Finding accommodation in Ireland
When it comes to moving to a new country, one of the first and most important factors to decide on is your accommodation. There are many different ways you can go about this decision. You want to be living in an area that suits your specific needs and desires. It can be an overwhelming process when you don't know a lot about a country and you are trying to decide where you want to live. This article gives some insight that can help you with this process in Ireland.
Types of accommodation available in Ireland
The most popular types of accommodation in Ireland will be houses and apartments. A lot of people when they first arrive in a new country will try to obtain some short term lodgings while they begin their accommodation hunt. This may be through staying in an Airbnb, hotel or with friends. A lot of young professionals will share multi-bedroom apartments and houses with one another in order to save money. This is particularly popular in Dublin where rent prices are very high.
The most popular places to live in Ireland
The most popular neighbourhoods will vary depending on where in the country you are situated. For example, in Dublin, some of the more popular neighbourhoods include the likes of Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Blackrock, Foxrock and Leopardstown. Find out more in our articles "Accommodation in Dublin" and "Choosing your neighbourhood in Dublin".
To determine if you are looking at accommodation in a good area, you can do a quick Google search to see what pops up. You can also usually tell through your visit to the accommodation whether it looks and feels like a good fit for your needs. Generally, the neighbourhoods that are close to public transport and schools are going to cost more than those which are not.
Rent prices in Ireland
Rent prices have been hitting all-time highs over the past few years across Ireland. The main problem is in Dublin, where the supply of housing is being outstripped by the demand for it. This has led to inflationary pressure on the price of renting. Generally, in Dublin, you will be looking at paying. Monthly rent in Dublin in a normal area could cost you about EUR1,800, with a more expensive area being closer to the EUR2,300 mark.
Naturally, this will fall considerably outside of Dublin, where everything is going to be a lot more affordable. To put this in perspective, the average rental price in Dublin is EUR2,000. This compares to an average rent of EUR1,300 in Cork, EUR1,200 in Galway, EUR1,171 in Limerick, EUR968 in Waterford and EUR949 in the rest of the country.
Lease conditions and formalities in Ireland
Most leases will come with a furnished place, and it is always a good idea to note any potential damage to furnishings before moving into a place. This prevents the landlord from trying to say it was you who caused this damage.
A lease will generally last for 6 or 12 months in Ireland. There will be a security deposit in place that could be for anywhere from a single months rent up to three months of rent. The lease will outline what charges you need to cover and what the landlord needs to cover. Bills for the likes of internet, phone, television, waste removal, electricity and gas will all be covered by the tenants.
How to find accommodation in Ireland
There are many different websites where you can see what properties are on the market to rent. You can filter depending on the likes of your budget or the area in which you want to live. You can then arrange viewings for places when you like somewhere. You will meet the landlord and see what the place looks like.
If you like what the place has to offer, you can express your interest to the landlord. As there is a great demand for housing in the likes of Dublin, you might not be able to secure your first few preferred options.
