Average Monthly Leitrim Rents Hit €1,139 Amid Ireland's Escalating Rental Crisis

The average rent in Leitrim has surged to €1,139, marking a significant increase in the county. Although Leitrim still boasts the lowest rent in Ireland, this sharp rise reflects the broader national trend of escalating rental costs.

According to the latest Rental Report by Daft.ie, market rents across Ireland rose by an average of 2 percent in the second quarter of 2024. The report highlights that rent inflation in Dublin is notably lower than in other parts of the country. In the capital, rents increased by just 3.5 percent compared to a year ago, while outside Dublin, rents jumped by an average of 10.6 percent.

Leitrim’s situation mirrors this nationwide trend, with market rents rising by 12.4 percent in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Outside major cities, rent hikes remain significant, with Munster experiencing an average increase of 9.3 percent and Connacht-Ulster seeing a 10.5 percent rise. Meanwhile, in Dublin, the average rent now stands at €2,377.

North Leitrim Councillor Eddie Mitchell highlighted the challenges faced by families in the area, noting that "there's no emergency accommodation in Manorhamilton." He expressed concern that "families that find themselves in difficulties, and can't access affordable renting accommodation in North Leitrim, are being put into emergency accommodation as far away as Ballinamore. We need to have a conversation about how we can support families who are trying to make a life in Leitrim."

Justin Farrell, a real estate agent with Sherry FitzGerald Farrell, said there is a severe shortage of rental accommodation in certain areas of the county. "The area is critically undersupplied with rental accommodation," he said, adding that "the South Leitrim/North Roscommon area has an alarming lack of available accommodation at present." 

This shortage is creating challenges for those working in the region. "There is certainly a struggle for staff around the county to find adequate and affordable accommodation, and we are also seeing more and more enquiries from people working in the Sligo and Longford areas."

Farrell also noted that the rising rents in Dublin and larger urban areas are driving more tenants to consider moving to Leitrim. He said, "As rents climb higher in Dublin and larger urban locations, it is creating an additional cohort of tenants looking at areas like Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, Leitrim Village and Drumshanbo, combined with strong local interest in the same properties."