The cost of renting a home in Ireland continued to rise in the first quarter of the year, with new tenancy rents climbing by 5.5% on average to €1,696, according to the latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
Existing tenants also saw rent increases, though at a slower pace. Average rents for sitting tenants rose by 4.4% to €1,452 during the same period, highlighting ongoing affordability challenges in the housing market.
The report shows notable differences between Dublin and the rest of the country. While rents in the capital increased by 3.3% for new tenancies — the slowest growth rate since 2022 — several counties experienced double-digit increases. Donegal, Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Monaghan, Roscommon and Tipperary all recorded rent hikes of more than 10% for new lettings.
Five counties in particular — Donegal, Kerry, Laois, Monaghan and Tipperary — have now faced eight consecutive quarters of sharp rent increases, underscoring the sustained pressure in regional markets where supply remains limited.
The RTB report also revealed structural changes in the rental sector. The proportion of landlords managing portfolios of 100 properties or more rose from 11.8% a year ago to 13.9% in the first quarter of 2025, suggesting further consolidation among large-scale investors. Meanwhile, tenancies provided by Approved Housing Bodies grew by 11.7%, reflecting efforts to expand the role of not-for-profit landlords in tackling housing shortages.
In response to the findings, the RTB said it will step up education and outreach efforts in counties recently brought under the Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system. The RPZ framework, which caps annual rent increases in designated high-demand areas, has now been extended nationwide in a bid to curb runaway price growth.
Rosemary Steen, director of the RTB, said the organisation is preparing for new legislation that will come into force next March. “Through the legislative process, we hope to gain new tools to allow us to enforce Rent Pressure Zone rules at a greater scale and pace,” she said.
Steen added that the RTB will continue to engage with the Department of Housing as changes to the rental framework are introduced.
The data comes amid ongoing debate about housing affordability, with policymakers under pressure to balance rent regulation with the need to keep private landlords in the market. Rising demand, limited supply and a growing reliance on institutional landlords have kept rents climbing, even as affordability becomes an acute concern for households across the country.
