Concerns over student accommodation as 2,500 beds used for refugees may drive up rents
The Hubble student accommodation building in Dublin accommodated 345 international protection applicants. Picture: Leon Farrell/ RollingNews.ie
Officials feared students would be faced with “significantly increased rents” if more than 2,500 student accommodation beds used to house those seeking international protection here were not returned to market.
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act to the show 2,538 student beds were under contract with the Department of Integration as of last August.
A number of accommodation providers entered contracts with the department to provide emergency accommodation for international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection.
This included 534 beds at Cork Student Village, 345 at Hubble in Dublin, 158 at Punches in Limerick and 370 at Benbulbin Court in Sligo.
In July of last year, then minister for further and higher education Patrick O’Donovan wrote to then minister for integration Roderic O’Gorman seeking a review of the previously agreed protocol between the two departments.
Under the terms of this protocol, the Department of Integration could pursue a contract with a student specific accommodation (SSA) provider, once the property had not been operating as student accommodation in the 12 months prior.
“My position is that all accommodation designed and built for students should be retained and utilised for that purpose, in accordance with Government policy to address the supply of student accommodation under Housing For All,” Mr O’Donovan wrote.
“It is my position that this 12-month period is not a sufficient length to deter SSA providers exiting the student accommodation market.”
Mr O’Donovan also asked for beds under contract to be released “as a priority”.
He added his position had been further informed by provisions in the Residential Tenancies Act 2019, which protect students in both private and university owned SSA with rent pressure zone (RPZ) caps.
Mr O’Donovan added: “Should the SSA properties be returned for use of student accommodation after a two-year period, there is a significant risk that operators may seek to set new rents at a level significantly higher than what will be permitted under the RPZ rent caps, ie max 2% increase annually.”
"Availability of affordable student accommodation is cited as being one of the most significant barriers to students accessing and progressing through third-level education.”
"While the eventual return of circa 2,000 student beds for use as originally attended is welcome, it is imperative that the beds return as soon as practical to ensure that they remain affordable to students.”
A response issued by officials in the Department of Integration last August confirmed it had not contracted any new accommodation in 2024.
"People who have fled the war in Ukraine are now increasingly transitioning to their own independent living arrangements, leaving our accommodation to settle in Ireland or elsewhere. This is giving rise to vacancies in the portfolio, and we are in the process of actively consolidating and reducing the number of contracted beds that we hold, having specific regard to accommodation pressures across the wider system."
A spokesperson for the Department of Integration last night said it has identified approximately 1,800 beds in former student accommodation centres it plans to return to the market.
"We appreciate that this is not easy for people currently residing in these properties but have always maintained that State-funded accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine is temporary and subject to change."
The relocation of those fleeing the war in Ukraine from all State contracted accommodation has been temporarily paused where contractually possible to do so, the spokesperson added.
"Further information will be provided to residents and providers as soon as possible."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
