Dublin landlord guide • Updated October 2026
Understand the full cost before choosing a property manager
Property management fees in Dublin may be quoted as a percentage of rent or a fixed charge. Compare the total cost for the work you need, including VAT and separate letting or administration fees.
This guide concerns residential landlords hiring a letting or management agent. Apartment owners’ service charges are a separate subject, explained below. For KPS pricing, request a written quotation. The figures here are illustrative calculations, not KPS prices or a Dublin market average.
What are you paying the agent to do?
Letting only
Help marketing a vacant property, handling enquiries and viewings, reviewing applications and organising agreed move-in work. You may retain responsibility for the tenancy afterwards.
Rent collection
A more limited ongoing service focused on rent and statements. Check who handles tenant queries, maintenance and inspections.
Full management
Broader agreed support during the tenancy, potentially including tenant contact, inspections, rent oversight and maintenance coordination. The agreement defines the scope.
Our North County Dublin letting service explains tenant-finding support. For ongoing help, see property management in Dublin.
Percentage fees, fixed fees and VAT
A percentage quote needs a clear basis. Is the percentage calculated on rent received or rent due? Does a minimum charge apply? Ask what happens during a vacant period or when rent is unpaid. With a fixed fee, check whether it is monthly, annual or per tenancy and which events create an additional charge.
Revenue lists management services, including property management, at the standard VAT rate. Its current rates table lists 23%. Ask each provider to show the VAT treatment and final payable total. Comparing a fee excluding VAT with one including VAT gives a misleading result.
Worked example: turn a percentage into euros
Suppose a property rents for €2,000 per month and a hypothetical agent quotes 8% plus 23% VAT for ongoing management. Assuming the full rent is received each month:
| Calculation | Monthly | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee: €2,000 × 8% | €160.00 | €1,920.00 |
| VAT: €160 × 23% | €36.80 | €441.60 |
| Management including VAT | €196.80 | €2,361.60 |
Illustration only. This excludes tenant-finding charges, repairs, insurance, service charges and other property expenses. The 8% rate is an example, not a KPS offer or a claim about average Dublin fees.
For a fair comparison, calculate annual ongoing fees including VAT + letting/setup charges including VAT + expected separately billed services. Keep contractor invoices and other ownership costs visible alongside this total.
Property management quote checklist
Ask every agent the same questions so differences in service do not disappear behind a headline percentage.
| Item | Confirm in writing |
|---|---|
| Tenant finding | Advertising, photography, viewings, application review and tenancy setup: included or separate? |
| Ongoing management | Rent monitoring, statements, tenant contact and the named person responsible. |
| Inspections | Frequency, reporting, access arrangements and any per-visit charge. |
| Maintenance | Approval limits, emergency arrangements, contractor invoices and any coordination markup or fee. |
| Tenancy administration | Who handles agreed registration, renewal, notices and end-of-tenancy work, and the charge for each. |
| Vacancy and arrears | Whether fees continue when the home is empty or rent has not been received. |
| Leaving the service | Notice requirements, minimum term, outstanding charges and records handover. |
Why do property management quotations differ?
A modern apartment with an established tenancy can require different work from an older house needing frequent repairs or a portfolio with several changeovers. Condition, location, occupancy, inspection schedules and reporting needs affect the service required.
For landlords living outside Dublin, tenant communication and contractor access may be particularly valuable. For a hands-on owner, tenant-finding support might be enough. Choose the responsibilities you want covered before comparing providers. Our property management companies guide discusses provider selection.
A cheaper fee is only useful if the service still does the work you need. Ask for a sample statement, an explanation of repair approvals and a realistic contact arrangement. Compare the recurring cost and the first-year total separately, because a letting charge can make the first year more expensive.
Landlord fees versus apartment service charges
A landlord pays an agent for work on an individual rental property. An Owners’ Management Company (OMC) uses service charges to fund shared development costs, potentially including cleaning, insurance, maintenance and a managing agent’s fee. These are separate budgets and can both affect an apartment landlord.
An OMC service-charge bill is not simply the managing agent’s fee. Directors reviewing a development-wide appointment should see KPS block management rather than compare landlord percentage quotes.
Get a clear quotation for your Dublin property
Send KPS the property address, house or apartment type, occupancy status and whether you need tenant finding, ongoing management or both. Mention current repairs and any existing arrangement requiring a handover.
The quotation should identify tasks, payment basis, VAT, exclusions and notice terms. The PSRA explains that a Property Services Agreement sets out services and costs between a licensed provider and its client. Read the complete agreement before instructing an agent.
Property management fees FAQs
How much does property management cost in Dublin?
There is no single tariff. Agents may quote a percentage of rent or a fixed fee. Compare the VAT-inclusive annual total, letting charges and separately billed services. KPS pricing is confirmed in a written quotation for your property.
Is a letting fee the same as a management fee?
No. Letting fees relate to finding and placing a tenant; management fees relate to agreed ongoing work. Ask whether they are bundled or separate.
Does the management fee pay for repairs?
Do not assume it does. Coordinating a repair and paying the contractor are different costs. Confirm approvals, any coordination charge and how invoices are supplied.
Are apartment service charges included?
Service charges and letting-agent fees pay for different things. Ask for a separate breakdown of each when budgeting for an apartment investment.
Can I request a quote for one rental property?
Yes. Contact KPS with the address, type of property, occupancy status and the support you need.
Compare the service and the complete cost
Talk to Kennedy Property Services about your Dublin rental and request a written quotation with clear responsibilities.
Request a management quoteCall 089 452 0241