Darragh O’Brien to discuss EU agreement on crackdown on short-term lets

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is to meet with the European Commission on Monday about Irish plans to regulate Airbnb and short-term lets.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is to meet with the European Commission about Irish plans for a crackdown on Airbnb and short-term lets following a year-long delay to the new laws.

The meeting, taking place on Monday, follows a provisional agreement between EU member states and the European Parliament as part of a plan to introduce consistent registration for short-term lets across the bloc.

Mr O’Brien is to meet with key officials of two European commissioners, Thierry Breton and Nicolas Schmit, on the matter.

A spokesperson for Mr O’Brien said the provisional agreement "clears the way for us to proceed with national plans to tackle inappropriate short-term lettings and free up more units for the long-term rental market”.

“We want to discuss the EU agreement and how it will work in an Irish context,” said the spokesperson.

It is understood that the Department of Tourism is planning to publish the legislation by February, with it due to take full account of the new EU agreement.

“The rapid implementation of the register following the passage of the bill is crucial to giving certainty to operators and encouraging more units back into the rental market,” said the spokesperson.

“The Department of Housing will work with local authorities and ensure necessary resources are provided to implement the planning guidelines which will be published in tandem with the legislation.”

Irish plans to regulate short-term lets were stymied by the European Commission, with the legislation being delayed between March and December this year. 

Concerns had been raised that the proposed changes would be too “restrictive” for companies such as Airbnb and Booking.com to operate here.

However, the new EU-wide approach is expected to be formally adopted by both the European Parliament and Council early next year.

Laws 'in alignment'

A spokesperson for the Department of Tourism said that this agreement “provides clarity” and will ensure that Irish laws are in “full alignment” with new EU laws.

The plans will see the creation of a short-term let register which will require any property used as a short-term let for more than 21 days a year to be registered with Fáilte Ireland.

Additionally, any property used as a short-term let would be required to have a registration number from Fáilte Ireland.

The Government is estimating that the proposed register will help to bring up to 12,000 short-term let properties back onto the long-term rental market.

Previously, Mr O’Brien expressed his “frustration” at the delay to allow for Ireland to crack down on short-term lets.

“I have been frustrated with the Commission and with the slowness of their response, and I know they're assessing it,” said Mr O’Brien.

He said that short-term lets had a role to play, but that more properties needed to be brought into the long-term rental market.

“There’s a role for short-term lets within our tourist offering, absolutely. We’re not looking to take the legs out from under people.”