There has been a decline in the cost of renting in Waterford, according to the latest figures from the residential tenancies board.
Nationally the average rent is now €1,250 - that's a 2.7% annual increase, despite the impact of Covid-19.
In Waterford it's €733 euro - a decline of 13%.
The county with the highest rent is Dublin at an average of €1,745 per month, counties with the lowest monthly rents were Donegal and Leitrim at €626.
Cork city had the second highest rent at €1,252 followed by Galway at €1,166 and then it is €997 in Limerick City.
A one-bedroom apartment in Dublin costs almost €450 per month more than an apartment with three or more bedrooms outside of the county.
Year-on-year the fastest growing rent in the fourth quarter of 2020, by county, was seen in County Longford (8.3%) and the county with the largest year-on-year decline in rents was Waterford (-13%)
Padraig McGoldrick, Interim Director of the RTB, said the impact of Covid-19 was still being felt on the rental sector :
"While there has been a definite trend in moderation in rent levels, it is clear affordability issues and related risks remain. We understand that Covid-19 presents many challenges and adjustments for those operating and living in the rental sector. We continue to encourage those who are experiencing issues in their tenancies to keep lines of communication open and if they still cannot resolve their dispute to contact the RTB for support and information on how to resolve these matters.
"We also want to highlight that further measures and the extension of temporary protections for those impacted by the pandemic were introduced by Government towards the end of last year. The Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020, enacted in December 2020 provides protections for tenants who are financially impacted by Covid-19, in rent arrears and at risk of losing their tenancy. It also introduced protections for landlords who have been financially impacted by Covid-19 as well as their tenant’s ability to pay rent.
"The Residential Tenancies Act 2020 introduced temporary protections for tenants where they cannot be made to leave their rental accommodation, except for limited circumstances, any time there are restrictions on travel outside a 5-kilometre radius of a person’s home. Currently, this protection will remain in place until at least 15th April 2021. "
For more information on these protections or supports available from the RTB, visit www.rtb.ie.
