The Pat Kenny Show How short term letting provides vital income for households
Nov 20, 2025
Lorna Cahill, a local host from County Clare, has been renting out a granny flat for almost nine years, relying on this income to support her family. She shares how her short-term letting has funded her daughters' education and will aid her son's college plans. Lorna discusses the impact of upcoming regulations on her income, expressing concerns about compliance costs and fears of being unjustly labeled as part of the housing crisis. She argues that losing these rentals could hurt local tourism and businesses, advocating for more nuanced regulations.
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Granny Flat Became A Lifeline
- Lorna Cahill rented out a small granny flat on Airbnb for almost nine years to support her family and stay at home with her children.
- The short-term let income enabled her daughters' education and provided vital household purpose and earnings.
Not Every Short-Term Let Suits Long-Term Rent
- Lorna says her granny flat could never suit the long-term rental market due to size and lack of essentials like storage and laundry facilities.
- Labeling all short-term lets as potential long-term housing misreads diverse property types and regional differences.
Registration Rules Leave No Grace Period
- New regulations require registration and self-declared compliance, but the available options changed and removed an 'in process' planning option.
- That simplification risks forcing small hosts into an all-or-nothing compliance status without grace periods to regularise their properties.