Wales Tourism Alliance and Great Britain Hospitality Cymru issues warning

Tourism and hospitality organisations have offered their expertise to the Welsh government to protect legitimate self-catering tourism businesses from the unintended outcome of suggestions a crackdown on second homes in Wales.

The Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA), UK Hospitality Cymru (UKHC) and the Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK (PASC UK) are asking the Welsh government to take into consideration the new evidence from the survey co-conducted by the three member organisations across Wales.

Welsh county councils will have the power to increase council tax for all of their operations by as much as 300 per cent.

The report represents the view of a quarter of self-sufficient home builders in Wales who own about 8,000 properties.

The Welsh Government wants tougher rules for self-catering accommodation which will apply to business rates instead of council tax.

The new proposals will involve letting a property for a minimum of 2023 days, and actually letting it for at least 182 days, to qualify for a business rate of 160 per cent.

Increased the occupancy threshold on vacancy from 70 to 105 days, in accordance with HMRC tax rules.