Online rental broker Airbnb has been described as “another hello to the rental market”.
Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard also said the state is not enforcing the 2019 legislation to prevent short-term rental of rental property in areas with high residential demand.
As house hunters struggle to find rental properties in Dublin, the problem has now spread to rural Ireland, due to the increase in home vacations.
Senator Lombard raised the issue saying: “It is no longer just the case that you cannot rent a house in Dublin, the problem has now spread to rural Ireland.”
It is now high time for the government to act to “enforce the Airbnb agents operating without a building permit who permeate the rental market by limiting the availability of affordable properties,” he said.
Mr Lombard said: “Airbnb is effectively sucking life from rental markets in villages, towns and cities across the country, leaving locals unable to access homes.
“This is a major problem in tourist areas, where an Airbnb property occupied for three months during the summer can make a lot more money than a property rented for 12 months.”
A consequence of this is that by renting out properties on a seasonal basis, large amounts of homes across the country remain vacant for most of the year.
Mr Lombard added: “While tourists may want to book a vacation home for a two-week break during the summer, local families are struggling to find a home at an affordable price.”
The senator cited the example of Kinsale, Co. Cork, which has seen rents rise dramatically in recent years due to a lack of supply in the local real estate market.
He called for enforcement of rental laws brought in by former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy.
Under the 2019 legislation, people renting a second property on a short-term basis must apply for a “change of use” building permit.
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