Local authorities in Wales to be given more powers over short-term lets

The Welsh government has announced new measures to control short-term lets, such as holiday homes listed on Airbnb.

It had already been announced that from next year, local councils will have the authority to top up council tax on second homes by 300 per cent.

As part of their co-operation agreement, first minister Mark Drakeford and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price jointly made the announcement.

As part of the new package of measures, a new licensing scheme will be established for people operating holiday lets. The new measures will include changes made to planning regulations by the end of the summer and the ability for local authorities to increase land transaction tax rates on second homes and holiday lets.

The first minister said: “We are today setting out the next steps in a radical programme to ensure everyone has the opportunity to afford to live in their local community - whether that’s buying or renting a home.

“Tourism is vital to our economy but having too many holiday properties and second homes, which are empty for much of the year, does not make for healthy local communities and prices people out of the local housing market."

Mr Price added: “We are committed to using a range of planning, taxation and property levers to tackle the issue of second and unaffordable homes - and to do so with urgency.

“The package of purposeful measures that have been developed as a result of the constructive cooperation between Plaid Cymru and the government in this area will, together, begin to address the injustices in our housing system and make a real difference to people and communities right across our nation.

“The aim is to give everyone ‘yr hawl i fyw adra’- the ability to live and work in the communities in which they grew up.”

The Welsh Conservatives have criticised the measures as the first steps towards the creation of a "tourism tax."

But the Welsh Conservatives accused the Welsh government and Plaid Cymru of taking the first steps toward the creation of a “tourism tax”.

Shadow minister for culture, tourism and sport, Tom Giffard, said: “Ministers must make sure that this scheme does not punish people who work hard to make our tourism businesses thrive, especially after the damage of pandemic restrictions.”

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