Supporting holiday rentals in Wales

New Flexibility for Welsh Holiday Lets: How Time Away can help with your 182-Day Target

Running a holiday let in Wales has become increasingly complex recently. We know that many of our wonderful property owners have felt the pressure of the 182-day letting threshold required to maintain business rates status and avoid steep Council Tax premiums.

However, as of 1st April 2026, new legislation has come into force that offers a much-needed “breather” for genuine holiday let businesses. These changes not only provide more flexibility in how you meet your targets but also officially recognise the value of charitable holiday donations.

At Time Away, we’ve been working with property owners for years to turn empty weeks into life-changing breaks for families caring for sick and disabled children. Now, the Welsh Government has caught up, making it easier for you to help us while securing your own business’s future.

Key Changes at a Glance

The 2026 Order introduces two specific refinements that change how the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) calculates your letting days:

The 14-Day Charitable Allowance: You can now count up to 14 days of donated breaks per year toward your 182-day actual let requirement.
The Averaging Rule: If you fall short of 182 days in a single year, you can now use a two or three-year average to prove your eligibility for business rates.

Why this matters for you: If 2025 was a quiet year, you aren’t automatically hit with a Council Tax premium. You can “overshoot” in 2026 – using a mix of commercial bookings and charitable donations – to bring your average back up to safety.

(See our Strategic Planning section at the bottom for a worked example!)

Why Gifting to Time Away is the Smartest Option

To use the new 14-day allowance, the break must be donated to a registered charity and used by their beneficiaries free of charge.

With its origins in the Welsh holiday let industry, Time Away (Registered Charity No. 1195325) is uniquely positioned to help Welsh owners navigate these rules:

Compliance Made Easy: We provide all necessary documentation for your VOA records, confirming the stay was charitable and met the legal criteria.
Established Experience: Having allocated over 2000 nights of donated breaks we have a refined system for matching families caring for children with life-changing diagnoses to your property.
Professional Peace of Mind: We understand the “182-day strategy.” We can give you guidance on how best to schedule your donations, ensuring you hit your targets while making a profound difference.

Strategic Planning: Navigating the 182-Day Threshold

Because the VOA assessment is based on a rolling 12-month cycle, your strategy needs to be proactive. Here is how the new rules can be used to protect your business:

1. Recovering from a “Short” Year

If your property let for only 160 days in 2025, you would have previously faced reclassification. Now, you can use 2026 to balance the books.

Year	Commercial Days	Donated Days (to Time Away)	Total “Qualifying” Days
2025	160	0	160
2026	190	14	204
Two-Year Average	–	–	182 Days (Target Met!)

2. The Assessment Period

The VOA evaluates your property based on the 12 months immediately preceding their review. Since they typically check every 2-3 years, keeping a rolling average is vital.

Retrospective Power: The averaging rule can look back as far as 1st April 2023 to help you meet the criteria today.
Charity Start Date: Remember, while you can average old years, the 14-day charity allowance only applies to stays occurring on or after 1st April 2026.

3. Proactive Monitoring

Don’t wait for the VOA form to arrive. If you see your rolling 12-month total dipping below 182, reach out to us. Booking a 7-day or 14-day charitable break is the most efficient way to shore up your numbers while the “averaging window” is still in your favour.

Ready to secure your 182-day allowance? Visit our Donate a Break page to see how your vacant dates can protect your business and support a family in crisis.