Dublin’s Build-to-Rent Boom: What Can Tenants Actually Get for Their Money?

A tenant looking to rent a new one-bedroom apartment at The Quayside Quarter in Dublin's Docklands will now shell out nearly €2,350 per month. That's the going rate in the city’s latest wave of high-profile build-to-rent developments targeting urban professionals—rents that often outpace potential mortgage payments on similar-sized older flats just a few streets away.

This matters for thousands of Dubliners trying to decide: keep renting in these gleaming new complexes, or try to get a foot on the battered property ladder? The rapid spread of build-to-rent schemes—purpose-built developments owned by investment funds specifically for leasing—has transformed the market since 2022. With rents hitting record highs across the city, examinees comparing renting and buying have more at stake than ever.

Exclusive Amenities, Exclusive Prices

Developers tout luxury trappings at addresses like Griffith Wood in Marino, offering residents rooftop terraces, gyms, coworking lounges, and on-site cinema rooms. Round Hill Capital oversees more than 1,200 units across the city, with anchor projects on South Circular Road and Park West. The appeal? Flexible tenancies and ready-to-move-in decor—at a premium. But are tenants getting genuine value beyond fast WiFi and pet washing stations?

One not-for-profit watchdog, the Dublin Tenants’ Association, tracks that average rents in build-to-rent projects now run 15-20% higher than similar-sized standard apartments in Dublin 2 and Dublin 8. For example, the recently opened Spencer Place on North Wall Quay advertises studios starting from €2,000 and two-beds from €2,800. Meanwhile, the average first-time buyer in Dublin pays a fixed mortgage of €1,950 for a typical two-bed apartment, according to Banking & Payments Federation Ireland’s June 2026 figures.

Is Rent Worth the Premium?

Tenants at Park West’s build-to-rent towers get access to private gardens and communal workspaces, but strict rules on personalising units and higher deposits also apply. City planners say nearly 7,000 build-to-rent homes are due for completion by the end of 2027, with the highest concentrations around Grand Canal Dock, Sandyford, and Inchicore.

Despite the perks, affordability remains a burning question. September 2025 data from Daft.ie put the median rent for new Dublin apartments at €2,100—a 9% annual increase, double the rate of wage growth in the capital. As these developments cater largely to tech and finance sector workers, many locals face being priced out.

Prospective renters should weigh the extras against restrictions and ask about rent review clauses and future increases before signing. With Government schemes like the Help to Buy incentive and the First Home Scheme still backing buyers, the affordability equation is more complex than ever. In the coming months, the question for many Dubliners remains: premium rental lifestyle today, or long-term value through ownership—assuming you can get a deposit together.