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AROUND THE BLOCK:THERE HAS never been a better time for the upwardly mobile to find the apartment of their dreams to rent in Belfast, according to a survey published today.

Average monthly rents in the city have fallen in the first quarter of 2010 to £544 (€626) which marks a drop of around 6.2 per cent compared to this time last year. According to online letting site Citylets, the house price slump in the North has proved to be a blessing for renters when it comes to rental prices. Average rents for one-bed properties fell by 4.4 per cent in the last year, to £455 (€524), while rents for two-bed properties fell 5.2 per cent to £510 (€587). Rental costs for three-bed properties fell by 8 per cent to £521 (€600).