Communities Minister Outlines Measures To Review Short-Term Rental Regulations

community Feb 04, 2025
Review Short-Term Rental Regulations

At a full council on 4th February 2025, Gordon Lyons - Communities Minister, discussed plans to review the regulation of Airbnbs and second homes in Northern Ireland.

Mr Lyons stated that a realistic and coordinated approach is being adopted, and he has asked the Department for the Economy to examine current practices. He noted that areas including the Causeway Coast, along with other parts of Northern Ireland, have seen an increase in short-term rental properties.

While recognising the importance of tourism and appropriate accommodations, Mr Lyons emphasised the need to establish proper regulations. He compared the current situation to a "wild west" scenario, highlighting concerns that without clear measures, the housing market could be affected, potentially impacting residents’ ability to buy or rent homes.

The minister’s comments form part of ongoing discussions on balancing tourism interests with the needs of local communities.

The move comes as growing concerns have been raised over the limited availability of homes for residents in the borough.


PUP Councillor Russell Watton raised concerns over the disparity in the allocation of the social housing budget, citing figures that show just three percent of the total budget for Northern Ireland is earmarked for the borough, compared to 23 percent for the neighbouring Derry City and Strabane area.

“It’s a huge disparity, and I can’t believe it’s nearly eight times the need we have down here,” Councillor Watton said. “You know yourself, the whole housing situation is dire.” He added, “It’s a province-wide issue, but it’s particularly severe here, especially with the prevalence of holiday homes, second homes, and the like.”

In response, Minister Lyons revealed that he had raised the matter within the Northern Ireland Assembly and pointed out that Causeway Coast and Glens has twice the number of second homes compared to other parts of Northern Ireland.

“It’s something that I’ve asked the Department for the Economy to look at, particularly in terms of Airbnb regulations,” Mr Lyons said. “These have emerged in various locations, and I don’t believe we have the appropriate regulation in place.”

“We recognise the importance of tourism and the need for suitable accommodation, but it shouldn’t be the Wild West. We must ensure proper regulation is in place, preventing any negative impact on the housing market and the availability of homes for purchase or rent.”

UUP Councillor Richard Homes echoed the concerns, stating that the second homes market is hindering young people in coastal towns such as Portrush and Portstewart from entering the housing market. He noted that many are being forced to seek accommodation in places like Coleraine.

“We’re now seeing apartments selling for seven-figure sums, and during an appearance on the Nolan Show, I heard you discussing a rates cap,” Cllr Homes said. “The second homes market skews the housing market here on the North Coast, as well as creating ghost towns. The rates cap for properties selling for over £400,000 particularly affects us more than any other council in Northern Ireland.”

He continued, “Removing that rates cap and allowing rates to rise could help us somewhat, especially if we’re getting homes built to meet the social housing needs in coastal towns.”

Minister Lyons acknowledged that the housing situation is “very, very difficult” across the council area and pledged that his department would collaborate with the council to address the issue of second homes.

“But I’ll keep coming back to the same issue – the need to increase supply,” he said. “That’s how we’ll address this challenge.”

Mr Lyons also noted, “That doesn’t mean we won’t explore other options. I’m not closing any doors. I believe the rating system can play a role in tackling some of these issues.”