Private sector rents rose by nearly 7 percent in the first three months of the year, compared to the same time in 2014.

The latest PRTB Qurterly Rent Index shows the average national rent hit 835 euro during that time.

Rents in Dublin rose by 9.6 percent in the first quarter - with the average cost of renting a house reaching 1,325 euro and 1,205 for an apartment.

Director of the PRTB Annemarie Caulfield says rents are rising faster in the commuter belt as consumers try to avail of cheaper prices: