Government caving to lobbyists on housing regulation says Hearne

The government is wrong to postpone the introduction of a short-term letting register, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne.

The Dublin North-West TD said, “the government shouldn’t delay crucial Airbnb regulation which could see twelve thousand homes move from the short-term to the long-term rental market.

“The housing crisis is an emergency, yet we’re not seeing emergency actions like clamping down on illegal short-term lets immediately.”

Hearne noted that the measure was announced by then-Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien in 2021 and promised to be put in place for 2022, and then pushed forward to 2023.

None of those dates were met, and the register has still not been established.

Hearne commented, “it’s a slap in the face for all of those experiencing housing insecurity to see the can kicked further down the road.”

“Meanwhile, Dublin City Council’s decision to remove lock boxes from public places in the capital is a clear attempt to treat the symptoms of an illness rather than the cause.”

“Just like the potential removal of rent pressure zones, postponing this essential measure is just another example of government bowing to lobbyists rather than helping those in desperate need of a home,” he said.

“This is just one component of a suite of measures required to tackle the disaster that this sector has become – for example, areas outside of rent pressure zones are not covered by planning restrictions on short-term lets, allowing the crisis to grow exponentially in those neighbourhoods.

“Government must immediately introduce this regulation and ditch their stance on rent pressure zones – in times of crisis, there’s no time to wait.”