Taoiseach insists new rules for short-term lets 'get the balance right' as smaller towns to be exempt

"New rules will apply to towns with a population greater than 20,000"

"New rules restricting short-term lets like Airbnb "get the balance right" between protecting renters and tourism, the Taoiseach has said."

"Smaller towns will be exempt from the new rules which will require short-term accommodation owners to seek planning permission and be included in a national register."

Owners of short-term accommodation such as Airbnb in towns with populations over 20,000 will need planning permission and must be listed on a national register. The rules are intended to balance protecting renters with sustaining tourism. Smaller towns are exempt from these requirements. The register will create official oversight of short-term lets and allow local planning authorities to apply controls. Requiring planning permission could reduce unregulated holiday letting and provide clearer enforcement options for housing protections. The measures will change how short-term rental supply is managed in larger towns and increase transparency for regulators and residents.

Read at Irish Independent