Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the proposed legislative changes before us. This committee has argued for some time for the need to have good quality regulations of the short-term letting sector, not only because of the housing crisis but also because it is the proper thing to do for the sector overall to protect guests, hosts and the wider rental market.

I will set out my understanding of the Minister's amendments so that he may correct me if I am wrong on anything. It is very important that people, whether currently engaged in short-term letting or interested in the issue, are very clear about what the amendments do. I also have three very specific questions.

It is good that the legislation makes it very clear that these regulations apply only within the rent pressure zones. Notwithstanding my criticism of the rent pressure zones, many of us have received representations from those who have short-term letting properties in tourist areas outside the rent pressure zones who were unsure where they fell. It is important to be clear that if we pass these new rules, they will apply only in the rent pressure zones. For those people who are engaged in peer-to-peer home sharing, either a room or an entire property, but for less than 90 days, there is really no change. They will not have to apply for planning permission and they will have to do little beyond what they are currently doing. Those who engage in peer-to-peer home sharing for more than 90 days will have to apply for planning permission. While it is not in the legislation it is in the note which the Minister provided to the committee. It is worth putting on the record that they would then be subject to a planning application. Those planning fees are in the order of a few hundred euro, depending on the size of the property. If it is their principal private residence, they will not be liable for water charges as commercial businesses are, so there is minimal cost involved, with the exception of the initial planning permission, whereas those who operate short-term lettings from second properties will have to apply for planning permission, and will be subject to commercial water charges as well as the planning permission requirement. That is my understanding and I ask the Minister to correct me if I am mistaken on anything.