Letting agents and landlords operating short-term and holiday lets in Wales are being urged to prepare for the mandatory national visitor accommodation register that goes live in Autumn 2026.
In a major regulatory shift that will have significant compliance and operational implications for the sector under new Welsh Government legislation passed in 2025, anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales – from spare rooms and self-catering cottages to hotels and glamping pods – will legally have to register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) before their property can be let.
The requirement applies regardless of local authority adoption of a visitor levy and covers stays of 31 nights or less.
Propertymark, which has worked closely with the Welsh Government on the policy framework, says agents need to identify and engage with landlords now to avoid disruption when the register opens.
CLARITY AND PHASING ESSENTIAL
The trade body has repeatedly warned that the new regime adds to cumulative regulation already affecting the short-let sector, and that clarity and phasing are essential to prevent compliance failures.
Propertymark’s position states clearly: “We support measures that improve transparency and consumer confidence, but … reform of visitor accommodation must not be viewed in isolation. … Where landlords and agents are already operating within existing licensing, planning and tax frameworks, new requirements must be clearly communicated and properly phased in.”
COMPLEX LANDSCAPE
For agents, the coming registration regime compounds a complex landscape. In addition to the mandatory register, Wales is progressing a licensing scheme for self-catering holiday lets that would require providers to meet safety and fitness standards should it be enacted.
Coupled with recent tax and planning changes targeting holiday lets and second homes in parts of Wales, the short-let market is heading towards a far more regulated footing.
Practical preparation now – auditing portfolios for visitor accommodation status, updating landlord records and initiating compliance conversations – will be essential to avoid landlords being unable to lawfully market or let properties next autumn.
Agents that take an active compliance role early could also position themselves as trusted advisers in a sector where regulatory risk is rising sharply.
