The Irish government’s attempts to regulate Airbnb have been frustrated by the EU’s refusal to accept plans to create a national rental register. The EU’s veto comes amid an outbreak of protests against Ireland’s acceptance of asylum seekers which has brought criticism of mass immigration into the political agenda for the first time.
Ireland’s government had intended to create a register for short-term rentals like Airbnb and to impose fines in order to incentivise a shift towards more long-term arrangements. Ireland is experiencing an exodus of small landlords who are opting for Airbnb and other short-term arrangements.
Now, it appears that the proposed Irish regulations clash with Brussels’ wish to harmonise the entire European housing market.
In a letter obtained by the Irish press, the EU voiced concern that Dublin failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify proposals that would have seen Airbnb owners register their properties with local authorities.
The EU had previously delayed the proposals for an Airbnb register until the end of 2023.
The regulation, and potential ban, of Airbnb is supported by the Left in Ireland. They view it as a way to free up the housing supply. Economists, however, view the intervention as counterproductive.
The Republic of Ireland has experienced an acute housing shortage over the past decade, which has challenged the country’s alternating ruling parties Fianna Fáil (Renew) and Fine Gael (EPP).
This crisis has spurred the rise of the left-wing populist party Sinn Féin (GUE/NGL), which is expected to take power in the next election.
The housing crisis is increasingly seen as linked to mass immigration. With a population of five million people, the Irish state accepted 77,000 refugees in 2022, with expectations of a further 80,000 this year. In comparison, the country built less than 30,000 new housing units, while non-asylum-related immigration hit record highs.
In March of this year, the Irish government survived a no-confidence vote over its failure to remedy the crisis, with the ruling centrist-green coalition experiencing turbulence over plans to end an eviction ban.
Attempts by the EU to stymie new regulations will only add to a burgeoning crisis in Ireland. Vocal anti-immigrant sentiment has not had any representation in Parliament so far. However, some turmoil should be expected, as the housing crisis serves as a pretext for potential populist upstarts.
