This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Read my full disclosure here.
Preparation and forethought is the key to finding the best rental accommodation to suit you. Below is a checklist template that can be used to help guide you in your Irish property search.
- Apartment or house?
- If you have pets, does the landlord allow them? (Make sure this is included in the rental agreement.)
- Furnished or unfurnished?
- Appliances – are they in working order and does the property have the appliances you need?
- Full sized fridge/freezer or a mini bar style fridge (the latter are common in flats and apartments)?
- Dishwasher?
- Washing machine and dryer?
- Adequate storage?
- Linen closet?
- Number of bedrooms?
- Bathroom – bath or shower? Or both?
- What is the properties orientation? How much sun will it get?
- Reasonable heating options – gas or electric and what are the billing arrangements?
- Internet connections?
- Waste options? Check whose responsibility it is to pay waste charges.
- Double glazing? Double glazing can reduce your heating bills in the cooler months and reduce outside noise.
- Is it on a busy road? Double glazing can help reduce the traffic noise.
- Are there any leaks? Check for signs of dampness and mould in the property. Don’t forget to check in cupboards, behind the curtains, and into the corners of the rooms as this is where mould likes to lurk.
- Do you want a communal garden/private garden/balcony? Who is responsible for maintaining it? If it is you, then consider if you want to take on this responsibility.
- Are doors and windows secure?
- Are smoke alarms installed and working as well as CO2 detectors if gas is used in the property?
- Is there a supermarket nearby?
- Amenities: Do you want to be close to bars, restaurants, movie theatre etc..?
- Close to transport options and accessible to the airport?
- Parking options?
- How much is the deposit and what are the conditions of its return to you?
- Learn more about what to expect from a rental property in Ireland.
- Find out more hints and tips for problem free renting from the Residential Tenancies Board.
Victor Martins
Hi Colleen.
My family and I will be emigrating to Ireland on the 4th February 2023.
We have looked at several rentals but it seems like we need to be working in Ireland, and have proof of work. Is this correct?
We are planning on moving to County Clare side Ennis to be exact.
Do you by any chance have a contact or several contacts to assist us with a rental?
Your assistance is highly appreciated.
Colleen
Hi Victor Martins,
If you don’t have evidence of a job, then you would need to evidence your income/savings to show you can afford the rent. I don’t have any contacts sorry, but I would suggest you contact the local agents to register your interest.
James Kelly
Hello Colleen, we are James and Mary Anne Kelly. We are fourth generation Irish living in urban north Texas. We are quiet types, go to museums and fairs. Not much for hanging in pubs but love pub food. We have visited Ireland and felt right at home but felt most comfortable in the smaller communities. We would sell our house and cars here and maybe get like a golf cart and use transit. Our families came from the southwest near coastal areas of Ireland so we are kind of seafaring. The men tended to be in building trades and that is how they progressed in the US. The family names were the like of: Kelly, Hanlon, Naughton, Callahan, Finnegan, etc. Plumbers, carpenters, electricians, masons. My generation were government workers. We need are are were we would fit. Of course there is the whole issue of visas and residency.
Mary Anne and I hold several masters degrees between us in varying diverse subjects like fine arts, criminology, police administration, sociology and business administration. And still know how to do some the building trades that rubbed off. Except the Callahans who ran seafood pubs. Now we are retired from career jobs here in the US. So we have stable income at a modest level plus we would liquidate our home and furnishing here. Our children and grandchildren are grown into lives of their own. So I think a modest one story cottage with central heat and air, a main and guest bedroom would suffice and one full bath room, preferably standup shower. A full kitchen with, refrigerator, freezer, oven, maybe microwave, rangetop, dishwasher. We need a kind of big game room to make a shared office and hobby room. I did not mention a sitting / television room and laundry and outside cooking bar-b-que. Are we too Americanized? But where?
. We are in good health but aged but mobile on our own. However we are dependent on On U.S.MEDICARE plus our retirement medical insurance. I don’t think that would work there. So we need to buy in the Irish system.
aditi kapoor
Hi Colleen,
This is an excellent place to learn about the move. Thanks for sharing all this info!
I am moving to Dublin from India with my husband and twin toddlers. We have been talking to a lot of people and have identified a few neighbourhoods which are recommended and will decide once we have visited them all. In your opinion- what would be some of the ideal places to look for with kids which will have a school, hospital and decent travel to the grand canal dock?
Also we are very keen on renting a 3 BHK, unfurnished house and hence wanted to know if most homes are furnished because i havent seen many on daft.
Colleen
Hi Aditi,
Yes, houses are normally furnished. There are not as many properties that are unfurnished. However, you may be able to negotiate with the property owner to have some of the furnishings removed (which they are sometimes willing to do if they have storage).
As to which neighbourhood, well that’s a tricky one as it will depend on your budget. I don’t have children, so can’t recommend any schools, however, I am aware that some schools have waiting lists to get in, so this might be something you want to check when scoping out areas to live. Ring the schools and ask them whether they will be able to take your kids. This may then influence your decision about where to live.
The tram and train are lines are usually the most popular form of transport (as buses can get caught in traffic) so you can follow the lines out on the map and see what suburbs it runs through – however, be aware that consequently these areas are usually more expensive because everyone wants to live near them.
I would suggest reaching out to the Irish community on the forum Boards.ie as people are generally quite helpful on there.