Rents Surge to Nearly €4,000 in Dublin’s Foxrock Area

Renters in Foxrock, Co Dublin are facing exceptional financial pressure, as the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveals that average rents have climbed to nearly €4,000 per month. Specifically, households in this affluent south Dublin neighbourhood are now paying an average of €3,718 monthly for rental properties as of the first quarter of 2025. This figure positions Foxrock as the area with the highest rents in the entire State.

The CSO’s report highlights that south Dublin dominates the highest rent rankings, with Goatstown following Foxrock at an average of €3,104 per month. Other notable locations within the top ten include Dalkey and Killiney, along with Glenageary, Sandymount, Booterstown, Blackrock, Ballsbridge, and Donnybrook, where average rents range from €2,547 to the figures in Foxrock.

Outside of Dublin, the towns with the highest rental costs are Greystones and Delgany in Co Wicklow, with average rents of €2,331 and €2,077, respectively. Other areas with significant rental prices include Bishopstown in Co Cork at €2,043 and Barna in Co Galway at €1,961.

Rising Rents and Construction Trends

A broader review of the rental market indicates an average increase of 6 percent in rents across local authority housing over the twelve months leading to September 2025. The data, sourced from the Residential Tenancies Board, forms part of a comprehensive housing information hub developed by the CSO, which also provides insights on property prices, housing commencements, and completion rates.

While rental prices continue to rise, property prices are experiencing significant growth, particularly outside of Dublin, where they have climbed by 9.4 percent compared to a 5.3 percent increase in the capital. There is a notable decline in the number of new dwellings granted planning permission, which fell by 13 percent from 8,513 units in the third quarter of 2024 to 7,447 in 2025. Conversely, the number of dwelling completions has risen by 13 percent during the first three quarters of 2025, reaching a total of 24,325.

Currently, the construction industry employs approximately 177,600 individuals, with around 67 percent engaged in new housing developments or renovations. Average hourly labor costs in this sector have also risen to €34.22, up from €30.85 in the same quarter last year.

Shifting Heating Preferences and Energy Ratings

In terms of energy consumption, there are notable shifts in the types of heating fuels preferred by households. As of the third quarter of 2025, gas remains the most common heating source, utilized in 35 percent of all dwellings, followed closely by heating oil and electricity. For homes constructed after 2015, however, electricity has become the predominant heating fuel, with 93 percent of homes built between 2020 and the third quarter of 2025 relying on electric heating systems.

The building energy ratings (BER) statistics indicate that Kildare leads with 28 percent of its homes achieving A ratings, followed by Meath and Dublin County, both at 27 percent. In contrast, the lowest ratings are found in Leitrim and Cork City, both at just 5 percent.

In terms of vacancy rates, the national estimate stood at 3.3 percent in the final quarter of 2023, measured based on low to zero electricity consumption in dwellings. The regions with the highest vacancy rates during this period were Leitrim at 8.5 percent, followed by Roscommon at 6.5 percent, and Mayo at 6.4 percent.

The ongoing changes in rental prices, construction trends, and energy usage reflect broader economic conditions, posing challenges for prospective renters and homeowners alike in Ireland.