Irish ambassador's rent sees €46,000 hike after latest London lease extension

While the landlord was happy for the Department of Foreign Affairs to stay on, they said they wanted a 'substantial increase' in rent of over 11%

The new lease of €508,925 per annum for the Irish ambassador to Britain Martin Fraser's residence was signed off on because no better options were available. Picture: Photocall Ireland/GIS

The Department of Foreign Affairs was hit with a hike of more than €46,000 on the annual rent they pay for the Irish ambassador’s residence in London.

The department said it had little choice but to agree to the sharp increase even though it brought the cost of the property close to €10,000 per week.

The new lease of €508,925 per annum — a rise of 10% — was signed off on because no better options were available, according to records released under the Freedom of Information Act.

An internal submission said that the Irish ambassador to Britain had been living in the property in leafy Chester Square since September 2019.

In late 2022, the department said it was interested in extending the lease.

While the landlord was happy for the department to stay on, they said they wanted a “substantial increase” in rent of over 11%. Department officials tried, “actively but unsuccessfully,” to negotiate a much smaller increase in rent.

The submission said: “After several months, the landlord indicated that they would not accept any offer below £8,400 (€9,787) per week.”

Suitable alternatives

At the same time, the department had asked a property adviser to see if there were any other suitable properties in London.

A report said the type of residence needed for the ambassador was only likely to come on the market half a dozen times each year.

The property advisers examined eight properties in the area that had been let over a two-year period.

They said only three of them had been leased for less than £7,000 (€8,156) per week, adding that the majority ranged from £8,000 to £12,000.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “Having given the matter careful consideration, and on the balance of market evidence available at the time, it was clear that a move would have no added benefit and would incur an additional cost to the Irish exchequer.

“The department decided to renew the lease for a three-year period to September 2026, with the option to break at relatively short notice should a more suitable alternative become available.”