Students face substandard housing over shortage

THIRD-level students could be forced to live in substandard accommodation due to a shortage of affordable housing and the end of special tax breaks, it was revealed.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president Shane Kelly said he was extremely concerned about the end of section 50 tax incentives on purpose-built student accommodation and the growing demand for places to live.

“When the tax breaks end, what you’ll see is young professionals moving in and students being forced out because rent controls won’t be there and rents will go up,” he said.

“There will be a re-emergence of really shabby one- bedroom apartments or sharing a bathroom with 11 other people if we don’t do something about it.”

Mr Kelly was speaking at the launch of a new rent book which acts as a receipt book and gives college-goers advice and information about renting private accommodation.

The book was launched by Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran, who said it would be of use to the student body and the wider private rental sector.

The average student is forking out €135 per week for a single room, with students in Dublin paying significantly more.

Mr Kelly said the demand for accommodation continues to outstrip supply.

“There is much more demand than there is supply so students invariably end up getting caught either having to pay really high rents for somewhere nice or if they can’t afford that, paying reasonable rents to stay somewhere absolutely awful and sub-standard.

“We’re also seeing a very worrying development where landlords are issuing 12 month leases to students. This means that after the academic year has ended, students who have gone back home to earn money for the coming year end up continuing to pay rent on a place they’re not living in.”

Thousands of college students will spend the coming weeks trawling through websites and advertisements in an effort to find a suitable place to live before the academic year begins.

The USI urged college- goers, first years in particular, to talk to their students’ union before signing a lease.

“Be as proactive as possible, get out and view places, and talk to your students’ union accommodation office before you agree to anything,” added Mr Kelly.

Some 25,000 copies of the rent books will be available to students at colleges throughout the country.