Airbnb adds to Galway’s housing crisis – councillor

Galway City Tribune – The growth in popularity of online short-term holiday letting websites is worsening the city’s housing shortage, it was claimed this week.

Labour Party City Councillor Niall McNelis said the shortage of housing in the city has been intensified by the proliferation of Airbnb. Landlords are turning away from long-term letting, in favour of Airbnb, he warned.

“You have a bizarre situation whereby Galway City Council is spending tens of thousands of euros to house people in emergency accommodation such as hotels, as is their obligation, and on the other hand you have landlords exiting the long-term letting market in favour of Airbnb, which is their right. This is exacerbating our housing and homelessness crisis,” said Cllr McNelis.

A member of the Council’s Planning SPC, Cllr McNelis has sought clarity from the local authority in relation to the legal status of Airbnb properties.

Representatives of Airbnb have been invited to address councillors at their next SPC meeting.

“If you are short-term letting on Airbnb, in the long-term, that is a business as far as I’m concerned, and it should be treated as one,” said Cllr McNelis.

“Hotels must pay commercial rates and water charges; so too hostels. Why should Airbnb properties not be treated as commercial entities? I understand the popularity of Airbnb. They are great for tourism. They allow people to live-in with locals and get a better flavour of the city. That’s what it was supposed to be about. But what you have is landlords exiting the long-term leasing market, in favour of short-term letting, which is making the housing shortage worse.”

Guidelines were recently issued to the City Council, by the Department of Housing, advising that Airbnb and short-term rentals need planning permission for change of use.

One city resident contacted the Council, who confirmed that it hadn’t received any change of use applications, despite there being hundreds of listings in Galway on Airbnb.

“I also asked if they have commenced any enforcement proceedings and was told that they have not but if ‘it comes to the attention of Galway City Council and sufficient evidence is available of unauthorised use as short term lettings, Galway City Council will commence enforcement proceedings to ensure compliance.’”
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