By now we’re all well aware that renting in Dublin is one thing… A nightmare.

Places being advertised at €250-€400 for a single bed, in a shared room with one, two or three people, then on top of that you can share the two bedroom apartment with 6-7 other people, how cosy. That’ll save on the heating bill I guess.

You’ll find some places going for €100-€300 a week for a single bed in a small room in a family house that you can only stay in Monday to Friday (I’m assuming this is for a student that is expected to go home if they live out of Dublin for the weekend). Then you’ve got just a normal single room that you can sleep in alone going for €400-€500 a month. A double room just for you for 600 and more.  When I say just for you I mean just for you by the way, because more likely than not, if you’re in a relationship and you’re looking to get a room with your other half, the place you’ll view will say ‘no couples accepted’.

The list of terrible situations goes on.

I’d like to think I’m being really dramatic and over the top here, but this is genuinely the reality we’re faced with when room hunting.

When I first moved to Dublin in 2011 I was paying €300 for a double room in a red brick terrace house in Smithfield Square. Now in 2017 you’re looking at anywhere from €700 upwards for that kind of room.

I’m not going to keep writing about the depressing state of room hunting in Dublin, because it’s sad enough as it is.

What I am going to do instead is try and give some little pointers and tips on finding yourself a room. I’m not going to claim I can give you all the answers, however these are some things I’ve learnt over my time of renting and hunting in Dublin.

Over the last five months I’ve been room hunting. I’ve made a list of 5 pointers that helped me search and try keep positive. If you’re looking for a room I hope this helps.

 1. Facebook status

Ok this might seem a bit obvious, but it helps a lot. Over the last six months, every month I’d post a status saying something along the lines of ‘LOOKING FOR A ROOM – if you know of anyone looking for a new housemate please tag me or let me know’.

Word of mouth is great, and even when I’d see someone in the street I’d let them know I was looking too. Because then you get yourself stuck into peoples minds so when they have a room or their mate has a room they’ll let you know.

Even tell your coffee guy or gal in the mornings.

I used to get tagged in so many things, and finally through a friend of a friend of a friend I got my new place because my friend told her I was looking etc etc… You get the idea. Don’t be afraid to just chuck up a status as much as you want, or tweet it, or say it. No harm in just asking and bugging!

2. Keep an open mind

If you’re doing refined searches on Daft.ie make sure to look pretty much everywhere, even if you don’t want to live in an area that much because you’ve heard bad things.

Or you’ve always thought this one particular area is way out of your price range. You’d be surprised sometimes there are really affordable places in the expensive locations and, those places you thought weren’t your cup of tea, actually are.

3. Email alerts on Daft.ie

It can be hard keeping up with all the new listings and re-searching on Daft all the time, while you’re doing your day-to-day. A pretty simple step is to log in the type of places you’re looking to rent, register to get email notifications and when the type of property you’re looking for comes up you’ll get it straight in your inbox.

4. Go in with friends

Find out if you have some friends that are looking to move out of home or where they’re living now, get a few of you to go in and get a house together. It seems to be a lot easier to find places this way with a gang of mates.

Side note though… Try pick the friends you think you won’t want to murder in cold blood after a few weeks. Easier said than done, I know…

5. Have the deposit ready

It may seem obvious, and again easier said than done, but trust me, put aside a bit of money in prep to pay a deposit on the day you view a place.

It sounds very competitive but that’s what a lot of people offer landlords or tenants that are already in houses. It’ll usually work in your favour to tell the person you can pay the full deposit ‘right now’.

I hope this helps in your hunt for a room, I won’t sugarcoat it and say it’s all roses, but trust that you will find something that is right for you eventually, I hope sooner rather than later.