Inside Airbnb data indicates that 20,000 homes are being advertised as short-term lets across Ireland whilst just 2,300 homes are available nationwide in the private rental market, according to the housing charity Threshold.
Inside Airbnb collects and collates figures from around the world from the popular lettings and homestays website.
Threshold says that the most recent data from Inside Airbnb goes back three months. At that time the number of properties listed in Ireland, excluding home share listings, was 20,176.
While hosts can short-let a principal private residence for 90 days without a change in use in planning permission, there are almost 8,000 full properties on the popular short stay website, where the host operates more than one property.
Threshold said that this compares to figures by Daft.ie last month, which showed that there were less than 2,300 homes advertised to privately rent nationwide.
“In addition, in 2024 there were only 167 requests for ‘change of use’ planning permission to local authorities in the 26 counties combined – which is legally required for properties operated as short-term lets of more than 90 days a year.”
Threshold is asking the Government to urgently pass legislation to create a register of short-term lets to ensure the return of some of these homes to long-term use, without further delay.”
Meanwhile, Threshold chief executive John-Mark McCafferty said the bottom line is that many homes could be brought back to the long-term market.
“Existing planning regulations are not enforced and short-term let regulations are not yet passed into law.
“This is resulting in thousands of homes being advertised for short-term lets in this lucrative market, while the housing and rental crisis escalates nationwide. This is within the Government’s gift to solve.”
“Even though Fáilte Ireland has created the infrastructure for a register of short-term lets, the Government is yet to pass the legislation to bring the short-term market into line with the rest of the hospitality sector.
“Given this, and an EU Directive that must be applied by next year, what is the issue here? It’s a straightforward measure that could free up much needed housing.”
Dublin has the highest number of hosts who have at least two full properties for short term lets – with 856 hosts advertising 2,287 properties. Cork is the second highest county where this is the case, with 312 hosts advertising 616 properties.”
Mr McCafferty said that issue is particularly acute in Galway where 292 hosts are advertising 1,009 properties across the city and county. Waterford had 83 hosts advertising 185 properties, while Limerick had 53 hosting with 97 properties lists.
A deeper dive of this Inside Airbnb data by Threshold shows that one couple who are described as private hosts has 189 live listings.
A private individual host had 92 live listings – with one for example, a three-bed home in Ranelagh in June for two weeks, at a cost of €3,885. Another individual private host in Dublin 24 was advertising a 3-bed home, from Saturday March 15th to March 22nd, 2025 for €1,330 with a 7-day minimum stay.
Mr McCafferty added that the government claims housing is the number one issue.
“And yet directly under their noses is a way in which to address that, and free up some of the huge pressure in the housing market – yet they keep kicking this issue down the road. We need action now to address this important issue.”
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In an emailed statement, Airbnb said the data is not reflective of what the company sees on its platform.
A spokesperson said a typical host in Ireland shares one home for less than four nights a month and nearly nine in 10 entire home hosts share only one listing.
“The majority of listings are outside Dublin and part of the rural tourism economy, and almost half of hosts say the extra income helps them afford to stay in their home.
“While Airbnb is not the cause of longstanding housing challenges, we will continue to work with the Government as it looks to bring in new regulation. We have long called for Ireland to introduce proportional short-term let rules, including a host register, that protect the families, communities, and businesses that depend on tourism.”
