Wales has become the first country in the United Kingdom to pass a dedicated visitor accommodation levy. The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025 became law on 18 September 2025, and its practical requirements begin this autumn.
If you let a holiday cottage, farmhouse, apartment or any other property in North Wales — there are two things you need to do: register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) from 1 October 2026, and prepare to collect a charge from guests wherever your local council introduces the levy.
Read on for everything North Wales holiday let owners need to know about the Visitor Levy…
Key Deadline
Registration opens 1 October 2026. It is free, mandatory, and the legal responsibility rests with you as the property owner — not your letting agent.
What Is the Welsh Visitor Levy?
The levy is a small charge added to the cost of an overnight stay, collected by accommodation providers and passed on to the local authority.
The Welsh Government’s aim is to direct income back into the communities that host visitors — funding tourism infrastructure, local services, and the cultural fabric of places like Anglesey and Gwynedd.
Importantly, the levy is not a national tax imposed uniformly across Wales.
Each local authority decides independently whether to introduce it in their area. This means the levy could apply in Gwynedd but not Pembrokeshire, or vice versa — and some councils may never adopt it at all.
Welsh Visitor Levy — Rates at a Glance
|
Self-Catering · Hotels · B&Bs
£1.25
per person, per night
|
Hostels · Campsites
75p
per person, per night
|
Rates set by the Welsh Government · Councils may opt in or opt out · Children under 16 are exempt
For a self-catering property sleeping six, a week-long stay would generate £52.50 in levy (6 people × £1.25 × 7 nights). That money goes directly to the local authority — it is not income for you as the owner.
Good to Know
Children under 16 are exempt from the levy. The charge applies only to adult guests.
Key Dates for Holiday Let Owners: Your Timeline
Key Dates for Owners
|
NOW
July 2026
Start preparing your property records
|
!
Mandatory
1 Oct 2026
Registration opens — free of charge
|
?
Autumn 2026
Gwynedd Council votes on whether to adopt the levy
|
£
2027 earliest
Earliest date any levy could apply in North Wales
|
Source: Welsh Government / Gwynedd Council · July 2026
The most urgent deadline for owners is 1 October 2026 — when the mandatory registration portal opens. Even if your local authority never introduces the levy, registration is still required by law.
What Does This Mean for North Wales Owners?
Menai Holiday Cottages has properties across all of North Wales and each council will decide independently whether to adopt the levy — here is where each one currently stands.
Gwynedd
Gwynedd Council is the most active authority in the region on this topic. The full council is expected to reach a formal decision in autumn 2026.
If it votes to adopt the levy, Gwynedd would issue a 12-month notice to the WRA, meaning the charge could come into force from October 2027 at the earliest. The council estimates it could raise around £6 million per year, ringfenced for reinvestment in local infrastructure and tourism.
Isle of Anglesey
Anglesey has not yet confirmed its position. Owners with properties on the island should monitor announcements from Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn closely over the coming months.
Conwy
Conwy County Borough Council has confirmed it will consult residents and businesses on the levy later in 2026. No adoption decision has been made yet, but owners in the Conwy Valley, Llandudno and along the coast should expect consultation materials in the coming months.
Denbighshire
Denbighshire County Council is currently weighing up the potential benefits and risks of adopting the levy. No formal decision has been announced, and owners in the Clwydian Range and along the Denbighshire coast should watch for further news.
Flintshire and Wrexham
Flintshire Council has indicated it plans to consult on the levy. In Wrexham, the council leader has expressed opposition to the charge, though the final decision rests with the executive board. Owners in these areas are less likely to face the levy in the short term, but registration with the WRA from 1 October 2026 is still mandatory regardless.
WILL THE LEVY IMPACT TOURISM IN WALES?
Edinburgh introduced a similar tourism levy in 2024 at £2 per room per night and reported no significant impact on visitor numbers. The Welsh levy, charged per person rather than per room, is modest by comparison — and the revenue stays local.
Related reading: Navigating the New Holiday Let Rules in Wales 2026 →
What You Need to Do: A Step-by-Step Guide
1
Register with the WRA from 1 October 2026
Register your property on the WRA’s free portal at gov.wales. You will need: your contact details, property address, accommodation type, maximum guest capacity, and typical availability. Registration is your legal responsibility — not your letting agent’s.
2
Track your council’s decision
Monitor your local council for its levy adoption decision. Gwynedd and Conwy are expected to consult or vote in autumn 2026; Anglesey, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham are at earlier stages. The levy only applies in your area if your council votes to adopt it.
3
Update your pricing and listings
Once your council confirms the levy, you must display it clearly to guests at the point of booking — as a separate line item, not buried in the total price. If you let through an agency, discuss with them in advance how this will appear on your listing.
4
Collect and remit the levy
Once live, you or your agent will collect £1.25 per adult, per night from guests and remit it to the WRA on the schedule they specify. Full guidance on the remittance process will be published ahead of any levy going live.
5
Keep clear records
Maintain records of bookings, guest numbers, and levy amounts collected. The WRA will need to verify submissions, and good record-keeping now will make compliance straightforward later.
What to Register
When the portal opens you will need: your name and contact details, the property’s address, accommodation type, maximum guest capacity, and when the property is typically available for bookings.
New to holiday letting? Read our Beginner’s Guide to Holiday Letting in North Wales →
Want someone to handle all of this for you?
Menai Holiday Cottages manages levy collection, listing compliance and guest communications on your behalf — so you don’t have to.
Request Your Free Owner Guide
Exemptions and Edge Cases
Not every stay will attract the levy. The following are currently exempt or outside scope:
- Children under 16 — exempt from the charge
- Long-term stays — bookings of 32 nights or more are outside scope
- Stays in areas where the council has not adopted the levy — no charge applies
- Welsh Government and local authority-owned accommodation used for social or emergency housing purposes
The Welsh Government is expected to publish further guidance ahead of the October 2026 registration date. Keep an eye on gov.wales/VisitorLevy for updates.
Related reading: Your Guide to Furnished Holiday Let Tax and Business Rates in Wales 2026 →
Visitor Levy Frequently Asked Questions
Does the levy apply to my property?
If you charge guests for overnight stays of 31 nights or fewer in Wales, registration is mandatory regardless of location. Whether the levy itself applies depends on your local council opting in.
Is the levy added on top of the booking price, or absorbed by the owner?
The levy is a charge on the guest, collected by the owner and remitted to the WRA. Present it to guests as a separate line item at the point of booking — similar to a city tax in European destinations. You do not absorb it personally.
My property is managed by a letting agent. Who registers?
The legal duty to register sits with you as the property owner. Your agent can continue managing and marketing your property as normal, but registration is your responsibility.
I only let my cottage occasionally — do I still need to register?
Yes. The Act covers all paid overnight accommodation in Wales for stays of 31 nights or fewer. There is no minimum nights threshold — whether you let seasonally, occasionally, or year-round, registration is required.
What happens if I do not register?
Failure to register is a legal offence and may result in financial penalties. The Welsh Government has not yet published the full penalties schedule, but non-compliance is treated seriously under the Act. Register as soon as the portal opens on 1 October 2026.
Will the levy put guests off booking?
Evidence from comparable schemes is reassuring. Edinburgh’s tourism levy — introduced in 2024 at £2 per room per night — reported no significant impact on visitor numbers. At £1.25 per person per night, the Welsh levy is modest relative to the overall cost of a North Wales holiday. Clear communication at the point of booking is key.
Where does the money go?
Levy revenue goes directly to the local authority where the stay takes place. Councils must spend it on tourism-related services and infrastructure — footpath maintenance, public facilities, local events, and transport improvements. Gwynedd estimates around £6 million per year in its area alone.
Related reading: Are North Wales Holiday Lets a Good Investment? →
Owner Tips: Getting Ahead of the Levy
5 Tips to Get Ready Now
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1
Gather Your Property Details
Address, type & max capacity
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2
Follow Council News
All six councils deciding independently — monitor yours
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3
Talk to Your Agent
Who collects & remits the levy?
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4
Update Your Pricing
Show levy as a separate line item
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5
Register 1 Oct 2026
WRA portal — free & legally required
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The most practical thing you can do right now is start gathering the information you will need to register. Set a calendar reminder for 1 October 2026 so you register promptly when the portal opens.
Related reading: Do You Need Planning Permission for a Holiday Let in North Wales? →
Ready to let your North Wales property?
Let Menai handle the compliance, the marketing and the bookings — so you can focus on what matters.
Request Your Free Owner Guide
Official Resources
Let Menai Holidays Handle the Compliance for You
The visitor levy is the latest in a series of regulatory changes facing Welsh holiday let owners — and it won’t be the last. Between registration deadlines, council decisions, remittance schedules and guest-facing pricing requirements, keeping on top of it all takes time and local knowledge.
That’s where we come in.
When you let with Menai Holiday Cottages, we take care of:
| ✓Levy collection from guests |
✓Remittance to the WRA |
| ✓Guest-facing pricing and communications |
✓Listing compliance and updates |
| ✓Monitoring regulatory changes in North Wales |
✓Maximising your bookings year-round |
With over 900 properties across North Wales and offices in Bangor and Pwllheli, our team lives and works in the area. We know North Wales’s regulatory landscape inside out — and we stay ahead of changes so you don’t have to.
Thinking about letting? Find out if a North Wales holiday let is a good investment →
For more information about letting your cottage with us, complete the form below to request contact from our team. You’ll also receive a copy of our FREE Owner Guide.
Important: This article has been prepared for general information purposes only and reflects our understanding of the Welsh Visitor Levy as at July 2026. Legislation and guidance are subject to change. Please refer to gov.wales for the most current official guidance. AI-generated content — reviewed and published by Menai Holiday Cottages.
