SELF-catering houses and short-term lets in Limerick are at risk due to new legislation implementation by the European Union, a group representing those offering self-catering accommodation has warned.
The Irish Self Catering Federation (ISCF) has warned that the fate of the tourism industry in Limerick is facing “considerable threat” following the implementation of the new EU legislation on short-term rental data collection and sharing, which came into force last month.
The ISCF estimates that there are 157 accommodation providers in Limerick that could be at risk due to the new legislation.
The new rules state that EU member countries must create a register of short-term lets, however, Ireland has also added the requirement that the planning permission be included in the register.
By Irish law, all properties within a rent pressure zone advertised for use as a short-term let must have planning permission to operate as such.
The new Register for Short Term Rental (STR) will be managed by Fáilte Ireland and will be mandatory for all who operate short-term rentals in Limerick and nationwide.
Máire Ní Mhurchú, CEO of the ISCF, said that the planning permission aspect of the legislation will be “hugely disruptive” to the sector.
“We are asking the government to listen to us, to protect rural tourism and not to put the 7,000 people who are employed by our members out of a job,” Ms Ní Mhurchú said.
“The cost of this proposed planning aspect to the legislation, which is posing a considerable threat to our members, would be unviable to obtain. That is a cost that our members, many of whom rely on their business for a living for their family, simply cannot afford,” she added.
Ms Ní Mhurchú also questioned if local authorities are able to deal with the potential influx of planning applications for short-term lets in their area.
“What is going to happen to the planning process if thousands of self-catering owners apply for planning permission at the same time? I don’t believe that the government realises the implications of this or have thought it through in any detail. The future of the self-catering industry and that of many thousands of part and full-time jobs are at risk here,” she concluded.
