Humphreys calls on Airbnb to release the number of Irish properties listed on site.

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has welcomed today’s decision from Minister Murphy to bring proposals for a clampdown on Airbnb rentals to Cabinet and has called for Airbnb to release the number of Irish properties listed on their website.

Speaking today Senator Humphreys said

“This is a welcome development for renters and local communities. Airbnb has been used in such a way that many properties which would make ideal rentals for families and working people are being taken of out of the rental market.

“I am calling on Airbnb to release how many Irish entire properties are listed on their website. If we want to tackle the negative impact short-term rentals are having on home availability, we need to know the scale of their use.

“I have been calling on the Minister to act on this issue for months now, as have renters groups around the country. Many European cities have introduced regulations to curb the worst excesses of Airbnb and short-term rentals; it is more than the time that Ireland followed suit. I am sorry that is has taken the Minister two years to act on this issue but it is a welcome development nonetheless.

“Regulating Airbnb won’t solve the homelessness crisis overnight but it will help bring more medium term rentals back into the market where they are desperately needed. Ireland is the 3rd most active home -sharing market in Europe. This is compounding the already harsh realities of Ireland’s rental shortage. Hard working people are being denied access to affordable rental units due to the number of apartments and homes that are migrating to short-term lets”