Quick answer
Holiday let owners face new registration rules on both sides of the border. Wales opened its visitor accommodation register on 1 October 2026, and every provider taking stays of 31 nights or less must register by 31 March 2027, even where the council does not charge a visitor levy. Registration is free. In England, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Parliament on 3 September that a mandatory short-term lets register will be fully operational by March 2027. Cardiff has resolved to charge a visitor levy of £1.30 per person per night from 1 April 2027. The furnished holiday lettings tax regime ended in April 2025, so holiday lets now need to stack up on their own numbers.
Wales: the register is open
The Welsh Revenue Authority runs the register under the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025. According to the Welsh Government's registration guidance, you must register if you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, you are responsible for the accommodation, and bookings are for 31 nights or less. That covers holiday cottages, B&Bs, hotels, glamping, caravans and occasionally let homes.
- Registration opened on 1 October 2026 and is free.
- Existing providers must register by 31 March 2027. New providers register when they start taking bookings.
- Penalties apply to those who do not register, starting at £100 per property according to Planning Geek's summary of the guidance.
- A registration number is not planning permission, and does not prove a holiday let use is lawful.
Visitor levies: council by council
The same Act lets Welsh councils charge a visitor levy, each deciding for itself after consultation. The rates are set nationally at £1.30 per person per night for most accommodation and 75p for hostels and campsites. Cardiff Council has resolved to charge it from 1 April 2027 across the city. Gwynedd consulted over the summer and says the earliest it could start is October 2027. In England, the government has said it is giving mayors powers to introduce a visitor levy too.
A levy is paid by guests, but owners collect it, and it adds to the price guests see. Factor it into your occupancy and rate assumptions in areas that adopt it.
England: a register by March 2027
Answering questions in Parliament on 3 September 2026, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said England's register of short-term and holiday lets would be fully operational by March 2027, as reported by Propertymark. The scheme is expected to be mandatory and mostly online. Details still to come include what information owners must give and how often they must register.
Scotland and Northern Ireland already run their own schemes. In England, councils can also charge a 100% council tax premium on second homes. On tax, the furnished holiday lettings regime ended on 6 April 2025, so holiday lets across the UK are now taxed like other rental income.
What it means for buying and financing a holiday let
Registration is an admin step, not a reason to avoid the market, but lenders and valuers will expect a holiday let to be properly set up. When you buy:
- Check planning. Some areas restrict new holiday lets or second homes. A register number does not settle whether the use is lawful.
- Value it on what it earns. Without the old tax reliefs, base your plans on realistic occupancy, rates, any levy and running costs.
- Plan the exit. Most holiday let bridges are repaid by a holiday let mortgage or a sale. Our guide to bridging exit strategies covers what lenders look for.
Our holiday let bridging loans page lists lenders on our panel that consider holiday lets. If the property needs work first, light refurbishment finance or heavy refurbishment finance can include it. For Welsh property, see bridging loans in Wales. Guesthouses and small hotels are covered on pub and hotel bridging, and our guide to how lenders value property explains the valuation. When you have a property in mind, Instant Quotes shows which lenders on our panel fit.
Common questions
Do I need to register my holiday let in Wales?
Yes, if you take bookings of 31 nights or less. Registration opened on 1 October 2026, is free, and existing providers must register by 31 March 2027.
When will England's holiday let register start?
The Culture Secretary told Parliament on 3 September 2026 that it will be fully operational by March 2027. Full details are still to be published.
How much is the visitor levy in Wales?
£1.30 per person per night for most accommodation and 75p for hostels and campsites, in council areas that choose to adopt it. Cardiff plans to start on 1 April 2027.
Can I get a bridging loan to buy a holiday let?
Yes. Some lenders on our panel consider holiday lets, usually with a holiday let mortgage or a sale as the exit.
This article reports news and published figures as at 13 October 2026. It is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Bridge & Build Finance is a commercial finance brokerage service, not a lender. Finance is subject to status, lender criteria, valuation, underwriting and approval.
