Wales will continue to gradually relax some of its remaining pandemic protections

From Monday, face coverings will no longer be required by law in retail settings and on public transport, though they will continue to be recommended in public health advice. However, 2 key legal protections will remain in place as coronavirus cases have risen sharply in recent weeks, driven by the BA.2 sub-type of the omicron variant. Face coverings will remain a legal requirement in health and social care settings and coronavirus risk assessments must continue to be carried out by businesses, with reasonable measures put in place in light of those assessments. The next 3-weekly review of coronavirus regulations will be carried out by 14 April, when the remaining legal […]

I Need To Get My Finances Together. Where Do I Start?

Did you know it is estimated that only 30% of UK households have a financial plan and the worst thing to do when it comes to managing your finances is to adopt DNA – the ‘Do Nothing Approach’.Have you ever thought about this? What does my financial future look like and how can I build a secure and comfortable future for my family!Why do I need a financial plan?How do I plan and grow my savings whilst reducing my tax liability?When will I be eligible for a state pension and how much will it be! To help you with these questions and how to make the most of your money […]

Four in A Bed

Channel 4’s popular daytime TV show, Four in A Bed is looking for a range of accommodation owners to feature on our upcoming series.  The show see’s 4 sets of holiday hosts battle it out to be named best value accommodation. We feature a variety of places to meet every budget such as hotels, pubs with rooms, B&B’s, guesthouses, glamping sites and self-catering cottages.   We are filming across North Wales in June 2022 and are looking for a range of accommodation types to feature on the show.  With everything that’s happened in the last two years, we want to help show off the best holiday stays and celebrate the re-opening of the […]

Welsh Government Proposed Changes to Self-Catering Business Rate Threshold

Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change has announced this week changes to the business rate threshold which could come into effect on April 2023.  We are urgently seeking your feedback / evidence on the potential impact to self-catering businesses following this announcement which will see the threshold for businesses to be classed as self-catering businesses rise from the current 140 available to let / 70 day actual let in any one year, to 282 days available to let / 182 days actual let (i.e 50% occupancy achieved). If you fail to meet this threshold your Local Authority could move your business from business rated to council tax rated and will also […]

Long-term plan to live with coronavirus safely

Together for a Safer Future will mark the start of Wales’ transition beyond the emergency response to the pandemic – emergency measures have been in place for 2 years. It sets out how Wales can live safely with coronavirus – just as we live with many other infectious diseases – and what that will mean for public health services and protections put in place to respond to the pandemic, including testing services. Wales will remain at alert level 0 for the next 3 weeks with the current level of protections in place. But all legal measures could be removed from 28 March if the public health situation remains stable. Together […]

New tax rules for second homes

The Welsh Government has announced an increase to the maximum level of council tax premiums for second homes, as well as new local tax rules for holiday lets. The measures are part of a wider commitment to address the issue of second homes and unaffordable housing facing many communities in Wales, as set out in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. The maximum level at which local authorities can set council tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties will be increased to 300%, which will be effective from April 2023. This will enable councils to decide the level which is appropriate for their individual […]