Wales visitor accommodation register: what Cardiff hosts must do by 31 March 2027

If you take paid bookings of 31 nights or less for a property in Wales, including an Airbnb in Cardiff, you must register it with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) by 31 March 2027. Registration is free and done online. Missing the deadline can cost £100 per property, and more if you still don't register.

Who has to register?

You must register if all of these apply:

• you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, whether for one night, a season or all year
• you're responsible for the accommodation, for example you own it or rent it
• your bookings are for 31 nights or less

That covers self-catering houses and flats, spare rooms and even your own home. The WRA's own example is a host who lets her main home on Airbnb once a year for a local event: she still has to register.

You don't have to register if you don't take bookings, for example when friends or family stay for free.

If you use a management company, it isn't responsible for registering, but it can register on your behalf. The legal duty stays with you.

How do you register?

Use the WRA's online service, "Register your visitor accommodation in Wales" on GOV.WALES. You sign in with GOV.UK One Login. You'll need:

• your name, address, phone number, date of birth and email
• your company number and trading name, if you have them
• the property's address and name, if it has one
• the type of accommodation and when it's usually open for bookings
• the number of rooms or bookable units, and how many people can stay

If you have several properties and the same people are responsible for all of them, they all go in one registration. Once you're done, you get a unique registration number.

If you can't use the online service, the WRA helpdesk is on 03000 254 000, Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

What will be public?

Anyone can search the register. It shows your registration number, your name or company name, trading name and business address. For each property it shows the name, address, type, when it's open for bookings, number of rooms and maximum guests.

Your date of birth, phone number and email address are not shown.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

Penalties are per premises, meaning each address you let:

For one Cardiff flat, that adds up to £1,400 (£100 + £300 + £1,000). The WRA's own example is a host with three Cardiff houses on Airbnb who ends up owing £4,200.

From 1 April 2027, any new property has to be registered before it opens for bookings. After you register, you must update your details within 30 days of any change, such as adding a bedroom or selling up. The WRA says the online service will allow updates early next year.

Why Cardiff hosts should act now

Cardiff Council is the only council the WRA lists as charging the visitor levy so far. It starts on 1 April 2027, and the WRA collects it.

• Rate: £1.30 per person per night for self-catering and Airbnb-style stays, for guests of all ages, including babies. A family of four staying two nights means £10.40.
• It already applies: from 28 September 2026, you must pay the levy on bookings made for stays from 1 April 2027. It also applies to extra nights or guests added to an earlier booking.
• Who pays: you do. You can pass the cost on to guests, but you're still responsible if they don't pay.
• Exceptions: a single booking of 32 nights or more, and cancelled or no-show stays.
• VAT: if you're VAT-registered, you must add VAT to the levy.

If you're already taking bookings for spring 2027, check that your prices and listing settings account for the levy.

Is this the same as licensing?

No. Wales also plans a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation, starting with self-catering. Its legal default start date is March 2030, with more consultation before then. Registration is the step you need to take now.

What about Bath and Bristol?

This register only covers Wales. In England, the government says a mandatory national registration scheme for short-term lets is expected to begin in March 2027. It isn't in force yet.

Want help with a Cardiff short let?

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

General information, not legal or tax advice. Check GOV.WALES for the latest guidance.