From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien TD today welcomed Government support to progress legislative changes to ensure student-specific accommodation leases are confined to the academic year.
The decision comes on the back of some student-specific accommodation providers forcing students to switch from the standard leases that cover the academic year to 51-week leases.
Government now plans to advance legislative changes to the Residential Tenancies Act before the summer recess to ensure the new tenancy protections are in place before the new academic year.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“I have been working closely with the Minister for Housing in recent weeks to find a concrete way to better protect student-specific accommodation leases, and I am delighted that Government is supportive of making legislative changes in this area.
“While a 51-week lease may suit some third-level students, it is not desirable nor affordable for the majority of students, and that is why we are proposing legislative changes to better protect students.
“The legislative changes will ensure a student-specific accommodation lease only covers the standard academic year when it is needed.
Minister Harris added:
“This situation highlights the need for us to be less reliant on the private rental market to house students and for Government to build more college-owned student-specific accommodation.
“We are already working with a number of universities to activate student-specific accommodation projects, and we also invited all universities to work with the Higher Education Authority to develop proposals for the development of more college-owned student-specific accommodation.”
Minister O’Brien said:
“Housing for All commits to a greater availability of dedicated student-specific accommodation. We are progressing this goal on a number of fronts within our housing strategy.
“In the meantime, I’m pleased to report that the Government has supported the bringing forward of necessary legislative changes to better protect students residing in student-specific accommodation. Students nor their parents should be expected to pay for accommodation outside of academic term.
“Government is committed to making college life as affordable as possible and my Department will assist in any way it can to protect student renters and help them access the third level course of their choice.”