Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:09 pm on 24 May 2022.
Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. I want to raise the issue as regards many holiday let businesses in mid Wales that I think will become unviable if the Government's plans to increase the threshold to 182 days per year let come into being. I'd be grateful if you would provide advice to Mr Paul Martin, one of my constituents, who has outlined his case to me many times and also outlined his case to the BBC politics show on Sunday this week. Mr Martin converted outbuildings on the site of his B&B. The cottages have never been lived in. In fact, the utilities across all the cottages are joined and planning permission does not allow for the properties to be used for residential dwelling use. The holiday season is, of course, shorter in many parts of Wales, including in Kerry where Mr Martin's business is situated, so it would be near impossible for Mr Martin to let his four properties each for 182 days per year. Under your changes, Mr Martin would have to put his properties into the council tax system. Under the council tax system, increased charges would make the business unviable and the business would, sadly, have to close. However, despite the business closing, Mr Martin would still have to pay the higher rate for empty properties, and the cottages would become not able to convert and would remain a liability for Mr Martin and his business. Can you advise Mr Martin how he should proceed?