Ireland is a beautiful and popular country that attracts many tourists and immigrants from all over the world. If you are planning to buy or rent a property in Ireland, the following tips will be helpful. Firstly, consider buying.
Buying real estate in Ireland
If you decide to buy a property in Ireland, you should follow these tips to ensure a smooth and hassle-free transaction.
1. Research the property market in Ireland
There are many websites that offer property for sale in Ireland. Some of the most popular sites in Ireland are:
- Daft.ie is one of the largest websites for buying, selling and renting property in Ireland. It offers a wide range of houses, flats, commercial property and new build properties.
- MyHome.ie is another major website specializing in selling, buying and renting property in Ireland. It also offers a wide selection of houses, flats, commercial property and new builds.
- Property.ie is another website that specialises in selling, buying and renting property in Ireland. It offers a wide selection of houses, flats, commercial property and land.
- Savills.ie – Savills estate agency website offering a wide range of residential and commercial property in Ireland.
- Knightfrank.ie – Knight Frank estate agency website offering a wide range of residential and commercial property in Ireland.
2. Find a reliable estate agent
Choosing an estate agent is an important step when buying or selling property in Ireland. Here are some tips to help you choose the right agent:
1. Look at their portfolio: Research an agent’s portfolio on an online property platform to see what type of property they represent and their results.
2. Pay attention to communication: When working with an agent, pay attention to their ability to answer your questions confidently, as accurately as possible and in a timely manner. He or she should be up-to-date with the entire process of buying or selling a property and tell you in advance what steps you will be going through.
3. Look at their licences and certificates: Check that the agent has all the necessary licences and certificates to work in Ireland. Licensing of estate agents in Ireland are carried out by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA). This is the organisation that regulates Irish estate agents. They have a database of all registered agents and companies that operate in this field. You can find information about licensed agents on their website and check if any complaints have been made against them.
4. You should know that the commission for buying a property to a realtor is paid by the seller of the property. This means that if you buy a property through a realtor, you will not have to pay the commission directly to the realtor. However, there are situations where the commission may be split between the seller and the buyer if it has been stipulated in the contract between the seller and the realtor. In that case, you will need to clarify how much percentage of the commission you must pay.
It is important to remember that choosing a real estate agent is an important and responsible decision. Find an agent that you feel comfortable with and trust.
3. Look at your budget
Before you buy a property, you need to determine your budget. Consider the costs of buying a home, taxes and fees, as well as the costs of maintenance and upkeep.
The following is a general guide to the costs of buying and maintaining a home in Ireland:
1. Real estate costs: The average cost of a flat in Dublin city centre is around €400,000 and the average cost of a flat outside Dublin city centre is around €250,000. The cost of houses can also vary greatly depending on their size and location. For example, the average price to buy a house in Limerick, Cork and Galway is around €220,000 – €250,000 for a 3-4 bedroom house.
2. Property Purchase Tax: When buying a property in Ireland, a property transfer tax (Stamp Duty) must be paid. The rate of tax is 1% of the value of the property up to €1 million and 2% of the value over €1 million.
3. Legal fees: It is necessary to hire a lawyer to complete a home sale and purchase transaction in Ireland. Legal costs are usually between €1,500 and €3,000.
4. Registration Fee: After purchasing a property in Ireland, you must register the property with the Irish Land Registry. This is a mandatory process that protects your rights to the property and gives you the right to dispose of it. The registration fee is approximately €700.
5. Property Tax: Property owners in Ireland are liable to pay an annual Property Tax. The amount of the tax depends on the value of the property and is approximately 0.18% of the value of the property per year.
6. Home Maintenance Costs: Homeowners in Ireland must also pay for electricity, gas, heating, rubbish collection and other utilities.
7. Utility costs vary depending on location, size of the home and the cost of services (whether you have a deal with one company for all services), but typically range from €500-600 per month.
8. Servicing and Repairs: Homeowners in Ireland should also consider the costs of servicing and repairs. This can be the cost of repairing the roof, windows, heating system and other elements of the home. It is generally recommended to allocate around 1-2% of the property value per year for maintenance and repairs.
9. Home Insurance: Homeowners in Ireland should also insure their property against possible risks such as fire, flood and other natural disasters. The cost of insurance depends on the value of the home, location and other factors, but is usually around €200-500 per year.
10. Management company services: If you live in a flat or house in a complex with a common area, you may also have to pay monthly fees for the services of a management company, which will provide cleaning of the area, maintenance of lifts and other infrastructure elements. The cost of such services depends on the particular complex and is usually around 100–300 euros per month.
4. Research the place where you want to live
Before buying a property, you should research the place where you want to live. Look into transport accessibility, proximity to shops and restaurants, and the crime rate in the area.
5. Look around the property
Before you buy a property, you should inspect it carefully. Make sure that the house or flat is in good condition and does not require a lot of repairs and maintenance.
6. Employ a lawyer
Once you have found a home, you need to hire a lawyer to help you make the transaction and ensure that it is legal.
Overall, the costs of buying and maintaining a home in Ireland can be quite significant, so it is advisable to thoroughly research the market and consider all possible costs before purchasing a property in Ireland.
Mortgage in Ireland
A mortgage is one of the most common ways of financing the purchase of a home in Ireland. Most mortgages in Ireland are for terms of 20 to 30 years, but there are also options for 10 years or more.
There are no restrictions on buying a property in Ireland based on where you live. You can buy property here if you are an Irish citizen, an EU/EEA citizen, a non-EEA citizen or even a non-resident of Ireland. However, owning property in Ireland does not mean that you have the right to live here. Your right to live in Ireland depends on your personal circumstances and is not dependent on ownership.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in Ireland has posted on its website a step-by-step guide to buying a property with a mortgage.
All the details and a mortgage calculator on the highlighted links, where the official information from Ireland’s websites is available.
Rent a property in Ireland
If you are not planning to buy a property in Ireland, you can rent it. To successfully rent a property in Ireland, we recommend you read the following tips:
1. Research the rental market
Before you start looking for a property to rent, research the rental market in Ireland. Find out the average rental prices and the requirements for tenants.
There are many websites and services for finding rental accommodation in Ireland. Some of the most popular options include:
- Rent.ie – this is the most popular site that offers rentals of flats, houses and other types of property in Ireland.
- Let.ie is a site that specializes in rental properties including flats, houses, rooms and other types of accommodation.
- Airbnb is a service that allows you to rent short term accommodation including rooms, flats and houses.
- Daft.ie is another one of the popular property rental and sales websites in Ireland. Here you can find a wide range of flats, houses, studios and other properties.
- MyHome.ie is a website that specialises in residential and commercial property for sale and rent in Ireland.
2. What you need from a tenant
The following information and documents are usually required when renting a property in Ireland:
- Letters of recommendation from previous landlords or employers.
- Proof of income, such as a Payslip, is a document issued by an employer to an employee at the end of each pay period (usually once a month) which contains information about salary, taxes and other deductions. Or you can provide bank statements to prove that you can pay your rent.
- Identification documents, such as a passport or driving licence.
- A deposit, usually in the amount of one month’s rent, which is returned at the end of the tenancy if all the terms of the agreement have been met.
- A signed rental agreement.
It’s also important to consider that many landlords may check credit history and references from previous landlords to ensure you are solvent and responsible as a tenant.
3. Choose a neighbourhood for your future home
Choose the neighbourhood you want to live in. Consider transport accessibility, proximity to shops, restaurants and other places you want to live.
4 Look for a property and agent
Find an estate agent or use property search websites to find a suitable property to rent.
In Ireland, it is common for an estate agent to be paid by the property owner when renting a property. This means that the tenant does not have to pay an estate agent for services related to finding and renting a property.
However, in some cases, the tenant may be required to pay a small fee to the estate agent for carrying out a tenancy application check or for drawing up the tenancy agreement. These terms are usually stipulated in the tenancy agreement and should be agreed between the tenant and the estate agent before the contract is signed.
If you trust an estate agent to draw up your tenancy agreement, check their qualifications and licence with the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA). This is the organisation that regulates Irish estate agents. Look at reviews from previous clients.
5. Sign the lease
Once you have chosen a home and inspected it, you can sign the lease. It should outline all the terms of the lease, including the rental price, the term of the lease, and the tenant requirements.
6. Keep housing costs in mind
Take into account that in addition to the rent, you will have to pay utilities and other costs associated with maintaining the home.
Some of the costs you may need to pay in Ireland include:
- Utilities: electricity, gas, heating and rubbish collection charges. These costs are usually not included in the rent and are paid separately. All contracts with utilities are in your name.
- Internet and TV: This may be an additional expense if you want to have access to the Internet or cable TV.
- Home maintenance: this includes gardening, cleaning common areas and other costs associated with maintaining the home. These costs can be paid either included in the rent or separately.
- Property taxes: the property owner usually pays tax on their property, but sometimes this can be included in the rent.
The terms of the tenancy will usually outline what the tenant will have to pay, so it is important to read the tenancy agreement carefully before signing it and check with the landlord or estate agent if you are unclear.
7. Registering a Tenancy Agreement
In Ireland, the property must be registered with the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) within 30 days of the conclusion of the tenancy agreement.
8. Terminating your tenancy
If you intend to leave the property before the end of the tenancy, give the landlord at least 3 months’ notice and familiarise yourself with the conditions for returning the deposit.
We hope that you have found here useful and interesting information about buying and renting flats and houses in Ireland. This country has a unique way of life, beautiful scenery and cultural heritage, which makes it attractive for property investment. If you are considering such an opportunity, we hope this article has clarified the process for you and highlighted important points. Good luck!