Up to 75% of short-term lets empty as homelessness nears 17,000, new figures show

The Government is in the middle of a crackdown on short-term lets, with proposed legislation introduced in May to introduce a register managed by Fáilte Ireland.

At least three quarters of properties advertised for short-term lets are either empty or underoccupied at any given time, stark new figures have revealed.

Briefing documents prepared for tourism minister Peter Burke’s officials, and released to the Irish Examiner under Freedom of Information, show occupancy rates can drop to as low as 4% across the country.