The Welsh Government has opened a three month consultation on changes in regulations for holiday let landlords.

The Welsh Government – a majority Labour administration with the support of the nationalist party Plaid Cymru – is proposing a statutory licensing scheme which would require landlords using AirBnb and other short let platforms to prove they have insurance, permission for the premises to be let, a fire risk assessment, gas safety certificate, and proof of electrical safety.

Local authorities in Wales would then use the licensing database to identify hotspots for excessive’ numbers of holiday pets, which may then trigger additional local restrictions.

Landlords have until March 17 to respond to the consultation.

Welsh Government economic minister Vaughan Gething says: “We remain conscious that any scheme needs to be proportionate, and the consultation will enable a range of views to come forward on the ultimate shape and content of the proposed licensing scheme.

“We are also seeking views on how such a statutory scheme could operate, and whether that should be nationally by the Welsh government or at a local level by each individual local authority. In addition, we are looking to gather views on whether all visitor accommodation providers, including those that operate infrequently or only open for one-off events, should require a licence.

“We are also seeking views on how frequently licences should be renewed and the licence fees that might be charged. In deciding on any fee structure, we are of course mindful of the pressures on businesses in the current climate.

“We believe that most visitor accommodation providers want to operate within the law. Therefore, one of our aims is to develop a scheme that will ensure a high level of voluntary compliance and a system that is effective and user-friendly, whilst providing a mechanism to address concerns or complaints when things go wrong.”