Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
224. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps his Department has taken to prevent the practice of full year compulsory lease lengths being imposed on students by private student accommodation providers in Dublin and Cork, such as a company (details supplied) that owns 11 properties nationally and is offering students leases that are 52 weeks long. [7061/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 15 July 2019, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019, as amended, applied the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, to a licence agreement between a student and an owner of student accommodation. The Act defines ‘student accommodation’ to mean ‘a building, or part of a building, used for the sole purpose (subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c)) of providing residential accommodation to students during academic term times—
(a) whether or not the building or part of the building concerned is used for any other purpose outside of those times,
(b) whether or not any such students are permitted to reside there outside of those times, and
(c) whether or not any person other than a student resides there, provided that the purpose of the said person’s residing there serves the first-mentioned purpose.’
Section 3(1A) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, similarly applies that Act to a tenancy agreement between a student and an owner of student accommodation.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris and I have asked our Departments to engage on the decision of private student accommodation providers to move to 51-week leases. While there may be a market for 51 week leases among some members of the student population, it is not desirable for the vast majority of the student population. We have asked our Departments to establish the circumstances of the 51 week leases and consider what action may follow.
The Government is committed to enhancing protections for tenants. Under Housing for All, the Government has committed to improve the supply and affordability of rental accommodation and the security of tenure for renters, including students. Work is ongoing with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to ensure that more accommodation is built on and off campus, using cost-rental and other models. Housing for All provides that the Government support technological universities to develop purpose-built student accommodation where such a requirement exists, through access to appropriate financing.
