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North Wales Live readers remain unconvinced that licensing holiday lets in Wales will protect tourists and raise standards across the industry. A proposed "Airbnb law", due to be introduced to the Senedd this month, will outline a mandatory licensing system for certain types of visitor accommodation. The bill aims to ensure holiday lets are safe and properly maintained, setting legal requirements for fire, electrical and gas safety, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Owners will also need public liability insurance. Licensing forms part of a wider set of tourism reforms intended to strengthen the sector and support local communities. Critics, however, argue the government is burdening the industry with unnecessary red tape and that the move paves the way for the upcoming £1.30-a-night visitor levy. Mark Drakeford, the cabinet secretary for finance and Welsh language, said the measures will encourage fair competition, adding that “visitors are at the heart of this bill". The new rules will initially apply to self-contained, self-catering properties such as cottages and flats, though future governments could expand them to other types of accommodation. Government research found more than 80% of domestic travellers would prefer to stay in accommodation that meets health and safety standards. Yet almost two-thirds of people planning UK holidays were unaware that holiday lets currently face no legal safety requirements. If passed, the legislation would give the Welsh Government powers to inspect properties, issue fines and maintain a public register of licensed lets. Owners will have to pay a fee for their licence and could face penalties for failing to comply. Commenter Scathingpen asks: “Doesn’t getting a licence make something legal? The article lists everything owners must do to qualify: gas and electric safety checks, certificates, liability insurance. If this new rule means every holiday let must meet those standards, pay for a licence, and prove compliance, then it essentially legitimises them as businesses. “That comes with overheads, tax obligations, and annual costs. So why would the 182-day rule for holiday accommodation still apply? Plaid Cymru originally pushed Labour for that rule to stop second home owners pretending to run businesses just to dodge council tax. But if licensing now makes a property an official business, doesn’t that defeat the point? Of course, that’s not really what it’s about. The Welsh government isn’t chasing fairness. It’s chasing revenue.” Reactor replies: “Yet more ‘have your fee ready’ red tape. Glad I got out of the holiday rental business years ago.” Courseitis adds: “It's a further stealth tax being imposed by a Labour government that will ultimately push up prices for family holidays.” Puffinisland12 thinks: “It will be another cost to the landlord, Rent Smart Wales is a waste of money and of no real use to anybody. Only the people who look after their properties use it. The bad landlords don’t bother.” Borntobemild feels differently: “Seems like a sensible piece of legislation. Airbnbs should be subject to the same safety standards as hotel and guest houses.” P2keel retorts: “Nothing to do with safer lettings. How many people have died in Wales in holiday lets over the past 50 years I wonder? It's all a money making scam.” CGX wonders: “So if licensing is introduced will they no longer have to pay second home council tax as that would effectively make them a 'legitimate business' or will WG insist they still have to meet the occupancy threshold?” Do you think new holiday let licences will really make tourists safer? Share your thoughts in the comments.
