Our Guide on Renting or Buying a Home in Ireland

Jump right in:

• Renting a house or apartment
• Rental rules & process
• What is the average rent in Ireland?
• Short-term rentals in Ireland
• Buying property as a foreigner
• Utilities
• Internet & TV

Renting a house or apartment

Finding a rental in Ireland is pretty straightforward but be prepared for high costs. The housing market has a supply shortage, which drives up prices, especially for apartments in cities. As a result, many expats opt for semi-detached shared houses as a more affordable alternative.

Renting in Ireland as a foreigner

Competition for housing in Ireland, especially in the cities, is tough, but landlords cannot discriminate against a candidate simply because they are from abroad. Also be aware of your rights as a tenant. All rental properties in Ireland must meet minimum housing standards set by law. This means the home must be:

• safe
• structurally sound
• equipped with basic facilities such as heating, hot and cold water, proper ventilation, and appliances for cooking and food storage.

Landlords are responsible for maintaining these standards and carrying out necessary repairs.

How to Rent a House or Apartment in Ireland

The first step to renting in Ireland is finding accommodation. The majority of Irish rentals are found online. These are the most popular local accommodation search sites:

• Daft.ie
• Rent.ie
• Myhome.ie

Real estate agent

It is also possible to use a real estate agent in Ireland, but keep in mind that you will be responsible for their fee, rather than landlords paying for the service.

Some real estate agencies you can check it out:

• Barry Auctioneers
• Murphy Mullan
• Abacus Property Management
• 5SRE
• Savills
• Sherry FitzGerald

Rental process & rules

Every time you view an apartment or house, you should come prepared with all the documents required to secure the accommodation.

What are the requirements for renting?

• Your passport and a copy of your Irish visa.
• Employer reference such as a work contract or letter stating your position and length-of-stay with the company.
• Reference from your previous landlord.
• Bank statement verifying your financial situation.
• PPS number

Once you’ve found a rental property, you should have your upfront payment ready. This usually includes one month’s rent as a security deposit and one month’s rent paid in advance. By law, landlords cannot request more than the equivalent of two months’ rent in total.

Should you rent furnished or unfurnished?

You’ll find both furnished and unfurnished rental options in Ireland. In big cities like Dublin, furnished apartments are more common. These typically come with higher rent. While there's no formal requirement for a larger deposit on furnished units, you may face deductions if furniture or appliances are damaged beyond normal wear and tear.

What is the average rent in Ireland?

The average price throughout the whole country is just over 1,680 EUR (1,950 USD).

As a foreigner moving to Ireland, you may be looking at one of the areas that is most popular among expats. Obviously, Dublin still reigns supreme as far as the Irish city with the most immigrants, but some southern cities such as Galway and Cork have also seen a steep rise in popularity among foreigners.

Here’s a look at the average monthly apartment rent among the most popular Irish cities for expats.

Short-term rentals in Ireland

Because the housing market in Ireland is competitive, a temporary rental will give you more time to look through your options and not feel too pressured to jump on the first place that is available.

How can I find short-term rental apartments?

Here are some websites you can check for short-term stays:

• Daft.ie
• Rent.ie
• Vrbo
• Flatio
• HostingPower
• Spotahome

What documents do I need?

To rent a short-term rental in Ireland, you will primarily need a form of identification, such as your passport, and an Irish visa showing how long you are permitted to stay in the country. Depending on the length of your stay in the short-term accommodation, you may be asked to provide a proof of income or employment.

Buying property as a foreigner

The first thing you should know is that there are no restrictions on foreigners buying property in Ireland. This applies to both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA nationals. Below, you can learn more about the process and requirements for buying a home in Ireland as a foreigner.

What are the requirements for buying property in Ireland?

As stated, there are no requirements or restrictions for foreigners looking to purchase property in Ireland. However, you need a Personal Public Service (PPS) number to pay the tax on the property known as Stamp Duty.

Note that although there are no legal restrictions to owning property in Ireland as a foreigner, you may face more difficulties than a national Irish citizen. When applying for a mortgage at a bank, you may need to provide multiple documents defending your financial worth and intent to own property in Ireland.

Types of housing in Ireland

Housing types range from

• Typical city apartments
• Detached houses
• Semi-detached houses
• Countryside cottages
• Terraced houses
• Bungalows

How do I find a house?

You can go through a real estate agent or online. The online sites are

• Daft.ie
• Rent.ie
• Myhome.ie
• Gumtree.ie
• Property.ie
• Rightmove
• Savills

What is the average cost of buying a house in Ireland?

The average house price in Ireland is around 375,000 EUR (435,000 USD), according to the latest market data.

• In Dublin, the average house price is about 450,000 EUR (520,000 USD).
• In other parts of the country, the average is closer to 315,000 EUR (365,000 USD).

It’s important to consider additional costs beyond the purchase price such as:

• Stamp duty: 1% on the first 1 million EUR, 2% on the portion above 1 million EUR, and 6% on value over 1.5 million EUR.
• Local property tax: It's charged on all residential properties in Ireland and is due on 1 November each year.
• Legal fee: Some solicitors charge a flat fee, while others base their fee on a percentage of the property’s price. If you are quoted a flat fee, it will typically range between 1,500–3,000 EUR (1,735–3,470 USD).
• Estate agent fee

Process and steps for buying a house in Ireland

There are two main ways to purchase property in Ireland: public auction or private sale.

In a private treaty sale, you negotiate the price directly with the seller or their estate agent. Once your offer is accepted, you may pay a small booking deposit, which is refundable until the contract is signed. After your solicitor reviews the sale contract and your mortgage is approved, you’ll sign the contract and pay the full deposit.

In a public auction, properties are sold to the highest bidder who meets the reserve price. Before bidding, it’s important to have your solicitor check the sale documents and your mortgage pre-approved. If you win the auction, you must pay a deposit and sign the contract immediately.

Buying a home in Ireland can be separated into three stages: negotiation, pre-contract, and completion. You can search for a home and negotiate the purchase terms either by yourself or with the help of a real estate agent. When you get to the pre-contract stage, you must hire a lawyer (or, in Ireland, this profession is typically called a solicitor).

Below are the general steps for purchasing property in Ireland.

Step 1: You should apply for a mortgage before you start searching for property in Ireland. This helps define your budget and shows sellers you’re a serious buyer. Foreigners can apply under the same rules as Irish citizens, but approval may be harder. Irish banks are cautious lenders and usually offer lower borrowing limits compared to other countries. You’ll need to show financial stability and intent to live in the country.

Step 2: When you find a property you like, you can make an offer to purchase it. Simply making the offer does not legally obligate you to purchase the property, even if your offer is accepted.

Step 3: Once your offer is accepted, you will need to enlist the services of a solicitor. You can also hire a surveyor to inspect the property and ensure that nothing is amiss. In Ireland, sellers are not legally obliged to disclose property defects to you, so a surveyor can help uncover hidden issues before you commit.

Step 4: If the survey is completed to your satisfaction, your hired lawyer can then draw up a Deed of Conveyance. The seller’s solicitor will review and execute it, and your solicitor will then arrange for stamp duty payment and registration of your ownership with the Land Registry (or Registry of Deeds). Only when registration is complete does the legal title transfer to you.

Step 5: After the contract for sale is drawn up, the buyer signs first and pays a deposit, usually around 10% of the purchase price. Once the seller also signs, the agreement becomes legally binding. Up to that point, either party can withdraw from the deal without legal penalty. Backing out after this point may result in financial loss or legal consequences.

What is a stamp duty?

Whether you are buying a property for commercial or private use, you will need to pay a stamp duty. This is the fee required in order to register your deed and sale of contract as legally binding documents.

For residential properties, stamp duty is 1% on the portion of the price up to 1 million EUR, 2% on above 1 million EUR and 6% on the portion exceeding 1.5 million EUR. For non-residential (commercial) properties, the rate is 7.5% of the property’s market value.

Does buying a house in Ireland grant citizenship or residency?

Buying a home in Ireland does not automatically grant you citizenship or even permanent residency. Likewise, buying property does not immediately allow you to own and operate a business in the country, nor will it grant you a visa. All of these aspects, residency, visas, and the right to work, are handled through different Irish government agencies that are not associated with a foreigner’s right to own a home. You can read more about visas and residency in our Visas & Work Permits in Ireland guide.

Utilities

Use this section to learn about utility companies in Ireland.

Electric and gas

When it comes to electricity, all services are owned and maintained by the Electrical Supply Board (ESB), even though they may not be the specific electricity supplier. You can choose your own energy provider for billing and rates. Most companies supply both types of energy, but you can have your electricity supplied by one company and your gas by another. You can use comparison site like switcher.ie to find the best offer.

Some companies in Ireland include:

• Energia
• Electric Ireland
• Bord Gais Energy
• Flogas
• SSE Airtricity

To sign up for gas and electric, you will need to submit the required documents to your chosen provider listed below):

• your personal contact details
• address of the property
• your bank details
• your 11-digit ESB Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN)
• your meter reading

Water

Irish Water is Ireland’s national water utility. There are no charges for normal household use but if you use more than 213,000 litres of water per year, you may have to pay a fee. 

You can register with Irish Water to receive updates about outages or maintenance work in your area.

Trash collection

Waste disposal is primarily run through private companies. How you dispose of your waste or recycle will vary depending on where you live. In general, trash collection happens once a week. Your trash and recycling will need to be separated and placed in separate bins.

How do I pay my bill?

How you pay your utility bill will vary from provider to provider, but, in general, you can pay it in one of the following ways:

• via apps like Mybill.ie on your cell phone
• online through the provider’s website
• via an ATM: Bank of Ireland customers can pay their bills at any Bank of Ireland ATM
• any location where you see a Payzone sign
• direct debit from your bank account
• By post with a cheque

Payments are typically collected every two months. Be sure to keep at least one bill from each utility provider as this could be needed to establish residency later on.

Internet & TV

How to get a cell phone number?

You can either choose a prepaid SIM or sign up for a contract mobile plan in Ireland. You can purchase a prepaid SIM card at mobile-provider stores, convenience stores, or online.

You’ll need:

• a valid passport or national photo ID
• proof of address may be required, especially for contract plans
• for long-term contract plans, you may need to provide bank details and residency

Here are most popular mobile providers:

• Eir
• Vodafone
• Three
• Tesco Mobile
• 48
• An Post Mobile

Internet connection

You can choose from fibre, ADSL, or mobile broadband, depending on your location. The main providers include:

• Eir
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone
• Sky
• Digiweb
• Pure Telecom

Contracts typically last maximum 24 months, and most providers verify your address before installation to check fibre or ADSL coverage.

Television in Ireland

All homes with a TV are  required to pay an annual TV license. Even if you do not watch the national channels, you are required to pay this fee as long as you own a TV or any device that is capable of streaming television programs. It costs 160 EUR (185 USD) yearly and you can pay this fee in several ways:

• Online using MasterCard or Visa
• By cash, cheque, or debit card at any Post Office
• By direct debit
• By phone at 01 705 8800 using MasterCard or Visa
• By post, sending a crossed cheque payable to An Post to your local TV Licence Records Office
• Using TV licence stamps available at Post Offices
• By cash at selected PostPoint outlets

How to Watch Your Home Country’s TV in Ireland

One option is to subscribe to certain streaming services that allow for international shows to be viewed abroad. You can also subscribe to a VPN or pay for certain satellite channels. Whichever option you choose, just know that you will always have to pay a bit extra than what you would to just watch the programs available locally.