Carlow renters feeling the pinch as new report shows double-digit price hikes across county

Rents across Carlow have risen sharply over the past year, according to the latest Daft.ie Rental Report for the third quarter of 2025.

The average rent for a three-bedroom house now stands at €1,655, up 8.2% compared to the same period last year. Smaller homes have seen even steeper hikes, with two-bedroom houses jumping 24% to €1,572 and four-bedroom houses up 10.3% to €1,912.

Among apartments, one-beds average €1,132 (up 5.6%), two-beds €1,411 (up 8.3%), and three-beds €1,503 (up 2.7%).

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Room rentals are also on the rise, with double rooms in houses now costing around €624 per month (up 4.5%) and single rooms averaging €571.

The biggest increase was seen in single rooms with en-suites, now averaging €696, up 20.9% on last year.

Nationally, market rents rose by an average of 1.7% between June and September, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of rising rents.

The report shows that rents are now one-third higher than before the pandemic and two-thirds higher than at their Celtic Tiger peak.

Only 1,900 homes were available to rent nationwide on November 1 - a 21% drop year-on-year and less than half the average for 2015–2019.

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Report author Professor Ronan Lyons of Trinity College Dublin said Ireland's rental market remains "starved of supply".

"Rents are now one third higher than they were just over five years ago and indeed two thirds higher than their Celtic Tiger peak," he said.

"The easing off of inflation is welcome, but the sharp fall in availability suggests any further pressure on rents will be upwards."

Elsewhere, the steepest rent increases were recorded in Waterford City (up 11.4%), followed by Cork City (up 9.3%) and Galway (up 6%).

The full Daft.ie Rental Report, which this year marks its 20th anniversary, includes updated data and new insights into both full property and room rentals nationwide.