Join our campaign asking Welsh Government to review 182
SINCE APRIL 2023, THE 182-NIGHT MINIMUM RULE FOR
HOLIDAY COTTAGE LETS HAS BEEN PUNISHING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND HARMING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN WALES.
Now, more than two years on, the evidence is clear: this policy isn’t working.
WE’RE CALLING FOR A FAIRER, EVIDENCE-BASED THRESHOLD OF 105 NIGHTS –
the figure most widely supported in the Welsh Government’s own consultation.
WE’RE ALSO CALLING FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A TWO YEAR GRACE PERIOD –
so owners have stability and are not penalised for one bad year.
Take Action
Download Our Letter Template as every letter counts.
The more Members of the Senedd hear directly from holiday let owners and supporters, the stronger our case becomes.
Download our letter template, personalise it, and send it to your local MS today.
Our Campaign Asks
Reduce the threshold from 182 nights to 105 nights
the figure most widely supported in consultation.
Introduce a two-year grace period
so owners have stability and are not penalised
for one bad year.
Why It Matters
The Welsh Government introduced the 182-night rule in April 2023. It requires holiday cottages to be let for at least half the year to qualify for business rates.
Now, more than 30 months later, it’s clear that the rule is unrealistic in seasonal areas like rural Gwynedd – and it’s driving genuine small operators out of
business.
This policy was meant to target second homes, but instead it is punishing community-rooted businesses that sustain local jobs and services.
The consequences are real:
Revenue pressures are forcing many owners to slash prices just to reach the 182-night threshold.
Industry groups warn this policy puts thousands of tourism-related jobs at risk.
The Welsh threshold is far tougher than England’s – 182 nights vs just 70 nights let – leaving Welsh business owners at a competitive disadvantage.
Did You Know?
The Welsh Government’s own consultation found that most respondents supported 105 nights as a fairer, workable threshold.
Only 9 respondents backed 182 nights.
The Government’s own Regulatory Impact Assessment admitted that occupancy data is flawed and cannot reliably predict future letting patterns – especially in rural, seasonal areas.
Stay Connected
Join a growing community of holiday let owners, local businesses and supporters calling for fair reform. By signing up, you’ll receive campaign updates and
opportunities to take action. Rest assured, we’ll never share your details.
Spread the Word
#FairNightsWales
Help us build momentum!
Ystyriwch rannu’r ymgyrch gyda ffrindiau, teulu a chydweithwyr – gyda’n gilydd gallwn wneud gwahaniaeth.
Please consider sharing the campaign with friends, family, and colleagues – together we can make a difference.
“I’ve just written to my MS to support a fairer 105-night threshold for holiday cottages in Wales. Join me!” #FairNightsWales COPY TEXT
Wales is Left Behind – Yet Asked for More
In England and Scotland, holiday cottages still qualify for business rates if they are let for just 70 nights a year. In Wales, the threshold has been raised to
182 nights – the toughest rule anywhere in the UK.
Minimum nights letting threshold to qualify for Business Rates
– the requirements for UK holiday cottage owners:
England 70 nights
Scotland 70 nights
Wales 182 nights
This means Welsh business owners must prove 2.6 times more bookings than their counterparts in England or Scotland just to access the same business
rates.
And the penalty for falling short is severe: properties are reclassified as second homes and hit with council tax bills that in some areas of Wales could
include a 300% premium.
All of this comes at a time when Wales is already lagging behind the UK average on key economic indicators: primary income, disposable income, GVA per
head and employment rate.
The timing could hardly be worse. Holiday cottage bookings across Wales are down, and with the UK forecast to have the highest inflation in the G7,
holidaymakers are cutting back, often opting for shorter breaks. These trends make it even more unrealistic for Welsh owners to reach the 182-night target.
The result?
Viable, community-rooted family businesses are being forced out of the market, adding pressures to already fragile rural economies.
40% – of Welsh holiday lets have failed to meet the 182-night rule since April 2023
“The goal of ensuring that only genuine holiday lets qualify is understandable. But the 182-night requirement is unrealistic and unfair – it ignores rural
seasonality and is forcing viable businesses to close.” Gwion Llwyd, Welsh Farmer and Owner of Dioni Holiday Cottages
Contact: louise@dioni.co.uk
This campaign is led by Gwion Llwyd of Dioni Holiday Cottages, working with local businesses and communities across Wales.
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