Foxrock Leads Ireland in Sky-High Rents at Nearly €4,000 Monthly

Landlords in Foxrock, a suburb of Dublin, are now commanding the highest average rents in Ireland, with households paying nearly €4,000 per month. According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the average rent in this affluent area reached €3,718 in the first quarter of 2025.

The data highlights that areas in south Dublin dominate the list of the highest rents in the country. Following Foxrock, Goatstown ranks second with an average monthly rent of €3,104. Other notable areas include Dalkey, Killiney, Glenageary, Sandymount, Booterstown, Blackrock, Ballsbridge, and Donnybrook, where rents average between €2,547 and €3,718.

Outside Dublin, the highest rents are found in Greystones and Delgany in County Wicklow, with averages of €2,331 and €2,077 per month, respectively. Other areas with elevated rents include Bishopstown in County Cork at €2,043 and Barna in County Galway at €1,961.

Rising Rental Trends and Construction Insights

The rental market in Ireland is experiencing significant increases, with a 6 percent rise in average rents over the past year, as reported by the CSO. This surge comes amid a backdrop of rising property prices, which have climbed almost twice as fast outside Dublin at 9.4 percent, compared to 5.3 percent within the capital.

Despite these increases, the number of new homes receiving planning permission has decreased by 13 percent, from 8,513 units in the third quarter of 2024 to 7,447 in 2025. Conversely, completions for new dwellings rose by 13 percent during the same period, totaling 24,325 homes.

In the construction sector, there are approximately 177,600 workers, with 67 percent engaged in new housing developments or renovations. Average hourly labor costs have also seen an increase, rising to €34.22 in the third quarter of this year, up from €30.85 in the second quarter of 2024.

Heating Trends and Energy Ratings

Recent data indicates a shift in heating preferences among homeowners. As of the third quarter of 2025, gas emerged as the most common heating fuel, used by 35 percent of dwellings. However, for homes built since 2015, electricity has become the predominant source of heating. A staggering 93 percent of homes constructed between 2020 and the third quarter of 2025 utilized electric heating, while only 6 percent relied on gas.

In terms of energy efficiency, Kildare boasts the highest proportion of A-rated homes at 28 percent, followed closely by Meath and Dublin county, both at 27 percent. Conversely, Leitrim and Cork City reported the lowest proportions at 5 percent each.

The national vacancy rate stood at 3.3 percent in the last three months of 2023, as determined by low to zero electricity consumption in dwellings. The local authorities with the highest vacancy rates during this period included Leitrim at 8.5 percent, followed by Roscommon at 6.5 percent and Mayo at 6.4 percent.

These figures illustrate the ongoing challenges in the Irish housing market, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to address affordability and availability in the rental sector.