The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on establishing a statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation providers in Wales.
The primary aim is to establish a level playing field for all visitor accommodation businesses operating in the sector. The concern around the lack of a level playing field has been a long-standing area of discussion with concerns certain parts of the sector do not meet or comply with their statutory obligations.
The Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru commits to a statutory licensing scheme for holiday lets as part of a package of measures to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people in our communities.
A statutory licensing scheme could:
- provide the mechanism to address concerns on compliance
- provide a comprehensive database of exactly who is operating in the industry as it is currently not possible to determine how many visitor accommodation businesses there are in Wales, or in any given community;
- be a valuable tool in understanding the scale and nature of the sector.
Respond to the consultation: Statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation providers in Wales.
Responses are due by 17 March 2023.