FAQ
Students
Top Tips
If this is your first time renting out accommodation, we recommend that you do your research first. Sometimes tensions do arise between a landlord and a tenant, so it’s better that both parties are informed beforehand.
- Always meet the landlord before agreeing to anything. If you don’t get along, it will make things a lot more difficult throughout the year.
- Agree on a rent. Set it from the beginning. Make it clear how much is being charged per month and what that will include (Will they get food? Are bills included? Are they paying for Christmas months? Etc.)
- Sort out the finer details. If there are things that annoy you or if there are rules in the house they should comply with, tell them now. Things that aren’t aired out can fester and lead to avoidable arguments. Neither side wants that.
- Be aware of your rights. Living in an owner-occupied home (or ‘DIGs’) does not entitle you to the same tenancy rights as renting in private accommodation.
Types of Accommodation
Private-Rented:
Shared apartments and houses.
Commonly takes the form of lease agreements between students and landlords.
Rent typically paid on a monthly basis with a security deposit upfront.
Typically 12 month contracts but can be for the academic year.
Private Accommodation Websites:
- www.daft.ie
- www.rent.ie
- www.property.ie
- www.myhome.ie
- www.shorttermletsdublin.ie
Facebook group - TCDSU Accommodation Support
Purpose-Built Student Accommodation:
- Halls of residence / dorm style accommodation
- Some university owned (Trinity Hall) and the rest are privately owned by companies.
- Takes the form of licence agreement between student and owning company.
- Typically paid in semesterly instalments.
- Academic Year Contract
PBSAs in Dublin
- Aparto Student Accommodation which has multiple accommodations, including
- Binary Hub,
- Beckett House and
- Dorset Point
- Broadstone Hall
- Griffith Halls Residences
- International Student Accommodation (ISA)
- Student Housing.ie
- Yugo Student Residences
DIGs:
- ‘Digs’ Accommodation takes the form of renting out a room in a homeowner’s house.
- These take the form of licensee agreement between student and homeowner.
- Rent is usually paid on a weekly basis.
- Digs accommodation can be on a 5-Day or 7-Day basis and sometimes may include meals in the family home.
- Digs are not for everyone, and it is much easier for your rights to be abused in Digs accommodation.
The Accommodation Advisory Service maintains the Accommodation Portal with Digs-style accommodation. It is a collection of advertisements for rooms for the academic year or for single semesters. Note that properties are not vetted and students should proceed with caution and use their best judgement when connecting with landlords.
You should always view a property before signing any lease. Here are some top tips for signing a lease and agreeing to rent a room.
- Plan an afternoon/evening of viewings. Try to have at least 5 or 6 viewings planned for any one day as inevitably some will cancel or be gone before you get to view them.]
- Always meet the tenant before agreeing to anything. If you don’t get along, it will make things a lot more difficult throughout the year.
- Agree on a rent. Set it from the beginning. Make it clear how much they will be charged per month and what that will include (Will they get food? Are bills included? Are they paying for Christmas months? Etc.)
- Sort out the finer details. If there are things that annoy you or if there are rules in the house they should comply with, tell them now. Things that aren’t aired out can fester and lead to avoidable arguments. Neither side wants that.
- If there are any questions you have, you can always check out our contact list below. Don’t hesitate to contact any of them.
Information via AdviceNow.org
Be organised and professional
Getting accepted as a tenant is a bit like applying for a job, you should;
- Be polite
- Turn up on time for any viewings or meetings
- Dress tidily
- Check any emails you send for spelling mistakes
Ask responsible questions
Ask questions that reflect on how responsible you are, e.g.,
- What day does the recycling get collected?
- What happens with the bins?
- How late can i use the washing machine?
Have your paperwork ready
Make sure to have any relevant information prepared in advance. If there are multiple people applying for the same room/property, this can make you stand out. Type up the information to look professional. Information you may need:
- Current and past addresses, start and end dates of previous tenancies and contact information for previous landlords (for references)
- Name and contact details for some personal references - not all landlords ask for personal references but it’s good to be prepared
- A reference from your previous landlord or hall of residence and a reference from your employer. (If you can't get these in time, just put down their contact details. If you don’t have an employer, you could use copies of your bank statements to show what your income is and where it’s from.)
- Anything else that shows that you have a good track record of paying your rent on time – perhaps a printout of a previous or current rent account or even bank statements showing you pay the full amount on the same day every month.
Sample Script for Replying to an Ad or Listing
"Hello, my name is _____, and I saw your advertisement for a [describe apartment/unit, e.g., ‘7 Day Digs’] in the [where you saw the ad, e.g. TCDSU Accommodation Portal / Facebook Group]. I was wondering if I could speak with you to get some details, and hopefully set up an appointment to meet with you to see the unit.”
If you reach an answering machine: “I can be reached at [phone number and best time]. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon."
Information via an Garda Síochána
We are advising people to be wary of rental scams, particularly at this time of year when students are returning to college.
We advise that recognised letting agencies be used or deal with people who are bona fida and trusted. Websites can be cloned, check the URL to ensure it’s a real website and take note of the privacy and refund policy sections.
We ask that people be very wary of social media advertisements or where a person letting the location will only communicate via messenger or WhatsApp. You should push for direct answers and if responses are vague disengage immediately.
Watch out for unsolicited contacts or where the contact appears to be based in other jurisdictions and especially if there is a sense of urgency like "a one-time offer”.
If people have decided to take up the accommodation, only use trusted money transfer systems, An Garda Síochána would recommend using a credit card. Never transfer money direct, pay cash, pay into cryptocurrency wallets.
Be wary if a website is asking you to send money to a random PayPal address or asking you to wire it by Western Union or pay in iTunes gift cards or ask you to pay for long-term rental accommodation via a short-term letting website or only deals in cryptocurrency. Most of the time, those methods are done to avoid scrutiny and ensure that a transaction can not be reversed.
Red Flags/Warning Signs:
- When the landlord is unable to meet up to show you the property in person.
- When communication is only through Text / WhatsApp or other social media platform.
- When the property is offered with no questions asked and payment demanded immediately before signing the lease.
- When you are asked to pay cash, cryptocurrency or money via a non-bank transfer (such as wire transfer)
Check List:
- Never agree to rent a property without first having the opportunity to view it.
- Do not hand over cash. Insist upon a proper receipt.
- Ensure that the keys work and you have proper contact details for the landlord/agent.
Your main legal rights and responsibilities as a tenant come from landlord and tenant law, as well as from any lease or tenancy agreement you have with your landlord.
If you are renting a room in your landlord's home you are not covered by landlord and tenant legislation, though you are covered if you rent a self-contained flat in your landlord’s home. More information is available via Citizen’s Ireland’s document on sharing accommodation with your landlord.
Deposits
You will probably have to pay a security deposit when you agree to rent a property. The landlord holds this deposit as security to cover any rent arrears, bills owing or damage beyond normal wear and tear at the end of the tenancy.
You cannot be forced to make upfront payments of more than 2 month’s rent.
For more information on your rights as a tenant we recommend you check
Threshold and the Residential Tenancies Board are better equipped to answer your queries regarding your rights as a tenant. Please check their websites or contact them for more information.
FLAC can also offer you free legal advice.
The following information is from Spunout.ie
When your circumstances change and you can’t pay your rent, this can be an extremely stressful situation. However, it is important to do something about it as soon as possible so that you can try to find a solution.
Talk to your landlord
If you can’t pay your rent, speak to your landlord right away. They may be willing to discuss a solution with you, such as coming up with a payment plan. Remember to be honest about how much you can pay every month, and keep track of any agreement you make in writing.
Bear in mind that your landlord wants to do what they can to avoid you moving out, as they most likely need your rent to pay the mortgage on the property you are living in. Finding a good replacement tenant usually takes a while. Make sure to point out such arguments to them.
Apply for social welfare supports
There are several supports available for those who are finding it difficult to pay their rent. If you are unable to cover the cost of your rent with your income, you might be entitled to rent supplement. This is a short-term payment for people in the private rented sector. It is not available to those in full-time education or employment.
If you are working full-time and still can’t pay your rent, you may be eligible for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme. HAP allows you to take up full-time employment and still receive housing support. Your rent will be paid by your local authority directly to your landlord, but you will also have to pay a weekly rent contribution to your local authority. To be able to apply for Housing Assistance Payment, you must be on your local authority’s housing list.
To learn more about the housing supports that may be available to you, contact your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.
Know your rights
If you can’t pay your rent because your landlord increased the cost, it is important to know your rights. There are laws that control how much your rent can be raised by and the specific rules will depend upon where you are living.
If your landlord wants to increase your rent, they must give you at least 90 days written notice. Read more about your rights and rent increases.
There are certain tenancy protections in place for tenants who are receiving one of the following:
- Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absence
- Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) or any other social welfare payment paid as a result of loss of earnings due to COVID-19
These people can apply for protection as a ‘Relevant Person’, which protects them from being evicted on the grounds of arrears (inability to pay rent) until January 2022. You can apply via a self-declaration form, which gets sent to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Find out more about dealing with rent arrears during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Talk to your friends or family
If you have a trusted friend, partner or family member, consider asking them to lend you money. Explain your situation to them and tell them when you think you will be able to pay them back. They might not be in a situation to support you, but it’s worth asking them for help.
Support services if you can’t pay your rent
There are several organisations in Ireland who offer support to people in financial and housing difficulty. They might be able to give you the advice and support that you need to resolve your situation.
St. Vincent De Paul
The Society of St. Vincent De Paul helps people with financial difficulties. They specialise in offering direct assistance to those in need, caring for the homeless, providing social housing, operating holiday homes and other social support activities. If you need support, you can contact your local St. Vincent de Paul office or submit a confidential request for help online.
Threshold
Threshold provides a tenancy support service for people at risk of losing their home. They also provide housing advice and advocacy services. You can contact them via their webchat service from Monday to Friday, by emailing your nearest Threshold advice centre, or by phoning 1800 454 454. Find out more about how to access Threshold services.
The Peter McVerry Trust
The Peter McVerry Trust works to support young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Dublin. You can contact them by phoning your local office or completing an online form. Find out more about contacting the Peter McVerry Trust.
Focus Ireland
Focus Ireland offers support to people experiencing homelessness across Ireland. Their work includes preventing young people from entering homelessness, supporting young people to get back to education or into training, and working with young people to address their needs. If you can’t pay your rent and need advice, contact your nearest Focus Ireland Advice and Information Centre.
MABS
MABS offers advice on budgeting and on the law. They also hold legal clinics around the country on a monthly basis, so you can chat with a qualified solicitor. You can contact their helpline on 0761 07 2000 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 8pm.
Need more information?
Would you like more information? SpunOut are available to talk through your situation You can get in touch through their online chat system for 16 to 25 year olds – Monday to Friday 4pm to 8pm.
- Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
- Or leave us a message and we will email you back
Trinity-Specific Supports
Limited financial assistance is available from the Senior Tutor’s Office here at Trinity. Contact stosec@td.ie to enquire further.
Note that during the Christmas period (22nd December to 3rd January inclusive) the
college is closed, so TCDSU, the accommodation office and the senior tutor office are
all closed.
In emergencies the following contact details may be of use:
- Gardaí (Emergency line): 999 / 112
- Gardaí (Pearse Street Station): 01 666 9000
- Campus security: 01 896 1317
- Campus security (Emergency number): 01 896 1999
- Samaritans (24/7): Freephone 116 123
- Crisis Text Line (24/7): Text TCD to 50808
If you face the prospect of immediate homelessness (i.e., nowhere to sleep on that
night) there are a number of steps you can take. We firstly strongly recommend that
you contact any friends or family that might be able to take you in temporarily. With
the accommodation crisis it can often be difficult to source immediate accommodation
- asking friends or family to take you in temporarily can often be the most effective way of securing temporary shelter quickly.
If you cannot secure immediate accommodation with friends or family you may need
to either book a room in a hotel or hostel or avail of a homeless shelter. If you are
sleeping rough contact Simon Dublin Outreach by calling (01) 872-0185 or email
info@dublinoutreach.ie. More information is available on the Simon website.
More information and resources available at: www.homelessdublin.ie/homeless/help/dublin-city-council
Useful Contacts
Trinity Accommodation Office
For on-campus accommodation queries, please contact the Trinity Accommodation Office:
https://www.tcd.ie/accommodation/on-campus/
(01) 896 1177
residences@tcd.ie
Trinity Halls
For Trinity Hall accommodation queries, please contact the Trinity Hall Accommodation Office:
https://www.tcd.ie/accommodation/trinity-hall/
(01) 497 1772
Trinity.hall@tcd.ie
Kavanagh Court
For Kavanagh Court accommodation queries, please contact the Kavanagh Court Accommodation Office:
https://yugo.com/en-gb/global/ireland/dublin/kavanagh-court
+353 15677900 or +35315676977
kavanaghcourt@yugo.com
TCDSU Welfare & Equality Officer
The Welfare & Equality Officer can help you connect with necessary supports for your emotional, mental and physical needs.
welfare@tcdsu.org
Threshold Housing
Threshold is a national housing charity. They can offer advice on seeking accommodation, dealing with problems during your tenancy and how to end a tenancy. They’re completely free and a great first point of contact.
1890 334 334
www.threshold.ie
Private Residential Tenancies Board
They are the greatest source of information when it comes to tenancy disputes. You can also submit a tenancy dispute to them to aid in dealing with it, but it requires a minimal fee and can take up to 12 months for a dispute to be sorted out.
www.prtb.ie
Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)
FLAC offer free legal advice to everyone. They have free drop-in centres across the country and are great if you’re looking for legal advice with regards to tenancy. You can find their centres and contact details on their website.
For more information on your rights as a tenant we recommend you check Citizens Ireland’s website.