The owner of a Welsh holiday cottage has warned that they may need to give out free breaks to meet new letting rules here. Holiday lets used as businesses can pay rates instead of council tax - savings thousands of pounds - but the criteria to qualify as a business has tightened.
The rules changed in April meaning that the occupancy threshold to qualify went from 70 to 182 days, while local authorities also have the powers to increase the council tax premium to 300%, although 150% is the highest premium charged so far.
There have been warnings that it will mean some holiday let businesses will be forced to close, and one self catering cottage owner warned: “By October, if we haven't met the 182 days, we might find ourselves needing to give holidays away. No-one wants to work for nothing. It's a big concern.”
