Wales is changing the rules for hosts. Here's what you need to know.

From autumn 2026, anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales will need to register with the Welsh Revenue Authority. This is a legal requirement, not a recommendation, and it applies broadly. Whether you rent out a spare room occasionally, own a holiday cottage, or run a campsite, if guests are paying to stay, you are in scope.

The requirement comes from the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025. Registration itself is free, and the process is being designed to be straightforward. But the key word is prepare. Registration opens in autumn 2026, and the WRA is already encouraging hosts to sign up for updates so they are not caught off guard when the time comes.

Who does this apply to?

The scope is intentionally wide. Cottages, caravans, cabins, campsites, spare rooms, second homes. If you take bookings for overnight stays in Wales, you must register. There is no minimum threshold based on frequency or scale. One night counts. What do you need to do right now?

Registration is not yet open. The immediate action is simple: sign up for the WRA newsletter at gov.wales/registeryourplace so you receive updates when registration opens and know exactly what is required.

What comes next?

The Act also lays the groundwork for a potential visitor levy, essentially a tourist tax, in Wales. The details are still being developed, but it signals a broader shift toward more structured oversight of the accommodation sector.

That is where Trippz comes in. Managing tourist tax and guest registration compliance is exactly what we do, across 40+ countries, for hosts and platforms alike. As Wales develops its wider compliance framework, we will be ready to help hosts navigate it without the usual complexity.