Renting a property in Dublin

If you’re coming from a posting in Asia then renting in Dublin will be a bit of a shock. No swimming pools, no marbled bathrooms and cleaning services are usually extra.

But as Expat Arrivals say here, prices are dropping and if you’re paying less than you don’t mind so much. And anyhow an outdoor pool isn’t all that useful in Ireland.

Younger expats often end up sharing a house or apartment with another wandering soul. This can be a lot more fun than it sounds as long as you interview them properly and are clear about the lifestyle you want. 

In these cases then older apartments and houses are actually better then the modern ones. Before the Boom buildings were made with living in mind but newer places like the Smithfield developments are tiny boxes built to make money for developers first and space comes second.

Rents

Popular rental site Daft released a report in November which said:

“In Dublin, rents have fallen consistently with an average reduction across all sections of the city of 24.5% from peak and 20.7% from the fourth quarter 2008. Rents in the capital are now lower than in the first quarter of 2000. The most acute reductions were in Dublin's City Centre, where rents have fallen 26.1% from peak and 21.3% from the fourth quarter 2008, returning an average of €924 per month.”

That price is for one-bedroom apartments. These are usually very small and pokey. It’s worth shelling out for a 2-bed; now about €1,100 to 1,500. Share a house for anything from €500 to €900 depending on the standard.

City Centre and nearby:

Dublin 2: Merrion Square, Camden Street and around Stephen’s Green
Dublin 3: along the port and down to Dollymount Strand. East Wall has some great new developments which are bigger than the norm.
Dublin 4: especially around Baggott Street and Sandymount
Dublin 6: Ranelegh and parts of Rathmines (be careful in Rathmines as it’s also a student hang-out)

How-to find a rental

For instant results at the moment use an estate agent; they are falling over themselves to find tenants. Just remember that you are a rarity this year and probably during 2010 as well, and hold out for exactly what you want.

If you’re looking from overseas, then Expat Arrivals has a list of rental sites here. Daft is by far the most popular.