This chapter examines properties that were rented between 2017 and the first half of 2021 in Ireland. Data on rental properties from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) were linked with Building Energy Rating (BER) data and Local Property Tax (LPT) returns. Alongside this analysis, there are comparisons made between rental properties and the wider property stock and other tenure types and populations.
It has not been possible to link all properties with the BER and LPT data due to incomplete Eircode data and BER assessments not being available for all properties. Table 2.1, below, details the number of RTB properties used within the analysis in this chapter along with the percentage that could be linked on Eircode to the BER and LPT datasets. The number of properties relate to active tenancies on the RTB dataset that could be associated with a unique address, based on Eircode (See Background Notes and Methodology for more information on Eircodes and geographical assignment). This includes properties owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). The numbers of properties may differ from figures publicised elsewhere due to quality of address information not allowing a link to a unique address or the possibility of duplicate tenancies per address.
The ‘All BER’ category in this chapter refers to all domestic BER assessments carried out up to the first half of 2021 and includes those associated with rental properties but also non-rental stock. There are BER assessments for 956,432 properties. Further details on BER assessments can be found on the Domestic Building Energy Ratings release.
Approximately 40% of all matched rental properties had a C rating for BER from 2017 to 2021, while about 40% had a rating of D or E. The proportions for all properties with a BER followed a broadly similar pattern, with 36.2% at C and 32.3% at D or E. Very few rental properties assessed for a BER had a rating of A, with the proportion rising from 1.1% in 2017 to 4.8% in 2021. In contrast, 7.9% of all properties with a BER assessment had an A rating. See Figure 2.1.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS01.
| BER_Rating_Group | F-G | D-E | C | B | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8.9 | 35.6 | 38.1 | 12.6 | 4.8 |
| 2020 | 9 | 36.1 | 38.4 | 12.9 | 3.6 |
| 2019 | 9 | 36.8 | 39.3 | 12.8 | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 8.9 | 37.2 | 39.6 | 12.7 | 1.6 |
| 2017 | 8.8 | 37.5 | 39.9 | 12.7 | 1.1 |
| All BER | 11.5 | 32.3 | 36.2 | 12.1 | 7.9 |
About 45% of rental properties studied in this report were built between 2001 and 2010. A very small proportion were built in 2011 or later, but this grew from 1.2% in 2017 to 4.9% in 2021. Therefore, just under half of rental properties were constructed since 2001. See Figure 2.2. The year of construction for rental properties was obtained from the BER assessment.
Properties in the ‘All BER’ category were older, with only 39.8% constructed since 2001.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS02.
| YearHouseBuilt | 2011 or later | 2001-2010 | 1991-2000 | 1981-1990 | 1971-1980 | 1961-1970 | 1946-1960 | 1919-1945 | pre-1919 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4.9 | 44.4 | 21.7 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 6.1 |
| 2020 | 3.7 | 45.2 | 22.1 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 6.1 |
| 2019 | 2.2 | 45.9 | 22.6 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1.7 | 45.9 | 22.9 | 7.3 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1.2 | 46.2 | 23.1 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 5.9 |
| All BER | 8.1 | 31.7 | 16.5 | 9.7 | 10.5 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 6.8 |
About one in three rental properties were apartments between 2017 and the first half of 2021. The proportion of rental properties which were apartments rose slightly from 36.7% to 38.3% between 2017 and 2021. In contrast, only 19.5% of all properties with a BER were apartments. See Figure 2.3. The dwelling type for rental properties was obtained from the BER assessment.
Less than 10% of rental properties were detached properties compared with 27.6% of all properties with a BER.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS03.
| DwellingType | Unspecified/Other | Terraced House | Semi-Detached House | Detached House | Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.2 | 24.2 | 27.1 | 8.2 | 38.3 |
| 2020 | 2.2 | 24.4 | 27.5 | 8.4 | 37.5 |
| 2019 | 2.2 | 24.2 | 28.2 | 8.5 | 36.9 |
| 2018 | 2.3 | 24.1 | 28.4 | 8.5 | 36.7 |
| 2017 | 2.3 | 24 | 28.4 | 8.6 | 36.7 |
| All BER | 3.7 | 22 | 27.2 | 27.6 | 19.5 |
The proportion of all rental properties with mains gas as their main space heating fuel dropped slightly from 47.5% in 2017 to 45.5% in 2021. The proportion of all properties with a BER assessment with mains gas was lower at 39.0%. See Figure 2.4.
Electricity was the main heating fuel in about 24.0% of rental properties between 2017 and 2021 compared with 17.2% of all properties with a BER.
About 23% of rental properties had oil as their main heating fuel compared with 36.1% of all properties with a BER. The heating fuel differs for rental properties in Dublin and the rest of the country. While two in three rental properties in Dublin had mains gas for their main space heating fuel for all years, this is just over one in three outside of Dublin. Less than 4% of rental properties in Dublin used oil for heating compared with about 34% outside of Dublin.
The data within this graph - and showing figures for Dublin and Outside Dublin - can be found in the PxStat table TRS04.
| BER_Rating_Group | Unknown | Solid Multi-Fuel | Other | Oil | Mains gas | LPG | Electricity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 22.7 | 45.5 | 1.5 | 26.6 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 23 | 46 | 1.5 | 26.1 |
| 2019 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 23.5 | 46.7 | 1.5 | 25.2 |
| 2018 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 23.5 | 47.2 | 1.5 | 24.9 |
| 2017 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 23.4 | 47.5 | 1.5 | 24.9 |
| All BER | 1.5 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 36.1 | 39 | 1.5 | 17.2 |
Rental properties in Dublin City have the lowest median total floor area at 66.3m2. This is considerably smaller than the local authorities with the joint second smallest median total floor area, 80.9m2 in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Cork City. The highest medians were in Roscommon at 102.9m2 and Leitrim at 100.0m2. See Map 2.1.
The data within this map - and for years 2017 to 2021 - can be found in the PxStat table TRS05.
At a national level, the median total floor area of rental properties in the first half of 2021 was 84.8m2.
There were three Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) where the median total floor area of rental properties in 2021 was less than 61.0m2 and all were in inner-city Dublin – North Inner City (56.1m2), South West Inner City (58.2m2) and South East Inner City (59.8.m2). The lowest median total floor area outside of Dublin was in Bray East (63.4m2), while the lowest median outside of the Greater Dublin Area was in Cork City North West (68.3m2).
The highest medians for the total floor area of rental properties in 2021 were in Granard in Longford (123.7.m2), Ballyjamesduff in Cavan (116.1m2) and Newport in Tipperary (113.0m2). See Map 2.2.
The data within this map - and for years 2017 to 2021 - can be found in the PxStat table TRS06.
The median total floor area of all rental properties in 2021 as a percentage of the median total floor area for all dwellings with a BER assessment was lowest in Monaghan at 80.2%, followed by 80.9% in Galway County and 82.5% in Wexford. This percentage was highest in Galway City (95.6%), Carlow (93.0%) and Roscommon (90.9%). See Map 2.3.
The data within this map - and for years 2017 to 2021 - can be found in the PxStat table TRS05.
When looking at the total floor area, the median for rental properties in 2021 as a percentage of the median for all dwellings with BER assessments varied widely around Ireland with no discernible pattern. Some LEAs had a percentage of 75% or lower – e.g., Ratoath in Meath (67.5%), Glenties in Donegal (72.7%) and Gort-Kinvara in Galway (73.1%). In contrast, a few LEAs had a percentage above 100% - these included Granard in Longford (105.3%), Waterford City South (103.9%) and Palmerstown-Fonthill in Dublin (101%). See Map 2.4.
The data within this map - and for years 2017 to 2021 - can be found in the PxStat table TRS06.
The following graphs detail the proportion of properties by characteristics from the BER data for a variety of different populations and tenure types in 2020 where the properties can be matched to BER assessments. Table 2.2. details the numbers of properties from available data that can accurately be matched to the BER data. The distinction between properties owned by individual and non-household (or company) landlords is self-reported by landlords registered with the RTB. Details of AHB properties also comes from the RTB data. There will be some overlap between groups, where Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rent Supplement properties should be in the RTB also.
Figure 2.5 shows the proportion of properties by broad BER rating groups by these tenure types.
The lowest proportion of rental properties with an A rating for BER was in Local Authority social housing (0.6%) while the highest proportion was in AHBs (13.3%). Rental properties where the tenant was in receipt of HAP had the lowest proportion of properties with an A or B rating at 8.9%. In contrast, the proportion of rental properties in AHBs with these ratings was more than four times higher at 41.6%.
Rental properties (within the RTB data) which are owned by non-household landlords have over three times the proportion of A or B rated properties (32.0%) compared with rental properties owned by individual landlords (9.8%).
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS07.
| BER_Rating_Group | F-G | D-E | C | B | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTB (Individual Landlords) | 9.7 | 40.3 | 40.2 | 9 | 0.8 |
| RTB (Non-Household Landlords) | 7.4 | 27.1 | 33.5 | 22 | 10 |
| Rent Supplement | 12.8 | 39.4 | 36 | 9.9 | 1.9 |
| HAP | 11.6 | 39.8 | 39.7 | 7.6 | 1.3 |
| AHB | 5.7 | 19.1 | 33.6 | 28.3 | 13.3 |
| LA Social House | 6.9 | 34.1 | 46 | 12.4 | 0.6 |
| All BER | 11.5 | 32.3 | 36.2 | 12.1 | 7.9 |
In 2020, rental properties owned by Non-Household Landlords or AHBs were more likely to have been built since 2001 than the full rental stock and particularly more so than social tenants of Local Authority or rent subsidy schemes. About two in three rental properties with Non-Household Landlords (70.5%) and AHBs (66.4%) were built since 2001 compared with just 31.6% of Local Authority social houses. Just under half (48.1%) of rental properties owned by individual landlords were built since 2001. See Figure 2.6.
Properties where the tenants were on Rent Supplement were more likely to be built before 1919 compared with other tenure types. In 2020, 7.2% of properties where the tenants received rent supplements were built before 1919 compared with just 1.2% of Local Authority social houses.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS08.
| YearHouseBuilt | 2011 or later | 2001-2010 | 1991-2000 | 1981-1990 | 1971-1980 | 1961-1970 | 1946-1960 | 1919-1945 | pre-1919 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTB (Individual Landlords) | 1 | 41.8 | 23.3 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 3 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 7 |
| RTB (Non-Household Landlords) | 10.9 | 59.6 | 13.1 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 5.3 |
| Rent Supplement | 2.4 | 41 | 21.8 | 7.8 | 7 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 7.2 |
| HAP | 1.3 | 43.2 | 20.9 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| AHB | 12.3 | 54.1 | 24 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| LA Social House | 0.6 | 31 | 15.7 | 19.4 | 18.7 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 4 | 1.2 |
| All BER | 8.1 | 31.7 | 16.5 | 9.7 | 10.5 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 6.8 |
About one in three (34.5%) Individual Landlord properties were apartments. The proportion of apartments varied widely by tenure type, from 67.4% with Non-Household Landlords to just 12.6% for local authority social housing. See Figure 2.7.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS09.
| Dwelling Type | Unspecified/Other | Terraced House | Semi-Detached House | Detached House | Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTB (Individual Landlords) | 2.5 | 24.6 | 28.8 | 9.6 | 34.5 |
| RTB (Non-Household Landlords) | 0.8 | 15.1 | 11.9 | 4.8 | 67.4 |
| Rent Supplement | 2.3 | 27.9 | 27.9 | 8.3 | 33.6 |
| HAP | 2.5 | 29.1 | 31.2 | 7.4 | 29.8 |
| AHB | 1.2 | 31 | 32.8 | 3.5 | 31.5 |
| LA Social House | 0.9 | 50.2 | 33 | 3.3 | 12.6 |
| All BER | 3.7 | 22 | 27.2 | 27.6 | 19.5 |
The distribution of rental properties by their Local Property Tax (LPT) valuation was very similar to all properties liable for LPT in 2020. The first band, €100,000 or less, accounted for just under 40% of rental properties between 2017 and 2021 compared with 35.0% of all LPT liable properties in 2020. About 27% of rental properties were in the next band, between €100,000 and €150,000, compared with 24.9% of all LPT liable properties. The top band, more than €500,000, accounted for just over 1% of all rental properties, compared with 2.1% of all LPT liable properties. See Figure 2.8. The valuation of the property is based on a self-assessment of the market value of the property as of 1 May 2013.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS10.
| LPT Valuation | €500,001+ | €450,001-€500,000 | €400,001-€450,000 | €350,001-€400,000 | €300,001-€350,000 | €250,001-€300,000 | €200.001-€250,000 | €150,001-€200,000 | €100,001-€150,000 | 0-€100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 7.9 | 16.7 | 27 | 39.3 |
| 2020 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 7.8 | 16.7 | 26.7 | 39.6 |
| 2019 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 7.9 | 16.8 | 26.9 | 39.1 |
| 2018 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 2 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 16.9 | 27 | 38.4 |
| 2017 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2 | 3.9 | 8.2 | 17 | 27 | 37.9 |
| All LPT | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 8.9 | 18.8 | 24.9 | 35 |
About a fifth of rental properties in Dublin have a valuation of less than €100,000. This is a few percentage points less than for the full housing stock. For rental properties, just over 20% are in valuations bands of €250,000 and greater. These bands account for 31.4% of the full LPT housing stock. The top band, more than €500,000, accounted for just over 3% of all rental properties, compared with 6.5% of all LPT liable properties. See Figure 2.9.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS10.
| LPT Valuation | €500,001+ | €450,001-€500,000 | €400,001-€450,000 | €350,001-€400,000 | €300,001-€350,000 | €250,001-€300,000 | €200.001-€250,000 | €150,001-€200,000 | €100,001-€150,000 | 0-€100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.4 | 8.1 | 15.1 | 22.4 | 22.5 | 18.6 |
| 2020 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 8.1 | 15 | 22.3 | 22.2 | 18.9 |
| 2019 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 8.1 | 15.1 | 22.4 | 22.3 | 18.5 |
| 2018 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 8.1 | 15.2 | 22.6 | 22.3 | 18 |
| 2017 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 8.3 | 15.3 | 22.6 | 22.3 | 17.4 |
| All LPT | 6.5 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 6.2 | 9 | 14.8 | 18.2 | 14.6 | 21 |
Outside Dublin, about 50% of rental properties are in the valuation band of less than €100,000 compared with 40.3% of all LPT liable properties. Nearly all (94.4% in 2021) rental properties outside Dublin have a valuation up to €200,000 compared to 88.2% for all LPT liable properties. See Figure 2.10.
The data within this graph can be found in the PxStat table TRS10.
| LPT Valuation | €500,001+ | €450,001-€500,000 | €400,001-€450,000 | €350,001-€400,000 | €300,001-€350,000 | €250,001-€300,000 | €200.001-€250,000 | €150,001-€200,000 | €100,001-€150,000 | 0-€100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1 | 3.6 | 13.3 | 29.6 | 51.5 |
| 2020 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1 | 3.7 | 13.3 | 29.4 | 51.7 |
| 2019 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 13.4 | 29.5 | 51.3 |
| 2018 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 13.5 | 29.7 | 50.9 |
| 2017 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 13.6 | 29.9 | 50.5 |
| All LPT | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 6.7 | 19.1 | 28.8 | 40.3 |
Link to all interactive tables for this publication: PxStat
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