FAQs

About the Short-Term Letting (STL) Register

  • 1. Why is a Short-Term Letting Register being introduced?
  • Fáilte Ireland is introducing a Short-Term Letting Register for all short-term accommodation lets in Ireland.


    Fáilte Ireland’s aim, as directed by the Government’s Housing for All policy, is to require any party offering paid accommodation on a short-term basis to tourists (referred to as “Short-Term Letting” or “STL”) to have their unit(s) registered on a Register and hold a valid registration number issued by Fáilte Ireland.
     
    This Register will be underpinned by the forthcoming Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025, which is currently being progressed by Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (more details here: Short-term letting in Ireland – what you need to know) and will align with the EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation.

  • 2. Who is a host?
  • A host means a person or company that provides, or intends to provide, a short-term accommodation rental service for payment through an online short-term rental platform.

  • 3. How will I register?
  • The registration system will be online via a dedicated Fáilte Ireland registration portal. To register a unit, hosts will be able to quickly sign up to the portal using their email address, input host and unit details, make a legal declaration about the unit regarding compliance with planning, building and fire safety requirements (by way of self-declaration) and pay a registration fee. They will instantly receive a unique registration number for each unit registered.

  • 4. How will the Short-Term Letting Register work and what information is required?
  • Any party offering paid accommodation for periods of up to and including 21 nights will need to be registered with Fáilte Ireland. Hosts can register via a quick and user-friendly online portal where they will:

    • Input host details
      • For individual hosts - full name, email address, telephone number, Personal Public Services Number (PPSN), date of birth, country of residence, host address including Eircode.
      • For a company - business name, company registration number, business email address, country of business residence, registered business address, legal representative, legal representative contact telephone number, full address of the unit that is to be registered, including Eircode.
    • Input unit details: Indicate the unit type and whether the unit is offered as a part or whole of the host’s primary or secondary residence, or for other purposes.
    • Input unit capacity: Provide information on the maximum number of bed places and guests that the unit is capable of accommodating (a bed place is a single sleeping space for one person).
    • Confirm, by way of a legal declaration, that they meet the relevant statutory obligations about the unit regarding compliance with planning, building and fire safety requirements.
    • Pay the registration fee (subject to annual renewal).

    Upon successful registration hosts will instantly receive a registration number which must be displayed on all listings. Units registered on the Short-Term Letting Register are not Quality Approved by Fáilte Ireland.

    Further information on becoming Quality Assured and approved by Fáilte Ireland under the National Quality Assurance Framework is available on the Fáilte Ireland Quality Assurance page.

  • 5. What will I need to do with my Short-Term Letting registration number?
  • Hosts will be required to display a valid Fáilte Ireland Short-Term Letting registration number on all listings.

  • 6. What are the requirements for Short-Term Letting hosts?
  • Requirements for hosts are as follows:

    • Ensure the unit is registered with Fáilte Ireland to receive a Short-Term Letting registration number.
    • Display a valid Short-Term Letting registration number for each unit on all listings.
    • Ensure your registration is renewed annually.
    The requirement to register applies to all units nationwide.

  • 7. When do I register?
  • Fáilte Ireland’s Short-Term Letting Register for all short-term accommodation in Ireland will launch on May 20th 2026, following the enactment of the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025.

    Fáilte Ireland advises all hosts who may be unsure of their statutory obligations regarding compliance with planning, building and fire safety requirements to obtain any clarification necessary to ensure their statutory obligations are being met.

  • 8. What will the fees be?
  • The registration fees will be announced shortly. Being aware of the challenges which households and businesses face, the fees will be kept to a minimum.

  • 9. How long will it take to register a Short-Term Letting unit?
  • Hosts will be required to sign up using an email address that will be validated prior to creating a password, all of which will only take a minute or so. Once signed in, the registration portal becomes available to register your unit/units. The length of time this takes will depend on the number of units being registered, as each unit listed by the host must be registered to obtain its unique registration number. If the person registering has all the information to hand e.g. Eircode, payment details etc., and are just entering the details for one unit, the full process should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. Applications can be saved and completed at a later time, and multiple units may be registered at the same time.

  • 10. What will happen when I register my unit?
    • Once you register your unit/units you will receive confirmation of your Short-Term Letting registration number, this will be subject to annual renewal.
    • You will be obliged to display your Short-Term Letting registration number on all listings.
    • Registration numbers will be included in a public and easily accessible register.

  • 11. Will I require an Eircode to register?
  • Yes, you will be required to enter the Eircode for the unit/units being registered.

  • 12. Will I need to upload any supporting documentation?
  • You will not be required to upload any supporting documentation as you register. However, you may be contacted post registration for clarification on your registration.

  • 13. What is the reason for selecting the 21-night threshold?
  • It is the view of Fáilte Ireland that, in the context of the tourism market, a short-term stay/holiday will generally occur over a period of a maximum of three weeks, i.e. 21 nights, as such Fáilte Ireland deemed it appropriate to set this threshold for the Short-Term Letting Register.

    Fáilte Ireland notes that the definition of a Short-Term Let differs under other regulations e.g. definitions under existing planning regulations. However, the underpinning of the Short-Term Letting Register differs from the requirements set out in planning legislation/regulations in terms of purpose and intended outcome.

  • 14. What is an online short-term rental platform?
  • An online short-term rental platform is an online platform that facilitates the advertisement by hosts of Short-Term Let units and enables guests to book the accommodation.

  • 15. How will my data be used?
  • All information that hosts provide to Fáilte Ireland will be used for the purposes to be set out in the Short Term Letting and Tourism Act 2025. This includes but is not limited to:

    • The registration of your property and the provision of a Registration Number to you.
    • The publication of this registration information on a publicly and easily accessible register on our website.
    • Prescribed reporting to relevant authorities.
    Additionally, all personal data which we collect will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and our Privacy Policy.

Questions regarding planning requirements.

At a local level, planning functions, including monitoring and enforcement of the relevant planning regulations, are the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Fáilte Ireland does not have a role in relation to planning and cannot advise or assist with any queries with respect to planning regulations. Any individual/case-specific questions should be directed to the relevant Local Authority.

  • 16. Where do I find out more information on planning regulations and requirements?
  • Planning legislation, regulations and policy are set at national level by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. At a local level, planning functions, including monitoring and enforcement of the relevant planning regulations, remain the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. Fáilte Ireland does not have a role in relation to planning and cannot advise or assist with any queries with respect to planning regulations. Any individual/case-specific questions should be directed to the relevant Local Authority.

    Please see existing Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage guidance on Short-Term Letting - gov.ie - Circular PL 04/2019 - New Regulation of Short Term Letting (www.gov.ie)
    Any queries in relation to the status or content of these guidelines should be directed to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

  • 17. If I don’t know the planning status of my unit, can I register on the STL Register?
  • When registering, hosts must make a legal declaration about the unit (regarding compliance with planning, building and fire safety requirements (by way of self-declaration). Fáilte Ireland advises all hosts who may be unsure of their statutory obligations to obtain any clarification necessary to ensure their statutory obligations are being met.

Fáilte Ireland’s existing accommodation registers.

The Fáilte Ireland National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) was developed to provide visitors with the assurance that nationally recognised minimum standards are in place for tourist accommodation. The framework was also designed to maintain and develop standards across the tourism accommodation industry and to support the development of individual tourism accommodation businesses.

  • 18. What is Fáilte Ireland’s remit in managing tourist accommodation standards and regulation?
  • Fáilte Ireland operates the National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) which includes several types and style of tourism accommodation. The NQAF aims to provide consumers with easily identifiable symbols and standards of service that they can trust. Working with tourism providers, Fáilte Ireland wishes to ensure that those standards meet consumer expectations, help marketing efforts, and support product development. 
     
    Each style of tourist accommodation is required to meet the relevant regulations or minimum standards criteria. Fáilte Ireland will welcome and assist any tourist accommodation on the Short-Term Letting Register to participate in the NQAF. Please contact us on 0818 888800 or qualityassurance@failteireland.ie for further information.
     
    NOTE: Registration on the Short-Term Letting Register does not mean that a unit is Quality Assured by Fáilte Ireland. Any unit registered on the Short-Term Letting Register which is not already part of the NQAF will be welcome to apply should they wish to do so.
     

  • 19. What is the difference between the Short-Term Letting Register and NQAF?
  • The Fáilte Ireland National Quality Assurance Framework was developed to provide visitors with the assurance that nationally recognised minimum standards are in place for tourist accommodation. The framework was also designed to maintain and develop standards across the tourism accommodation industry and to support the development of individual tourism accommodation businesses.

    Registration on the Short-Term Letting Register does not mean that a unit is Quality Assured by Fáilte Ireland.

  • 20. If I am on the Short-Term Letting Register, will I be listed on DiscoverIreland.ie?
  • Registration on the Short-Term Letting Register does not mean that a unit will be listed on DiscoverIreland.ie. In order to list your unit on the Discover Ireland website your unit must be Quality Assured by Fáilte Ireland and you will need to complete the necessary information which can be found on our marketing page.

Do I need to register?

  • 21. I only rent a room occasionally: will I need to register?
  • All hosts renting Short-Term Lettings for periods of up to and including 21 nights will need to register their unit with Fáilte Ireland. Your Short-Term Letting registration number will need to be renewed annually.

  • 22. I rent a room to students per semester: will I need to register?
  • No, if your accommodation is rented for a period of longer than 21 nights you will not require a Short-Term Letting registration number.

  • 23. I rent a room on a permanent basis, will I need to register?
  • No, if your accommodation is rented for a period of longer than 21 nights you will not require a Short-Term Letting registration number.

  • 24. What if I don’t renew the Short-Term Letting registration for registered units?
  • Registration must be renewed annually as the number will expire. Renewal reminders will be issued prior to the expiry date. If you do not renew your registration, the unit is removed from the Register and the Fáilte Ireland issued STL registration number becomes invalid.

If your question has not been answered here, please contact our Customer Support Team.