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Planning

Registration of Short Term Lettings

As part of the measures introduced to help address pressures in the private housing rental market, new planning legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector, as provided for in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 and supplementary Regulations made by the Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government entitled the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (Circular PL 4/2019) came into effect on 1st July 2019.

The supplementary new Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019, S.I NO. 235 of 2019, amends the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, and apply from 1st July 2019.

The primary Objective of the reforms is to influence the bringing back of houses and apartments in areas designated as ‘rent pressure zone’ under section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, which are currently being used for short-term letting purposes to the traditional long-term rental market, thereby helping to ease the accommodation shortage pressures currently being experienced in this area.

The new provisions will only apply in areas designated as ‘rent pressure zones’ under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019.

The short-term letting regulations will only apply for as long as there are designated rent pressure zones.

The use of a house or part of a house for short-term letting = material change of use.

Short- term letting is defined as the letting of a house or apartment, or part of a house or apartment, for any period not exceeding 14 days.

Longer lettings, of 15 days or more, do not fall within the scope of the new provisions.

Where are the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ’s)?

See map below:

A map showing areas in Ireland designated rent pressure zones which includes the Westport Electoral Area

In June 2023, Westport Local Electoral Area (LEA) was designated a Rent Pressure Zone ‘RENT PRESSURE ZONE- (LOCAL ELECTORAL AREA OF WESTPORT) ORDER 2023. S.I No.333 of 2023)’ clearly outlining the boundaries of the Westport LEA, including both Clare Island, and Inishturk Island.

Map of Westport LEA Boundary

To view an interactive map outlining the Westport Local Electoral Area boundary please click the link below:

The exemptions from the requirement for planning permission fall under two categories outlined below and involve the process of notifying the planning authority in writing of intent to short-term let. Forms to be completed before and after letting.

Two exemption categories that require registering with the Planning authority are:

  • Home Share- You rent a room in your principal private residence for short-term lets while you are also occupying it. (In this situation you can offer unlimited short-term lettings for less than 14 days at a time. (4 or < bedrooms only, & each bedroom with max. occupancy 4 persons)
    (Short- term letting to which article 6 (5) (a) (i) of the Regulations apply)                    

Form no. 15 only to be filled out. (This is a one-off notification)

If the use is already existing, the form should be returned (within 4 weeks of date of public registration notice), otherwise this Form should be returned 2 weeks prior to the first instance of the proposed change of use in that year.

  • Principal Private Residence- You are going to be away from your principle private residence, and you want to let it out on a short-term basis, for less than 90 days in a calendar year (The 90 days do not have to be consecutive).
    (Short- term letting to which article 6 (5) (a) (ii) of the Regulations apply)

Form no’s 15, 16 and 17 to be filled out.

  • Form 15 (2020 onwards) Annual notification. If the use is existing, the form should be returned (within 4 weeks of date of public registration notice) or 2 weeks prior to the first instance of the proposed change of use for new uses.
  • Form 16- This form is only required to be completed if the 90-day cap is reached during the year. It should be returned no later than 2 weeks after the event.
  • Form 17- End of year notification. It shall be returned no later than 4 weeks after the end of each calendar year.

Each form includes a statutory declaration to be signed by the person.

However, where a person owns a property in a RPZ which is not their principal private residence and intends to let it for short-term letting purposes, s/he will be required to apply for a change of use Planning Permission unless the property already has a specific planning permission to be used for tourism or short-term letting purposes.

The requirement to register only applies to:

Properties in a designated Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ), in this case the Westport LEA.

What does not require registration. 

  • Your property is in an RPZ, but you let rooms or the entire property out for 15 days or more at a time.
  • Your property already has planning permission to be used for tourism or short-term letting purposes.
  • Your property is used for corporate, or executive lets. For example, lettings provided for people coming to Ireland under employment contracts.
  • You rent your property out under the rent-a-room scheme
  • The property is purpose-built student accommodation.

The Planning Authority will retain a record and there is no Planning fee regards same.

Failure to register and notify the local planning authority as required is a breach of the planning code and will result in planning enforcement under Part VIII of the Planning Acts.

To access the individual Forms associated with Short Term Lettings, please click on the links below to access same:

  • Form 15 – one-off notification for home sharing or annual notification for Letting out entire house :  <90 days per annum (calendar year)
  • Form 16 – To be submitted if the 90-day cap is reached during the year.
  • Form 17 – For confirmation of the specific number of days short term lets were carried out during the previous year (on or before January 28th each year)

Useful Links:

See the following links associated with the Regulation of Short-Term Lettings:

Contact Details

Mayo County Council Planning Department, The Mall, Castlebar, Co. Mayo F23 WF90

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