A Severe Shortage of Available Rentals. Why is the Dublin market starved of rental supply and what can be done to fix it?

David Healy
Jul 1
3 min read

Updated: Jul 2

The city of Dublin is in the grips of a rental supply crisis—one that affects thousands of people every day, from students and healthcare workers to new immigrants and families. At the same time, this crisis is creating a rare, values-driven opportunity for investors: to back projects that don’t just deliver returns—but deliver solutions.

“The ongoing departure of small private landlords from the market underscores an urgent need to reinvest in and strengthen the private rented sector. At RentFlow, we see this as both a challenge and an opportunity—to deliver professionally managed, high-quality rental homes that meet the needs of today’s tenants." David Healy, Co-Founder

Why Is Dublin Starved of Rental Supply?

The numbers are stark. The Dublin rental stock has fallen sharply over the past decade, with available long-term rentals struggling to meet soaring demand. Behind this chronic shortage are multiple systemic pressures:

1. Private Landlord Exodus

Thousands of small landlords have sold up due to:

Mounting regulation and legal risk
Low returns from rent caps
Strong sales incentives in a booming property market

2. RPZ Regulation & Compliance Fatigue

Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) limit annual rent increases to 2%, discouraging new lettings. High compliance costs and eviction restrictions add friction to already-thin margins.

3. New Supply Just Isn’t Coming

Construction costs, planning bottlenecks, and zoning challenges have drastically slowed down the pipeline of new rental units.

4. Short-Term Lets & Airbnb Shift

Some properties have moved to short-term platforms, further eroding long-term availability.

Dublin Rental Report Insight (2024 Q4):Rental supply is expected to fall even further in 2025, exacerbating affordability pressures and tenant insecurity.

The Human Impact: Tenants Are Struggling

For tenants, this is not just about numbers—it’s about lives:

Families forced to relocate or split up due to a lack of suitable housing
Professionals commuting long distances or living in substandard conditions
Students priced out of city-centre education hubs

This is the context where every new rental unit matters.

What Can Be Done Now?

Redevelopment—Not Red Tape

RentFlow’s solution focuses on re-developing existing vacant or under-utilised properties—a strategy that bypasses the time, risk, and uncertainty of the traditional planning process.

Instead of waiting years for zoning or new construction, we’re able to:

Renovate vacant buildings in weeks to months
Immediately add supply in high-demand, central locations
Upgrade housing quality for modern standards and affordability

Why This Is Also a Smart Investor Opportunity

While the problem is social, the solution can still be strategic.

By investing with RentFlow, you gain exposure to:

A growing income stream (5% p.a. paid monthly)
A diversified property portfolio in high-demand locations
A short planning-free cycle, reducing time to income and risk

Benefits for Investors:

Predictable income with no exposure to construction overruns
Resilient performance even in inflationary or regulatory environments
The satisfaction of doing well by doing good

Why It Also Matters for Tenants

When you invest with RentFlow, your capital doesn’t just sit in an account. It works hard:

Bringing quality homes back to life
Keeping rents fair by avoiding planning and debt-driven inflation
Offering secure, modern accommodation in Dublin’s urban core

Quote from Colin O’Regan, Investment Director

“With demand at historic highs and limited supply, this is one of the most resilient and low-risk segments of the market today. But more importantly—you’re actively helping to bring vacant and underutilised properties back into use as high-quality rental homes.”

Final Word: This Is More Than a Market Trend—It’s a Moral Moment

At RentFlow, we believe it’s possible to: