New law targets all overnight lets across Wales
Anyone who charges guests to stay overnight in Wales will be legally required to register their visitor accommodation under new legislation.
The new requirement will apply to all paid visitor accommodation, including spare rooms, holiday cottages, cabins, campsites and hotels.
Registration will be required whether accommodation is let for a single night, occasionally, seasonally or all year round.
The register will be managed by the Welsh Revenue Authority and is intended to provide a clearer picture of visitor accommodation across the country.
It will also support local councils that choose to introduce a Visitor Levy.
Registration is due to open in autumn 2026.
Both informal hosts and professional accommodation providers will be required to comply, with penalties possible for those who fail to register.
Accommodation providers across Flintshire are being encouraged to prepare in advance by visiting the accommodation registration website, where they can see what information will be required and sign up for updates and reminders.
When registration opens, providers will be asked to supply details including their contact information, accommodation address, type of accommodation, how many people can stay, and when the accommodation is usually open for bookings.
Rebecca Godfrey, Chief Executive of the Welsh Revenue Authority, said:
“If you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, you’ll need to register with us. We want to make this process as straightforward as possible, and we’re here to support accommodation providers to register correctly and on time.
“We’ll be publishing further guidance before registration opens in autumn 2026. In the meantime, I’d encourage providers to visit the accommodation registration website to find out what to expect and sign up for updates.”
Do I need to register?
You will need to register your visitor accommodation with the Welsh Revenue Authority if both of the following apply:
You take bookings for overnight stays in Wales
Any of those bookings are for 31 nights or less
If you charge guests to stay overnight, even occasionally, registration will be required by law.
It does not matter how often you host. Whether you let for one night a year, seasonally, or all year round, you will still need to register once the system opens.
The rules apply to individuals as well as businesses. Someone renting out a spare room in their own home will be covered in the same way as a hotel or holiday let operator.
What accommodation is included?
The registration requirement will apply to:
Self-catering accommodation such as cottages, houses, apartments and lodges
Your main home or a spare room
Hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses
Campsite pitches for tents, touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans
Glamping accommodation, including shepherd’s huts, yurts and pods
Static caravans and mobile homes
Hostels and bunkhouses
If guests pay to stay overnight and the stay is short-term, the accommodation is likely to need registering.
How to get ready for registration
Registration is due to open in autumn 2026.
When registering, most providers will be asked to supply:
Contact details, including name, address and phone number
Date of birth
Company number, if applicable
Charity number, if applicable
Trading name, if used
The address of the accommodation
The type of accommodation offered
How many people can stay
When the accommodation is usually open for bookings
The Welsh Revenue Authority says that having this information ready in advance should mean registration takes most people less than 15 minutes to complete online.
More here: https://www.gov.wales/get-ready-register-your-visitor-accommodation-wales
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