Readers divided over new tax plight of holiday let owners

SOME SLAM ‘SNEAKY’ BACKDATED RULE... OTHERS RESERVE SYMPATHY FOR THOSE STRUGGLING TO BUY A FIRST HOME

- By CLAIRE ELLIOTT

ACROSS Wales, holiday let owners have been hit with unexpected and steep council tax demands, leaving many fighting to stay afloat.

As reported in Monday's Daily Post, the charges follow new government rules on rental thresholds, with nearly half of self-catering businesses now operating at a loss or just breaking even.

Readers of our North Wales Live website are divided - some fear this could destroy Welsh tourism, while others say it’s a needed change to give locals a fair shot at owning homes.

A little-known change in legislation has triggered council tax demands - often amounting to tens of thousands of pounds - without prior notice.

In most cases, owners are being given just seven days to pay, under threat of legal action.

The charges stem from a rule about the number of nights a property must be let, which critics say has pushed the holiday rental industry to the brink.

One family with a rental in Abersoch, Gwyned4, is facing a bill of several thousand pounds, despite believing they had metalllegal requirements.

They were unaware the 182-night letting threshold was applied retrospectively, meaning they fell short during their first year. As a result, they've been back-charged for council tax over three years - making the original 70-night guideline irrelevant for most lets in 2022-23.