Session launched to offer vacation lets extra flexibility

Since April 2023, self-catering properties have to be obtainable for 252 days and really let for 182 days every year to pay non-domestic charges as a substitute of council tax. The guidelines have been introduced in to make sure property homeowners make a good contribution to their area people.

The Welsh Government is searching for views on 2 key modifications to the way in which the foundations are utilized, to offer the sector further stability:

• Allowing vacation let homeowners to make use of a mean of 182 days let over a number of years. This means those that narrowly miss 182 days letting within the newest 12 months would stay on non-domestic charges if that they had achieved it on common over 2 or 3 earlier years.
• Allowing as much as 14 days of free holidays donated to charity to rely in the direction of the 182-day goal.

The session additionally asks whether or not councils ought to take into account giving companies extra time to regulate, similar to a 12-month grace interval earlier than they might need to pay increased council tax charges once they transfer from non-domestic to home classification.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford stated:

“Tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life. Wales has so much to offer, and we want to ensure we realise that potential in a way that achieves a balance between our communities, businesses, landscapes and visitors.

“We work closely with tourism and hospitality businesses to help address the challenges they face, while ensuring everyone makes a fair contribution towards local economies and funding public services.

“While most holiday let owners are already meeting the new rules brought in from 2023, with 60% of properties meeting the letting criteria, we have listened to those working in the sector and are proposing small changes to the current rules to support them.”

The session is open till 20 November. Respond to the session right here.