Airbnb sucking life out of rental market in Mayo

Airbnb is sucking the life out of the rental market and needs to be regulated now.

Government has been called on to act now, with some properties turning into 'mini hotels'.

The call for action came from Independent Councillor Harry Barrett at a Mayo County Council Housing Strategic Policy Committee.

Noting how there were a thousand short-term lets in the county, against only 40 long-term properties available to rent, Airbnb was 'sucking the life out of rental availability', he commented.

Airbnbs have to be regulated like every other business, said Councillor Barrett, and he called on the government to immediately do so and bring these properties back into the rental market.

There are properties that should be in the long-term rental market and the sector was driving the price of rents into the stratosphere, he said.