A guide to the Welsh Visitor Accommodation Registration Scheme

As an owner of a holiday home in Wales, you may have questions regarding the new Visitor Accommodation Registration Scheme and what it means for you. The registration will be free, relatively straightforward, and there is time to prepare. In this guide, we’ll explain what the scheme is, when and how you’ll need to register, and how Classic will support you in this process.

What is the Welsh Visitor Accommodation Scheme?

The scheme will be a national register of all paid overnight visitor accommodation in Wales that take bookings for stays of 31 nights or less. The aim of creating the register is to help the Welsh Government improve information about the tourism sector and to support future tourism planning. 

FAQs

Will it apply to my holiday home?

If you own any type of holiday home in Wales that provides accommodation for stays of 31 nights or less, this scheme will apply to you.

Do I need to do anything now?

Not yet - registration will open on the 1st October 2026 and all existing accommodation providers must register by the 31st March 2027, so there is plenty of time to register. Registration is a free process and is expected to take around fifteen minutes. This can be completed online using a GOV.UK account. You can sign in or register for an account here.

What information must I provide?

When you register, you will be asked for some specific information about you and your property. This includes:

Contact details, such as: name, address, phone number and email address

Date of birth

Company or charity number (if applicable)

Trading name (if applicable)

Types of accommodation you offer  

Name and address of the premises where the accommodation is located

When the accommodation is usually open for bookings

Number of bookable units

Maximum number of people who can stay

In situations where multiple properties need to be registered, if the same people or organisations are responsible for each premise, you must include all premises in one registration. However, if different people or organisations are responsible for different premises, you must register them separately.

You must update details if your holiday home is sold, bookings for overnight visits are no longer being taken, or if there are changes to contact details, accommodation details, or who is responsible for the visitor accommodation. This can all be updated using the online GOV.UK registration service.                                              

What information will be public?

You may be wondering whether the register will be public and, if so, what information you provide will be publicly available. The good news is that personal information such as dates of birth, phone numbers, and email addresses will not be publicly published.

Information on the public register will include:

Property registration number​ 

Company or charity number (if applicable) 

Trading name (if applicable) 

Accommodation provider name - this will only be published if the name is part of a trading name 

Accommodation provider address - this will only be published if the accommodation is at an individual’s sole or main residence 

Name and address of the premises where the accommodation is located

Types of accommodation offered

When the accommodation is usually open for bookings

Maximum number of people who can stay​

Number of bookable units

How should I prepare for registration?

Although registration doesn’t open until October 2026, you might wish to begin preparing now.

It may be helpful to:

Ensure you have access to your GOV.UK One Login account

Watch for further guidance from the Welsh Revenue Authority and sign up for updates here.

What are the potential consequences of not registering properly?

If properties are registered incorrectly or outside of the set time frame (1st October 2026-31st March 2027), you may face financial penalties. These penalties could range from £100-£1,400 per property.

What may come next?

The Welsh Government has described the Registration Scheme as a first step in a wider programme for future changes to holiday letting in Wales. These future changes may include a Visitor Levy that could apply to properties and, later, a potential licensing scheme that will apply to holiday homes. Whilst these future changes have been proposed, the levy will not be implemented until April 2027 at the earliest and the licensing scheme is not expected until 2029. 

At Classic Cottages, we are dedicated to ensuring you are equipped with the correct information regarding the Visitor Accommodation Registration Scheme and any future changes.

To summarise…

What do we know so far?

Registration for existing accommodation providers will be open between 1st October 2026 and 31st March 2027.

Registration is mandatory for holiday homeowners who provide accommodation for stays of 31 nights or less across Wales.

Registration will be free of charge.

Failure to register or incorrect registration could result in financial penalties.

What is still undecided?

Exactly how the rules of registration will be monitored and enforced.

How closely the registration scheme will operate alongside the future Visitor Levy and licensing scheme.

While registration itself has now been confirmed, further guidance is expected before registration opens in October 2026. You can sign up for updates here.

How Classic Cottages will help

While we recognise the importance of ensuring the Welsh Government has accurate information about holiday homes so that high standards can be maintained across the tourism sector, we also recognise the importance of simplicity for you as holiday homeowners. We know that keeping up with changes to holiday letting may feel overwhelming; that’s why we are committed to continued monitoring of developments and the sharing of clear, practical guidance as more information becomes available.

While there’s nothing you must do just yet, it’s helpful to be aware of the new registration scheme and the key dates and information. As registration approaches, we’ll provide support and reminders about the key dates to ensure you know exactly what you need to do and when. Our aim is to make the process as straightforward as possible, so you can feel confident that you have everything you need to register.

You may be interested in the research sessions that the Welsh Government is currently running with holiday homeowners to improve how the register will run. If so, you can sign up for this here.

Should you have any further questions, our Owner Support team are on hand to help - you can contact us at owner.support@classic.co.uk.