Airbnb management in Cardiff

Running a short let in Cardiff is getting more complicated. Wales now has compulsory registration, a visitor levy is coming to Cardiff, and licensing is on the way. We take all of that off your plate, plus the day-to-day running of your Airbnb, for 20% of your payout after platform fees. No lock-in, monthly rolling.

Book a 30-minute call

Bright modern living room with a grey sectional sofa, low coffee table and floor-to-ceiling windows

Why Cardiff works for short lets

Cardiff is a capital city with big event days. Principality Stadium sits in the city centre and hosts internationals and major concerts [1]. Add Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay and the city's universities, including Cardiff University, and there's demand from tourists, fans, visiting families and people in town for work [2][3]. Event weekends and quiet midweeks need very different prices, and that's where most owners leave money on the table.

The rules in Cardiff (this is the important bit)

Wales and England are now on different paths. If you let in Cardiff, this is what applies:

Registration is compulsory now. From October 2026, anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA). The deadline is 31 March 2027. It's free, and you sign in with GOV.UK One Login. Miss it and the first penalty is £100 per premises, rising to as much as £1,400 if you still don't register [4].
Cardiff Visitor Levy from 1 April 2027. Cardiff Council is bringing in a visitor levy from 1 April 2027 [5]. You have to account for it on bookings made from 28 September 2026 for stays from 1 April 2027 onwards. For self-catering and Airbnb-style lets the rate is £1.30 per person per night [6]. You, as the accommodation provider, file and pay it to the WRA, yearly or quarterly depending on how much you owe. If you expect more than £1,000 a year, you file quarterly [6][7]. We build the levy into your pricing and keep the records for your returns.
Licensing is coming, later. The Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Act 2026 became law on 27 April 2026. It sets up a licensing scheme for self-catering accommodation. By default it starts in March 2030, with consultation on the detail first [8].
Business rates are harder to get in Wales. To be rated as a business rather than paying council tax, a Welsh self-catering property has to be available for 252 nights and actually let for 182 nights [9]. If it doesn't meet that, it's on council tax.
Council tax premium. Cardiff charges a 100% council tax premium on second homes from 1 April 2024 [10]. Miss the 182-night test and that's what you'll pay.

What we do

Register your property with the WRA and keep it up to date
Account for the Cardiff Visitor Levy and keep the records for your returns
Set up or rebuild your listing
Price around match days, concerts and the quiet weeks
Handle every guest message and booking
Run cleaning, laundry and turnovers
Sort problems mid-stay
Track nights available and let against the 252/182 test
Send a clear monthly statement

What it costs

20% of your payout after platform fees. £1,000 paid out means £200 to us. Cleaning is covered by the guest cleaning fee. The visitor levy is a tax collected from guests and passed to the WRA, not part of our fee. No long-term lock-in, no exit fee, monthly rolling.

Cardiff FAQs

Do I have to register my Cardiff Airbnb?

Yes. Everyone taking overnight bookings in Wales must register with the WRA by 31 March 2027 [4].

How much is the Cardiff tourist tax?

For self-catering and Airbnb-style lets it's £1.30 per person per night [6]. It applies to stays from 1 April 2027.

Do I need a licence?

Not yet. The licensing scheme is law but isn't expected to start until March 2030 by default [8].

Will I pay double council tax in Cardiff?

If your let is a second home on council tax, yes [10]. To get onto business rates it needs to be let for 182 nights a year [9]. We'll be honest about whether yours can get there.

Talk to us

Book a 30-minute call. We'll go through your property, the Welsh rules that apply to it, and whether short lets make sense.