Airbnb providing an 'essential service' to rural communities say west Mayo councillors

Airbnb provides an essential service to many rural communities in west Mayo according to local councillors who said providers don't deserve to be 'blackened' by critics of the housesharing platform.

A recent Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) study found that the concentration of Airbnb listings in the Westport area is among the highest in Ireland with one in three private rented properties in the area listed on the popular homesharing platform.

The use of properties in west Mayo for short-term letting has been criticised with many believing it is adding to the housing crisis as it is leading to a scarcity of properties being made available for long-term rent.

The matter was raised at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District where local councillors defended the use of AirBnB in rural areas describing them as essential services.

Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell said that new regulations for Airbnb providers was causing a lot of confusion and called on the council to provide information to providers.

“People are confused on what is happening and if they will need to get planning permission and if they need to get an engineer for a change of us and how much it will cost. Nobody seems to know. I could get information to help people out and get people on a proper legal standing.

“Airbnb back in my area in Louisburgh is so important. We have no hotel and we are trying as a county to promote tourism to bring people in and spend a few bob in every area and develop our little business in these places.

“All these people are providing a service and are looking at this as another form of taxation and putting more hassle on them for things they have done for years. It is very unfair on them.

“It is such an important asset that we have especially in the Aughagowers, Louisburghs and all these areas. It is an essential service to have to draw in tourists. The first thing we could do for them is give them information and tell them what needs to be done. They are all in limboland at the moment,” he said.

The Independent Ireland councillor was supported by Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle who said that recent controversy about short-term renting had blackened the name of people who he said were providing an essential service.

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“There is no hotel in Eachleim or in Rossport and Airbnbs are essential and some of these people are being blackened.

“The myth that has arisen now is they don't pay tax. I did Airbnb for a while but I paid tax on everything I made the same as everything else. You cannot operate without a tax number so this myth went out that they didn't pay tax. That is pure and utter rubbish.

“The people who have Airbnb’s have to get insurance and fire alarms and everything and they keep it right. They are doing a service to the community and they should not be pointed at or targeted by Tom [Gilligan, Director of Services] or anyone else,” he said.

Westport-based councillor and Cathaoirleach of the municipal district, Cllr Peter Flynn called on Mayo County Council to provide clarity on what AirBnB providers have to do with new regulations.

“We need clarification on how it works and how people go about it and what else they need to be thinking about. There is huge confusion about it whether you agree or disagree with it,” he said.