Online register for short-term lets could be up and running by summer, says Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien

After meeting with EU officials in Brussels, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said he hoped to get pre-clearance for the register next week, pending the end of a scrutiny period on December 22.

It follows repeated delays to the Government’s bid to bring an estimated 12,000 homes back into the rental market.

“The short-term letting challenge is quite acute in parts of Europe, too, particularly in the bigger cities. There is a whole discussion about over-tourism and that type of thing,” Mr O’Brien told the Irish Independent.

“From the Commission’s perspective, it makes sense that it’s pan-European because obviously there is clarity for the platforms in that – basically it is the same type of register, and we’re fine with that.

“I think, really, it was a timing thing, that we’re kind of ahead of all the other member states on this.”

Ireland submitted the legislation to Brussels last year, but the bloc put it on hold until this month so that it could scrutinise whether it was in line with the EU’s own plans to regulate the sector. The EU says that Airbnb and other operators should be regulated the same way in all EU countries.

Those rules are still being negotiated between MEPs and EU governments.

Ireland’s plan is to make sure anyone renting out a property for holidaymakers must register with Fáilte Ireland.

Regulations already in place state that homeowners in rent pressure zones who let out their entire home for short-term lets of more than 90 days or let out a second home must get planning permission. Mr O’Brien said the new register would be “a first step” in adding holiday lets back into the rental stock, giving regulators an oversight of available properties.

“Successive governments, particularly the last one, if I look back at the regulations my predecessor brought in around inspection — while the regulations are there the inspections don’t happen at the rate that they should.”

He said it was also “urgent” to see through a new planning bill tabled last week.

“I’d like to conclude the second stage in advance of Christmas, if we could, but we’re going to lose some time this week because of the no-confidence motion [by Sinn Féin against the Justice Minister],” he said.

The EU Commission had raised concerns about Ireland’s proposed new laws, said Tourism Minister Catherine Martin earlier this year.

In response the Government put forward softer proposals which would mean rural properties would not have to abide by the strict new rules.

Under the modified plans, Airbnbs and similar short-term rentals will not have to apply for special planning permission if they are located in areas with a population of less than 5,000.

All short-term rentals will have to be logged onto the new register, which will be overseen by Fáilte Ireland.

The softening of rules for properties outside urban centres reflects officials’ belief that holiday homes in rural areas do not contribute to increases in the cost of rent and would not be suitable for long-term renting.