Airbnb owners call for halt to regulation plans

New rules proposed by the European Commission last year have been drawn up to tackle the different laws and regulations across European Union member states for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals.

The final draft of the rules is expected to be agreed on Wednesday in the European Parliament.

Chief executive of the ISCF, Maire Ni Mhurchu, welcomes the progress in Europe, saying: “Within 12 months, everyone (offering short-term rentals) will have to be registered. We have been calling for this since 2017.” But she said there are concerns in the sector about regulation of the sector domestically in Ireland.

Since 2019, the permission of a local authority is required if a property was being rented out on a short-term basis for more than 90 days a year in a rent pressure zone.

Ms Ni Mhurchu attended a conference about agri tourism on Monday in Tullamore where concerns were raised by short-term rental owners about planning issues.

She cited one case where a woman is being charged separate development levies for two glamping pods on the same field, in the midlands.

Ms Ni Mhurchu said: “That would cost a fortune.” She outlined planning costs per individual pod of at least €3,500.

She said: “We want a derogation – we want anybody who is in business to be allowed to continue at the moment.” She said that people in rural areas who want to use their outbuildings to diversify into agri-tourism, opportunities are very difficult because they have to seek planning permission.

She said the ISCF is disappointed that there will be no government representatives attending the conference to hear the concerns of short-term rental owners.

Representatives of the sector from Scotland will attend today’s conference and outline the challenges facing short-term rental owners there.

An awards ceremony will also take place during the conference for industry leaders across the country.