Most rental contracts, however, are for nine or twelve months. Rental costs vary considerably depending on the size (number of bedrooms) and quality of a property, its age and the facilities provided. However, the most significant factors influencing rents are the region, city and neighbourhood. (Note that in Ireland there’s a distinction between ‘flats’ and ‘apartments’: a flat may be above a shop or office or in a converted old house, whereas an apartment is usually purpose-built.)
Agencies that deal mostly in long-term rentals include: Accommodation Lettings in Dublin (Tel. 01-496 2866), who offer a free list of accommodation for rent; Home Locators (Tel. 01-679 5233), who produce a list of available accommodation in Dublin, with a registration fee to view as many properties as you like within one month; and Express Accommodation (Tel. 01-878 2100), who, for a fee, will send you daily accommodation lists and keep looking until they find something suitable. In Cork city, Apartmentfinders (Tel. 021-427 7718) offer a free service for long-term rentals, as do Marian Rose Properties (Tel. 021-429 3333).