Student rents’ bill to come before Dáil

Cross-party support is being urged for USI calls to provide greater protections for student renters and their parents. The motion will be heard in the Dáil tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Bill 2021, drafted by the USI alongside Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin and spokesperson on Higher Education Rose Conway-Walsh, has been signed by 56 opposition TDs.

Sinn Féin TD, Pauline Tully, said: “Many students renting student accommodation currently pay a term in advance, which usually runs from September to May, and can cost from on average €5,000 in Galway to €9,000 for UCD per year.

“This is a huge outlay for many families, especially middle-income households who cannot access SUSI grants.”

The bill would prevent providers of student specific accommodation from charging more than one month’s rent in advance and enable a student to end a tenancy by serving the landlord with a notice of termination of 28 days.

“Crucially, the bill also addresses concerns raised by the USI about students and their parents not being able to access refunds when they had to leave, or could not take up, student accommodation due to COVID-19 restrictions,” added Deputy Tully.