Owner guide · Updated 28 October 2026
Registering a short let in Wales.
If you take bookings of 31 nights or fewer for accommodation in Wales, you must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027. The deadline applies even if your council never introduces a visitor levy. Registration is open now.
Who needs to register
You must register if you take bookings for overnight stays in visitor accommodation in Wales, for stays of 31 nights or fewer, and you are responsible for the accommodation, for example because you own or rent it. That includes Airbnb and other short lets.
The duty sits with the person responsible for the accommodation. If an agent manages your property, agree with them who will complete the registration.
When and how to register
- Deadline: 31 March 2027.
- Where: with the Welsh Revenue Authority, through the registering visitor accommodation service on gov.wales.
- Status: registration is open now.
- Levy or not: you must register even if your council does not introduce a visitor levy.
The visitor levy
The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025 lets each council in Wales decide whether to charge a visitor levy. Councils must consult residents and local businesses before introducing one.
| Type of accommodation | Levy |
|---|---|
| Most accommodation, including short lets | £1.30 per person per night |
| Hostel and bunkhouse beds, dormitories and campsite pitches | 75p per person per night |
Cardiff Council has introduced the levy on new bookings for stays from 1 April 2027. Accommodation providers pay it to the Welsh Revenue Authority, and can absorb it or pass it on to guests. Check Visitor Levy in Wales on gov.wales for which councils charge it or are consulting on it.
Business rates or council tax: the 182-day rule
A self-catering property in Wales is assessed for business rates (non-domestic rates) only if it meets all three tests:
- In the previous 12 months, it was available to let commercially for short periods totalling at least 252 days.
- In the same 12 months, it was actually let for short periods totalling at least 182 days.
- You intend to keep it available to let for at least 252 days in the next 12 months.
Short periods mean lets of 28 days or fewer. If your property does not meet the tests, it is likely to be treated as domestic and charged council tax, and councils in Wales can charge a premium of up to 300% on second homes.
Two averaging rules can help. Properties at the same location, or very close by, let by the same business can average their letting days. And since 1 April 2026, you can use the average over the previous two or three years. See non-domestic rates for self-catering properties on Business Wales.
The Welsh Government consulted on changes to these rules between July and October 2026, so they may change from April 2027.
Licensing is coming later
The Welsh Government plans a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation. It is not required yet.
Where EKLiving fits in
We manage Airbnbs in Cardiff, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend and Pontypool. Occupancy matters for the 182-day test, and we update your nightly price every day to keep your calendar full. On a free call, we will talk you through how registration, the levy and business rates apply to your property.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so always check gov.wales for the current position.
Registering a short let in Wales: questions
Do I need to register my Airbnb in Wales?
Yes. Anyone taking bookings of 31 nights or fewer for visitor accommodation in Wales, and responsible for it, must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027. The deadline applies even if your council does not introduce a visitor levy.
Does Cardiff charge a visitor levy?
Yes. Cardiff Council has introduced a visitor levy of £1.30 per person per night on new bookings for stays from 1 April 2027. Providers pay it to the Welsh Revenue Authority and can absorb it or pass it on to guests.
Who pays the visitor levy?
The accommodation provider is responsible for paying the visitor levy to the Welsh Revenue Authority. Providers can choose to absorb the cost or pass it on to guests in the price of their stay.
How many days must a holiday let be let to pay business rates in Wales?
At least 182 days in short lets of 28 days or fewer over the previous 12 months, from at least 252 days available. You must also intend to keep it available for 252 days in the next 12 months. Otherwise it is likely to pay council tax instead.
Next step
Thinking about a short let in Wales?
A free, no-obligation call. We will tell you honestly whether short stays or a long let will earn you more, and how the rules apply.
Our long-let promise: if your first 12 months earn less than a typical long let, we pay you the difference, up to two months of our fees. Conditions apply.