Chapter 4 of 10 · The cost of buying · 6 of 8
The cost of owning a home in Ireland: the yearly bills
Checked 21 Oct 2026the Central Bank's mortgage measures, Revenue's rules and the scheme operators' published terms.
What a home costs each year after you buy: mortgage, protection, home insurance, LPT, management fees, energy, maintenance and bin charges.
Written in plain English for the person buying, selling or switching. This guide covers the Republic of Ireland only.
Buying is one set of costs. Owning is another, and it goes on every year. The mortgage is the biggest line, but it is not the only one. This guide lists the yearly bills, gives a figure for each where one is published, and works a year for a €380,000 home.
The yearly bills in one table
| Bill | What it is | Typical, per year |
|---|---|---|
| The mortgage | The repayment, month by month | Depends on the loan, rate and term |
| Mortgage protection | A life policy that clears the loan if you die | €200 to €700 in the first year |
| Home insurance | Buildings cover, required by the lender; contents cover, your choice | €300 to €600 in the first year |
| Local Property Tax | A tax on owning a home, by value band | €95 to €523 for most homes |
| Management fees | For an apartment or a managed estate | Set by the development |
| Energy | Electricity, gas or oil | Depends on the BER and your use |
| Bins | A private collector's charge | The collector's price list |
| Maintenance | Repairs and wear | A planning figure of about 1% of the value |
| Broadband and TV | Your choice of provider | The provider's price |
The ranges are from our costs list and the rules config at 21 October 2026.
A worked year on a €380,000 home
Róisín and Tom bought at €380,000 with a €342,000 mortgage over 30 years. Their rate is 3.5%, close to the Central Bank's average new mortgage rate of 3.53% in August 2026.
| Bill | A year |
|---|---|
| Mortgage: about €1,536 a month | about €18,430 |
| Mortgage protection | €360 |
| Home insurance | €450 |
| Local Property Tax, band 3 (€315,001 to €420,000) | €333 |
| Fixed costs before energy, bins and upkeep | about €19,570 |
That is about €1,630 a month before the lights are on. Energy, bins, broadband and a maintenance fund come on top. The repayment calculator gives the mortgage figure for your loan, and the Local Property Tax calculator your band.
The mortgage
The repayment depends on three things: the loan, the rate and the term. A longer term lowers the monthly figure and raises the total interest. A fixed rate holds the figure steady for the fixed period, then it changes. The Central Bank's average new mortgage rate was 3.53% in August 2026, with fixed rates averaging 3.49% and variable 4.16%. The rates comparison lists every lender's current rates.
If money gets tight, talk to the lender early. The money help page lists MABS and the other free services.
Mortgage protection
Mortgage protection is a life policy that pays off the loan if you die. The Consumer Credit Act 1995 requires a lender to make sure a home loan has it, with narrow exceptions, such as a borrower over 50 or cover that cannot be had. The cost depends on your age, your health, the loan and the term. The first year is typically €200 to €700. The premium is usually level for the term, so it does not rise each year. You can buy it from any insurer, not only the lender's. See the mortgage protection page.
Home insurance
The lender requires buildings insurance from the day you sign contracts. It covers the cost of rebuilding the home, not its market value. Contents insurance covers what is inside and is your choice. The first year is typically €300 to €600 for buildings cover. The price moves each year, so compare at renewal. See the home insurance page.
Local Property Tax
Local Property Tax, called LPT, is a yearly tax on owning a home. For 2026 to 2030 it is based on the home's value on 1 November 2025. The basic charges for the first five bands:
| Band | Value up to | Basic charge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €240,000 | €95 |
| 2 | €315,000 | €235 |
| 3 | €420,000 | €333 |
| 4 | €525,000 | €428 |
| 5 | €630,000 | €523 |
The bands go on in steps of about €95 to band 18 at €1,995,000, then band 19 to €2.1 million at €3,110. Above that the charge is on the value itself. Each council can adjust the charge by up to 15% either way; Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown cuts it by 15%, Cork City adds 12%. The counties page shows your council's figure. Whoever owns the home on 1 November pays for the next year, so your first bill comes the year after you buy. The glossary has the acronyms.
Management fees
An apartment, and some housing estates, carry a yearly fee to the owners' management company for the common areas, block insurance, lifts, bins and a sinking fund for big repairs. The figure is set by the development each year and can be a four-figure sum. The seller's solicitor gives you the current figure and the budget before you buy. Block insurance is included, so an apartment owner usually needs contents cover only.
Energy
Heating and electricity depend on the home's BER, its size and how you live. A home rated A or B costs much less to heat than one rated E, F or G. SEAI publishes typical running costs by rating. Ask for the BER certificate and the advisory report that comes with it, which lists the upgrades that would cut the bills. SEAI grants help pay for some of them.
Bins, broadband and the rest
Bin collection is a private service. You pick a collector and pay by the year, by the lift or by weight. There are no household water charges at present. Broadband and TV are what you choose. None of these is large on its own; together they are a few hundred euro a year or more.
Maintenance
Nobody publishes a maintenance figure, because every home is different. A common planning rule is about 1% of the home's value a year, which is €3,800 on a €380,000 home. Most years cost less. Then a boiler fails, a roof leaks or a window rots, and one year costs a lot. A fund that builds up in the quiet years is the point. A survey before you bought tells you what is coming; the hidden costs guide covers the first-year surprises.
What changes over time
- The rate. A fixed period ends and the rate changes. The fixed rate reminder emails you before it does.
- Insurance. Both policies are priced each year. Compare at renewal.
- LPT. Revalued every five years; the next valuation date is after 2030. Your council's adjustment can change each year.
- Energy. Prices move, and a retrofit changes your use.
The cost of buying guide covers the one-off costs that come before any of this.
Where this leaves you
Put the home's value into the Local Property Tax calculator for your band and your council's charge. Add the mortgage from the repayment calculator, the two insurance quotes, and a maintenance fund, and you have your yearly figure. The first-time buyer journey shows how the yearly costs fit the whole picture.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to own a house in Ireland per year?
The mortgage is most of it. On a €342,000 loan at 3.5% over 30 years, about €18,430 a year. Add mortgage protection, home insurance and Local Property Tax, about €1,150 together, then energy, bins and upkeep on top.
What is Local Property Tax and how much is it?
A yearly tax on owning a home, based on its value on 1 November 2025. For 2026 to 2030 the basic charge is €95 for a home valued up to €240,000, €235 up to €315,000, €333 up to €420,000, and so on. Your council can adjust it by up to 15% either way.
Do I have to pay mortgage protection every year?
Yes, for as long as the mortgage runs. It is a life policy that clears the loan if you die. The law requires it on a home loan, with narrow exceptions. The first year is typically €200 to €700, depending on age, health and the loan.
How much should I budget for house maintenance in Ireland?
There is no published figure. A common planning rule is to set aside about 1% of the home's value a year. On a €380,000 home that is €3,800. Some years cost nothing, then a boiler or a roof costs a lot.
Are bin charges and water charges included in LPT?
No. Bin collection is a private service you pay the collector for. There are no household water charges at present. LPT is a separate tax paid to Revenue.