Crackdown laws on short-term property rentals face further delay

Late last year, a provisional agreement was reached between EU member states and the European Parliament to introduce a consistent system for registration of short-term lets across the bloc.

The Government’s long-awaited laws to crack down on Airbnb and short-term lets are facing more delay, with the European Commission seeking “further consideration” of the legislation.

The legislation has been stymied for more than a year by the commission over concerns the laws would be too restrictive on companies like Airbnb to operate in Ireland.

The commission itself has flagged concerns around the alignment of Ireland’s proposed short-term rental laws with its proposals. 

It responded to the Government earlier this month that Ireland’s legislation was going in the right direction, but that it required more consideration.

Following this, officials from the Department of Tourism met with the commission as part of efforts to move forward on the laws.

The meeting also included officials from Fáilte Ireland, which is set to run the short-term let register.

Proposed legislation

Late last year, a provisional agreement was reached between EU member states and the European Parliament to introduce a consistent system for registration of short-term lets across the bloc.

Under the proposed legislation, there would be a more regulated structure to the Irish short-term let market. Currently, anyone who wishes to turn their property into a short-term let is required to seek planning permission if they want to rent it out for more than 90 days a year.

However, the new legislation would create a short-term tourist letting register, which would require homeowners renting out their properties for more than 21 days to register with Fáilte Ireland.

It is understood the work to create such a register is complete and can be implemented quickly after the legislation is enacted.

In addition, Fáilte Ireland would be able to levy fines against any household that lists a property as a short-term let without a valid registration number, with fines stretching up to €5,000.

The Government is hoping the new laws would allow for up to 12,000 homes used as short-term lets to be returned to the long-term rental market.

Previously, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said he was “frustrated” with the delays to the legislation, particularly due to the commission’s slow responses.