Leitrim rents jump over 11% as national shortage deepens

Leitrim recorded a year-on-year rent increase of 11.4% in the first quarter of 2025, according to the latest Daft.ie Rental Price Report. 

The average listed rent in the county now stands at €1,234, placing Leitrim among the top-tier counties for rental inflation over the past year, outstripping the national average increase of 7.3%.

However, Leitrim remains one of the cheapest places in the country to rent ,with the average rent price only being under cut by Donegal at €1,231.

 In fact, the report notes that market rents rose in 52 of the 54 areas analysed, underscoring the broad-based nature of rental inflation across the country.

The report attributes these increases to “incredibly poor availability” of homes to rent, with just over 2,300 rental listings available across Ireland on May 1st. This figure is down 14% year-on-year and represents the third-worst May total in nearly 20 years.

While rental inflation in Dublin was recorded at 5.8%, areas outside the capital saw an average increase of 8.6%, indicating that the gap between Dublin and the rest of the country is now the smallest it has been in two years.

In his commentary, report author and economist at Trinity College Dublin, Ronan Lyons, points to a reversal of pro-supply policies in recent years, alongside tightening rent controls, as key contributors to the shortage.

 He also notes that Q1 2025’s 3.4% quarterly increase in market rents is the second-highest on record since Daft began tracking the market in 2006.

As Leitrim continues to feel the effects of supply shortages, the report highlights the urgency of policy reform, particularly around Rent Pressure Zones, to encourage new rental stock and ease pressure on tenants.

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