Running holiday cottages in the Yorkshire Dales, where new houses can no longer become holiday lets
The Yorkshire Dales National Park's new Local Plan, announced in June 2026, says new homes must be lived in as a principal residence, so none of them can be let to holidaymakers. The cottages already let are the stock there is. North Yorkshire Council has also charged second homes double council tax since April 2025. Upbridge's AI operations assistant, Cleo, works over WhatsApp with vacation rental operators and cleaning companies and organizes the cleanings and the inventory for each place.
Planning, tax and rates in the Dales
Planning in the park is the National Park Authority's job and council tax is North Yorkshire Council's, with the rating test set by the government. All of it was read on 24 October 2026.
| Topic | What it says | Status | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New homes | The Local Plan 2025-2040 requires new homes to be lived in as a principal residence, which the Authority says means they can't become second homes or holiday lets. The Authority announced it on 30 June 2026 after an independent examination. It also allocates land for nearly 400 new homes and allows small-scale housing in around 100 villages. | In force | Announced 30 June 2026 | Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority |
| Second homes | North Yorkshire Council adds 100% to the council tax of second homes. It decided this on 21 February 2024. Seasonal homes that can't legally be lived in all year, or whose planning stops anyone staying more than 28 days in a row, are among the exceptions. | In force | April 2025 | North Yorkshire Council |
| Business rates | Rates replace council tax for a Dales cottage once a year's record shows 140 nights open to paying guests and 70 nights actually sold, and you intend another 140 next year. A stay of more than 28 nights doesn't add to the 70. | In force | Updated 29 September 2026 | GOV.UK |
The Authority has pushed in this direction for years. In December 2021 it heard that about 3,100 of the park's 12,000 properties were holiday lets or second homes, and its members voted to let barns become holiday lets only as part of farm diversification. Its chairman at the time, Neil Heseltine, called some of the changes "bold and brave".
Take this as background, not advice on your cottage. Upbridge doesn't apply for planning or rates, or talk to the council, for any owner.
Getting guests and cleaners to the door
The Settle to Carlisle line crosses the western Dales, with stations at Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent and Garsdale. Dent is the highest station in England and sits about 4.5 miles from Dent village, so a guest arriving by train still needs a lift or a long walk. Northern runs the trains.
Cottages in the dales are spread along valley roads, and one cleaner can only cover so many in a day. When a guest checks out late in Swaledale, the next job in Wharfedale moves too.
How Upbridge helps in the Dales
Upbridge picks up each departure from your Hostaway, Guesty, Lodgify or Uplisting calendar, or from iCal, and makes it a cleaning with the cottage's photo checklist, from the boot rack to the bedrooms. You'll see on your phone which cottages in Grassington or Hawes are ready.
For someone getting off at Dent, the guest guide explains the 4.5 miles to the village and where the key is kept. Inventory per property is reduced after each stay, so the firelighters and loo rolls are topped up on a planned trip.
If you run a cleaning company in the Yorkshire Dales
Valleys decide your routes. The cleaning-company account pulls every owner's changeovers into a shared view, so a team can do Wharfedale one day and Wensleydale the next, and each owner remains your client.
Questions about holiday lets in the Yorkshire Dales
Can a new house in the Yorkshire Dales be used as a holiday let?
No. Under the Local Plan 2025-2040, new homes have to be someone's principal residence, so they can't become holiday lets or second homes.
Do second homes in the Dales pay more council tax?
In North Yorkshire, yes. Since April 2025 North Yorkshire Council has charged them double.
How far is Dent station from Dent?
About 4.5 miles. It's the highest station in England, on the Settle to Carlisle line.
Sources
Checked on 24 October 2026
- Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, “New Local Plan marks step forward for Dales communities”, 30 June 2026.
- YorkMix, Stuart Minting, “‘Bold and brave’ changes to prevent second homes in the Dales”, 14 December 2021.
- North Yorkshire Council, “Council tax premiums: long-term empty properties and second homes”, undated page, read 24 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, self-catering business rates guidance, updated 29 September 2026.
- Wikipedia, “Settle–Carlisle line”, read 24 October 2026.