Short-term let rules in Caerphilly (updated 29 Oct 2026)
Last checked: 10 official source pages for this council scanned automatically for changes on 2 Nov 2026What changed
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Dates we're watching for Caerphilly (1)
- 31 Mar 2027: WRA registration deadline
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Last checked 29 Oct 2026: no change logged for this council in our changes log. Get free alerts when it changes.
100% council tax premium on second homes (200% bill) since 1 Apr 2025, still charged in 2026/27. Holiday lets need free WRA registration by 31 Mar 2027. No visitor levy.
Licensing or registration
Registration requiredNo council licence yet. Wales-wide: if you take bookings of 31 nights or fewer you must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 Mar 2027 (free, applies even with no council levy).
A national licensing scheme is legislated but not in force (default commencement March 2030). Check if you must register 路 What the licensing Act will require.
Control area / planning
None foundNo Article 4 direction or local short-let planning control on second homes or short-term lets found (checked 25 Oct 2026). The council's three Article 4 directions (Bute Town and Rhymney Town in Rhymney, and Pontywaun Garden Suburbs in Crosskeys) protect the look of conservation areas, such as windows, roofs and front walls, and do not cover changes of use.
Wales-wide, use classes C3 (main home), C5 (second home) and C6 (short-term let) exist since Oct 2022, and moving between them is permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
Visitor levy
None foundNo levy. GOV.WALES lists Cardiff as the only council that will charge the Visitor Levy and lists no councils consulting on it (checked 23 Oct 2026). Any Welsh levy needs a consultation, a full Council decision and 12 months' notice.
Fees
WRA registration is free. Council tax second-home premium: 100% on top of the standard charge (so double) since 1 Apr 2025, agreed by Cabinet on 20 Mar 2024 and full Council on 27 Mar 2024, and still charged in 2026/27 (the council's 2026/27 return to the Welsh Government shows 175 second homes paying the 100% premium).
It applies to homes that are not anyone's sole or main residence and are substantially furnished. Long-term empty homes (empty and unfurnished) pay nothing extra until they have been empty for 2 years: then 100%, rising to 200% after 3 years and 300% after 5 years.
Exceptions: Class 1 and 2 (marketed for sale or let, one year only), Class 3 (annexes), Class 4 (armed forces), Class 5 (occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings), Class 6 (seasonal homes where year-round occupation is prohibited) and Class 7 (job-related homes).
The council lists no local exception for holiday lets moving from business rates to council tax (checked 25 Oct 2026). To claim an exception, email premiums@caerphilly.gov.uk with evidence, such as an estate agent's agreement and listing link, or a planning reference number for annexes or homes with planning restrictions.
What changed in Caerphilly
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
- Added council pages for Caerphilly (100% second-home council tax premium since April 2025, still charged in 2026/27; long-term empty premium only after 2 years, up to 300% after 5) and Torfaen (no second-home premium: one of only two Welsh councils not charging one in 2026/27, though the council says it is considering premiums subject to consultation). Neither has a visitor levy or an Article 4 direction on short lets; WRA registration still applies by 31 Mar 2027. Official source
Newest first. Every UK change is in the changes log. Nothing here is legal advice: check the official source before acting.
Wales guides and tools
- Do I need to register with the WRA? 4-question checker
- Second homes council tax premium in Wales: rates, the 182-night test and exceptions
- Business rates or council tax? Occupancy threshold tracker
- Holiday let fire safety in Wales: what you need and a checklist
- Wales licensing scheme (2026 Act, legal default March 2030): who needs a licence
- How holiday lets are taxed since the FHL regime ended
Not sure what applies to your let? Use the free licence checker: pick your nation, council and type of let for a plain-English answer with the official source.
Buying here? See the buyer checks for Caerphilly: licence or registration, planning, visitor levy, business rates or council tax, plus the lender, insurance and title checks to make before you buy.
Key dates
- 27 Mar 2024: Council approves premiums on second homes and long-term empty homes
- 1 Apr 2025: 100% second-home premium started
- 31 Mar 2027: WRA registration deadline
Caerphilly short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a licence or registration for a short-term let in Caerphilly?
No council licence yet. Wales-wide: if you take bookings of 31 nights or fewer you must register with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 Mar 2027 (free, applies even with no council levy). A national licensing scheme is legislated but not in force (default commencement March 2030). Check if you must register 路 What the licensing Act will require.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Caerphilly?
No Article 4 direction or local short-let planning control on second homes or short-term lets found (checked 25 Oct 2026). The council's three Article 4 directions (Bute Town and Rhymney Town in Rhymney, and Pontywaun Garden Suburbs in Crosskeys) protect the look of conservation areas, such as windows, roofs and front walls, and do not cover changes of use. Wales-wide, use classes C3 (main home), C5 (second home) and C6 (short-term let) exist since Oct 2022, and moving between them is permitted development unless an Article 4 direction applies.
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in Caerphilly?
No levy. GOV.WALES lists Cardiff as the only council that will charge the Visitor Levy and lists no councils consulting on it (checked 23 Oct 2026). Any Welsh levy needs a consultation, a full Council decision and 12 months' notice.
What fees apply to short-term lets in Caerphilly?
WRA registration is free. Council tax second-home premium: 100% on top of the standard charge (so double) since 1 Apr 2025, agreed by Cabinet on 20 Mar 2024 and full Council on 27 Mar 2024, and still charged in 2026/27 (the council's 2026/27 return to the Welsh Government shows 175 second homes paying the 100% premium). It applies to homes that are not anyone's sole or main residence and are substantially furnished. Long-term empty homes (empty and unfurnished) pay nothing extra until they have been empty for 2 years: then 100%, rising to 200% after 3 years and 300% after 5 years. Exceptions: Class 1 and 2 (marketed for sale or let, one year only), Class 3 (annexes), Class 4 (armed forces), Class 5 (occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings), Class 6 (seasonal homes where year-round occupation is prohibited) and Class 7 (job-related homes). The council lists no local exception for holiday lets moving from business rates to council tax (checked 25 Oct 2026). To claim an exception, email premiums@caerphilly.gov.uk with evidence, such as an estate agent's agreement and listing link, or a planning reference number for annexes or homes with planning restrictions.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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