Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1274. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that student accommodation providers are asking student to pay multiple months' rent in advance for the 2021-22 academic year despite the passing of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 on 9 July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40210/21]
View answer1276. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to third-level accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40251/21]
View answer1282. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will request understanding and good-will from college authorities for students, parents and guardians regarding up-front payments for on-campus accommodation for the coming academic year despite Covid-19; if he will intervene before up-front payments become practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40365/21]
View answer1296. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students in UCC and UL are paying multiple month’s rent to secure accommodation in view of his commitment made earlier in the year that students would not be expected to pay upfront multiple month’s rent to secure accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40926/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1274, 1276, 1282 and 1296 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, officials from my Department have been working with the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government on measures to ensure greater affordability of student accommodation. Legislation has passed the Oireachtas which restricts the up-front payments required to secure accommodation, including student accommodation, to no more than the equivalent of two months’ rent, and limit payments thereafter to on month’s rent at a time and the Act was signed into law on the 9th July.
The provisions of the Act relating to upfront payments take effect for any tenancies that commence at least one month after the passage of the Act and will therefore be in force prior to the beginning of the academic year.
It is the legal obligation of landlords and accommodation providers to comply with this legislation, and if a landlord seeks from a person the payment of an amount which is more than the equivalent of 2 month’s rent, that person can take a case to the Residential Tenancies Board, which is the relevant enforcement body, for dispute resolution. If it is found that a landlord has breached the Residential Tenancies Act, a sanction of a written caution and/or a sanction of up to €15,000 and a further €15,000 in costs can be imposed upon the landlord. Information on the RTB Dispute Resolution Service can be found on their website rtb.ie. My Department does not have a role in the enforcement of this legislation.
