At yesterday’s meeting of South Dublin County Council, People Before Profit Councillor Darragh Adelaide successfully passed a motion calling for proactive planning enforcement against properties being rented out on short-term letting sites such as Airbnb and Booking.ie without the necessary planning permission.
Councillor Adelaide said:
“There are hundreds of full homes available for tourists across Dublin on sites like Airbnb and Booking.ie. Yet, since 2019, only one property has been granted planning permission by South Dublin County Council to operate as a short-term let. This shows just how widespread non-compliance is, and how urgently enforcement is needed.”
Under existing regulations, homeowners seeking to operate short-term lets of full homes must apply for planning permission or seek an exemption by submitting a Form 15 notification to the Council. However, Councillor Adelaide noted that only two Form 15 notifications have been received in South Dublin since 2019.
“Every whole home rented to tourists is one less home available for workers, families, and young people. Landlords can make far more from tourists than from renting to people who want to live and work in the area, and that’s pushing rents up and driving tenants out,” Councillor Adelaide said. “We were told stronger laws would be introduced in 2024 — now they’re delayed until 2026.”
A recent report by The Ditch revealed an 88% increase in whole-home listings on short-term letting platforms in Gaeltacht areas over six years, while residents are being forced to leave due to lack of rental options. Many students report only having access to their accomadation from Monday to Friday as their landlords rent out their properties on weekends through short term letting sites.
“Housing is being treated like a commodity rather than a human right,” Councillor Adelaide continued. “Across the country, people are being pushed into desperation. Young people are stuck living with parents, low-wage workers are trapped in cramped accommodation, and Gaeltacht’s are dying as there are no homes to rent.
The issue of unregulated short-term letting is having a devastating impact on housing supply. Based on April 2025 data from four major booking platforms, there are an estimated 33,000 short-term let (STL) properties currently being advertised across the State. Around 64% of these are entire houses or apartments that could otherwise house long-term tenants.
Councillor Adelaide concluded:
“This lack of compliance has gone unchecked for too long. Our 2026 Council budget includes additional resources for the planning enforcement team which means they can take a proactive approach. By taking local action, we’re sending a message to the Government that we need change nationally”