Holiday let rules in North Wales
Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy have some of the highest concentrations of holiday lets in the UK, and Wales is changing the rules fastest. Here is what applies.
Checked against official sources on 26 Sept 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
What's specific to North Wales
Planning: Article 4 in Eryri
Gwynedd has used an Article 4 direction so that changing a main home into a second home or short-term let needs planning permission in parts of the county. Check with the council before buying or converting.
Register with the WRA
Every property must be registered with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027. Gwynedd is also considering a visitor levy, from October 2027 at the earliest.
Read the guideGwynedd Council: tourism levy and registration
The 182-day rule
To pay business rates rather than council tax, a Welsh holiday let must be let for 182 days a year. Councils in North Wales charge high second homes premiums, so tracking your nights matters.
What applies across Wales
Register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027
Every visitor accommodation provider in Wales must register each property with the WRA. Registration opens in October 2026, it is free, and late registration can cost £100 per property. A licensing scheme is expected from around 2029.
Business rates: the 252/182 rule
A Welsh holiday let pays business rates only if it is available for 252 days and let for 182 days a year. Otherwise it pays council tax, and councils can charge up to 300% extra on second homes. The Welsh Government is consulting on changes that could apply from April 2027.
Read the guidegov.wales: consultation on self-catering and local taxes
Fire safety
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to any paid holiday let in Wales that is not your main home. You need a written fire risk assessment and must act on it.
Keep your North Wales holiday let compliant, automatically
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