Accommodation in Ireland

Accommodation in Ireland varies depending on the city or county. Whether looking for a country home, a beachside cottage or a modern city apartment, expats have a range of accommodation types to look into.

Most expats living in Ireland rent accommodation rather than buy. However, it is worth considering buying a property for those who plan to live in Ireland for the long-term.

When looking for accommodation in Ireland, it is important to consider a property’s proximity to work, good schools and public transport, especially in the larger cities. Public schools in Ireland generally give priority to children in their catchment areas. Since places are often limited, parents should try to secure accommodation close to a school if they want to send their children there.

It is also worth noting that in Irish cities, the further away from public transport a property is, the cheaper it is. 

Types of accommodation in Ireland

With cost of housing continuing to rise in Ireland, expats will have to contend with the low supply and high demand of accommodation in the country.

The most common types of accommodation in Irish cities such as Dublin and Cork are apartments and semi-detached row houses. Free-standing houses are more common in towns and villages. Older houses and apartments are usually more spacious, while rental price are lower the further away from the city centre one goes.

Many younger expats and students choose to live in house shares, where they have their own bedroom but share the common living areas of an apartment or house.

Most apartments and houses in Dublin and other cities come fully furnished, including couches, tables, dressers and kitchen appliances. 

Finding accommodation in Ireland

There are plenty of websites that advertise housing in Ireland and local newspapers are also a good source to search for rentals. Local supermarkets often have noticeboards where property rentals are advertised.

Real estate agents are another way to find accommodation in Ireland but, unlike in many other countries, rental agencies in Ireland often bill the renter rather than the property owner. The fee is usually the equivalent of one month's rent. 

Renting accommodation in Ireland

Rent in Ireland is payable monthly and in advance. A deposit of at least one month’s rent is normally required to secure accommodation. 

The two most common types of tenancy agreements in Ireland are the fixed-term tenancy and the periodic tenancy. 

A fixed-term tenancy, as the name suggests, covers rental for a set period of time as specified in the lease. There is no standardised period for this contract as far as the law goes, and the landlord and tenant are free to determine the length of the lease themselves. However, neither party may end the tenancy before the end of the fixed term unless both parties agree to do so or on of the parties has breached their obligations under the lease.

A periodic tenancy is more open-ended and does not specify a period of time. This gives both landlord and tenant the right to end the tenancy at any time as long as an appropriate notice of termination has been given. 

Utilities are not normally included in the lease and are an additional expense on top of the price of rent.

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