Business
Drakeford sets out plans to license Airbnb-style rentals
MARK DRAKEFORD set out plans to bring in licensing for short-term, Airbnb-style lets and create greater parity with the long-term rental market.
The former First Minister introduced a bill to create a mandatory licensing scheme for visitor accommodation – starting with self-contained, self-catering properties.
He explained the tourism bill aims to give visitors confidence that accommodation meets a legal “fitness” standard, bringing Wales in line with Scotland and other parts of the UK.
If ultimately passed by the Senedd, the bill will require owners of self-catering properties to have gas, electrical and fire safety certificates as well as public liability insurance, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
The new rules would initially apply to self-contained, self-catering accommodation – including listings on online platforms Airbnb and Booking.com – but could be expanded in future. The initial phase does not include spare rooms, hotels, B&Bs nor hostels.
In July, the Senedd passed separate legislation to create a register of visitor accommodation providers and give councils powers to introduce a £1.30-a-night tourism tax.
Prof Drakeford, Wales’ finance secretary, told the Senedd the second bill would create a more consistent approach, levelling the playing field for short and long-term letting.
In the statement on Tuesday November 4, he said: “As it stands, if an individual chooses to let a property to a long-term tenant, that person must register as a landlord, obtain a licence themselves or through an appointed agent and ensure statutory obligations are being met.
“Should the same individual choose to let out a property to visitors on a short-term basis, it can simply be listed on an online platform and bookings can immediately start to be taken.”
Documents published alongside the bill estimated the annual licence fee cost at £75 per premises, with a one-off training for providers of around £25. According to a report, more than 21,000 properties in Wales were listed on Airbnb alone in May 2022
The total cost of the scheme was estimated at £41m, including a one-off £9m for the Welsh Government to manage roll out and £32m in compliance costs for providers over ten years.
While the Welsh Government aims to take a “proportionate, light-touch” approach to enforcement, providers could be fined for persistent or repeated breaches.
The bill would create new offences including operating without a licence, failure to provide information, providing false information and non-compliance with advertising rules.
Conservative Samuel Kurtz cautiously welcomed the bill but raised concerns about wide-ranging enforcement powers, including to enter premises and seize documents.

Under the bill, it would become an offence to advertise or market visitor accommodation without including the required registration number.
Mr Kurtz warned booking platforms could be held legally liable if a host inputs an incorrect registration number, “information entirely out of the booking platform’s control”.
He called for a distinction between large-scale commercial operators exploiting a loophole and smaller operators simply sharing their homes or one other property to make ends meet.
The shadow economy secretary also warned of the cumulative impact of reforms. “We must be careful not to impose further burdens that drive those small operators, those legitimate businesses, out of the sector entirely,” he said.
Prof Drakeford argued it is reasonable to expect booking platforms to take responsibility for publishing accurate information, given it can be checked against a public register. He said the bill allows people to put details right once brought to a provider’s attention.
The former First Minister stressed: “It isn’t the purpose of the bill to pursue people who’ve made honest mistakes and are relying on the information provided by others.”
The tourism bill is the final piece in the programme of work agreed under the Welsh Government’s now-collapsed cooperation deal with Plaid Cymru.
Siân Gwenllian, Plaid Cymru’s shadow housing secretary, warned the bill currently fails to strike the right balance between the interests of visitors and local people.

She called for neighbours to have a voice in the process of agreeing a licence – or removing one due to complaints about noise, parking or anti-social behaviour.
Raising plans for a similar scheme in England, Prof Drakeford agreed with Labour colleague Lesley Griffiths that Wales must not be left as the only part of the UK without safeguards.
Business
Rosemarket Dawn Till Dusk golf club 18-hole plans lodged
A CALL to extend a long-established Pembrokeshire golf club, bringing it up to a full 18 holes, has been submitted to county planners.
In the application, Mr and Mrs Young, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, seek a change of use of land adjoining the Dawn Till Dusk Golf Club, Furze Hill Farm, Bastleford Road, Rosemarket, to form an extension to the existing golf course, along with landscaping and associated works.
A supporting statement through the agent says: “The application seeks full planning permission for the enlargement of the existing golf course to provide an additional six holes, to provide a total of 18 holes.
“The proposal would involve minor landscaping works to the fields and boundaries and the creation of a small number of ponds and bunkers. The extension would be located on land to the west of Furze Hill Farm and on the opposite side of the road to the existing golf course and clubhouse.
“An altered access to the land parcel is proposed as part of this application, which would provide an improved route for users crossing the public highway to avoid conflict with movements at the main entrance.
“The application site exceeds 1ha and therefore the proposal is considered major development necessitating a Pre-Application Consultation prior to formally submitting the planning application to the Local Planning Authority.”
It adds: “The existing golf course has operated in excess of 30 years and is popular with both visitors and locals. Club membership currently stands at approximately 350 and there is demand for enhancing the provisions of the course.
“The applicants’ sons have recently increased their involvement in the enterprise and in recent years wet winter months have necessitated the closure of the course, or parts of it, due to the ground becoming waterlogged, primarily due to the flat nature of the existing course.
“The extension would provide variation to the terrain, providing, dryer conditions, as well as the ability to alternate between the existing and proposed to maintain use, enhancing the viability of the enterprise.”
The application will be considered by Pembrokeshire County Council planners at a later date.
Business
Plans to rebuild arson hit building at farm with one of largest sheep flocks in Wales
A CALL to rebuild a fire-damaged Pembrokeshire farm building, as a family home to help manage one of the largest sheep flocks in Wales, has been submitted to the national park.
In the application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, D B Davies and Sons through agent Harries Planning Design Management, with a supporting statement by Reading Agricultural Consultants Ltd, seek permission to renovate an existing fire-damaged dwelling, together with the conversion and extension of outbuildings to form an agricultural worker’s dwelling at Mynydd Du, Rosebush.
The supporting statement through Reading Agricultural Consultants Ltd says Mynydd Du is part of a wider holding which includes Eisteddfa Fawr and land around the village of Brynberian, the farms approximately six km apart, with land under control of the applicant amounting to some 1,500 acres, with a further 3,000 acres of Preseli mountain common land also used; the land accommodating a 5,000-ewe flock with 10 suckler cows and followers.
It says DB Davies & Sons Unlimited, has five partners: the two Davies brothers, Berian and Ken; their wives; and Berian’s son, Dyfed.
Berian and Ken are in their late 70s, with most of the heavy work on the farm is undertaken by Dyfed.
Dyfed and his wife Megan are first language Welsh speakers, living some 10 km away in Nevern, while Berian and Ken, and their wives, live at Eisteddfa Fawr, Brynberian.
The dwelling at Mynydd Du, where most sheep are now wintered, is structurally sound and repairable but has been unoccupied since 1990, and was subject to arson circa 2013, the statement says.
It says Dyfed works full-time on the farm, alone with increasing frequency as the older business members are above retirement age, working “long hours out of necessity to undertake all the work associated with one of the largest flocks of sheep in Wales”.
“His working hours are extended further due to the fact that he lives remote (6kms) from the main block of land at Tyllosg, where Mynydd Du is situated in the centre of the farm. Travelling back and forth several times each day during lambing and other times during poor weather, to check on flock welfare is an arduous task and can be dangerous, particularly if driving when tired during inclement conditions.”
The statement adds: “The application seeks permission to repair the fire damaged dwelling at Mynydd Du and bring it back to serve a useful purpose to enable Dyfed to closely monitor the ewes, not only at lambing, but throughout the year when the flock is grazing on the adjacent common land.
“It will also enable Dyfed to be with his partner and young child on a more regular basis than simply at the end of a long day when he is away from their current home, tending the sheep at Mynydd Du.”
The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.
Business
Herald expands sales team as Milford Haven growth drives demand
THE PEMBROKEHIRE HERALD is launching a recruitment drive to bring in two new sales executives as the newspaper continues to grow its commercial operations across the county.
The move comes as the Herald strengthens its position as the leading independent news platform in West Wales, with increasing demand from local businesses looking to advertise both in print and online.
The expansion is being driven in part by the rapid growth of Milford Haven and the wider energy sector, with major investment in green energy projects, port activity and associated industries creating new opportunities for local businesses.
As the area continues to develop as a key energy hub, more companies are seeking to reach customers, partners and the wider community through trusted local media.
The successful candidates will work directly with Pembrokeshire businesses, helping them promote their services to a growing audience through the Herald’s expanding digital reach and established print readership.
Editor Tom Sinclair said the recruitment reflects both the changing local economy and the Herald’s increasing audience.
He said: “Milford Haven is expanding rapidly, particularly with new energy and green projects coming forward, and that’s creating real opportunities for local businesses.
“At the same time, our audience continues to grow across both our website and social media platforms, meaning we can now offer advertisers a much bigger and more effective platform than ever before.”
The new roles will focus on building relationships with local firms, developing advertising campaigns, and identifying new opportunities across sectors including tourism, retail, trades, energy and professional services.
The Herald has continued to invest in its digital platforms, including Herald.Wales, alongside its well-established print edition, offering advertisers a multi-platform approach to reaching customers.
The recruitment drive also comes at a time when many local businesses are looking for cost-effective ways to promote themselves amid ongoing economic pressures.
Mr Sinclair added: “Local advertising matters. When businesses advertise locally, that money stays in the local economy. It helps create jobs, supports families and helps communities grow alongside the businesses within them.”
The roles are expected to appeal to motivated, target-driven individuals with strong communication skills and an interest in media, sales or marketing.
Both positions are based in Pembrokeshire, with opportunities for training and career progression within the Herald’s growing media group.
Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to email [email protected] with a CV and covering letter before Tuesday (Apr 1, 2026).
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