Limited Supply, Commuter Demand & Housing Shortages Push Wicklow Rents To Historic Highs

Without major state-led housing intervention and accelerated building Wicklow renters will continue facing intensifying competition and relentless price growth

Average rents in Co. Wicklow have now surged beyond €2,100 per month, cementing the county’s position among Ireland’s most expensive rental markets and highlighting the intensifying national housing crisis.

In Wicklow, the average price of a three-bedroom house in the final quarter of 2025 was €2439, up 6.6% on a year ago.

Driven by chronic undersupply, relentless commuter demand, and falling availability, Wicklow’s rental market is now experiencing record competition, escalating rents, and structural pressure that shows no sign of easing.

Key Wicklow Rental Statistics – Q4 2025

| Metric                        | Wicklow         | National        |

| **Average Monthly Rent**      | **€2,106**      | €2,053          |
| **Annual Change**             | **+4.9%**       | +5.7%           |
| **Growth Since 2020**         | **+47%**        | +43%            |
| **Available Rental Listings** | Critically Low  | <2,300 homes    |
| **Market Status**             | Severe Shortage | Severe Shortage |

📈 Wicklow 5-Year Rent Trend (2020–2025)

€2,200 ┤                             ● 2025 €2,106
€2,000 ┤                       ● 2024 €2,007
€1,800 ┤                 ● 2023 €1,875
€1,600 ┤           ● 2022 €1,715
€1,400 ┤     ● 2021 €1,570
€1,200 ┤ ● 2020 €1,435
        └──────────────────────────────
           2020   21   22   23   24   25

🔍 Key Insight:

• Wicklow rents have risen €671 per month in just five years
• Equivalent to +47% inflation
• Outpacing wages, CPI inflation, and mortgage growth

🗺️ Wicklow Town-by-Town Rental Map – Average Monthly Rents

| Area                    | Avg Rent        | Market Pressure |

| Bray                                 | €2,300 – €2,550 | 🔴 Extreme      |
| Greystones                     | €2,400 – €2,700 | 🔴 Extreme      |
| Delgany                           | €2,350 – €2,600 | 🔴 Extreme      |
| Enniskerry                       | €2,300 – €2,600 | 🔴 Extreme      |
| Newtownmountkennedy  | €2,000 – €2,300 | 🟠 Severe       |
| Wicklow Town                 | €1,850 – €2,100 | 🟠 Severe       |
| Arklow                             | €1,600 – €1,900 | 🟡 High         |
| Baltinglass                      | €1,450 – €1,750 | 🟡 High         |

🧭 Market Pattern:

North Wicklow = Dublin commuter pressure
South Wicklow = affordability buffer, now eroding rapidly

📊 Wicklow Rental Supply Collapse – Availability Crisis

Homes Available to Rent Nationwide:

12,000 ┤ ● 2016
 9,500 ┤ ● 2018
 6,800 ┤ ● 2020
 4,100 ┤ ● 2022
 2,300 ┤ ● 2025

➡ Supply has collapsed by over 80% in less than a decade

Impact:

• Fewer than 100 rental properties available countywide at any time
• Viewings routinely attract **50–120 applicants
• Listings frequently disappear **within hours

What’s Driving Wicklow’s Rental Explosion?

🚆 Dublin Commuter Spillover

Remote working, hybrid models and improved transport links have intensified migration into Bray, Greystones and Delgany, pushing prices sharply higher.

🏗️ Chronic Construction Failure

New rental development in Wicklow remains well below housing targets, especially for apartments and cost-rental stock.

📉 Landlord Exodus

High regulation, taxation and rising compliance costs continue to **push small landlords out of the market**, shrinking supply further.

📰 Wicklow Rental Market News Summary

Wicklow Rents Hit Record Highs as Housing Shortage Intensifies. Wicklow rental prices now exceed €2,100 per month as housing supply collapses.

Full analysis of rent trends, prices, forecasts and investment outlook.

🏘️ Investor & Landlord Market Analysis

Rental Yield Outlook – Wicklow

| Area         | Avg Purchase Price | Avg Rent | Gross Yield |

| Bray         | €425,000           | €2,350   | **6.6%**    |
| Greystones   | €480,000           | €2,500   | **6.2%**    |
| Wicklow Town | €310,000           | €1,950   | **7.5%**    |
| Arklow       | €265,000           | €1,750   | **7.9%**    |

📊 Investor Insight:

South Wicklow offers the strongest yields

North Wicklow offers strongest capital appreciation**

Landlord Market Pressures

Rising Costs:

• Higher mortgage rates
• Increased regulatory burden
• Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) limits
• Maintenance & retrofit obligations

Market Impact:

1. Continued exit of small landlords
2. Institutional investors dominate new build rental supply
3. Further tightening of availability

Wicklow Rental Forecast – 2025 to 2028

| Year | Projected Avg Rent | Annual Change |

| 2025 | €2,106             | +4.9%         |
| 2026 | €2,210             | +5.0%         |
| 2027 | €2,315             | +4.8%         |
| 2028 | €2,420             | +4.5%         |

📈 Projected 3-Year Increase: +15%

What This Means for Renters

Extreme competition
Rapid price increases
Declining affordability
Increased commuter migration south
Growing demand for cost-rental & social housing

What This Means for Investors

Strong long-term returns
Reliable tenant demand
Structural undersupply guarantees occupancy
Highest yield opportunities in South Wicklow & Arklow