Wales : Statutory Registration for Visitor Accommodation

Following on from the consultation previously newsed formal plans to introduce a statutory registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation have been announced by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden. The legislation is expected to be introduced to the Senedd before the end of the year.

The consultation illustrated that 89% of potential visitors were keen to have an assurance as to the safety of the accommodation they were to stay in, and the registration system is intended to enhance the visitor experience and visitor safety expectations in Wales by ensuring anyone who lets out visitor accommodation meets a relevant set of standards.

The first phase will be a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, which will result in a register on the broad range of visitor accommodation available across the country and will include details on who is operating in the sector, where they are operating, and how they are operating.

Once a registration scheme is set up there will be a second phase being a licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation.

Registration will record:

• compliance with safety requirements visitor accommodation providers should already be meeting
• quality standards

it will also work in tandem with setting up a sustainable tourism policy which it is believed the Senedd will use to create balance in communities around housing availability.

Designated Member Siân Gwenllian said: 

“This will result in strengthened controls on residential properties operating as short-term holiday lets, leading to greater fair play for all.”