STATUTORY REGISTRATION IN WALES

BACKGROUND

The Welsh Government passed legislation in 2025 which introduces a Statutory Register for visitor accommodation across Wales (it falls under the same legislation as the Visitor Levy).

The register came into effect on 1 October 2026 and all visitor accommodation providers within scope must be registered by 31 March 2027. Registration will be free, there will be no cost.

It is a Wales-wide requirement administered by the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) and is mandatory for anyone providing visitor accommodation in Wales to be registered, including self-catering accommodation, hotels, B&Bs, campsites and other short-term visitor accommodation.

Providers need to supply information about themselves, their business and the accommodation they operate. Once registered, they will receive a unique registration number.

Registration is linked to the Visitor Levy and any Local Authorities that introduce a Levy will use the national register to identify visitor accommodation providers within their area.

There can be no Levy without the Registration Scheme in the way that it has been structured. To find out all about the Wales Tourism Levy, click here

The Registration Scheme is though an important tool and is a start.  As it stands it will provide necessary data on the sector which is an essential foundation for Government policy. Bear in mind that every intervention into our sector has been made without agreed data.

In its current form it fails to gather safe and legal compliance and therefore falls short of the promise of the previous Welsh Government of a level playing field, and by doing so, means that the Welsh Government is looking at a much more restrictive, invasive and expensive Licensing Scheme.

(The information on this page relates to the Statutory Registration Scheme.  There is also a live proposal to introduce a Statutory Licensing Scheme – the 2 are separate.  You can find further information on the Licensing Scheme once the page is ready).

Data before assumptions.

One of the key objectives of the Registration Scheme is to address the lack of reliable data on the sector – nobody can definitively say exactly how many visitor accommodation providers operate in Wales.

This lack of data is referenced in every consultation and recognised as hindering good policy.

As an example, Welsh Government’s estimate ranges from 16,000 to 55,000 operators.  This is the broad estimate used as the basis of new legislation on the Visitor Levy in Wales. Bad data results in bad policy.

This alone demonstrates the need for good data and why Registration is needed and why all proposed legislation should be paused until Registration is complete and we fully understand the extent and value of the sector.

Professional Operators vs Non-Compliant Operators

PASC UK represents professional operators who take safety and legal compliance seriously.

Our members invest time and money meeting their legal responsibilities, including fire safety and other required standards.

They should not have to compete with operators who ignore those obligations.

That is why we support a robust registration system which helps identify compliant businesses, incentivises compliance and creates a level playing field across the sector.

WHAT HAS PASC UK CYMRU DONE?

PASC UK Cymru has supported the principle of a Statutory Registration for many years, provided it creates a level playing field for professional, compliant operators.

We responded to the original Welsh Government consultation in 2022/23 and have remained closely involved as the proposals have developed.

When Dawn Bowden MS announced the proposed registration and licensing scheme in January 2024, we continued pushing for a simple, robust system based on compliance and accurate data.

PASC UK has been at the heart of developing the system, working directly with Ministers, MSs, Welsh Government officials and the WRA to help shape the Registration Scheme and the Register itself.

This has included providing briefing papers, system mock-ups and modelling potential data outputs to help determine what information should be collected.

It is important that Registration is workable for professional operators, tackles rogue businesses and finally gives Government and the sector the reliable data it needs.

We continue to advocate for the inclusion of Safe and Legal compliance which would then achieve the level playing field we were promised.  This would provide a cost efficient solution which would eliminate the need for a separate and really expensive, to both operators and Welsh Government, Licensing Scheme as currently proposed.

WHAT IS PASC UK’S VIEW?

We support Statutory Registration, but it needs to deliver what was originally promised.

Professional businesses invest considerable time and money meeting their legal obligations. They should not have to compete with operators who do not.

Registration should create that level playing field, provide accurate data and demonstrate that accommodation is safe and legal.

The current scheme falls short. Without the Safe and Legal element, it is largely a register of business details which can also be used to administer the Visitor Levy.

We believe this is a missed opportunity.

PASC UK Cymru will continue pushing for a system that works for professional operators without adding unnecessary cost or duplication.

(The safe and legal element is to be addressed in a proposed Statutory Licensing Scheme.  As proposed, this will be a separate scheme, which PASC UK believe can be satisfied by Statutory Registration is done well). Link to Statutory Licensing Scheme page when done

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

  • Registration opened on 1 October 2026
  • The deadline to register is 31 March 2027.
  • All accommodation providers will need to register their accommodation even if let for just 1 night.
  • You will receive a unique registration number
  • The scheme is now live in ‘private beta’ mode – effectively a live testing phase, a bit like a ‘soft opening’. The system is operational, but can continue to be tested and refined during live use. This phase will run until the end of the year.
  • From January, there will be a major communications campaign and a strong push for accommodation providers to complete their registration before the 31 March compulsory deadline.

HOW WILL WE KEEP YOU INFORMED?

  • Weekly Wales Newsletter: PASC UK Cymru will keep everyone up to date throughout the Weekly Wales Newsletter. If you would like to receive the Wales Newsletter (each Thursday), please complete the subscription form at the bottom of this page to be added to the mailing list automatically.
  • Documents, Papers and FAQs:  We will share and upload resources such as FAQs, Guidance and relevant links to WRA meetings and resources.
  • Online Meetings & Webinars: We hold regular Online PASC UK Members Meetings and free Webinars for the Sector to keep everyone abreast of developments and as further information comes available.  We will also share links to WRA webinars.
  • Social channels: We will update regularly through social channels.

 

LINKS:

Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy etc.) (Wales) Act 2025 here: https://www.gov.wales/visitor-accommodation-register-and-levy-etc-wales-act-2025

Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment here: https://www.gov.wales/visitor-accommodation-register-and-levy-etc-wales-act-2025-explanatory-memorandum

December 22 – March2023 Consultation :

Press release launch: https://www.gov.wales/proposed-new-licensing-scheme-level-playing-field-and-improve-standard-visitor-accommodation-wales

Results: https://www.gov.wales/statutory-licensing-scheme-all-visitor-accommodation-providers-wales

Document: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2022-12/consultation-document-statutory-licensing-scheme-for-all-visitor-accommodation-providers-in-wales.pdf

Dawn Bowden announces the Stat Reg scheme: https://www.gov.wales/plans-unveiled-statutory-registration-and-licensing-scheme-visitor-accommodation-wales

PASC UK Cymru Consultation Responses

Joining PASC UK is easy, a single property is just £90 (plus VAT from 1 January 2025) per annum. Membership gives a range of benefits including email and phone support and numerous sector specific papers on topics ranging from legal papers providing Terms and Conditions, CCTV etc, plus papers dealing with VOA, Business Rates, EV Charging etc as well as access to discounts via the PASC UK Buying Club.

JOIN NOW