PASC UK Annual Report 2025: a defining year for the STR sector
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
The Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK (PASC UK) has published its 2025 Annual Report, and it makes for essential reading for anyone operating in the UK short-term rental and holiday let sector.
At a time of mounting regulatory pressure, rising costs, and political scrutiny, the report sets out how evidence-led advocacy, collective action, and sustained engagement with government delivered tangible results for self-catering operators across England and Wales.
A major policy win: EPCs for holiday lets
One of the most significant developments highlighted in the report is confirmation that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has decided not to introduce mandatory EPC requirements for short-term lets.
PASC UK identified EPCs as the single greatest threat to the sector in 2025 and invested heavily in data collection, research, and ministerial engagement. The government confirmed its decision was evidence-led, with PASC UK data demonstrating:
No significant “flipping” from long-term to short-term lets
No meaningful link between self-catering and fuel poverty
This decision represents a rare and meaningful regulatory victory for holiday let owners.
Strengthening the voice of the sector
The report shows how PASC UK has rapidly scaled its influence:
2,416 owner-operator members and 159 agency members
26% year-on-year membership growth
Turnover rising from £285k to £436k (53% growth)
That growth has enabled a significant expansion of PASC UK’s policy team, research capacity, and advocacy reach, strengthening its position as a trusted voice with ministers, MPs, MSs, and officials.
Wales in focus: the 182-day threshold and tourism levy
Looking ahead, the report makes clear that Wales will be a central battleground in 2026.
With a forthcoming Senedd election, PASC UK sees a real opportunity to:
Push for a reduction in the 182-night threshold
Mitigate the most damaging elements of the proposed Tourism Levy and Licensing Bill
PASC UK Cymru has already played a leading role in consultations, scrutiny sessions, and the submission of detailed amendments, backed by thousands of survey responses and business-impact data.
Evidence, data, and 'changing the narrative'
A recurring theme throughout the report is the importance of robust data.
In 2025, PASC UK published its most comprehensive Form and Value Report, highlighting the economic contribution of self-catering in England and Wales:
42.9 million guests per year
138,000 jobs supported
£6.66 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA)
This data has been instrumental in challenging misconceptions around holiday lets, second homes, and housing availability – and in reshaping how the sector is discussed in political and media circles.
Alongside this, initiatives such as the Great British Holiday campaign aim to humanise the sector and highlight its role in sustaining local visitor economies.
A challenging market environment
The report also acknowledges the commercial realities facing operators:
Bookings being made later
Shorter lengths of stay
Occupancy up just 1% year-on-year
Average daily rates growth of 2.5% (below inflation)
With hospitality cost inflation running significantly higher, many owners are facing margin pressure – making future government-imposed cost interventions a serious risk .
Why this matters for hosts and property managers
The PASC UK Annual Report 2025 underlines a critical point: policy outcomes for the short-term rental sector are no longer theoretical – they are being actively shaped by data, organisation, and collective effort.
For hosts, property managers, and agencies, the message is clear:
Engagement matters
Evidence matters
Unified representation delivers results
As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the role of industry bodies like PASC UK will only grow in importance.
Final thought from Host Planet on the PASC UK Annual Report 2025
At Host Planet, we see this report as a reminder that the future of the STR industry will be shaped not just by platforms and technology, but by education, advocacy, and credible data.
For anyone serious about operating sustainably in the UK short-term rental market, the PASC UK Annual Report 2025 is required reading.
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