Airbnb proposes new clear and fair housing rules in Ireland

Today we are sharing our proposal for clear home sharing regulations in Dublin that provide a sustainable model to help to address local housing concerns while spreading the benefits of tourism to many, not keeping them in the hands of a few.

If these rules are implemented, we believe this proposal could serve as an industry-wide solution for home-sharing platforms and providers like Airbnb, and will help the government to establish clear rules for regular families sharing their homes while limiting unwelcome operators.

The basis for our proposal is the data we shared this summer with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government which identifies the point at which it may become more financially attractive for a Dublin landlord to let out their property on a short-term rather than a long-term basis. We’ve identified 180 nights to ensure hosts are able to help meet the tourism accommodation demands for Dublin, while keeping homes as homes for individuals and families.

Airbnb was designed to help local residents, like you, afford their rent and stay in their homes. As you know, we want to be part of the solution to local housing concerns. As of today, we have worked with more than 300 governments across the world on clear home sharing rules that distinguish between local residents sharing their homes and those running a business.

We want to do the same in Ireland, which is why we are proposing new regulations for all short-term rentals which will help provide clarity and legal certainty on how local families can use their homes.

We propose the right solution should be:

• New industry-wide regulations to support regular people sharing their homes and professional providers, and to clamp down on unwelcome operators
• People wishing to host guests for more than 180 nights a year would be permitted to do so only if its their primary home and if it’s not, with permission from their local authority
• A robust process for reporting by Airbnb and other online platforms on its efficacy to government and local authorities.

To support the implementation of this new framework, Airbnb would:

• Introduce robust automated systems – similar to those already in force in London and Amsterdam – to ensure the 180 night threshold is respected
• Work with the government and local authorities to agree reporting mechanisms for reporting the efficacy of the regulations
• Airbnb, other online platforms, and also offline rental companies should ensure that this threshold is respected
• We would support Government, industry groups and associations to help promote the introduction of similar measures to support regulation compliance across the industry – the solution doesn’t just lie with Airbnb.

We believe this will be good news for Ireland because it:

• Prevents unauthorised landlords from listing properties on an ongoing short-term basis
• Removes financial incentives for landlords to favour short-term over long-term rentals
• Allows for home sharing, which boosted the Irish economy by €123 million last year, to continue bringing economic benefits to Irish families and communities
• Is a simple, practical and enforceable solution for local authorities and government, and for regular people who share their homes.