PRESS RELEASE. – 03/07/ 2025

Decoupling STR From RPZ only part of Solution to save Self-Catering

The Board of the Irish Self-Catering Federation met today to discuss a meeting which took place with Department of Housing and Tourism at Custom House on 30/6/2025.  This meeting with government departments and other stakeholders took place to clarify the effects of the entire country now being classified as a Rent Pressure Zone on the self-catering holiday accommodation sector.

There is a lot of confusion across the country for our business owners and their guests as to whether self-catering businesses can operate this year. Are we running a legal small family business or not?  Should we apply for planning permission as short-term rental (STR) businesses? What is the cost of this process, and does it require a full planning application?  What are our members meant to do?

Self-catering provides over 40% of the tourism beds, mostly in rural areas and along the Wild Atlantic Way. In every village and town these micro-businesses, run mostly by women, are the backbone of rural tourism. Since platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb became widely available in 2014, consumers can book directly with the accommodation provider.  Long-term rental is not suited to everyone, and many properties are 2nd homes used for short periods each year.

At this meeting we were pleased to hear that Rent Pressure Zones and short-term self-catering rentals will be decoupled in legislation being passed before the summer recess.

The ISCF Board were less impressed with the proposal from the Departments of Housing and Tourism. The National Development Plan is expected to be in place by the summer recess. In the autumn the Department of Housing proposes to issue Planning Guidelines for STR. They require all short-term rental accommodation, even those in towns below 10,000, to have STR planning by the Spring of 2026 and the Register for STR to come into place by April 2026.

The ISCF has been calling for a Register for STR since 2017 and this needs to be the priority.  It is imperative that we get clear data on the number of SME businesses in rural Ireland’ stated Máire ní Mhurchú CEO ISCF. “There needs to be some realism in the Department of Housing in what can be achieved in a short time. The focus needs to be on granting planning permission for houses to be built all across the country. Asking every Self-catering business to apply for planning at a time when there is a 50% deficit in staff is unrealistic.”

The ISCF is very concerned about the timeline for such proposals and feels the Register for STR needs to be a priority. A derogation from planning for all those in the Self-catering industry for 3 or more years would allow those long-term in the industry to continue. All those with new businesses could apply, once the Planning Guidelines for STR are published.

‘We need to retain as many self-catering as possible in the tourism industry, as tourism is the largest indigenous industry in Ireland’ stated Eoghan o Mara Walsh, CEO of ITIC.

The ISCF is holding a webinar on 8/7 /2025 for members and for non-members on 15/7/2025. Please register with info@iscf.ie

 End of Release

Data on Empty Properties June 2025 

Office:- info@ ISCF.ie.      Phone: 086 – 178 5654.   Join ISCF Now

About the Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF)

The Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) is the national representative and lobbying body for owners of self-catering properties in Ireland. Established in 1998, the ISCF advocates on behalf of its members to promote and develop the interests of the self-catering sector across the country. The ISCF has called for a Register for STR since 2017.

Recognized by Fáilte Ireland, local and central government, and key tourism stakeholders, the ISCF works to ensure that self-catering accommodation providers have a unified voice in policy discussions and industry developments. The federation represents a diverse range of property owners, from individual holiday home operators to larger agencies and groups.

One of the ISCF’s key initiatives is the operation of LetsGoSelfCatering.com, an official property listing platform that allows guests to book directly with self-catering property owners throughout Ireland. This platform aims to provide a comprehensive national listing of quality-assured self-catering accommodations.

In addition to national advocacy, the ISCF is a member of the European Holiday Homes Association (EHHA), engaging in discussions and policy development at the European level to support the self-catering industry.