Kilkenny County Council Denies Short-Term Let Application for €40k Home

Plans to transform a property in Castlecomer, Kilkenny, into a short-term rental have been rejected by the local planning authority. The property, located at 35 Barrackhill, was acquired for €40,000 in 2023. The application for the conversion was submitted in June 2023, seeking permission to change the use of the dwelling for Airbnb purposes.

In its decision, Kilkenny County Council provided several reasons for denying the application. The council emphasized that the property lies within a designated rent pressure zone. They noted that the demand for housing in the area remains high, and that converting an existing dwelling into a short-term let would hinder the region’s efforts to provide adequate residential units.

The authority cited the national Housing For All Strategy as a framework guiding their decision. They stated, “Having regard to the location of the unit within Castlecomer in an area which is designated as a rent pressure zone, and having regard to the fact that housing provision remains inadequate to meet rent demand, it is considered that the change of use of an existing dwelling for use as a short-term let would militate towards the ongoing provision of residential units in Castlecomer and the meeting of the Government’s Housing For All Strategy.”

This refusal reflects a broader trend in many regions where local governments are increasingly cautious about the proliferation of short-term rental properties. The decision aims to prioritize long-term housing solutions in communities facing rental shortages.

The applicant now has the option to appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, the authority responsible for planning appeals in Ireland. This next step could potentially alter the course of the property’s use, depending on the outcome of the appeal process.

As discussions surrounding housing shortages continue, the council’s decision underscores the challenges that accompany the growing demand for short-term rental options versus the pressing need for permanent housing solutions.