Short-term let rules in Wrexham (updated 29 Oct 2026)
Last checked: 8 official source pages for this council scanned automatically for changes on 2 Nov 2026What changed
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Dates we're watching for Wrexham (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.
50% council tax premium on second homes (150% bill), unchanged since 1 Apr 2017 and 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 found (checked 25 Oct 2026). 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: 50% on top of the standard charge (so 150% in total), the rate Wrexham has charged since 1 Apr 2017 and still in its 2026/27 tax base.
That is lower than most Welsh councils that charge a premium. Long-term empty homes pay far more: 200% premium (300% bill) from 1 Apr 2025, or 250% (350% bill) once empty for 4 years or more.
A second home is a furnished home that is not anyone's sole or main residence. Exceptions include homes marketed for sale or let (one year only), annexes, armed forces homes, occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings, seasonal homes where year-round occupation is not allowed (for example by a planning condition), and job-related homes.
The 2026/27 tax base counted 71 homes paying the second-home premium.
What changed in Wrexham
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
- Added council pages for Wrexham (50% second-home council tax premium, one of the lowest in Wales, unchanged since 2017) and Flintshire (100% second-home premium since April 2023, kept for 2026/27). Neither has a visitor levy or an Article 4 direction; 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 Wrexham: 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
- 1 Apr 2017: 50% second-home premium started
- 1 Apr 2025: long-term empty premium rises to 200%
- 31 Mar 2027: WRA registration deadline
Wrexham short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a licence or registration for a short-term let in Wrexham?
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 Wrexham?
No Article 4 direction or local short-let planning control found (checked 25 Oct 2026). 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 Wrexham?
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 Wrexham?
WRA registration is free. Council tax second-home premium: 50% on top of the standard charge (so 150% in total), the rate Wrexham has charged since 1 Apr 2017 and still in its 2026/27 tax base. That is lower than most Welsh councils that charge a premium. Long-term empty homes pay far more: 200% premium (300% bill) from 1 Apr 2025, or 250% (350% bill) once empty for 4 years or more. A second home is a furnished home that is not anyone's sole or main residence. Exceptions include homes marketed for sale or let (one year only), annexes, armed forces homes, occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings, seasonal homes where year-round occupation is not allowed (for example by a planning condition), and job-related homes. The 2026/27 tax base counted 71 homes paying the second-home premium.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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