Latest news with #ShortTermLets
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The ‘Airbnb Bill' targeting second homeowners in this English region
North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire introduced the Short-term Lets (Planning Permission) Bill to parliament on Tuesday, aiming to regulate holiday lets and address council tax avoidance by second homeowners. The proposed ' Airbnb Bill' requires homeowners to obtain planning permission before converting residential properties into short-term holiday lets, closing a loophole that allows them to claim small business status and avoid council tax obligations. To qualify for business rates, a short-term let must be available to rent for at least 140 days and rented for a minimum of 70 days in the prior year. As of October 2023, Cornwall Council reported 13,140 second homes in the county and is now charging an additional 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes. Mr Maguire said the Bill aimed to restore fairness and give locals a better chance at owning homes.
Irish Examiner
22-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Self-catering operators seek clarity on new letting rules
The representative body for short-term letting, the Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCG), are 'inundated' with calls from members looking for clarity on what exactly the new rules for short-term letting to be introduced from next year mean for them. Chief executive officer Máire Ní Mhurchú said short-term letting answers the complexity of demands, and while the ISCF welcomes a register of all short-term lets, it is not at all clear what it will mean for members all over the country. The ISCF said the government was in danger of shutting down a vital industry, and an industry that is particularly important in tourist areas and for family income. The Government announced the Register for Short-Term Tourism Letting Bill following last Tuesday's cabinet meeting. The legislation will introduce a register for all Short Term Lets (STLs) in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026, ensuring compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation, which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024. Minister for Tourism Peter Burke expects the register will free up long-term letting for towns with populations over 10,000 and in rent pressure zones as well as improving compliance with planning. Failte Ireland will police the register. 'Politicians have stated that towns and villages with populations under 10,000 will not require planning permission for short-term rental businesses. However, there has been no clear communication regarding support or guidelines for existing businesses in larger towns and cities,' Ní Mhurchú said. Towns like Killarney and Tramore, for instance, with populations over 10,000, are likely to need planning permission - but it is not clear where the boundaries lie. The whole of the Killarney Municipal District, for instance, includes several rural villages. While the Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) acknowledges the introduction of this legislation, there had been little prior consultation with industry stakeholders, the CEO said. 'This approach undermines the second-largest sector in Ireland's tourism accommodation market, leaving many of our members deeply concerned about the future of their businesses. The industry urgently needs clarity on planning regulations for existing operations and clear guidelines for the development of the short-term rental sector— the fastest-growing segment of tourism accommodation.' In 2024, Eurostat reported a 28.3% increase in short-term rental bookings across the EU, totalling 123.7m nights in the first quarter alone. However, Ireland's performance has been less robust, with a 4% decline in the number of nights international visitors stayed compared to 2023. To illustrate the impact of disorganised regulation on the sector, the ISCF has developed a series of children's books in Irish and in English, accusing the government of not understanding the complexity of this part of the tourist industry, or of how vital it is for family incomes along the west coast. It is not fair to blame self-catering in Connemara or Waterford for the lack of housing, according to the children's books. 'Granny and others had spent all their money fixing up houses for visitors, but now they were being blamed for not having enough homes for people to live in. Grandad had died a long time ago, and Mum said the money Grandad earned paid for the car and sent her to university…" At present, all short-term letting properties with the exception of a principal private residence based in rent pressure zones, such as Killarney, are required to have appropriate planning permission, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment said. Renting out a room in a principal private residence does not require planning, but renting out the entire house for more than 90 days does. With the new register, hosts offering short-term letting accommodation for periods up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Fáilte Ireland and display their registration number in all advertising. People breaching the rules could face stringent financial penalties, the Department said.
