Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
119. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on student accommodation providers charging a full month’s rent to students where they have not spent a full initial month upon moving into their accommodation. [51607/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe duration, commencement dates and other terms of any accommodation arrangement should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year.
Students facing issues should, in the first instance, engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached. If this is not possible, under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
Restrictions have also been put in place to limit 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. 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- that is one month’s rent, and one month’s deposit. In addition, student accommodation is subject to Rent Pressure Zone caps.
