Biggest rent hike in the country is in Limerick

RENTS have risen by 16.2% in the last year in Limerick city with the average rent now €1,864 per month, according to the latest Rental Report by Daft.ie

In the rest of Limerick, market rents were on average 21% higher in the third quarter of 2023 than a year previously. This is the biggest rent hike in the country. The average listed rent is now €1,464 per month, up 154% from its lowest point.

Nationwide, market rents in the third quarter of 2023 rose by an average of 1.8%, compared to the second quarter. Relative to a year ago, rents in the open-market are now 8% higher, with the average market rent nationwide in the third quarter just under €1,825 per month. This compares to a low of just €765 per month seen in late 2011.

For the third quarter in a row, there was a noticeable difference between trends in Dublin and elsewhere. In the capital, market rents rose by just 0.4% quarter-on-quarter – meaning rents are now 1.3% higher than at the start of the year. However, outside Dublin, the average increase between June and September was 3%, and rents are now 9% higher than the start of the year.

Hundreds in Limerick set to be without power for the day after Storm Debi hits

All four major cities outside Dublin – Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford – saw significant quarterly increases in rents, of at least 5% quarter-on-quarter. Outside the cities, quarterly increases ranged from 1.8% in Leinster to 3% in Munster. 

The changes in rent reflect different trends in the availability of rental accommodation. The number of homes available to rent at any one time fell to record lows in 2022 but, since the second quarter of 2023, there has been an improvement in availability driven by Dublin. On November 1, there were almost 1,800 homes available to rent nationwide, compared to fewer than 1,100 on the same date a year ago. Of the increase of almost 700 homes, Dublin accounted for over 600 of those.

Commenting on the report, Ronan Lyons, associate professor in economics at Trinity College Dublin and author of the Daft.ie Report, said between 2018 and 2022, a significant pipeline emerged of new rental homes in Dublin.

"A steady flow of these homes, especially since 2022, has eased the very tight market conditions that had emerged after Covid-19 lockdowns. While most of the rest of the country is still experiencing double-digit inflation, market rents in Dublin are now close to static.

"High construction costs – and uncertain financing – has meant that viability is a challenge outside the capital. But the solution to high rents remains the construction of large volumes of new rental housing around the country. Given viability challenges, it is likely that policy supports will be needed," said Mr Lyons.

Average market rents, and year-on-year change, 2023 Q3

●    Dublin: €2,354, up 4.3% year-on-year
●    Cork city: €1,882, up 10.2%
●    Galway city: €1,982, up 15.7% 
●    Limerick city: €1,864, up 16.2%
●    Waterford city: €1,549, up 14.1%
●    Rest of the country: €1,464, up 11.1%