New legislation for short term leasing in place
ANYONE homesharing their principal private residence who wishes to avail of the new planning exemptions will need to register this with Wicklow County Council and fulfil specified reporting obligations.
As part of Government measures to help address pressures in the housing market, reforms to planning legislation regarding Short Term Letting came into effect in July. 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.
The reforms are primarily aimed at addressing the impact on the private rental market by the use of residential homes for short-term tourism type letting in areas of high housing demand. Accordingly the new provisions will only apply in areas designated as ‘rent pressure zones’ under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Currently all of County Wicklow is designated a ‘rent pressure zone’ and therefore the new regulations apply across the entire County.
Homesharing will still be exempt. The letting of up to four rooms in a person’s principal private residence where the homeowner remains in occupation, will continue to be permissible on an unrestricted basis and be exempted from the new planning requirements.
Also exempt from the new planning is the letting of an entire principle private residence on a short term basis of 14 days or less for a cumulative period of 90 days per calendar year where the home owner is temporarily absent from their home. However where the 90 day threshold is exceeded, change of use planning permission will be required.
Anyone homesharing their principal private residence who wishes to avail of the new planning exemptions will need to register this with Wicklow County Council and fulfil specified reporting obligations. Anyone wishing to utilise a second property that is not their principal private residence for short term letting, will need planning permission unless the property already has a specific planning permission to be used for tourism or short-term letting.