Rents are so high that people in private accommodation are spending more than one-third of their net income on rent.
Almost six out of 10 people who rent in Ireland say they do so because they do not have the funds to buy their own home.
This is in contrast to Northern Ireland, where just one in four say they rent because they have no choice, according to all-Ireland research commissioned by housing charity Threshold and the North’s housing advice charity Housing Rights.
News in 90 seconds – Tuesday 27th January
In percentage terms, the research found that in the Republic, 57pc say they are renting because they cannot afford to buy.
In the North, four in 10 people rent because they cannot afford to buy a property.
This suggests that renting is more of a necessity than a choice in the Republic.
Renters in the North are also more likely to describe renting as a matter of choice than in the Republic.
Just 10pc of renters on this side of the Border choose to rent, compared with 16pc in the North.
Rents in the Republic have effectively doubled in the past 10 years. Across the Border, rental costs are up 74pc over the same period.
The research found that people want a secure home that they can afford – whether buying or renting – across both jurisdictions.
This is currently not provided in either part of the island, the researchers said.
Galway house prices rose significantly in 2025. Photo: Getty
More than a quarter of renters surveyed as part of the all-island research feel uncertain about their housing security.
People in the Republic have a more pessimistic outlook about their future situation, due to high or rising rents, tenancy terminations and poor housing standards.
In both jurisdictions, older renters are more likely to report concerns that their landlord may end their tenancy. Among those approaching retirement, the ability to meet rent increases due to a fixed income remains a key issue.
The research shows shorter tenancy durations south of the Border, with the average number of years lived per property being around 3.1 years, compared with four years in the North.
The average number of years per rental property among Dublin-based respondents is lower at 2.8 years.
Private renters in the Republic spend a greater proportion of their income on rent. On average, tenants spend about 37pc of their net income on rent, compared with 32pc in the North.
Unexpected bills and rent increases feature more prominently for renters in the Republic, while a change in family circumstances was a more significant driver of arrears in the North.
Threshold chief executive John-Mark McCafferty said the research “lays bare the reality for many renters in the Republic: many report renting out of necessity rather than choice, feeling insecure in their tenancies, frequent moves while renting for longer and further into adulthood”.
He said Threshold welcomed the proposed changes to deliver more security to renters, due to take effect on March 1. However, how rent increases are treated will be pivotal.
If rents can reset to market levels at different intervals, any gains in security could quickly unravel if households are priced out of the market, he said.
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