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STUDENTS FROM TRINITY College and University College Dublin canvassed commuters in Dublin City today in a last ditch effort to boost the supply of rooms to rent ahead of the upcoming academic year.
The rent-a-room scheme, which provides tax relief on digs accommodation, has been criticised by the Union Of Students in Ireland (USI) as a “band-aid” to the accommodation shortage in recent weeks.
However, while representatives of students from UCD (who are not members of the USI) and Trinity College are unhappy with elements the scheme, they feel they have been left with no other choice but to canvass on the street.
The Students’ Unions from both universities launched a joint campaign, the ‘Digs Drive’, today in an attempt to convince commuters in Dublin to join the scheme. Members of both unions handed flyers to commuters at Luas stations.
A statement from the unions on the campaign said: “The chronic shortage of rental accommodation in Dublin has put the pursuit of education and the on-campus student experience of a growing number of prospective and returning students at risk.”
The campaign, which will run in selected locations near Trinity College, comes ahead of the first round of CAO offers, due to be sent to students tomorrow. The shortage in accommodation is linked to an ongoing lack of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
Martha Ní Riada of UCD Students’ Union told The Journal that both unions felt they had no other option but to canvass.
“We see [digs] as a solution. It’s not an ideal one but it’s something for the short time.” Ní Riada said.
Ní Riada said she sees the Digs Drive as a result of inaction from government.
It is a band-aid over the situation but it’s a much needed band-aid. It’s something we really do want homeowners to consider because it is so needed.”
László Molnárfi, president of the Trinity Students’ Union, said: “We shouldn’t have to do this, but sadly, we are forced to due to the state of the housing crisis.”
Molnárfi added that the Unions believe that the government should “treat housing as a human right, not as a commodity”.
The flyers, handed out by students this morning and this afternoon, ask commuters if they can help a student ‘secure their future’, by offering a spare room in their home.
“Students need affordable, adequate places to live in order to reach their full potential,” the flyer says.
It adds: “We urge you to consider providing a 7-day let as for many students, in particular international students, 5-day digs arrangements are not suitable.”
The rent-a-room scheme, which does not require the homeowner to register as a landlord, allows those who avail to the scheme to earn €14,000 tax free.
Under the scheme a homeowner must establish eight things with their tenant, including the cost, transaction method and frequency of rent, duration of tenancy, the division of utility bills, restrictions on noise levels, notice and rent review periods.
The homeowner is not required to register as a landlord, therefore the arrangement is not within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) which leaves the student with fewer rights as a tenant, compared to others in the private rental market.
This means any dispute between the homeowner and the tenant cannot be brought to the RTB for them to settle.
Furthermore, the Residential Tenancies Act of 2021 provides tenants with further protections such as a ban on upfront rent payments. However, the same rights are not provided to tenants in properties deemed ‘student-specific’.
This means homeowners are also not required to include the use of basic amenities, such as toilet and kitchen facilities, for their tenant. Ní Riada asked homeowners to ensure they include this.
“Students need somewhere safe to stay and we’d urge anyone availing of the Rent-a -Room Relief Scheme to ensure that the lodger has access to appropriate facilities and isn’t subject to onerous conditions, or not to make a stay contingent on other conditions, such as housework or caring responsibilities,” Ní Riada said.
Last week, an advertisement seen by The Journal contained offers which say that students can avail of the room if they work as a childminder for up to four hours a day during the week.
This arrangement was described as “very unorthodox” by Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris. The minister later met with the USI and UCD students’ union, which highlighted their concerns over the rent-a-room scheme to him.
Harris yesterday said while the representatives make “a lot of valid points” he still believes that the scheme will help thousands of students this year.
“The students’ unions rightly make the point, while [the scheme] works for many, sometimes, there can be bad experiences and it’s important that we have protections in place.”
Molnárfi told The Journal that Trinity’s union do not see the rent-a-room scheme as a solution.
For us, digs are really our last resort.”
Molnárfi said that students need legislation to ensure that students have the correct protections as tenants.
“The issue with digs is that you essentially have no protections. You have as many rights as a hotel resident, or even less,” he said. “It leaves students in a very vulnerable and defenceless position.”
Harris, who has publicly backed the rent-a-room scheme on many occasions, said that he plans to publish a draft licensing agreement for homeowners and prospective tenants this year.
The higher education minister believes that the introduction of this agreement, as a standard in the scheme, will provide tenants with more protections as legal efforts can be exercised through the small claims court.
However, Harris said the agreement will not come alongside the provision of legislation but restated his stance that he is “open to the idea” of doing so.
The provision of legislation, something which the USI is heavily in favour for, would provide students in digs with the same protections as any other renters. It would also allow for students in digs avail to rent relief schemes, such as the €500 tax credit for renters introduced in Budget 2023.
“Whether tax credits are or aren’t linked to [the scheme] is a matter for the Department of Finance,” Harris said yesterday.
Ní Riada said that the draft licensing agreement is a “step in the right direction” as she believes any type of guidelines will make it a lot easier to secure the provision of legislation.
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An absolute disgrace that it has come to actual begging for a bed, never mind a house. Failed state on so many levels.
@Chett Richards: You clearly don’t understand what the definition of a “failed state” is.
@Iano C: Muppet number one, confirmed. I understand exactly what a failed state is. One that “Our Government” have lost control of, either deliberately or via utter incompetence. Go back to bed for yourself and leave us genuinely livid citizens express our unbiased opinions, very very few people agree with the tripe you post on here.
@Chett Richards: Oh look, Chett is back. Whilst Ireland has some serious issues to be addressed, it is most definitely not a “failed state”.
@SYaxJ2Ts: Only in your opinion, it isn’t. Let’s reword that to state failures if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, “Kev”.
@Chett Richards: It’s not my opinion, it’s by the definition of a failed state.
@SYaxJ2Ts: Lol, the only part of my comment that you could latch onto with your lefty little brain is my admittedly exaggerated use of the term “failed state”. My point is, quite clearly, that it might as well be one. Not a single facet of our state is functioning properly under the current shower of useless clowns bending the knee for their masters in the EU.
@Chett Richards: great, glad we’ve clarified that.
@Chett Richards: and you owe Iano C an apology for the dogs abuse you directed at him, his only crime being to highlight the inaccuracy of your original post
@SYaxJ2Ts: I don’t apologise to people I have zero respect for. If anything, I’m owed an apology from the two of ye clowns for making a mountain out of a molehill and not understanding the valid point I was making.
@Chett Richards: words matter
@SYaxJ2Ts: It’s fascinating how easily people’s feathers get ruffled, and they turn to insults when they’re called out on being factually incorrect.
@Chett Richards: I’ll allow the back-pedal in lieu of an apology ;)
@Iano C: There is no back-pedalling whatsoever. My point is still ultimately valid, I merely changed the order of the words as originally intended. I accept your apology, however cryptic it may appear.
@Chett Richards: Take the “L” and move on with at least a little bit of dignity intact. Or keep digging up! The choice is yours.
@Chett Richards: great times ahead that’s for sure we won’t blame anyone we’ll just sit back and let the government sink us we’re heavily dependent on big companies here from abroad if a recession hits and they pull out the countries finished we’ll be in massive deficit with extremely challenging times to get out of it backed by lack of housing,health system overwhelmed and high cost of living so let’s stay going and avoid the obvious
@Iano C: Rubbish replies as usual. Who’s being petty now..
The money may be attractive but a lot of people, especially those living alone, would be reluctant to take a stranger into their homes. What protections are there for the homeowner in case of non-payment of rent or damage to furniture etc.
FG says spare room is okay but kitchen is off limits.
@Gavan Hogan: That was Fianna Fáil you silly boy
@Paddy Kennedy: You are correct Paddy.
Although, it’s hard to tell the difference sometimes.
@Gavan Hogan: Better the devil you know
A government against its own people
@N D K: Indeed. If one of these landlords is the next Ted Bundy or similar nutjob, there will be hell to pay Leo!
@N D K: I don’t get why people are surprised, it’s always been this way, through all aspects of society. Try to buy a car! I dare you.
And yet, the cranes cloud the Dublin skyline.. what are they building one might ask.. office blocks ? There are 19 fully vacant office buildings in Dublin city centre, eight of which are newly built and 15 fully vacant buildings in the suburbs, three of which are newly built.(source Lindley Estate agency July 23) Office rental is running at 14% vacancy and rising.
A former office block which was vacant for 20 years in Cherry Orchard was converted into residential homes for the relatively paltry sum of €26 million last year.. housing 200 people .. 20 years! No wonder we have record homeless figures and students begging for a bed !
Just be careful kids, a lot of sharks out there who will take advantage.
Begging for beds, A new low for the Irish government, ffg are finished.
@Thomas Ryan: cabbages will put them back in and around the merry go round we go until the countries debt is catastrophic and cost of living higher again it’s going to implode at some point if it’s just constantly ignored
Digs were fine for a huge proportion of students for decades, it’s bizarre that SUs ignored them as an option for so long.
This Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Green Party solution could be applied to other situations where the Governement is unwilling/unable to act. For instance people on trollies could be parked outside hospitals to ask visitors if they have a relative who could move over and take another patient in their bed or people with nothing to eat could stop passers by and ask them if they could provide food.
Oh sorry! That last plan is already Government policy.
What a dump this country is, most expensive country in the EU, worst public transport service,worst health servise, lowest amount of prison places for the fastest growing crime in the EU., one of the most corrupt governments in the EU. (I won it on a horse) and that was the leader of the counyry lol.
we are a deeply flawed and backward people on yhis septic isle
@Adam: have you not seen the cycle lanes created around the country they’re first class cost prob 4-5 times more than anywhere else in EU but they are well done we have that anyway,we may aswel put bertie back in can’t do much worse
We are living close to many of the major colleges in Dublin, yet anytime we have advertised a room in our home to a student, bed and board, we have got a minimal amount of replies. We have advertised online and through Colleges. IADT even refused to post our advert because we were charging slightly over E125pw. Students and Colleges are happy to blame Govt and rightly so but any Govt solution will take years while they sit back and happily play the blame game, instead of building their own database of accommodation. Never Again!!
@BarryH: would you take in a mature student
why is Airbnb never mentioned? I love near kenmare there’s 3 places for rent on daft and hundreds of properties on airbnb, why is uber out and Airbnb in? it’s crazy
have your say