Accommodation in Dublin
Dublin is a popular destination among foreign professionals and students, which makes it difficult to find accommodation in the city centre, unless you're willing to stay in hostels or B&Bs.
how easy and hard it is to find accommodation in Dublin
Dublin is a popular destination among foreign professionals and students, which makes it difficult to find accommodation in the city centre, unless you're willing to stay in hostels or B&Bs.
Also, unless you're already in Dublin, most landlords and locals would not really give you the chance to rent their available apartment or room before you arrive to Dublin and meet them in person.
Our advice is that you book a room in a hostel or B&B for your first couple of weeks, since you can do this online from your country. This will give you enough time to find a bed or apartment in the city centre and it will also give you the chance to visit the apartments in person before taking a decision.
A few tips
- Do not trust anyone giving you a room/apartment before you have visited the room and met the person. And do not trust anyone asking for a transfer or deposit before you have visited the place and person in charge. This is common sense, but please be extra careful!
This, of course, will be safe for hotels/hostels/B&Bs that you book online before coming to Dublin.
- Unless you do not find a better option, you should not pay more than 700 euros for a single room in the city centre, and between 250 and 500 for a shared room. This will depend on the size and location, of course.
- Unless you are willing to pay a high rent in exchange for your independence, most likely you should try to share a room at first. According to the location, room size and number of tenants, you can find a shared room for 200 to 400 euros/month. Most people in the city centre are foreigners and students, therefore everybody is in the same situation and you will find lovely flatmates and friends.
- Please beware of the distance of the flat/room from your school or city centre. It's obvious that rooms will be cheaper if they're not in the city centre. However, you could pay the difference commuting daily to go to school or work! Also, some areas outside Dublin are very quiet and this could become boring if you're looking to enjoy your time in Dublin, as most shops, pubs, restaurants and events will be in the city centre or close enough.
WHERE TO FIND ACCOMMODATION IN DUBLIN
The most popular website is www.daft.ie. You will find lots of choices and you can email or phone them in some cases.
We also recommend checking on Facebook groups and pages. There are lots of groups per nationality, for Spanish/French/Mexican/Brazilian or any other citizens living in Dublin. These will give you a better idea and it's a good choice for temporary accommodation.
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR RENTED DWELLINGS
If you have any issues with your apartment or landlord (not fixing things in the house, not giving deposits back, increasing the rent without notice...) or if you suspect they're taking advantage, you should know your rights and duties as a tenant.
On the PRTB website you will find this guide about the Minimum Standards for Rented Dwellings.
LIVING WITH A ROOMmATE
It's likely you have not shared your room for many years or ever in your whole life.
Unless you have a big budget or are coming to Dublin for a short period of time, you will probably consider sharing your room with another person, such as another student or a friend.
This is definitely the cheapest option and also the easiest! Most students in Dublin are living with other students, from any country in the world!
PROS
- If you're living with students from other countries, you will have plenty of chances to speak in English and other languages. It's a great cultural exchange as well and probably the best thing about living in Dublin.
- Also, you won't feel lonely if you're living with other students. There will be plenty of chances to visit the city, have fun, cook together and lots more!
- Also, there's nobody better to help you with your questions (visa, bank, job...) than other students who went through this before you arrived.
- This is also the cheapest option, as not only the rent will be shared but also the bills (electricity, Internet, cleaning products...).
CONS
- It can be difficult to find privacy, unless you have an agreement with your roommate and respect each other's privacy.
- Also, if you're the type of person that likes to wake up early, but your roommate goes to sleep really late... Well, you see what I mean!
- Noises and light are another cause of concern, if you or your roommate are the kind of person that spends the night with the laptop on!
- There may also be conflicts with space if there's a small wardrobe or the room is not big enough for the two of you. This will also happen if you or your roommate don't keep everything clean and tidy.
Whatever you decide, having a roommate will be a good way to learn new things about yourself and your life abroad. The most important thing is that you respect and trust each other :)
