Short-Term Letting Bill to Introduce Platform Fines and Ban New Permits in Large Towns

Short-term letting platforms face fines of up to 2% of turnover for listing properties that lack planning permission under a forthcoming Irish bill.

The proposed Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill will introduce tougher penalties for platforms that permit holiday rentals to advertise without valid planning permission. Under the new measures, administrative sanctions can reach up to 2% of a platform's turnover, with an expert panel appointed to rule on contraventions and dictate fines.

As part of the enforcement measures, a new registration scheme will be established and operated by Fáilte Ireland. Under these guidelines, short-term lessors must possess the required planning permission to successfully join and use the register.

In addition, the legislation will block new planning permissions for short-term rentals in Irish towns with populations exceeding 20,000 people. This restriction will affect Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford, as well as more than 20 other towns across the country.

Housing Minister James Browne stated that a two-year grace period will be provided to assist with the transition. A grandfathering rule will also be introduced, allowing short-term let properties that have operated for more than seven years without facing planning enforcement to apply for retention planning permission.