Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Student Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2022

Thursday, 23 June 2022

Ceisteanna (86)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

86. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the steps his Department is taking with the Department of Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Reform to deliver affordable student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33214/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am committed to working collaboratively with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to improve student accommodation provision through a dedicated working group set up for that purpose.

The Government plan, Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland will transform every aspect of our housing including the area of student accommodation. Housing For All contains a commitment to support technological universities to develop purpose-built student accommodation where such a requirement exists, through access to appropriate financing, and a specific action in relation to legislating to allow for Technological Universities (TU) to borrow from the Housing Finance Agency. I can confirm that this borrowing capability is in place.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is also engaging with all the universities, including the technological universities, to explore further options which may be available to increase the availability of student accommodation, and they are being supported where necessary by officials in my Department.

Much progress has been made in recent years in reforming protections for tenants in student specific accommodation. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 provides for relevant obligations and rights under residential tenancies legislation to apply to tenancy and licence agreements in student-specific accommodation, provided by public educational institutions or by private accommodation providers.

The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 was signed into law on 9 July 2021 and limits, in respect of tenancies created on or after 9 August 2021, the amount of rent in advance (maximum of 1 month’s rent) and/or a deposit (maximum of 1 month’s rent) that a landlord can ask anyone, including a student, to pay to secure a tenancy. Accordingly, the maximum upfront payment can be no more than 2 months’ rent and any ongoing advance rent payment during a tenancy can only cover 1 month’s rent. The Act greatly reduces the financial exposure to tenants, including students, on foot of paying much restricted upfront payments. 

The operation of the rental market and the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 are kept under constant review and any necessary legislation will be introduced.

Barr
Roinn