A guide to the Welsh Visitor Accommodation Registration Scheme
In the newsAs 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 intend to support you through the process as further details are confirmed.
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.
As the accommodation provider, you are responsible for registration. However, the Welsh Revenue Authority has confirmed that an agent or management company can register on an owner's behalf. Classic is reviewing how this process will work in practice and whether we can provide direct registration support to owners.
Do I need to do anything now?
Registration opens at 10am on the 1st October 2026 and all existing accommodation providers must register by the 31st March 2027. Registration is a free process and is expected to take around fifteen minutes. You must register even if your local council has not introduced a Visitor Levy. If you intend to register the property yourself, you will need to sign in using a GOV.UK One Login. You can sign in or register for an account here.
We are reviewing the option of Classic Cottages registering on your behalf as your agent. We will provide further information as soon as the process is made clear by the Welsh Revenue Association.
Currently, the service is a public beta stage, so some features will be added after launch. The Welsh Revenue Authority will issue updates when additional features become available.
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 your registration details within 30 days 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
After registration, you will receive a unique registration number. The public register will be searchable using a postcode or registration number.
How should I prepare for registration?
Registration opens at 10am on 1st October 2026. If you intend to register your property yourself, you can prepare now by creating a GOV.UK One Login, checking the information you will need and reviewing the latest official guidance.
It may be helpful to:
If you intend to register yourself, ensure you have access to your GOV.UK One Login account.
The Welsh Revenue Authority has confirmed that agents such as Classic Cottages may also register on an owner's behalf. We are reviewing how this process will work in practice and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, you can begin gathering the information listed above and review the latest official guidance.
The Welsh Revenue Authority plans to visit each local authority area in Wales between January and March 2027 to provide in-person registration support. Details will be published when available.
What are the potential consequences of not registering properly?
If you do not register by 31 March 2027, the first penalty is £100 per premises. If you still do not register after the Welsh Revenue Authority contacts you, penalties can increase to a total of £1,400 per premises. A penalty can be reviewed or appealed; further guidance on penalties is being prepared.
What may come next?
The Registration Scheme forms part of a wider programme of changes to holiday letting in Wales, including the Visitor Levy and a potential future licensing scheme. Cardiff Council will introduce the Visitor Levy for eligible overnight stays from 1 April 2027. Cardiff accommodation providers must start accounting for the levy from 28 September 2026 for new bookings for stays from 1 April 2027, and for additional nights or visitors added from that date to existing bookings for stays from 1 April 2027.
For most accommodation, including self-catering properties, the Cardiff levy is £1.30 per person per night. VAT-registered providers must apply VAT to the total amount paid by the visitor, including any levy passed on to them.
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 opens at 10am on 1 October 2026 in public beta. Existing accommodation providers must register by 31 March 2027, even if their council has not introduced a Visitor Levy. Registration is mandatory for holiday homeowners who provide accommodation for stays of 31 nights or less across Wales.
Registration will be free of charge.
An agent or management company may register on an owner's behalf, although the owner remains legally responsible for ensuring that registration is completed. Classic Cottages is reviewing whether and how we can support owners directly with registration.
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.
Detailed registration guidance is now available. The service will continue to be improved after the public beta opens. You can sign up for WRA updates here.
How Classic Cottages will help
Classic Cottages will continue to monitor the scheme and share the official guidance into clear, practical information for owners. We are also reviewing the option of supporting owners directly with registration, including the process of submitting as an agent and what authority, information and owner involvement would be required. You do not need to complete registration before the service opens. For now, please ensure the owner and property information we hold is accurate and gather the information listed in this guide. Once the Welsh Revenue Authority has clarified the agent process, we will explain the support Classic can offer, whether you need your own GOV.UK One Login, and any action we need you to take. We will also issue reminders ahead of the 31 March 2027 deadline. 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.
