Written answers

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Rental Sector

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the work his Department has carried out in relation to the short-term rental sector with particular focus on compliance and enforcement in relation to existing regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62911/21]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) which came into effect on 1 July 2019.

Notwithstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work on the implementation and enforcement of the Regulations in the relevant RPZ areas has been undertaken by planning authorities since they came into effect. This enforcement action has included the carrying out of inspections of properties engaged in short-term letting, identifying the registered owners of the properties concerned, issuing enforcement notices to relevant property owners of the requirements of the Regulations to obtain change of use planning permission where the property concerned -

(i) is not the principal place of residence of the registered owner, or

(ii) is their principal residence and has been let out for in excess of 90 days in a calendar year.

Non-compliance with these requirements is regarded as unauthorised development and is enforceable under Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

My Department has been in contact with each of the relevant local authorities in which RPZs are located throughout the year, and has requested regular updates on the enforcement and implementation of the Short Term Letting Regulations.

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