Best Rental Websites in Ireland: Where to Find Your Home (2025)

Finding rental accommodation in Ireland requires using the right platforms at the right time. With the housing shortage making competition fierce, knowing which websites to use and how to use them effectively can make the difference between securing a property or missing out. This guide compares Ireland’s main rental websites and shows you how to maximise your chances of finding a home.

The Irish rental market operates differently from many other countries. Most searches happen online through a handful of major platforms, with properties often receiving 50+ applications within hours of listing. Speed and preparation matter—a lot.

Quick comparison of Irish rental websites

Website	Listings	Best For	Email Alerts	Mobile App	Ease of Use
Daft.ie	Most comprehensive	All renters	Yes (excellent)	Yes	Excellent
Rent.ie	Good selection	All renters	Yes	Yes	Good
MyHome.ie	Mixed (sales + rentals)	Browsing multiple options	Yes	Yes	Good
Accommodation.ie	Student-focused	Students, young professionals	Yes	No	Basic
Facebook Groups	Varies by group	Last-minute, informal	No (manual search)	Via Facebook	Variable

Daft.ie: Ireland’s largest rental platform

Daft.ie is the dominant rental website in Ireland and should be your primary search tool.

What it offers

Comprehensive listings:

• Largest database of rental properties in Ireland
• Properties from both letting agents and private landlords
• Updated throughout the day as new properties are listed
• Detailed property information, photos, and floor plans

Advanced search features:

• Filter by location, price, property type, bedrooms
• Distance to amenities (schools, transport, shops)
• Map view to understand exact locations
• Property history (how long it’s been listed)

Email alerts: The most valuable feature. Set up alerts for your specific criteria and receive notifications within minutes of new listings. This is crucial—properties in Dublin often get 20+ inquiries within the first hour.

How to set up alerts:

1. Create a free account
2. Perform your search with desired filters
3. Click “Save Search” or “Create Alert”
4. Choose email notification frequency (instant is best)
5. Check your email constantly when actively searching

Pros

• Most comprehensive listings
• Best email alert system
• Most landlords and agents list here
• Detailed property information
• Good mobile app

Cons

• High competition (everyone uses it)
• Some listings stay up even after being let
• Occasional scam listings (rare but exist)
• Can be overwhelming due to volume

Best for

Everyone should use Daft.ie as their primary search platform, regardless of budget or location. It’s simply the largest and most active.

Tips for using Daft.ie effectively

Set up multiple alerts:

• One for your ideal criteria
• One slightly broader (higher price, different areas)
• One for backup options

Respond immediately: When you see a suitable property, contact within 5-10 minutes if possible. Many properties receive their first viewing requests within minutes.

Use the mobile app: Get notifications on your phone so you can respond instantly, even when not at your computer.

Check “Date Entered” carefully: Properties listed weeks ago are either still receiving applications (competitive) or have issues. Newly listed properties (today or yesterday) are your best bet.

Save your “About Me” message: Have a prepared introduction message including your situation, employment, references available, and when you can view. Copy-paste and personalise for each property.

Rent.ie: Strong alternative platform

Rent.ie is Ireland’s second-largest rental website and worth checking alongside Daft.ie.

What it offers

Good property selection:

• Comprehensive listings across Ireland
• Many agents list on both Daft and Rent.ie
• Some properties appear only here
• Clean, easy-to-navigate interface

Similar features to Daft.ie:

• Email alerts
• Map search
• Filter options
• Mobile app available

Pros

• Sometimes has properties not on Daft.ie
• Less competitive than Daft (fewer users)
• Clean, simple interface
• Good email alerts

Cons

• Fewer listings overall than Daft.ie
• Some duplicate listings from Daft.ie
• Slightly less comprehensive filtering

Best for

Use Rent.ie alongside Daft.ie to catch properties that might not appear on both platforms. Don’t rely on it exclusively, but check it daily.

MyHome.ie: Mixed property platform

MyHome.ie primarily focuses on property sales but includes rental listings.

What it offers

Mixed listings:

• Rental and sale properties combined
• Good for understanding property types in areas
• Helpful if considering buying vs renting
• Run by The Irish Times (established brand)

Useful features:

• Price register tool (see what properties sold for)
• Mortgage calculator
• Area guides and local information
• Email alerts available

Pros

• Good for research and area exploration
• Established, trustworthy platform
• Useful if considering buying
• Good local area information

Cons

• Fewer rental listings than Daft.ie or Rent.ie
• Interface optimised more for sales
• Less focus on rental market
• Duplicate listings common

Best for

Use MyHome.ie as a supplementary search tool and for research about areas you’re considering. Not comprehensive enough to use alone for rental searching.

Accommodation.ie: Student and young professional focus

Accommodation.ie caters specifically to students and young professionals seeking shared accommodation.

What it offers

Student-focused:

• Rooms in shared houses/apartments
• Properties near universities and colleges
• More casual listing style
• Direct landlord contact

Shared accommodation:

• Rooms rather than entire properties
• Often cheaper than full apartments
• Good for newcomers to Ireland
• Helpful for meeting people

Pros

• Good for finding room shares
• Often cheaper options
• Near universities and colleges
• Direct landlord contact

Cons

• Limited to shared accommodation
• Basic interface
• No mobile app
• Fewer listings than major platforms

Best for

Students, recent graduates, or anyone seeking a room in a shared house, particularly near Dublin universities (Trinity, UCD, DCU) or other college towns.

Facebook Groups: The informal marketplace

Facebook rental groups can be surprisingly useful, especially for last-minute options or informal arrangements.

Popular groups

Search Facebook for:

• “Rent in [city name]”
• “Dublin Housing” or “Dublin Rooms”
• “Cork Accommodation”
• “[Nationality] in Ireland” (e.g., “Americans in Dublin”)

What they offer

Direct landlord/tenant contact:

• No agent fees or formal process
• Sometimes faster responses
• Room shares and full properties
• Mix of quality (from excellent to problematic)

Community aspect:

• Ask questions in groups
• Get advice from others
• Sometimes better deals
• Last-minute availability

Pros

• Direct contact with landlords/current tenants
• Sometimes better deals
• Helpful community advice
• Can find sublets or short-term options
• Last-minute availability

Cons

• Higher scam risk (verify everything)
• No formal oversight
• Quality varies dramatically
• Manual searching (no alerts)
• Must sift through many posts

Best for

Finding short-term options, room shares, or last-minute accommodation. Also useful for sublets when someone is temporarily away.

Safety warnings for Facebook groups

Never:

• Send money before viewing a property
• Share personal financial information
• Sign anything without reading carefully
• Provide passport copies without meeting in person

Always:

• View the property in person
• Verify the landlord’s identity
• Get a proper written contract
• Ask for references or proof of ownership

Other platforms worth knowing

Boards.ie Property Forum

The property forum on Boards.ie occasionally has rental listings and is useful for advice and local knowledge.

University accommodation offices

If you’re a student, check your university’s accommodation office:

• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Dublin (UCD)
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG)
• University College Cork (UCC)

They often have vetted landlords and properties specifically for students.

Letting agencies directly

Contact letting agencies in your target area directly:

• Sherry FitzGerald
• Knight Frank
• DNG
• Savills
• Lisney

They may have properties not yet online or coming available soon.

How to use these platforms effectively

Set up your search strategy

Week 1-2 (Preparation):

1. Create accounts on Daft.ie, Rent.ie, and MyHome.ie
2. Set up email alerts on all platforms
3. Join relevant Facebook groups
4. Research areas and refine your criteria
5. Prepare your rental CV/application materials

Week 3+ (Active searching):

1. Check emails constantly (every 30 minutes when actively searching)
2. Respond to new listings within 5-10 minutes
3. Have viewing availability ready
4. Be prepared to make decisions quickly

Prepare your materials

Have these ready before you start contacting landlords:

Digital rental CV including:

• Your photo
• Current situation (job, moving from where)
• Employment letter or proof of income
• References from previous landlords (if applicable)
• Brief personal statement
• When you need accommodation
• When you can view properties

Saved messages: Prepare template messages for different scenarios:

• First inquiry about a property
• Requesting viewing time
• Follow-up after viewing
• Application/expression of interest

Red flags to watch for

Scam warning signs:

• Landlord is “abroad” and can’t show property
• Requests money before viewing
• Price seems too good to be true
• Poor quality photos or stock images
• Communication only by email (no phone)
• Pressure to decide immediately without viewing

Legitimate but concerning:

• Property listed for weeks/months (why?)
• Multiple very similar listings from same user
• Vague property descriptions
• No photos or very few photos
• Unrealistic rules or restrictions

If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and walk away.

Understanding Irish rental market timing

Best times to search

September-October: Busiest period (students returning). Most competitive but also most availability.

January-February: Moderate activity. Some opportunities as people relocate after Christmas.

May-June: Good availability as students leave and workers relocate.

July-August: Quieter period but less availability overall.

Weekday patterns

Monday-Tuesday: Many new listings appear after weekend viewings.

Wednesday-Friday: Steady flow of new properties.

Weekends: Viewing times concentrated on Saturdays.

Check alerts constantly Monday-Wednesday when most new listings appear.

Regional differences

Dublin

• Highest demand and prices
• Fastest competition (respond within minutes)
• All platforms active
• Facebook groups very active
• Consider commuter towns (Bray, Maynooth, Swords)

Cork and Galway

• Still competitive but more manageable
• Daft.ie and Rent.ie sufficient
• Slightly longer response time acceptable (within hour)
• Student accommodation very competitive during term

Smaller cities and towns

• Less competitive
• Fewer listings overall
• Daft.ie usually sufficient
• Local Facebook groups more important
• Can take longer to find suitable property

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to use all these websites?

For best results, use Daft.ie and Rent.ie with email alerts, check MyHome.ie occasionally, and join relevant Facebook groups. Using multiple platforms increases your chances of finding something, but Daft.ie is essential.

How quickly do properties get rented?

In Dublin, popular properties can receive 50+ inquiries within hours and be gone within 1-2 days. In Cork and Galway, you might have 2-3 days. In smaller towns, properties can stay available for a week or more.

Can I find accommodation before arriving in Ireland?

Very difficult, especially in Dublin. Most landlords want to meet you in person before renting. Consider booking short-term accommodation (Airbnb, hotel) for 2-4 weeks while you search in person.

Are there agency fees?

Not usually for renters. Letting agents typically charge fees to landlords, not tenants. Be suspicious if asked to pay an agency fee.

What’s a realistic budget for Dublin?

One-bedroom apartment: €1,800-€2,400/month. Room in shared house: €800-€1,200/month. Budget higher than you think—competition means lower-priced properties are very competitive. See our cost of living guide for complete budget planning.

Do I need Irish references?

Helpful but not essential. References from previous landlords anywhere, employment references, and character references from employers or colleagues work. Explain you’re new to Ireland.

Your rental search action plan

Immediate actions:

1. Create accounts on Daft.ie and Rent.ie today
2. Set up email alerts for your ideal criteria
3. Join relevant Facebook groups
4. Prepare your rental CV and template messages

Before arriving in Ireland:

1. Book short-term accommodation for first 2-4 weeks
2. Research areas using map features on rental sites
3. Understand realistic budget using our cost of living guide
4. Gather references and documents

After arriving:

1. Start viewing properties immediately
2. Be ready to decide quickly
3. Have deposit money available (usually one month’s rent)
4. Keep all platforms active until you sign a lease

Finding accommodation in Ireland is challenging but not impossible. Using these platforms effectively, responding quickly, and being well-prepared significantly increases your chances of success.

For complete information about the rental process, tenant rights, and what to expect, see our comprehensive renting in Ireland guide. If you’re moving from abroad, check our guides for Americans, British citizens, or EU nationals for complete relocation advice.