August 2019

New planning legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector came into effect on 1 July 2019. This legislation effects properties within Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs). Short term lettings in areas outside the RPZs are not impacted in any way by the new rules.

 

What Do These New Rules Mean for The Property Owner?

 

• Property Owners involved in short-term lets or homesharing in a RPZ may require planning permission. This requirement for planning permission only applies to Property Owners in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs)who:
  – Let out their entire home (principal private residence) for short-term lets of more than 90 days in total while they are away. (Your principal private residence is the place where you ordinarily live).
  – Let out a second property for short-term lets.

 

• An annual 90-day limit is imposed for renting out a home (house or apartment) on a short-term basis. Where the 90-day threshold is exceeded, change of use planning permission from your local authority will be required. It is unlikely that planning permission for short-term lettings will be granted in areas of high housing demand, where there is insufficient supply and lots of applications.

 

• Short Term letting is classifies as letting for 14 days or less at a time.

 

• Property Owners who currently let a second property on a short-term basis in a rent pressure zone, such as a city centre, will no longer be able to do this under the new rules. A second property in a pressure zone will be allowed only if the property has planning permission for tourism or short-term letting use.

 

• Non-compliance with the new rules carries a maximum penalty of €5,000 and up to six months imprisonment.

 

Exemptions from Planning Permission:

• If your property is not in an RPZ.
•  If your property is a holiday home that has already been approved as dedicated tourist accommodation.
•  If your property is used for corporate or executive lets. For example, lettings provided for people coming to Ireland under employment contracts.
•  If you let rooms in your house under on a rent-a-room scheme.
• The property is purpose-built student accommodation. (This accommodation generally has the required planning permission, which means accommodation is reserved for students during the academic year, but short stays are allowed outside of term time.)
• You rent out your entire principal private residence for short-term visitors for less than 90 days a year while you are temporarily away. The 90 days do not have to be consecutive.

Click HERE for FAQs – New Regulation of Short-Term Letting

 

* take note of the date of publication of this piece. Information on this website may change with the passing of time and the law is constantly changing. Whilst we take steps to ensure the accuracy of the information, we cannot guarantee this. Clarification should always be sought.

 

IPOA – Supporting Property Owners for Over 26 Years