A woman who lets a chapel out to holiday-makers in the Upper Swansea Valley fears it may no longer be viable after new regulations came into effect in Wales. Marnie Slade's five bedroom-chapel in Lower Cwmtwrch has been registered for business rates on the basis that it s let for 70 days per year. But that criteria has now changed to 182 days per year following measures introduced by the Welsh Government.
Lower Cwmtwrch borders the Brecon Beacons National Park, but it's not a tourism hotspot like Tenby or Llanberis, and Ms Slade only booked the chapel out for 134 days in 2022-23 despite advertising it on more websites than normal and spending a lot of time on social media.
Owners of holiday lets who don't reach the 182-day threshold now have to pay council tax - and because they are classed as second homes there is often a council tax premium levied by the local authority. In Ms Slade's case, in Powys, a 75% council tax premium applies. She said she would end up paying £4,000 a year more than she has done in business rates.
