New figures released by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) show that the average cost of rent in County Wicklow has increased for the first time since the end of the boom.
The cost of rent recorded a moderate increase of 1.3% — rising from €811 at the beginning of 2013, to €822 at the end of the year.
Nationally, rents rose by 3.3% in 2013, with a 5.2% rise in apartment rents and a 1.6% rise for houses.
The findings, which are compiled by the ESRI, reflect actual rents being paid, as opposed to the advertised rent price.
Around the county, Wicklow Town, Blessington, Bray and Greystones all saw increases in the cost of rent.
However, rents in Arklow, Baltinglass, Delgany, Kilcoole, Newtown and Rathnew all continued on a downward trajectory.
Rents in Dublin rose 7.6%, squeezing renters in the capital and putting pressure on rents in Bray and Greystones.
Below is a table of annualised average rents from the PRTB.
| Town | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
| Wicklow Town | 773 | 771 | 806 | 855 | 909 |
| Arklow | 623 | 641 | 673 | 703 | 772 |
| Baltinglass | 619 | 631 | 625 | 653 | 742 |
| Blessington | 819 | 790 | 800 | 849 | 953 |
| Bray | 913 | 908 | 916 | 963 | 1075 |
| Delgany | 954 | 971 | 985 | 1021 | 1149 |
| Greystones | 1004 | 980 | 975 | 1024 | 1147 |
| Kilcoole | 928 | 947 | 945 | 1013 | 1139 |
| Newtown | 877 | 950 | 985 | 954 | 1073 |
| Rathnew | 797 | 821 | 806 | 840 | 896 |
