A call has been issued to introduce new legislation on non-compliant short term lets following a report in the Irish Times.

The report in the national paper showed only a small number of Airbnb landlords have registered their properties under the new short-term letting regulations.

Sinn Féin representative Eoin Ó Broin has since called on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to make it an offence to advertise non-compliant short term lets.

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Calling the new figures "disappointing but not surprising", Deputy Ó Broin said: "When the legislation was going through the Oireachtas, Sinn Féin proposed that it should be an offence for any non-compliant short term lets to be advertised on any platform. However, the Minister did not deem this measure necessary.

"The regulation and enforcement of laws on short term lets should not just fall on local authorities.

"Minister Murphy should review the regulations and introduce a civil sanctions regime and fine platforms and estate agents that advertise properties that do not comply with the new rules.

"If the Minister is sincere about tackling the impact of short terms on the rental market then he should consider introducing such measures."

(CM/MH)