Student Accommodation in Ireland Contracts Should Confine To The Academic Year, Harris Promises Change

Key Points

• Many student accommodation providers rent out their properties based on a lease period of 51 weeks, a full year.
• Outrage sparked in Ireland over the fact that the academic year is 38-40 weeks long and students still have to pay for accommodation for the full year.
• Incoming PM Simon Harris has promised to amend the existing law for international students in Ireland and domestic students alike.

Ireland’s incoming Prime Minister, Simon Harris, has expressed that student accommodation in Ireland contracts must be confined to the academic year.

What does that mean? Currently, accommodations in which international students in Ireland, as well as domestic students, are staying have a lease period of 51 weeks. This lease period for student housing in Dublin and other major cities in the country exceeds the duration of the academic year.

Simon Harris, the current Minister for Further and Higher Education, has made it “crystal clear” that he is set to amend the current legislation. He added that when planning permission is granted for student accommodations, it would be mandatory that the lease period for the same is confined to 41 weeks, the duration of a regular academic year.

The Taoiseach spoke on RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland about how he plans to bring the amendment to the Cabinet in April.

“Of course, the student can extend [the lease period] if they wish, but can’t be compelled to,” Harris said.

Harris’ statements have not come unprovoked. The country has massive outrage amongst universities and student groups regarding providers of student accommodation in Ireland. They have been forcing students to switch from a 40-week lease to a full-year lease according to various reports. In a statement earlier this week, Harris expressed that he has been working with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien on this issue of student accommodation in Ireland and that they both agree that the current situation is “unacceptable”.

According to sources such as The Journal, many students revealed that they were expected to pay, on average €3,000 more per year to live in a student accommodation in Dublin. When asked about the same, Harris declared he would look into it. Student accommodation in Dublin remains a crisis to this day.

“I will be writing to the relevant councils seeking an urgent assessment of the permissions provided and appropriate responses”

Harris was cross-questioned on how he would ensure this change doesn’t result in a skyrocketing rent. His response essentially expressed how rent is covered by rent-pressure zones, which would protect against such a possibility.

“There are very legitimate issues that need to be considered by the planning authorities,” the Minister told Morning Ireland.

Despite these promising claims, the opposition as well as the citizens are awaiting plausible change enshrined in law. Many believe that the PM has declared the onset of many amendments and changes in the past months without any tangible evidence. Stay tuned with AmberNewsroom to stay updated with the developments on this situation.