Autumn of discontent: Students priced out of rental market ahead of new college semester

Another autumn of discontent awaits college students as the scramble for scarcer and dearer accommodation is tougher than in any of the last 10 years.

While more schemes are being developed and opened this summer, growing student numbers means many of the 25,000 who do not get into purpose-built accommodation are being priced out of the private rental market.

The recent Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) student living guide shows average student rents nearly back at 2007 peaks, after rising 6% in the past year nationally.