The Government has given approval for the Department of Higher and Further Education to publish legal changes to the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No.2) Bill to ensure student-specific accommodation leases are aligned to the academic year.
The amendments come on the back of an increase in student accommodation providers only offering 51-week leases for students, thus increasing the cost barriers to participation in higher education for many students.
Under the amended legislation, student accommodation will follow the traditional September to May (up to 41 weeks) academic year, unless a student requests a tenancy in excess of 41 weeks. Minister Patrick O’Donovan says “ country students usually return home for the summer months to work on farms or in local businesses. It is unthinkable that they would be forced to pay rent for accommodation they have no use for.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien expects to have the legislation enacted in the coming weeks. The Dáil is to break for the Summer Recess on July 11th.
Once enacted, this Bill will cover all new student specific accommodation tenancies.
