Legislation on Airbnb rules must be introduced as soon as possible – Lombard

The Housing Department must ensure new Airbnb regulations planned to come into effect at the start of September, are ready to go as soon as the standstill period with the European Commission is complete, Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard has said.

In July, the Government passed legislation to strengthen regulatory controls on short-term letting, to hold online platforms liable for short term accommodation ads from property owners that do not have the correct planning permission in place to use their property as a short-term let.

Senator Tim Lombard said the new rules, which aimed to free up long term rental homes in rent pressure zones and were meant to begin on September 1^st, cannot commence until at least November 3^rd.

“I have since learned that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien’s department had to notify the European Commission under the requirements of the EU TRIS (Technical Regulation Information Society) Directive, which is designed to prevent regulatory barriers arising in the internal market for products and information society services.

“This is a standard procedure we have to go through with some legislation each year but the delay is frustrating. Everyone involved needs to get on with it and make it happen as quickly as possible.

“Fáilte Ireland and the Tourism Department must also get on with it and prepare the new registration system for the legislative provisions for short term lettings that we know are coming,” Senator Lombard said.

“At present, individuals renting out a home for more than 90 days or landlords letting out a second property to tourists or others on a short-term basis must apply for planning permission either on a new or retention basis. There has been criticism, however, that this is not adequately regulated and homes are still being advertised without permission.

“Under new rules, signed into law in July, landlords and online portals such as AirBnB face fines of up to €5,000 each time they advertise short-term lets in rent pressure zones that do not have the proper permission.

“Airbnb properties are soaking up the rental market and harming rural and urban Ireland by ensuring affordable rental properties are not available.

“Close to me in Kinsale, local people are being priced out of the market. There are finally some social houses being built in the Cork town and a few much-needed affordable houses.

“The real worry is about the impact of short-term lettings such as Airbnb on the town’s property market.

Senator Lombard said a holiday rental in Kinsale can command up to €4,500 per week.

“With over 200 short-term lets available here in any given week, the supply of rental properties for those wanting to live in the town are diminished. It should be more financially viable to have long-term renters than short-term stays, not the way it is currently,” Senator Lombard said.