State Airbnb laws2026 32 sources cited
Wales Short-Term Rental Laws & Hotel Tax (2026)
Airbnb is legal in Wales. Every host must register free with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027; penalties start at £100 per premises. Cardiff adds a £1.30 per person per night levy from 1 April 2027.2,4,5,6
From 31 official sources and 1 Airbnb help page. Not legal advice.
The short answer
Wales Airbnb Laws in Brief
- Register each premises free with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027; new providers register before opening for bookings from 1 April 2027.
- Unregistered premises face a £100 penalty, rising to £1,400 per premises if they keep operating.
- Cardiff charges a visitor levy of £1.30 per person per night on stays from 1 April 2027; no other council has decided to charge one.
- A property must be available to let for 252 days and let for 182 days a year to be rated for business rates instead of council tax.
At a glance
Wales Short-Term Rental Laws at a Glance
- State licence required
- Yes
- Next rule change
- Mar 31, 2027
The laws in brief
The rules a Wales host meets first, each linked to the ordinance, statute or official page it comes from. Details and exceptions follow below.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Permit | Every host taking short bookings must register2,4 |
| Who can host | Main homes and spare rooms are included4 |
| Where | Short-term lets are planning use class C63 |
| Minimum stay | Registration applies where any booking is 31 nights or less4 |
| Listing display | Each registration gets a unique number4 |
| Safety | Written fire risk assessment32 |
Your home
Can You Host an Airbnb in Wales? It Depends on the Home
Whether you can host in Wales turns on whose home it is and whether you live there.
Your own home, rented whole while you're away
Allowed with conditionsAllowed. Register the premises free with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027 if any booking is for 31 nights or less. A dwelling let commercially for stays of up to 31 days falls in use class C6, and inside Eryri National Park planning permission is needed to start such a use.3,4,22
A spare room with you at home
Allowed with conditionsAllowed. Spare rooms are included in the registration duty, so the host registers the premises even if the room is let only occasionally.4
A second home or investment property let to short-stay guests
Allowed with conditionsAllowed with registration. The property pays business rates only if it is available for 252 days and let for 182 days (or averages 182 over two or three years); otherwise it pays council tax plus any local premium, from 75% in Powys to 150% in Gwynedd and Conwy.4,15,23,27,28
A tenant renting out a home or room
Allowed with conditionsThe person responsible for the accommodation registers it, whether they own or rent it. The register does not say who may let a rented home, so a tenant should check their tenancy agreement.4
Permit
Do You Need a Licence for Airbnb in Wales?
Yes. Wales hosts need the Visitor accommodation registration from the Welsh Revenue Authority. It costs £0.2,4,5,6
- Who needs it
- Anyone who takes bookings for overnight stays in Wales and whose bookings include any of 31 nights or less, for one night, seasonally or year-round. This includes a main home, a spare room, a holiday let or a caravan, whether the provider owns or rents it. Existing providers must register by 31 March 2027; new providers register before they open for bookings.2,4,5,6
- Issued by
- Welsh Revenue Authority
- Valid for
- Registration has no expiry date. Details must be updated within 30 days of any change, and the premises deregistered within 30 days of the last guest leaving if bookings stop.
- On listings
- No number needed on listings
- Platform checks
- No duty on booking platforms to check registration numbers has been published. The unique registration number shows the accommodation is registered, and some provider details are public on the register.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| RegistrationRegistration with the Welsh Revenue Authority is free. | £0 |
Who qualifies
- The provider, meaning the person responsible for the accommodation whether they own or rent it, registers it; an agent or management company can register on the provider's behalf
- Each premises (address) is registered; where the same people or organisations are responsible for several premises they go in one registration
- Registration applies even when the host lets only occasionally, for example a main home advertised once a year for a local event
- Providers need a GOV.UK One Login to sign in and must give contact details, the accommodation address and type, when it is usually open for bookings, the number of bookable units and how many people can stay
How to apply
- Create or use a GOV.UK One Login, which is needed to sign in.
- Open the Welsh Revenue Authority registration service and enter contact details, the accommodation address and type, when it is usually open for bookings, the number of bookable units and the number of guests it sleeps.
- Keep the unique registration number issued when the registration is complete.
- Update the registration within 30 days of any change, and deregister within 30 days if bookings stop.
Applications go through the Welsh Revenue Authority application portal .
Permit rules
- Every host taking short bookings must register
- Anyone who takes bookings for overnight stays in Wales must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by law. The duty covers main homes and spare rooms as well as holiday lets, and registration is free.2,4 In force since October 1, 2026
- Existing providers register by 31 March 2027
- Providers already taking bookings must register by 31 March 2027, whether or not their council introduces a visitor levy. A provider who opens after 1 April 2027 must register before opening for bookings.4,5 Takes effect March 31, 2027
- The register opened on 1 October 2026
- The duty to be registered came into force on 1 October 2026, and the Welsh Revenue Authority's online service is open to every provider as a public beta.2,6 In force since October 1, 2026
- Update or deregister within 30 days
- A registered provider must update the registration within 30 days if anything changes, such as the contact details, the accommodation details, the person responsible or a sale of the property.4,5
- Each registration gets a unique number
- On completing a registration the provider receives a unique registration number, which shows the accommodation is registered. Some provider details are public on the register of visitor accommodation.4
- A licensing scheme is planned
- The Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Act 2026 sets up a licensing scheme starting with self-catering accommodation. The remaining provisions come into force on 4 March 2030 unless Welsh Ministers bring them in earlier, and further consultation comes first.12,13 Takes effect March 4, 2030
Who can host
What Wales Cities and Counties Can and Can't Regulate
- Main homes and spare rooms are included
- A host who advertises their main home on Airbnb even once a year, for a local event, must register it as visitor accommodation if the booking is for 31 nights or less.4
- The provider is responsible, not the agent
- The provider, who owns or rents the accommodation, is responsible for registering. A management company can register on the provider's behalf but is not itself responsible.4
- Short-term lets are planning use class C6
- Since 20 October 2022 a dwellinghouse used for commercial short-term letting of up to 31 days at a time falls in use class C6, separate from a main home (C3) and a second home (C5).3 In force since October 20, 2022
- Changes between C3, C5 and C6 are permitted unless a council opts out
- National permitted development rights allow a home to change between main home, second home and short-term let without planning permission. A local planning authority can remove those rights in a defined area with an Article 4 direction backed by local evidence.14 In force since October 20, 2022
- Eryri National Park: planning permission to start letting a main home
- Inside the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, planning permission has been needed since 1 June 2025 before a main home becomes a second home, short-term holiday let or specific mixed use. Dwellings already in those uses before that date are not affected.22 Applies to: Eryri National Park · In force since June 1, 2025
- Gwynedd: the council's Article 4 direction was quashed
- Cyngor Gwynedd's Article 4 direction for the rest of the county is not in force. The High Court quashed the cabinet decision of 16 July 2024 on 27 November 2025 and permission to appeal was refused on 6 February 2026, so the changes of use it restricted are permitted development again.21 Applies to: Gwynedd (outside Eryri National Park) · In force since November 27, 2025
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park: occupancy conditions case by case
- The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority does not ban second homes or short-term lets, but in some circumstances it may attach a main-dwelling occupancy condition to a dwelling it grants permission for or a change of use.30 Applies to: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park · In force since March 29, 2023
Local rules
Local Rules in Wales's 7 Largest Airbnb Markets
A state licence doesn't replace local rules. Cities and counties still set registration, occupancy, parking and safety requirements. These are Wales's largest markets by active Airbnb listings, with the share of each market's listings that display a registration or licence number.
1. Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the first Welsh council to charge the visitor levy: £1.30 per person per night on stays from 1 April 2027, with providers accounting for new bookings from 28 September 2026. Hosts also register free with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027, and second homes pay a 100% council tax premium.4,8,9,24
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- Visitor levy of £1.30 per person per night on stays from 1 April 2027
- Providers account for the levy on new bookings from 28 September 2026
- The host pays the levy to the Welsh Revenue Authority and may add it to the guest's price
2. Swansea
Swansea
Swansea follows the Welsh national rules: free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027 and planning use class C6 for commercial short lets. The council charges a 100% council tax premium on second homes, and it has not decided to charge a visitor levy.4,9,25
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- No visitor levy: only Cardiff has decided to charge one
- 100% council tax premium on second homes
- Business rates only if available 252 days and let 182 days a year
3. Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd's Article 4 direction, which would have required planning permission to turn a main home into a second home or holiday let, was quashed by the High Court on 27 November 2025 and is not in force. Inside Eryri National Park the park authority's own direction has applied since 1 June 2025. Second homes pay a 150% council tax premium.4,21,22,23
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- Council direction quashed on 27 November 2025; no council-wide planning permission requirement
- Eryri National Park: planning permission needed to start a second home or holiday let since 1 June 2025
- 150% council tax premium on second homes for 2026/27
4. Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire, which includes Tenby and Saundersfoot, follows the Welsh national rules and has no visitor levy. The council's second-home premium fell to 125% from 1 April 2026, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority can attach a main-dwelling occupancy condition to planning permissions case by case.4,26,30,31
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- Second-home council tax premium of 125% from 1 April 2026 (150% in 2025/26)
- 2,003 self-catering properties were rated for business rates on 4 June 2025
- National Park: a main-dwelling occupancy condition may be applied case by case
5. Conwy
Conwy
Conwy, which includes Llandudno, follows the Welsh national rules and has not decided to charge a visitor levy. The council keeps a 150% council tax premium on second homes for 2026/27 and 2027/28.4,9,27
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- 150% council tax premium on second homes for 2026/27 and 2027/28
- Business rates only if available 252 days and let 182 days a year
- No visitor levy
6. Newport
Newport
Newport follows the Welsh national rules: free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027 and no visitor levy, since only Cardiff has decided to charge one. Second homes have paid a 100% council tax premium since 1 April 2025.4,9,29
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- 100% council tax premium on second homes from 1 April 2025
- Business rates only if available 252 days and let 182 days a year
- No visitor levy
7. Powys
Powys
Powys follows the Welsh national rules, with free registration by 31 March 2027 and no visitor levy. The council charges a 75% council tax premium on second homes, which it classes as periodically occupied properties.4,9,28
- Free registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
- 75% council tax premium on second homes (periodically occupied properties)
- Business rates only if available 252 days and let 182 days a year
- No visitor levy
Taxes
Wales Short-Term Rental Taxes
No tax applies to every stay in Wales today. Hosts registered for VAT charge 20%, and Cardiff adds £1.30 per person per night for stays from 1 April 2027.
| Tax | Rate | Collected by |
|---|---|---|
| Value added tax (VAT) on holiday accommodation 20% standard rate, charged by hosts registered for VAT (taxable turnover above £90,000) | 20%18,19,20 | Host |
| Visitor levy (Cardiff) £1.30 per person per night on stays from 1 April 2027 (75 pence for tent pitches and shared rooms) | £1.30 a night7,8,10 | Host |
What the host still handles
- Registration with the Welsh Revenue Authority, free, by 31 March 2027
- VAT with HM Revenue and Customs once taxable turnover passes £90,000
- Visitor levy returns and payment by bank transfer to the Welsh Revenue Authority, where a council charges the levy (Cardiff from 1 April 2027)
- Non-domestic (business) rates through the Valuation Office if the property meets the 252-day and 182-day tests; otherwise council tax with any local premium7,8,9,18
Operating rules
Operating Rules for Wales Short-Term Rentals
- Registration applies where any booking is 31 nights or less
- The registration duty applies where any of the bookings a provider takes are for 31 nights or less. A host whose bookings are all longer than 31 nights falls outside it.4
- 252 days available and 182 days let for business rates
- A self-catering property is rated for non-domestic (business) rates instead of council tax only if it is available to let for 252 days or more and actually let for at least 182 days in the previous 12 months. Otherwise it pays council tax, with any council premium.15 In force since April 1, 2023
- Two- or three-year average accepted since 1 April 2026
- Since 1 April 2026 a property that let for fewer than 182 days in the latest year can still qualify for business rates if its average over the past two or three years is at least 182 days.15 In force since April 1, 2026
- Only lets of 28 days or fewer count towards the test
- The Valuation Office treats 'short periods' as 28 days or fewer, so lettings longer than 28 days do not count towards the 252-day and 182-day criteria.15
- Councils can add up to 300% council tax on second homes
- Welsh councils can set a council tax premium of up to 300% on second homes. Premiums for 2026/27 include 100% in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, 150% in Gwynedd and Conwy, 125% in Pembrokeshire and 75% in Powys.17,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 In force since April 1, 2023
- Cardiff visitor levy from 1 April 2027
- Cardiff Council starts a visitor levy on 1 April 2027. Providers in Cardiff must account for it on new bookings, and on added nights or guests, from 28 September 2026 for stays from that date.8,9 Applies to: Cardiff · Takes effect April 1, 2027
- Levy rate: £1.30 a person a night, 75 pence for tents and shared rooms
- The higher rate of £1.30 per person per night applies to most accommodation, including entire homes. A lower rate of 75 pence applies to shared rooms in hostels and bunkhouses and to tent pitches, and children under 18 are not charged at that lower rate.7 Applies to: areas where a council charges the levy · Takes effect April 1, 2027
- The provider owes the levy and may pass it on
- The host is liable for the levy and pays it to the Welsh Revenue Authority, which collects it for the council. Hosts may add it to the guest's price or absorb it, and there is no legal duty to pass it on.7,10 Applies to: areas where a council charges the levy · Takes effect April 1, 2027
- Stays of more than 31 nights are outside the levy
- No levy is due where every guest is entitled under the contract to stay for more than 31 nights, consecutive or not.11 Applies to: areas where a council charges the levy · Takes effect April 1, 2027
- Written fire risk assessment
- Hosts with paying guests need a written fire risk assessment, which falls on the 'Responsible Person'. Welsh fire safety guidance for guest accommodation applies in Wales.32
Fines
How to Avoid Airbnb Fines in Wales
Fines in Wales fall on hosting without the Visitor accommodation registration, or outside the rules above. With it in hand and the rules followed, none of the fines below apply.
- Failing to register: £100 per premises, then £10 per premises for up to 30 more days, then a further £1,000 per premises if the premises is still unregistered, about £1,400 per premises in all. The penalty is due within 30 days and can be reviewed or appealed to the tribunal.1,5
- Failing to update the registration or deregister within 30 days of a change: £100 per premises, with the same follow-on penalties.5
- The Welsh Revenue Authority can register a provider itself; that counts as a late registration and the same penalties apply.5
Changes
What's Changed in Wales's Airbnb Rules, and What's Next
4 changes are scheduled after October 20, 2026; the most recent rules are listed first.
- March 4, 2030 Upcoming
- April 1, 2027 ProposedPossible change to the business rates letting test
Any lowering of the 182-day threshold or new exemptions would need legislation and is intended to take effect on 1 April 2027, subject to the consultation and review.16
- April 1, 2027 Upcoming
- March 31, 2027 Upcoming
- October 1, 2026
- September 28, 2026
- July 31, 2026 Not in forceConsultation on the 182-day threshold and new exemptions
The Welsh Government opened a 12-week consultation, running to 23 October 2026, on lowering the 182-day letting threshold and on five exemptions, including properties that are part of a wider business and properties on the owner's farm. The review is due to finish by the end of 2026.16
- April 27, 2026Licensing Act receives Royal Assent
The Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Act 2026 creates the legal framework for a licensing scheme, starting with self-catering accommodation.12
- April 1, 2026Business rates test accepts a multi-year average
A property that let fewer than 182 days in the latest year can meet the test if its average over the past two or three years is at least 182 days.15
- November 27, 2025Gwynedd's Article 4 direction quashed
The High Court confirmed an order quashing Cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet decision of 16 July 2024 to confirm its Article 4 direction. Permission to appeal was refused on 6 February 2026, so the direction is not in force in the Gwynedd planning authority area.21
- June 1, 2025Eryri National Park Article 4 direction
Planning permission became necessary inside Eryri National Park before a main home changes to a second home, short-term holiday let or specific mixed use.22
- April 1, 2023
- October 20, 2022Planning use class C6 for short-term lets
A dwellinghouse used for commercial short-term letting of up to 31 days at a time became its own planning use class, alongside C3 (main home) and C5 (second home).3
Listing data
What Wales's Listings Show
What officials report
- 8,000
- Self-catering properties rated for business rates in Wales · as of July 2026Around 8,000 self-catering properties are listed for non-domestic rates, about 70% of the 2023 peak of over 11,000.16
- 2,003
- Self-catering properties rated for business rates in Pembrokeshire · as of June 4, 2025Pembrokeshire had 2,003 self-catering properties classified for non-domestic rates and 4,328 second homes paying council tax on 4 June 2025.31
Earnings
What Could a Short-Term Rental in Wales Earn?
The rules shape the numbers: a registration that costs £0. For a specific address, the Airbnb income calculator estimates revenue, occupancy and nightly rate from comparable listings, so you can test the numbers before applying.
FAQ
Wales Short-Term Rental Laws: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Airbnb legal in Wales?
Yes. Short-term letting is allowed across Wales, but every provider taking bookings of 31 nights or less must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027. Registration is free.4
Do I need a permit or licence for Airbnb in Wales?
How much does registration cost?
What is the deadline to register?
What is the fine for not registering?
Can I rent a home I don't live in?
Does Airbnb collect hotel or tourist tax in Wales?
Is there a tourist tax in Wales?
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Wales?
Nationally, changes between a main home, second home and short-term let (use classes C3, C5 and C6) are permitted development unless a council has removed that right. Inside Eryri National Park, planning permission has been needed to start such a use since 1 June 2025; Gwynedd's own direction was quashed in November 2025.14,21,22
Do I pay business rates or council tax on a holiday let in Wales?
Business rates apply if the property is available to let for at least 252 days and let for at least 182 days in the previous 12 months, or averages 182 days over two or three years. Otherwise it pays council tax. The Welsh Government is consulting on lowering the 182-day threshold, with any change intended from 1 April 2027.15,16
Does my registration number have to appear on my Airbnb listing?
Each registration receives a unique registration number that shows the accommodation is registered, and some details are public on the register. The Welsh guidance does not set a rule for displaying the number on a listing.4
Do I need a fire risk assessment?
Yes. Airbnb's UK guidance states that written fire risk assessments are a legal requirement for all premises with paying guests, and Welsh Government guidance on making guest accommodation safe from fire applies in Wales.32
Method
How These Rules Were Checked
Each rule on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official source cited beside it: the ordinance or statute, the permit office's own pages and the tax authority. Airbnb's help pages are cited on their own only for what Airbnb itself does, such as the taxes it collects and the permit checks it runs, and otherwise only beside an official source; news reports only for when a change was announced. Rules that could not be confirmed on an official page are left out. The Cardiff and Swansea council tax premium pages were read in a browser, and the Powys council tax premium page was read from an Internet Archive copy.
Rules change with council votes, court rulings and new state laws, so the page is rechecked every three months and whenever a scheduled change takes effect. It summarizes the rules for information and is not legal advice; the Welsh Revenue Authority has the final word on any application.
Sources
Sources
Each rule above links to the source it comes from. Official ordinances, statutes and government pages come first, then Airbnb's own help pages.
- 1. Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025, section 7 · legislation.gov.uk
- 2. Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025, section 5 · legislation.gov.uk
- 3. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2022 · legislation.gov.uk
- 4. Registering visitor accommodation: overview · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 5. Failing to register, update details, or deregister your visitor accommodation · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 6. Get ready to register your visitor accommodation in Wales · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 7. Visitor Levy in Wales · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 8. Visitor Levy checklist for accommodation providers in Cardiff · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 9. Step-by-step guide to Visitor Levy for accommodation providers: check if a local council charges Visitor Levy · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 10. Who pays the levy (technical guidance) · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 11. Meaning of overnight stays in visitor accommodation (technical guidance) · Welsh Revenue Authority (GOV.WALES)
- 12. Licensing of visitor accommodation in Wales · Welsh Government (GOV.WALES)
- 13. The Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Act 2026 · Welsh Government (GOV.WALES)
- 14. Written Statement: Changes to planning legislation and policy for second homes and short-term lets (30 September 2022) · Welsh Government (GOV.WALES)
- 15. Non-Domestic Rates for Self-Catering Properties in Wales · Business Wales (Welsh Government)
- 16. Written Statement: Consultation on the classification of self-catering properties for local tax purposes (31 July 2026) · Welsh Government (GOV.WALES)
- 17. New tax rules for second homes · Welsh Government (GOV.WALES)
- 18. Hotels and holiday accommodation (VAT Notice 709/3) · GOV.UK (HM Revenue and Customs)
- 19. VAT registration thresholds · GOV.UK (HM Revenue and Customs)
- 20. VAT rates · GOV.UK (HM Revenue and Customs)
- 21. Article 4 Direction · Cyngor Gwynedd
- 22. Article 4 Direction in Eryri · Eryri National Park Authority
- 23. Second homes, furnished properties that are not a main residence, and premium · Cyngor Gwynedd
- 24. Council tax premiums · Cardiff Council
- 25. Council Tax premiums for empty properties and second homes · Swansea Council
- 26. Second homes · Pembrokeshire County Council
- 27. Council Tax Premium Update · Conwy County Borough Council
- 28. Council Tax Premiums · Powys County Council
- 29. Council tax premiums · Newport City Council
- 30. Planning Law and Advice on Second Homes and Short-term Lets · Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority
- 31. Council Tax Premium consultation 2025 · Pembrokeshire County Council
- 32. Responsible hosting in the United Kingdom · Airbnb Help Centre