National Average Rent Rose By 7.6% In Second Quarter Of 2018

The national average rent rose by 7.6% – €1,094 per month, up from €1,017 one year earlier – in the second quarter of 2018, according to the latest report by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

According to the report, nationally, rents grew at 7.6% annually in Q2 2018, particularly in and around urban centres, which represents an increase from 6.9% in Q1 2018. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the rental price inflation increased in Q2 2018 to 3.4% up from 2.7% one year earlier. This follows a period of more moderate growth on a quarterly basis.

The data is reported in the RTB's Quarter 2 2018 Rent Index report published today. The report is produced in conjunction with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and is based on 18,716 new tenancies registered with the RTB in the same quarter.

The report contains new data, for the first time, on rental trends in existing and new tenancies along with analysis on trends in the composition of the market. The data on existing tenancies shows the year on year growth at 4.9% compared to 8.4% in new tenancies. New market insights show the share of tenancies across the country with Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area accounting for over half of all tenancy agreements. The new analyses also show that in terms of the number of occupants, one or two occupants were in the majority of properties. Since quarter four of 2017, a slight decline in the shares of properties occupied by three or more people can be observed.

Commenting on the Rent Index Q2 results, Rosalind Carroll, Director of the Residential Tenancies Board said: "Affordability remains a significant issue in the rental market with continued economic and population growth contributing to rising demand. We can see rents have continued to increase with growth rates back up in Dublin.

"However, additional analysis carried out in this rent index, gives us more insight into what is driving growth, particularly in Rent Pressure Zones. We have developed a new indicator to allow us to separate rental data for new tenancies and existing tenancies, or tenancies that are being renewed. This found that the rate of rental inflation year-on-year for existing tenancies was 4.9% just over half of the rate for new tenancies, which is 8.4%. This shows that rent inflation in existing tenancies is more in line with what we would expect to see in Rent Pressure Zones.

"New lettings show a larger increase year-on-year, exemptions from RPZs will explain some of this. However, it is also clear that this market must continue to be monitored and it underscores the importance of the proposed legislation in this area.

"This new data is important in assisting the RTB to prepare for the new enforcement powers which it is hoped will be introduced before the end of the year. This will allow the RTB to investigate and apply sanctions where there are contraventions to the rent restrictions in Rent Pressure Zones."

A summary of the figures from the report include:

Rent Index Results for Dublin

• The annualised new rent increase nationally is +7.6% with Dublin the highest single region (+8.8%).

• Dublin City rents have accelerated by 9.5% on an annualised basis in Q2 2018. This is driven by growth of rents for apartments, which on an annual basis grew by 9.1%, whereas houses grew by 6.4%.

• As of Q2 2018, the standardised average rent for Dublin stood at €1,587, representing an increase of €128 on average monthly rent over a 12-month period.

• Comparing across the different cities presented, rents are highest in Dublin City and stood at €1,549 as of Q2 2018. It is unsurprising that Dublin City rents are highest given the concentration of employment and population in the capital city.

• This compares to standardised average rents for Dublin as a whole of €1,587. The higher rents outside the city boundary may reflect the mix of property types in the two sub markets as well as the exclusion of the high price rental areas in south county Dublin.

Outside Dublin

• The standardised average rent for outside the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) stood at €817 up from €768 year-on-year. The annual growth rate for outside the GDA is 6.3%, down from 6.5% in Q1 2018.

• Second highest rents in Q2 2018 were in Cork City at €1,123 per month. Galway City standardised average rents stood at €1,065 for Q2 2018, rents in Limerick City were €880 and rents in Waterford City were €646.

• In the larger cities Cork City's year on year change was 6.2% compared to Dublin City, 9.5% and Limerick, 12.4%.

• On an annualised basis, rents in Limerick City have been growing most rapidly at 12.4% in Q2 2018.

• In the Greater Dublin Area (Kildare, Wicklow, Meath) the annual rate of growth is down from 6.3% Q1 2018 to 5.5% in Q2 2018. The Standardised Average Rent for the GDA now stands at €1118, up from €1101 in Q1.

• In the GDA the largest share of rents corresponds to the €500-€1000 category, and only 3% are above €1500. This compares to Dublin where nearly half of rents are over €1500.

(MH/CM)