The rise of remote work means more Irish people are spending months working from abroad — Portugal, Spain, Southeast Asia, you name it. But what happens to your apartment full of furniture and belongings while you're gone? Breaking your lease and storing everything could save you thousands versus paying rent on an empty flat.
The Maths: Rent vs Storage
If you're leaving Ireland for 6 months to work remotely abroad, consider the costs:
- Keeping your Dublin apartment empty: €1,800–€2,500/month = €10,800–€15,000 for 6 months
- Ending lease + storing belongings: €80–€150/month storage = €480–€900 for 6 months
- Potential saving: €10,000+ over a 6-month remote work stint
Even accounting for the hassle of moving out and back in, the savings are enormous for longer trips.
When This Makes Sense
Storage-while-abroad makes sense when:
- You're going for 3+ months (shorter trips aren't worth the disruption)
- Your rent is high (Dublin, especially)
- You're not on a fixed-term lease (or can break it without massive penalties)
- You have flexible furniture (flatpack or second-hand that's easy to move)
What to Store
Keep with you: laptop, work essentials, important documents. Store: furniture, kitchen items, winter clothes, books, decor. Sell: anything that costs more to store for 6 months than to replace later. Our guide to storage when going abroad has a more detailed checklist.
Get Sorted Before You Go
Plan your storage 2–4 weeks before departure. Find a space on Packhood, move everything in, and fly off knowing your stuff is safe with a verified local host.