Hundreds of homes 'under threat' across Kilkenny

Over 200 holiday homes in Kilkenny may have to close down if the government continues down the same route as the previous government in relation to the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill.

Throughout Ireland, Fáilte Ireland identified 10,731 properties offering short-term rentals that they deemed would be suitable for long-term rentals and of these 220 were in Kilkenny.

As the Bill is currently drafted, properties which are advertised online for short-term rental would be obliged to obtain a valid registration number with Fáilte Ireland and have Short-Term-Rental planning permission to remain in business - if they operate without this they face a fine of up to €5000.

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One organisation fighting this legislation is the Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) which represents 6700 self-catering properties across Ireland. The ISCF has said that the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill, which was discussed by government in recent weeks “is flawed” and needs to be “redrafted.”

Máire Ní Mhurchú, ISCF Chief Executive, said that the Bill details are in need of “urgent consultation with rural and long-term property owners in order to ensure that they continue in business.”

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