The Minister for Housing has signed an order putting into effect new legislation on tenancies and licences for student-specific accommodation. Darragh O’Brien said that the bill was a response to a move by some private accommodation providers to implement a 51-week occupancy model.

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill will allow the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), the independent regulatory body for the rental sector, to impose fines of up to €30,000 on accommodation providers if they insist on charging students rent outside of the academic year. The legislation allows for a maximum of 41-week leases on student-specific accommodation.

It also enables students to serve a 28-day notice of termination any time between May 1^st and October 1^st, protecting them from having to pay for accommodation during the summer months. Landlords are now prevented from seeking more than a month’s deposit to secure tenancy.

Minister O’Brien stated, “My Government colleagues and I have noted with some alarm that a number of private student-specific accommodation providers have moved exclusively towards a 51-week occupancy model.

“While there may be a market for 51-week leases among some members of the student population, it is neither desirable nor affordable for the vast majority of third-level students and their families, who rightly wish to pay for accommodation only during the academic term, when it is used. A move of this nature will only increase barriers to accessing higher education.

“We must act swiftly to safeguard students from creating tenancies or licences that exceed the academic term or make excessive upfront payments to secure a tenancy or licence. The protections in this Act will provide assurances to students and their families on costs when planning for higher education.”

Mark Dunne, president of SETU Students’ Union, told The Nationalist that the legislation is a “huge breakthrough” for students around the country.

Mark said: “It’s not fair to charge students for 51 weeks when they are not there for that duration. At SETU, we have two 12-week semesters, broken by mid-terms in the middle. The Union of Students of Ireland and local students’ unions have lobbied for years here. Students are seen as cash cows, so for landlords to face penalties that can be imposed by the RTB is definitely welcome.”

 

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