diff --git a/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
index 0f0e2f265..45eccd43e 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ module Validations::PropertyValidations
       record.errors.add :referral, I18n.t("validations.household.referral.rsnvac_non_temp")
     end
 
-    if record.renewal == 0 && record.rsnvac == 14
+    if record.renewal && record.renewal.zero? && record.rsnvac == 14
       record.errors.add :rsnvac, I18n.t("validations.property.rsnvac.not_a_renewal")
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/validations/property_validations_spec.rb b/spec/models/validations/property_validations_spec.rb
index 51916cf4c..b3965b3d6 100644
--- a/spec/models/validations/property_validations_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/validations/property_validations_spec.rb
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ RSpec.describe Validations::PropertyValidations do
 
       context "when the letting is not a renewal" do
         it "validates that the reason for vacancy is not renewal" do
-          record.first_time_property_let_as_social_housing = 0 
+          record.first_time_property_let_as_social_housing = 0
           record.renewal = 0
           record.rsnvac = 14
           property_validator.validate_rsnvac(record)