Seán Sherlock
Ceist:146. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined. [11904/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 2 March 2022
Ceisteanna (146)
Freagraí scríofa
I am very conscious of the challenges faced by students seeking to access affordable student accommodation.
Fundamentally the underlying issue is one of supply and there is a need to increase the supply of all types of accommodation including student accommodation. That is why Government launched Housing for All led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which sets out a series of actions which will be delivered to address the housing crisis backed by a transformative budget of €20 billion.
However, the Government has taken measures to address both upfront payments and rent increases. Rent increases in student accommodation are capped under the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ). Recent legislation restricts the amount that students can be required to pay up front for their accommodation, ending the practice whereby students were required to pay a lump sum up front each term. For tenancies created on or after 9 August 2021, the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 restricts the total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent (i.e. any deposit cannot exceed 1 month’s rent and any advance rent payment cannot exceed 1 month’s rent). Previously, families were required to pay a lump sum each term (often in the range of €2,500 to €3,500). The Act also limits termination notice periods in respect of student-specific accommodation, so that no more than 28 days’ notice is required to be given by students.
My Department is continuing to work closely with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on these issues. We are also working with Higher Education Institutions to address these matters too.