Let’s Review 182 Campaign Update | Powys approves council tax relief for affected holiday let businesses

There has been an important and encouraging development for some self-catering businesses in Wales.

Powys County Council has approved a discretionary council tax discount that will remove the additional 75% council tax premium from backdated bills issued to eligible holiday let businesses affected by the 182-day rule.

The Council estimates the measure will cost around £1 million and benefit approximately 250 businesses. Eligible owners do not need to apply: Powys has confirmed it will automatically identify qualifying properties and issue revised Council Tax bills in the coming weeks.

Why this matters

While the decision does not change the Welsh Government’s 182-day threshold requirement, it is a significant acknowledgement that the current policy has created genuine financial hardship for legitimate tourism businesses.

In announcing the decision, Powys said the discount would help reduce financial hardship, support the local tourism economy and improve engagement with affected ratepayers. Those are important acknowledgements and reflect many of the experiences owners have shared with the Let’s Review 182 campaign over the past nine months.

It’s worth noting that Powys has recorded a 28% drop in the number of self-catering properties on business rates since April 2023. It remains unclear how many of those properties have since ceased operating as self-catering businesses.

Signs of momentum

In recent months:

• Gwynedd Council has called on the Welsh Government to review and reduce the 182-day threshold.
• Pembrokeshire County Council has agreed that its Leader (Cllr Tessa Hodgson) should write to the First Minister urging the Welsh Government to begin its promised review of the policy.
• In its Senedd election manifesto, Plaid Cymru committed to keeping the 182-day threshold under review and creating clear and reasonable exemptions where genuine holiday accommodation should not be treated as a private home. 

Share your experience

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences with the Let’s Review 182 campaign. 

Every case study, email and conversation helps to build a growing body of evidence informing the debate. If you would like to share your own experience, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at louise@dioni.co.uk.

While there is still more work to do, Powys’ decision is an encouraging sign that the experiences of genuine holiday let businesses are becoming an increasingly important part of the wider policy discussion.

You can also help to raise awareness by sharing our updates on social media. Follow Dioni Holiday Cottages on Facebook or Instagram, where we regularly post news and developments relating to the campaign.

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