across the country.

The Act has been branded the “biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades” and includes updates to current laws; among them is an increase in the notice landlords must give when issuing ‘no-fault’ evictions and protection for tenants from ‘no-fault’ evictions for a minimum of 12 months after signing a contract.

Managing Director Jason Williams and the team – named Best Lettings Agency in Denbighshire at The British Property Awards for 2021/22 – are on hand to help all parties as the changes will mark a “watershed moment” for the sector.

“The Act has been in the pipeline for some time so the announcement it will finally take place this summer will have a huge impact on landlords and tenants,” said Jason.

“It will in many ways make the process a lot simpler but in the short term there will be a lot of questions around liability, insurance, legalities and other issues so we are going to hold free advice and information sessions across all our North Wales offices to try and help people as much as we can.

“Whether you are a customer of Williams Estates or not, our award-winning, experienced staff will be on hand to share their expertise at what is a watershed moment for the housing industry.”

From July 15, all landlords will be required to provide a written copy of the occupation contract to the tenant, setting out the rights and responsibilities of both parties; there will be a strengthened duty on landlords to ensure the property is fit for human habitation, including the installation of smoke alarms and regular electrical safety testing, and the introduction of a consistent approach to eviction where antisocial behaviour and domestic violence occurs.

Welsh Government Climate Change Minister Julie James admitted the Act has “taken longer than expected” to implement but says it will have a positive effect for years to come.

She added: “This Act represents the biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades and will make it simpler and easier to rent a home, replacing various, complex pieces of existing legislation and case law with one clear legal framework.

“When in place, contract-holders in Wales will have greater security of tenure than in any other part of the UK.”

For more information on the free information clinics, visit the Williams Estates website www.williamsestates.com and follow Williams Estates on social media @williamsestates.

AN ESTATE agent laid foundations for further growth in the new year after sweeping the board at national awards ceremonies.

Williams Estates was a big winner at both the ESTAS and British Property Awards following a successful 12 months.

Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the North Wales company – which has sites in Holywell, Denbigh, Mold, Rhyl, Ruthin, Prestatyn and Rhuddlan – recruited six new bilingual staff in past months.

And the 25-strong team had even more to shout about having secured top industry accolades; they won six titles at the recent ESTAS, including their ninth Gold for Best Sales Agent in Wales, and another for Best Estate Agency Group in Wales.

And last week, Williams Estates received Silver for Wales at the British Property Awards, having earlier been unveiled as Gold winner for Denbighshire (Sales) and Flintshire (Lettings).

Director Jason Williams praised his team for their diligence and dedication to customers, a focus which played a major role in them emerging victorious at both ceremonies.

“The customer is at the heart of everything we do, so to have been recognised and rewarded for that is a huge honour,” he said.

“These titles are judged on service, efficiency and there is a mystery shopping element to them over several months, so we have to be at the top of our game to compete with the hundreds of other agencies out there.

“Given the consistently high standards of our staff we have again featured highly and won the Wales-wide ESTAS Gold for the ninth time – and eighth in a row – so that is testament to their hard work and positive attitudes.”

Despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, Jason said their early investment in technology and adaptability in the face of national uncertainty enabled employees at all seven sites to continue setting new standards.

“We have expanded to meet demand, and when Covid-19 took hold in the UK were early adopters of innovative methods including virtual video tours,” said Jason, a former President of the North Wales, South Cheshire, and Merseyside branch of the National Association of Estate Agents.

“To this point we have produced more than 800 videos and they have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times so that is something we will look to continue with, though more in-person sales are now taking place.

“The market is in a strong position, with house prices increasing and so much interest, but for us the main target is further improvement in all aspects of the business – that’s our top priority as we approach 2022.”

This year’s ESTAS were held in London, with results calculated from over 200,000 customer review ratings.

TV presenter and host Phil Spencer praised Williams Estates and all of the winners: “You’ve had to work incredibly hard, adapt your businesses and absorb considerable costs to follow the protocols and enable things to happen safely.

“Quite simply, delivering great service has never been more challenging, so the ESTAS Awards for 2021 are the most well deserved ever in their entire 18-year history.”

For more information, visit the website www.williamsestates.com and follow Williams Estates on social media @williamsestates.

A PROMINENT estate agent celebrating a landmark anniversary is heading for record-breaking awards success.

Williams Estates has handed over the keys to thousands of doors across North Wales over the last 21 years.

Director Jason Williams launched the company at the turn of the century and has grown it strategically from one employee and one office to 25 staff across seven sites in Denbigh, Mold, Rhyl, Ruthin, Holywell, Prestatyn and Rhuddlan.

Having taken on six new Welsh-speaking employees in past months the 51 year-old is laying the foundations for a bright future.

“We have grown through the pandemic and expanded our workforce, which is an achievement given the challenges all sectors have faced since the onset of Covid-19,” said Jason, who is married to Emma and has three children, Harry, Rory, and Nathan.

“But we have done so sustainably, as before, and are now focused on making ourselves even better, rather than bigger.

“That means improving by 10-20%, which will make us even more efficient and meet the huge demand we have for our services at present. We have set the benchmark high, but you can always aim higher.”

He added: “Like many firms we had to quickly pivot in the pandemic but long-term the changes we made, including video tours, online forms for tenants and vendors to complete remotely and virtual conferencing, will only make us more efficient and accessible.”

Williams Estates is hoping to win Gold for Wales Estate Agent of the Year for the ninth time in succession at the prestigious ESTAS Awards ceremony in London this Friday (Oct 22).

And having developed the lettings side of the group to management of more than 400 properties, Jason – a former President of the North Wales, South Cheshire, and Merseyside branch of the National Association of Estate Agents – says life has never been busier.

“When I opened our first office in Denbigh it was just me and a commitment to being a family-orientated business offering that personal touch and never forgetting that the customer is always number one,” he added.

“I’ve never strayed from that ethos and am now joined by a fantastic team who share that belief.

“We’ve grown together – as people and as a company – and I am so proud of what Williams Estates has become, and our place in the sector.

“To win awards is a huge honour, and we are delighted to again be a finalist at the ESTAS, but for me seeing the joy on the faces of a family when they get the keys to their new home is unsurpassable.

“That’s what has kept us at the forefront of this industry and why we are determined to stay there for another 21 years and beyond.”

For more information, visit the website www.williamsestates.com and follow Williams Estates on social media @williamsestates.