'We had to get out': How short-term lets impacted the rental market 

Notice to quit statistics collected by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) indicate a steady increase in landlords leaving the market. After three years living in a house near Kinsale, James Leonard got one such notice which left him with no choice but to emigrate

Daft.ie had just five properties available for renting in Kinsale at the time of writing, with an average price of more than €4,500 per month. On Airbnb, there were 181 properties available in Kinsale.

After three years living in a house near Kinsale, James Leonard (66) received a letter no renter wants to receive. The landlord wanted to convert the garage into a short-term holiday rental, and move into the property themselves. Six months and then he’s out. Gone.

His story is reminiscent of that in many towns in Ireland, with tourist hotspots particularly affected. The number of properties available to rent has reached record lows nationally. While not the only consideration, short-term letting is a considerable factor in this.