Latest news with #shorttermletting
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Property firm refused permission to continue letting 10 apartments near Dublin Castle
Dublin City Council has refused planning retention to a property firm which lists its apartments for short-term letting to tourists on the Airbnb and platforms. Dublin Castle Suites advertises its 10 apartments close to Temple Bar and can earn up to €350 per night per apartment on busy weekends. The owner of the apartments, facing on to Parliament Street and Dame Street, would earn only a fraction of its current rental income if they were to be rented for long-term only. A question mark has now been put over the lucrative enterprise following the council's decision to refuse planning retention to allow the apartments to continue as short-term lets. READ MORE The applicant, Olympia Real Estate Limited, now has the option of appealing to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which could reverse the council's planning refusal. [ 'We can't afford to live here': Westport housing crisis leaves no room for locals as homeowners turn to Airbnb Opens in new window ] In its decision, the council noted that there was a general presumption in the Dublin City Council Development Plan against the provision of dedicated short-term tourist rental accommodation in the city due to the impact on the availability of housing stock. The council stated that Olympia Real Estate Ltd has not provided a sufficient justification for the provision of short lease apartments at this location. It found that the proposal to continue the apartments for short-term letting 'would create an undesirable precedent for similar type development and would devalue property in the vicinity'. Olympia Real Estate Limited lodged the planning application after the council issued it with a warning letter over the use of the apartments for short-term letting. Planning consultants for the applicants, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (CSR), stated that 'enabling housing as short-term let accommodation in this instance redirects such demand away from mainstream housing'. 'The proposed tourism accommodation will assist in the attractiveness of the area for tourists and will promote a continued busy and vibrant city centre,' the consultants added. CSR stated that its client's ability to acoustically meet the standards of normal accommodation was not available given the protected status of the premises in question. They state 'in a period of substantial housing crisis these units cannot remain vacant'. Objecting to the planned retention, Fiachra Brennan of Oakcourt Park, Dublin 20 and who works on Parliament Street said that 'these are high-quality urban apartments which should be available on the long-term rental market'. 'The applicant has pointed to issues with regard to soundproofing and insulation – this should not preclude the use of the property for its intended purpose,' he said.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Dublin City Council refuse planning retention to 10 apartment Airbnb operator
Dublin City Council has refused planning retention to a significant Airbnb operator close to Dublin Castle and Temple Bar to continue offering its apartments for short-term letting to tourists. Dublin Castle Suites advertises its 10 apartments on the Airbnb platform and can earn up to €350 per night per apartment on busy weekends. Advertisement The owner of the apartments facing onto Parliament Street and Dame Street would earn only a fraction of its current rental income if the apartments are to be rented for long-term letting only. A question mark has now been put over the lucrative enterprise following the City Council's decision to refuse planning retention to allow the apartments to continue to be used for short-term letting. Applicants, Olympia Real Estate Limited, now have the option of appealing the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which may reverse the council's planning refusal. However, in its decision, the city council pointed out that there is a general presumption in the Dublin City Council Development Plan against the provision of dedicated short-term tourist rental accommodation in the city due to the impact on the availability of housing stock. Advertisement In refusing planning permission, the Council stated that Olympia Real Estate Ltd has not provided a sufficient justification for the provision of short-lease apartments at this location. The Council found that the proposal to continue the apartments for short-term letting 'would create an undesirable precedent for similar type development and would devalue property in the vicinity'. The planners concluded that the proposed retention of short-term residential use is not compatible with the architectural character, historic fabric and special interests of the protected structure. The Council planning report which recommended a refusal concluded that the continued use of the apartments for tourist accommodation 'would result in existing residential stock being lost to the residential housing system, meaning less long-term and secure accommodation will be available to the growing number of families and people who need it'. Advertisement Olympia Real Estate Limited lodged the planning application after the Council issued it with a Warning Letter over the use of the apartments for short-term letting. Planning consultants for the applicants, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (CSR) state that 'enabling housing as short-term let accommodation in this instance redirects such demand away from mainstream housing'. The consultants state that 'the proposed tourism accommodation will assist in the attractiveness of the area for tourists and will promote a continued busy and vibrant city centre'. CSR states that its client's ability to acoustically meet the standards of normal accommodation is not available, given the protected status of the subject premises. Advertisement They state, 'in a period of substantial housing crisis these units cannot remain vacant'. Objecting to the planned retention, Fiachra Brennan of Oakcourt Park, Dublin 20 and who works on Parliament Street, said that 'these are high-quality urban apartments which should be available on the long-term rental market'. He said: 'The applicant has pointed to issues with regards to soundproofing and insulation – this should not preclude the use of the property for its intended purpose. He added: 'I work on Parliament Street – it is a vibrant area with a range of commercial and hospitality businesses but is also an important urban, residential city neighbourhood. This status should be protected.'
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Planning refused for Airbnb operator with 10 apartments close to Dublin Castle
Dublin City Council has refused planning retention to a significant Airbnb operator close to Dublin Castle and Temple Bar to continue offering its apartments for short-term letting to tourists. Dublin Castle Suites advertises its 10 apartments on the Airbnb platform and can earn up to €350 per night, per apartment on busy weekends. The owner of the apartments facing on to Parliament Street and Dame Street would earn only a fraction of its current rental income if the apartments are to be rented for long-term letting only. A question mark has now been put over the lucrative enterprise following the council's decision to refuse planning retention to allow the apartments to continue as short-term lets. READ MORE The applicant, Olympia Real Estate Limited, now has the option of appealing to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which could reverse the council's planning refusal. [ 'We can't afford to live here': Westport housing crisis leaves no room for locals as homeowners turn to Airbnb Opens in new window ] In its decision, the council noted that there was a general presumption in the Dublin City Council Development Plan against the provision of dedicated short-term tourist rental accommodation in the city due to the impact on the availability of housing stock. The council stated that Olympia Real Estate Ltd has not provided a sufficient justification for the provision of short lease apartments at this location. It found that the proposal to continue the apartments for short-term letting 'would create an undesirable precedent for similar type development and would devalue property in the vicinity'. Olympia Real Estate Limited lodged the planning application after the council issued it with a warning letter over the use of the apartments for short-term letting. Planning consultants for the applicants, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (CSR), stated that 'enabling housing as short-term let accommodation in this instance redirects such demand away from mainstream housing'. 'The proposed tourism accommodation will assist in the attractiveness of the area for tourists and will promote a continued busy and vibrant city centre,' the consultants added. CSR stated that its client's ability to acoustically meet the standards of normal accommodation was not available given the protected status of the premises in question. They state 'in a period of substantial housing crisis these units cannot remain vacant'. Objecting to the planned retention, Fiachra Brennan of Oakcourt Park, Dublin 20 and who works on Parliament Street said that 'these are high-quality urban apartments which should be available on the long-term rental market'. 'The applicant has pointed to issues with regard to soundproofing and insulation – this should not preclude the use of the property for its intended purpose,' he said.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Rural self-catering businesses didn't cause housing crisis': Property owners, local TDs push back on Government plans for short-term lets
Ministers have been facing pressure from property owners and politicians to ease the planned crackdown on short-term letting. Minister for Tourism Peter Burke and Minister for Housing James Browne are developing the new regime for short-term lets, such as those advertised on Airbnb and other platforms, which will include a new register underpinned by updated planning permission rules. The plans are part of efforts to tackle the housing crisis with some suggestions that as many as 10,000 homes could be freed up for long-term rental use. The Government proposals have prompted complaints from short-term let owners and representatives of the self-catering tourism industry. READ MORE Issues raised in correspondence released under the Freedom of Information Act, include the requirement for planning permission for short-term lets – which previously did not apply to many rural areas – and a population threshold bringing in restrictions on new short-term-lets in towns with more than 10,000 people. [ Does it make financial sense to buy a holiday home? Opens in new window ] Issues highlighted include fears for the rural tourism industry and the impact on retirement income. A number of people said they have no intention of putting their properties on the long-term rental market. In response to queries on the complaints, the Department of Enterprise and Tourism said: 'Minister Burke is aware of the genuine concerns regarding the impacts on rural tourism and local economies, of removing a significant cohort of properties from the [short-term let] market.' The department also highlighted the goal of the measures saying: 'meeting local housing need across Ireland is a critically important consideration and Government must use every lever available to assist in providing homes for our people, including returning properties to the long-term residential market.' Under the Government proposals there would effectively be a ban on new planning permissions for commercial short-term lets in urban centres with more than 10,000 people. There have been misgivings among Government TDs including Minister Norma Foley and Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae over the potential impact of this on tourist towns such as Killarney and Tralee. A Department of Housing statement said the 10,000 population threshold has been Government policy since April 15th and 'there is currently no review of this threshold under way.' Other correspondence released shows Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill wrote to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister Burke seeking consideration of 'a planning exemption for those involved in short-term lets in Killarney and Tralee for the past three years and longer.' [ Ireland could face anti-tourism protests without regulation of AirBnB-style lets, officials warn Opens in new window ] Another Kerry-based Fianna Fáil politician, Seanad Cathaoirleach Mark Daly, wrote to Mr Browne highlighting the concerns of the Irish Self Catering Federation (ISCF). He wrote: 'The ISCF asks that any changes to planning requirements apply solely to new businesses, with a degree of common sense to avoid deterring new entrants'. A Department of Housing statement said: 'An exemption for existing short-term lets is not being considered at this time.' It said a planning exemption for home-sharers that let their entire principle private residence on a short-term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days will continue to apply. In the correspondence to Mr Burke one self-catering owner in Wexford told the Minister: 'Yes there is a housing crisis' but 'rural self-catering businesses didn't cause this'. They argued the plans would 'ruin an already troubled Irish tourism industry'. Another owner wrote: 'the short-term accommodation we let here is an integral part of our income. Its absence would call into question whether or not we are able to stay in our family home in old age'. Another woman said her 'entire pension and inheritance went into this' and she has provided a 'valuable service' with her short-term let. She said: 'I have never had and will never have, any interest in being a landlady.'
