Now Ireland looks at planning issues surrounding Airbnb lets

Properties let out via Airbnb in the Republic of Ireland may come under greater planning scrutiny. 

It follows the news that a planning board review of a property in Dublin’s Temple Bar - a popular tourist and nightlife part of the Irish capital - determined that a short-term letting through Airbnb constituted a change of use, and therefore required planning consent.

There has been a similar debate in the UK, which in this case prompted Airbnb to say it would use its website to trigger reminders to hosts that they required planning consent if letting their property for over 90 days a year.

In the light of the Dublin planning review, questions are being asked in other parts of the Republic as well.

For example Fingal council, in response to a councillor’s question about Airbnb short lets, has issued a statement saying that “the [national] Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government intends to provide clarity for local authorities about how properties let out on a short-term basis should be treated.”

The statement continues: “It is also understood that Dublin City Council is preparing a written submission to the Department asking it to update planning legislation to clearly differentiate between use of housing units as a residential home and a short term holiday let.”

Several other cities within different countries have undertaken similar exercises as a result of short-lets being seen as exacerbating housing shortages for existing residents.