For a number of years, there has been a significant shortage of long term private rental accommodation available in Ireland, particularly in the larger urban areas. In common with many areas across the world that attract significant numbers of tourists, properties that were previously in the traditional long-term letting market transferred to the more lucrative STTL tourism market.

As part of the Irish Government’s Housing for All plan, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a register of short-term tourist letting (STTL) properties to ensure that housing stock is used to best effect in areas of housing need. It revises and adapts the current regime as provided for in the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939 – 2016. Fáilte Ireland (FI), the national tourism development authority, estimates that up to 31,000 properties are being advertised to tourists in Ireland at present. The majority of these are not known nor registered with FI as part of its existing national accommodation quality schemes and a significant amount of properties which do not have the necessary planning permission are being advertised to tourists. Previous enforcement attempts have not been effective largely due to the addresses of STTL properties not being indicated on online platforms. The proposed legislation, will require that any party offering accommodation for periods of up to and including 21 nights to tourists will need to be registered on a new STTL register and hold a valid registration number issued by FI. STTL properties will need to renew on an annual basis. Upon payment, a number will be provided instantly to all properties registered which must be displayed on any advertisements / booking platforms. Those registering a property will self-declare compliance with local planning regulations. Should it be determined afterwards that the property does not have the requisite planning permission in place etc, then their registration will be suspended pending an investigation / granting of relevant planning permission.