Airbnb and holiday let management in Cardiff

Occupaid runs Airbnb and holiday lets in Cardiff for owners who want the income without the day-to-day work. We handle the listing, pricing, guests, cleaning and the Welsh paperwork (registration and the visitor levy), and we can list your property on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Agoda and Google. No long-term lock-in, monthly rolling contracts.

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Bright modern living room with a grey sectional sofa, low coffee table and floor-to-ceiling windows

Why do short lets work in Cardiff?

Cardiff pulls big event weekends. Principality Stadium sits in the city centre and hosts sport and concerts [1]. Add Cardiff Castle and Cardiff Bay, and there is demand from tourists, fans and people in town for work [2][3]. Event weekends and quiet midweeks need very different prices, and getting both right makes a real difference.

Not sure whether short lets beat a long let for your place? Our Airbnb vs long-term let guide walks through the trade-offs.

What are the rules for short lets in Cardiff?

Wales and England are on different paths. If you let in Cardiff, this is what applies:

Registration (compulsory). Anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA). The registration service is open now, and you must register by 31 March 2027. It is free [4]. Miss the deadline and the first penalty is GBP 100 per premises, then GBP 10 per premises per day for up to 30 days, then a further GBP 1,000 per premises [5]. We'll help you register and keep your details up to date. Read more: Wales visitor accommodation register for Cardiff hosts
Cardiff Visitor Levy from 1 April 2027. Cardiff Council starts the levy on 1 April 2027. In Cardiff you must start accounting for it from 28 September 2026 for stays from 1 April 2027 [6]. For self-catering lets and homestays like Airbnb the higher rate is GBP 1.30 per person per night [7]. You, as the accommodation provider, file and pay it to the WRA. You may file annually if you expect GBP 1,000 or less of levy for the financial year (and were not over that in the previous year); otherwise you file quarterly [8]. We build the levy into your pricing and keep the records for your returns.
Licensing is coming, later. The Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Act 2026 became law on 27 April 2026. It sets up a licensing scheme for self-catering accommodation. By default the scheme comes into force in March 2030, with further consultation on the regulations first [9].
Business rates (252/182). To be rated as a business rather than paying council tax, a Welsh self-catering property must have been available commercially for at least 252 nights in a 12-month period, actually let commercially for at least 182 nights in the same period, and you must intend to make it available for at least 252 nights in the next 12 months [10]. From 1 April 2026, if the last 12 months fall short of 182 nights let, you may use the average nights let over the previous 24 or 36 months (the average must be at least 182 nights let in each 12-month period) [10]. We keep the availability and booking records you'll need to show this. Read more: The 252/182-day rule for Cardiff
Council tax premium. Cardiff Council charges a 100% premium on second homes, so a furnished home nobody lives in as their main residence pays double, unless an exception applies [11]. Miss the 252/182 test and you stay on council tax (with any premium that applies).
Planning. In Wales your local planning authority decides whether you need planning permission. Cardiff Council is listed as a local planning authority on GOV.WALES [12]. That doesn't rule out issues on a specific property, or a lease that bans short lets. Check your lease and mortgage before you list. We'll talk you through it on the call; we're not planning lawyers.

What does Occupaid do for Cardiff owners?

Full holiday let management, from first listing to monthly statement:

Help you register with the WRA and keep your details up to date
Build the Cardiff Visitor Levy into your pricing and keep the records for your returns
Set up or rebuild your listing, and coordinate the photography
Split-test listing titles to see what gets booked
List your property on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Agoda and Google
Price night by night around match days, concerts and the quiet weeks
Answer every guest message and booking request
Run cleaning, laundry and turnovers
Deal with problems mid-stay
Track nights available and let against the 252/182 test
Send a clear monthly statement

Already hosting yourself? Our guide to Airbnb's 15.5% host fee explains what to check on your prices.

Pricing

Every property is different, so we talk pricing through on a free 20-minute call, then send you a free proposal. The Cardiff visitor levy is a tax you owe the WRA as the provider. We build it into your nightly rate so guests cover it. Monthly rolling, with no long-term lock-in: a 30-day initial term, then either of us can end it with 30 days' notice.

Cardiff short let FAQs

Do I have to register my Cardiff Airbnb?

Yes. Anyone taking bookings for overnight stays in Wales must register with the WRA by 31 March 2027. Registration is free and the service is open now [4]. More in our Wales register guide.

How much is the Cardiff visitor levy?

For self-catering lets and homestays like Airbnb the higher rate is GBP 1.30 per person per night [7]. It applies to stays from 1 April 2027; in Cardiff you must start accounting for it from 28 September 2026 [6].

Do I need a licence?

Not yet. The licensing scheme is law but, by default, comes into force in March 2030, with further consultation first [9].

Will I pay double council tax on a Cardiff holiday let?

On a furnished second home that stays on council tax, Cardiff charges a 100% premium [11]. To move onto business rates the property needs to meet the 252/182 test (with averaging available from 1 April 2026) [10]. Our 252/182-day rule guide explains how.

Do I need planning permission for a short let in Cardiff?

Possibly. Your local planning authority decides. Cardiff Council is listed as a local planning authority on GOV.WALES [12]. Check your lease and mortgage too. We'll talk it through on the call; we're not planning lawyers.

Can I still use my property myself?

Yes. Block the dates whenever you like and we'll work around them. Nights you use it yourself (including discounted stays for friends or family) don't count towards the 182 nights actually let, so it's worth planning ahead [10].

Is your Cardiff property right for short lets?

Book a free 20-minute call. We'll look at your place, the Welsh rules that apply to it, and tell you straight whether short lets make sense. If they do, we'll send you a free proposal.

Get your free proposal

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