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Gwynedd Council, a holiday cottage owner, is an unlikely partner urging a Welsh Government U-turn on holiday home occupation rules that are destroying local community economies in North Wales.
The council has the highest number of holiday lets in Wales - around 4,750 homes, or one in five of Gwynedd's housing stock.
However, councillors are pleading with the Senedd government to reduce the number of nights a home must be available to let, as a quarter of holiday cottages have failed to meet the criteria.
Holiday let rules state a home must be let for 182 days in any 12-months. Homes that qualify can apply to pay much cheaper business rates rather than punitive premium council tax.
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: "Gwynedd recognises the challenges that the 182-day rule is causing many in the holiday let sector and has made representations to the Welsh Government for this rule to be reviewed and reduced."
Speaking for holiday let owners, the Professional Association of Self-Caterers (PASC) says short-term lets in Wales dropped by 26 per cent between 2024 and 2025.
"Data makes clear that the 182-day letting requirement has played a decisive role in this decline," said the PASC.
"These losses not only reduce visitor numbers but also have knock-on effects for local shops, restaurants, attractions, and service providers that rely on holidaymakers, threatening livelihoods across the region.
"The decline of self-catering properties has a broader impact on Welsh communities, as many local residents and businesses rely on the work provided by the sector, with closures directly leading to lost jobs and reduced income for local trades, cleaners, and small businesses that depend on visitor spending."
Although the council and PASC are often at daggers drawn, both recognise the unforeseen consequences of the holiday let legislation on the wider community.
However, the government is now taking further steps to tighten the financial noose around holiday property owners' necks.
Mark Drakeford, cabinet secretary for finance and Welsh language, wants to licence all self-contained holiday accommodation in Wales to raise standards and to ensure properties are fit for visitors.
He argues licensing is a significant step towards attracting visitors to Wales, as they would know that accommodation meets the standards they would expect.
Drakeford added: "Many providers already do the right things, and this Bill creates fair competition that protects both visitors and responsible businesses. I look forward to seeing the positive difference it will make to tourism in Wales."
Landlords expect to pay around £75 to licence each of their holiday lets from 2029.
The new legislation follows the Senedd passing the Visitor Levy Bill, which aims to allow councils to collect a charge on overnight stays in Wales. The Bill proposes to charge visitors £1.30 per person per night from April 2027. The money is earmarked by councils for services such as street cleaning, toilet maintenance and waste collection.