Check your eligibility for Cost Rental housing and estimate your monthly rent — covering Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and other LDA/AHB schemes nationwide.
Cost Rental sets rent to cover only the cost of building, financing, and managing the home — at least 25% below market rates. It is for middle-income earners who do not qualify for social housing but cannot afford private rents. This calculator checks the income limits, estimates your monthly rent, and tells you whether you qualify.
Check eligibility and estimate your Cost Rental rent in under two minutes.
Dublin or rest of country — the income limit and rent vary by region.
Add the gross annual income for one or two adults in the household.
Optional: include your current monthly rent so we can show you the saving.
Get an instant eligibility check plus an estimated Cost Rental monthly rent.
Pick your region, enter your details, and see whether you qualify for a Cost Rental tenancy.
Check if you qualify for Cost Rental housing in Ireland
Based on Cost Rental housing eligibility criteria
Need Help? Contact Us →Cost Rental targets middle-income households. Income limits and indicative rents below reflect the 2026 thresholds.
Net household income limit of EUR 66,000 per year. Indicative rents range from EUR 1,200 for a one-bed to EUR 1,750 for a three-bed. Most Dublin Cost Rental homes are delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) and approved housing bodies.
Net household income limit of EUR 59,000 per year applies. Indicative rents are typically EUR 1,000-1,400 per month for a one to three-bed home. Pipeline is growing fastest in Cork and Galway through LDA delivery.
Same EUR 59,000 income limit applies in all counties outside Dublin. Indicative rents EUR 850-1,200 per month. Most rural and small-town Cost Rental delivery is led by Approved Housing Bodies in collaboration with local authorities.
Your household net income must be at or below the Cost Rental ceiling for your area. You must not be in receipt of social housing supports, including HAP or Rent Supplement, and the household must not currently own a home.
The income limit applies to total household net income, whether you are single or in a couple. A couple earning EUR 64K combined in Dublin still qualifies; a single applicant earning EUR 67K in Dublin does not.
Cost Rental homes are designated Cost Rental for a minimum of 40 years. After 6 months your tenancy becomes a tenancy of unlimited duration under the Residential Tenancies Act, and rent increases are capped at the lower of CPI or 2% from 1 March 2026.
Everything you need to know about cost rental in Ireland.
Cost Rental is a long-term rental tenure where rent covers only the cost of building, financing, and operating the home — typically at least 25% below market rates. It was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and is delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
Social housing and HAP are means-tested — you pay a percentage of your income (called differential rent). Cost Rental is not income-tested for rent: everyone in the same scheme pays the same rent. Cost Rental targets middle-income households who earn too much for social housing but struggle with market rents.
The 2026 net household income limits are EUR 66,000 in the Dublin region and EUR 59,000 elsewhere in Ireland. These figures are net (after tax), reviewed annually, and based on the Affordable Housing Act 2021 regulations.
Cost Rental is available nationwide, though current pipeline is concentrated in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford, and Limerick. New schemes open every quarter — check the Affordable Housing site or your local authority for current availability.
Cost Rental homes are advertised by the AHB or LDA running the scheme. You apply directly to the scheme provider, supply income documentation, and are placed on a shortlist or selected by lottery if oversubscribed. Most applications are online.
Yes. Cost Rental rent increases are capped at the lower of CPI inflation or 2% from 1 March 2026, not market rates. This gives you predictable rent for the lifetime of your tenancy, a major advantage over private rentals where rents can rise with the market.
Cost Rental tenancies are designed to be long-term and secure. Tenancies are typically renewable for as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. There is no upper limit on how long you can stay, though you should not currently own another home.
This tool uses the published Cost Rental eligibility thresholds and indicative rents. Actual rents vary by scheme, unit type, and location. Always confirm with the AHB or LDA running the scheme. This calculator is for guidance only and does not constitute a determination of eligibility.
Rentalize automates Cost Rental application processing, eligibility checks, lottery management, lease administration, CPI-linked rent reviews, and reporting for AHBs, the LDA, and local authorities.
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