THE AVERAGE RENT for an apartment in Dublin was €1,070 in the last three months of 2013, while the average outside of the capital was just €630 according to new figures.

The latest quarterly rent index of the Private Tenancies Board (PRTB) found continued strong growth in Dublin rents of 2.1 per cent for the quarter. However, outside Dublin, overall rents fell by 0.9 per cent.

This period in the year is generally slower in the rental market but on an annual basis, it still means rents in Dublin grew 7.6 per cent.

Nationally, monthly rents for houses were lower in the last three months of 2013, down 1.5 per cent on the previous quarter. In contrast, rents for apartments were 1.9 per cent higher than in the third quarter of 2013.

The average national rent for a house at the end of last year was €744. In Dublin it averaged €1,168 and outside Dublin it was €608. As for apartments, the average rent in the capital was €1,070 and was €630 outside

Despite the continuing growth in Dublin, rents are still 15.5 per cent lower than their peak in 2007.