The European Commission has raised concerns about proposed legislation aimed at tightening rules on short-term property rentals in Ireland, stating that the proposed measures were “overly restrictive”. The proposed legislation would require owners of properties rented out for 21 nights or fewer to register with Fáilte Ireland. The legislation also aims to remove up to 12,000 properties from the short-term rental sector and turn them into long-term rentals. The Irish government hopes to enact the legislation by the end of March 2021.

Proposed legislation in Ireland to limit short-term property rentals has been deemed “overly restrictive” by an initial assessment by the European Commission. The government had hoped the measures would ensure that up to 12,000 properties were available to long-term renters, but the legislation has been criticised for failing to provide evidence that restrictive measures are needed. The legislation would require those offering rental accommodation for up to 21 nights to be registered with Fáilte Ireland, which would monitor advertising platforms to check that all properties had valid registration numbers. Repeat offenders could face fines of up to €5,000.