The Government has published a proposed new law which will create a register of short-term lets by May 2026.
The register will be managed by Fáilte Ireland and it will provide a full picture of the stock of registered tourist accommodation across the State.
Hosts offering such accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland and hold a valid registration number that must be displayed when advertising the property.
The Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill has been brought forward by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke.
It will ensure compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation, which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024.
The Bill also provides for the introduction of a sanction procedure for infringements by online short-term rental platforms of their obligations under the EU Regulation.
This will enable the State to impose large financial penalties, up to a maximum of 2% of turnover, to enforce compliance where necessary.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet signed off on the Bill when it also agreed to restrictions on short-term lettings in towns with a population of more than 10,000.
However, people in these areas would still be able to rent out their “primary residence” for up to 90 days each year.
The changes are expected to take effect in May next year when the Fáilte Ireland register will be up and running.
The move will effectively ban planning permissions for commercial short-term lettings in cities and many towns around the country.
Minister for Housing James Browne is working on the drafting of new planning guidance and any necessary legislative changes to implement the new Planning Guidelines in the form of a National Planning Statement on short-term letting.
Sinn Féin’s Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has said there is no reason or rationale for the proposed 10,000 population threshold.
“This proposal is arbitrary and will not allow planning authorities to ensure that outside rent pressure zones, the operation of legal short-term lets does not negatively impact long-term residential supply.
“We also believe that Government must accompany any short-term letting register with a new power for local authorities to apply administrative fines to platforms and estate agents who advertise short-term lets without the appropriate planning exemption or permission,” he said.
