I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000, to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and to provide for related matters.
This Bill seeks to initiate proper regulation of short-term lettings, which would bring more homes back into the conventional rental market. The Bill provides for a 90-day limit on short-term lettings without planning permission. These limits will only affect so-called professional lettings and portals such Airbnb, etc.
It is not necessarily geared towards affecting those who wish, if they have the opportunity to do so, to take advantage of the opportunities for short-term lettings during the course of a year in order to supplement their income. The number of lets over 90 days being used in this fashion has increased significantly in recent years. This has had a detrimental impact on the conventional rental market and has prevented the renting out of many homes that would otherwise be available to people. If those homes were available to rent, it would have a positive effect in terms of the continuing crisis relating to the provision of housing and the rental sector.
The Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government produced a report on this matter in recent months and the Bill reflects what is contained in that report. It is one of a series of Bills we have introduced in recent months in an attempt to instill in the Government the sense of urgency needed to address various issues relating to the housing sector, create a positive impact and help the many people who are experiencing great difficulty in obtaining properties such as those to which I refer. Similar legislation has been introduced to regulate matters in other cities across the globe. We examined the position in those cities - for example, Berlin, Amsterdam, London and San Francisco - and are of the view that the Bill reflects the best of what is contained in the regulations put in place by the authorities there in an attempt to address this issue. Of course, this is an issue that needs to be addressed as a matter of some urgency. I encourage those of all parties and none to support the Bill. It should move quickly to Second Stage and then be scrutinised by the relevant committee in order that it might have the desired effect which is so urgently required.
