Pembrokeshire Council pushes review of 182‑day holiday rental tax and expands Homebuy affordable scheme

Pembrokeshire County Council has asked the Welsh Government to review the contentious 182‑day rule that subjects self‑catering holiday properties to a second‑homes council tax premium of 125 % on top of the standard rate. Councillor Huw Murphy will raise the issue at the council meeting on 16 July, noting that the rule, introduced by the previous Labour‑Plaid coalition, has been described as a “disaster for many self‑catering businesses” and calling for the threshold to be reduced, possibly to 140 days.

Separately, the council approved the continuation and expansion of the Homebuy Pembrokeshire scheme, an affordable home‑ownership program that provides equity loans to first‑time buyers. The 12‑month pilot, funded by £1 million from the second‑homes tax premium, supported 18 households with £814 000 of investment, exceeding its original target of 15 homes. Cabinet Member for Housing Councillor Michelle Bateman said the scheme “has provided an important opportunity for local buyers” and announced a further £2 million of funding for the next two years to meet growing demand.