USI to erect protest village in Dublin city centre

The Union of Students in Ireland is planning to erect a temporary village in Dublin city centre today to highlight the failure of many landlords to comply with tenancy laws.

The USI said the publicity stunt on Grafton Street is designed to highlight the fact that one-fifth of Irish landlords are unregistered and that much of the accommodation they offer is substandard and in breach of health and safety laws.

Spokesman Gareth Keogh said half of all students are forced to rent on the black market because they cannot afford other accommodation and because many registered landlords do not want student tenants.