DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin City Council has intensified its enforcement against unauthorised short-term rentals, issuing around 300 statutory Warning Letters to property owners so far this year. The move targets landlords who continue to advertise their properties on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com without the necessary planning permission.

Warning Letters are the first step in planning enforcement procedures, and the Council has confirmed that since the introduction of short-term letting legislation in July 2019, nearly 1,996 cases have been successfully resolved and closed following compliance with enforcement requirements.

For property owners seeking to regularise their lettings, gaining planning retention remains an uphill battle. Dublin's City Development Plan contains a general presumption against granting permission for short-term tourist accommodation, citing its negative impact on the availability of long-term housing stock in the capital.

One operator affected by the crackdown is Olympia Real Estate Limited, which runs Dublin Castle Suites. The company received a Warning Letter in March, and earlier this month, the Council refused its application for planning retention to continue short-term letting of 10 apartments on Parliament Street and Dame Street, near Dublin Castle and Temple Bar.

Another operator, Bébinn Limited, trading as Shortstays, is currently applying to the Council for retention permission for six en-suite bedrooms on Benburb Street, Dublin 7.

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism authority, has acknowledged the role of short-term lettings in supporting tourism but emphasized the need for balance.

"Short-term letting accommodation is an important part of the overall tourist accommodation mix, helping to cater to the varied needs of visitors," a spokeswoman said. "However, for communities to thrive, there must be a balanced mix of long-term rental housing and short-term tourist lets."

The agency has been tasked with establishing and maintaining a statutory register of short-term lets (STLs) across Ireland. Under the forthcoming rules, all STL hosts offering accommodation for up to 21 nights will be required to:

• Register with Fáilte Ireland,
• Confirm compliance with planning requirements, and
• Display a valid registration number on all listings.

According to Fáilte Ireland, the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill, currently being advanced by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE), will provide the legal foundation for the new register and align Ireland with the forthcoming EU Short-Term Rental Regulation.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will issue a National Planning Statement to set out the planning guidance for short-term lets and introduce any required legislative changes.

Once the register is in place, Fáilte Ireland will share data on STL properties with local authorities, strengthening their ability to monitor and enforce planning rules.