Do Bristol and Bath Airbnb hosts need to register? England's short-term let register explained

Not yet. England's national register for short-term lets isn't in force, and GOV.UK says it's expected to begin in March 2027. The government has said it will be mandatory across England, so Airbnb hosts in Bristol and Bath should expect to register, but the detailed rules haven't been published.

What is England's short-term let register?

The legal power comes from the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. Section 228 says the government must make regulations for registering short-term rental properties in England. In the Act, that means a home, or part of one, that a host provides to a guest:

• as somewhere that isn't the guest's only or main home

• in return for payment

• in the course of a trade or business

In February 2024 the government confirmed the scheme will be mandatory and national, not opt-in by council. It said the scheme should be "light touch, low cost and simple to use" and delivered mainly online.

When does it start?

GOV.UK updated its holiday let guidance on 2 October 2026. It now says the scheme is "expected to begin in March 2027" and marks it as "not yet in force".

On 3 September 2026 the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, told the House of Commons: "the register will be up and running in full by March."

That's a target, not a date set in law. The regulations that make registration compulsory still have to be made.

What will you have to do?

The government hasn't published the details yet. In 2024 it said it would decide who runs the register, how often you register and what information you give after testing how the service works.

The Act sets out what the rules are allowed to include. These include:

• fees

• conditions for registration, and cancelling a registration

• civil penalties for not complying

• a ban on advertising a property that isn't registered

Whether the final rules use all of these isn't known yet. The question of a threshold for people who only let occasionally is also still open.

What does it mean for Bristol and Bath?

The government has said the scheme will be national, so it's expected to cover short lets in Bristol and in Bath and North East Somerset in the same way as the rest of England.

There's a local angle too. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It says the Mayor has previously called for a short-term lets registration scheme, "to ensure a more level playing field".

Separately, on 10 September 2026 the government said mayors will get the power to charge an overnight visitor levy, set as a percentage of the cost of a stay. It says the levy will apply to short-term visitor accommodation, apart from some exemptions, and it needs new legislation first. The Combined Authority says people and businesses across the West will have their say before plans are finalised. Nothing has been introduced yet.

Is this the same as the landlord register?

No. The government's new Register your rental property service comes from the Renters' Rights Act. It's aimed at landlords letting homes to tenants and starts rolling out on 15 December 2026, region by region. The short-term let register is a different scheme.

If you also own a Cardiff property, Wales is ahead: hosts there must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027. See our Wales visitor accommodation register guide.

What should you do now?

You don't need to register anything in England yet. The government has said the register should help promote compliance with existing health and safety rules. GOV.UK's guidance for self-catering hosts lists what applies today:

1. Follow the fire safety guidance for small paying guest accommodation.

2. Follow HSE guidance on gas safety, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and electrical safety.

3. Check whether you need an Energy Performance Certificate.

4. GOV.UK says you should have holiday let insurance, public liability cover, and building and contents cover suitable for short-term letting.

5. Ask your council whether your short let needs planning permission. GOV.UK says the council decides.

It's also worth checking how your property is taxed. Our post on the 140/70-day rule in Bristol and Bath explains when a holiday let pays business rates instead of council tax.

Want help with a short let in Bristol or Bath?

Occupaid offers short-let management in Bristol, Bath and Cardiff, with no long-term lock-in. See our Bristol Airbnb management page or our Bath Airbnb management page, or book a 30-minute call.