National average rent hits almost €1,000 per month

Rents have risen in every county in the past year, bringing the national average to almost €1,000 a month and making renting almost twice as expensive as buying in some areas.

Nationally, rents have risen by more than 11% in the space of a year, meaning renters are forking out an average of €933 per month, compared to €842 this time last year.

Increases over the year ranged from a low of 0.3% in Co Donegal to a high of 14.3% in Dublin city and county, with the city centre recording the biggest leap of 16.6%.