Accommodation Guides
Finding accommodation for college can be tricky at the best of times. Your Students’ Union may not have all the answers, but the Advice and Advocacy team will endeavor to assist you with any questions. The following information has proven helpful for students when sourcing accommodation or with any issues that arise during the academic year.
If you need further information or assistance, you can contact advice@tudublinsu.ie.
Where Do I Start?
- What type of property suits my needs? A house, digs, or an apartment?
- Will I need accommodation for the full year, just a semester or just the days I am on campus?
- What is my budget?
- What areas suit my needs? Consider transportation, location and nearby shops.
- Digs: These are rooms in host family homes available either on a 5 or 7 day basis; some include meals - try to get the one that best suits you.
- Private rented accommodation: These are residential lettings that are available either as full properties or single rooms within a property, available 7 days a week with a lease anywhere from 3 to 12 months.
- Student accommodation: These purpose-built student accommodation blocks usually provide private or twin rooms with ensuites, shared kitchen and living spaces with up to 12 other students and are available 7 days a week during term time.
- Bills aren’t always included in the monthly rent, make sure you ask.
- Ensure your budget includes a deposit. This is usually at least one month's rent, and you should get it back at the end of your lease unless you have caused damage to the property or otherwise broken the terms of your lease.
- Hand over the deposit when you sign the lease or after – NEVER BEFORE!
- Ensure you have a copy of the lease and receipt of the deposit.
- If you are sharing with the landlord, normal rights don’t apply- always draw up a letter of agreement regarding rent and bills with the landlord and be sure you both sign it.
- If it’s shared accommodation, find out how many people and who you will be sharing with. This can prevent issues from arising after you move in.
- When you move in first it’s always a good idea to photograph the room or property as it is when you arrive. This ensures if something happens later, you know what state the property was in at the beginning of your lease.
- Ensure the property you’re moving into is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). You can check on the website: www.rtb.ie
Sometimes you may be offered to view a property virtually. This can be a good opportunity to see if a property is right for you but be sure to inspect the property in person before you sign anything or hand over any money.
- Always meet the landlord at the property when doing an in-person viewing.
- Bring a checklist and stay focused.
- Ask what's included. Are bills extra? Is electricity pre-pay or will you have to set up accounts? Are bins included? Is there Wi-Fi?
- Bring a friend/family member along to get a second opinion.
- Inspect the property for mould/damp.
- Ask as many questions as you can and don’t be afraid to follow up with questions after the viewing.
- A bank transfer is preferable. Most reputable agencies/landlords will prefer this to cash.
- If someone is insisting on cash – this may signal alarm bells.
- NEVER pay money to view a property or for any other reason than deposit/rent.
- Do not hand over money without a receipt.
- Don't feel pressure to decide straight away.
Finding The Right Place
Only you know the right type of accommodation to suit your needs. Have a look at our overview of the kinds of accommodation here. Then look at your timetable and budget and decide what the best option for you is.
Make a list of your total income, including work/grants etc.
Now make a list of your total monthly spending, including groceries, transportation, university fees, monthly bills and direct debits or loans, etc. These are your non-negotiable and have to be paid expenses.
Make sure to give yourself a monthly budget for ‘optional spending’ items such as takeaway coffees and nights out. These are expenses that can fluctuate so having a budget can help prevent overspending and leaving you short for other non-negotiable bills.
Deduct your expenditure (total monthly spend) from your income (money from work and grants) to find out what you can spend on rent. You should now have an idea of what you can afford for accommodation. Remember when looking for accommodation, if it does not include bills, the amount you can spend on rent must be adjusted to factor that in.
Once you know your budget, you can compare that to the options available and search for a suitable match for your needs.
FraudSMART
FraudSMART in partnership with An Garda Síochána and Union of Students of Ireland urge students to be vigilant to rental scams and outline key advice to avoid falling victim - see information at www.fraudSMART.ie.
Scam Watch
Scam Watch information can be found at Threshold website, search the keyword ‘Scam Watch’ to learn more.
If you have been scammed out of money you should inform the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation on: +353-1-666 3777 or visit the Crime Fraud Website immediately. Alternatively, contact your local Garda station.
If you are concerned about the quality of your accommodation, please check out your rights and what you can do. Please note that these pertain to private rented accommodation. If renting a room within a landlord's home, set out expectations and rules regarding rent, bills, and facilities before you agree to terms. Standard Tenants' Rights legislation does not cover such accommodation.
University could be the first time you find yourself living with strangers or friends. Remember everyone comes from different backgrounds and cultures, bringing different experiences and ways of living to the table. It is important to consider this to effectively live in harmony with others - at least most of the time.
However sometimes, disputes, disagreements, or an undercurrent of tension can occur in shared accommodation. If you need advice, you can speak with a member of the SU team by emailing advice@tudublinsu.ie. See this guide on getting along with your roommates.
If you feel moving out is your best option, check out the ending tenancy section below.
If you are in dispute with your landlord, it is important to know your rights. Conflicts can occur due to misunderstandings or miscommunication, so try to communicate calmly and effectively in writing versus casual conversation. The Residential Tenancies Board offers a free mediation service for tenants and landlords. The service covers disputes about deposits, lease terms, termination of tenancies, rent arrears, market rents, and more. Any decision reached by the board is legally binding.
Ending Tenancy
The tenancy/lease agreement may give a longer notice in private rented accommodation. A landlord and tenant may also agree to a shorter notice period, but this can only be agreed upon when a notice has been given.
The law sets out minimum notice periods (see table below). Recent changes to the legislation have extended the notice periods that a landlord must provide to a tenant when issuing a notice. Those issuing notices of termination must familiarise themselves with the notice periods, as failing to issue a notice of termination within the correct number of days may invalidate the notice of termination in full.
Some key information for students wishing to end a tenancy can be found on Threshold.ie, or RTB.ie.
Start of Notice Period
By law, the notice period starts the day after the tenant receives the notice. So, if the tenant receives the notice on a Monday, the notice period is counted from Tuesday. It is a good idea to give some extra days’ notice to make sure the legal minimum notice period is covered.
Invalid notice of termination is a common issue in dispute cases, and in 2016 43% of notices of termination were invalid. This was due to many reasons, the most common being:
- insufficient notice being given (day one is counted from the day after serving the notice) and;
- not allowing the minimum 14-day warning letter for rent arrears to expire before serving a 28-day notice of termination.
Notice Required
The amount of notice required to end a tenancy depends on how long the tenant has lived in the property. The lease agreement may give a longer period of notice to the tenant, and a landlord and tenant may also agree to a shorter period of notice. However, this can only be agreed upon when a notice has been given. The law sets out minimum notice periods which are different for a landlord and a tenant.
From 6 July 2022, the notice periods a landlord must provide a tenant when ending a tenancy have increased. They are as follows:
| Duration of a Tenancy | Landlord Notice Period |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 90 days |
| 6+ months, but less than one year | 152 days |
| 1+ year, but less than seven years | 180 days |
| 7+ year,, but less than eight years | 196 days |
| 8+ years | 224 days |
| Duration of a Tenancy | Tenants Notice Period |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | 28 days |
| 6+ months, but less than 1 year | 35 days |
| 1+ year, but less than 2 years | 42 days |
| 2+ years but less than 4 years | 56 days |
| 4+ years but less than 8 years | 84 days |
| 8+ years | 112 days |
A tenancy can also be ended if both a landlord and tenant agree to terminate a lease.
7 Day Notice
If there is a high and imminent risk of death, serious injury or danger to the property's structure due to the landlord's failure to comply with their obligations, the tenant only has to give seven days' notice. Warning letters do not need to be sent in this situation.
Source: Residential Tenancies Board. You can access more information on RTB.ie.
Landlord / Tenant Rights
- Pay rent on time.
- Pay other bills not specified in the letting agreement (bins, gas, etc.).
- Keep property in good order.
- Inform the landlord if repairs are needed.
- Give the landlord access to routine inspections (by appointment).
- Inform the landlord of who is living in the property.
- Provide a rent book.
- Repair and maintain the structure of the property.
- Reimburse tenants for any repairs they carry out, which are your responsibility.
- Ensure the tenant knows how to contact you.
- Give the tenant notice of a rent review or termination; the amount of notice your landlord must give you depends on how long you have been in the tenancy.
- Provide tenants with a valid and written notice of terminations.
Places to Find Accommodation
The TU Dublin Student Pad search engine with various types of accommodation available. Once you register, you can access all the listings and get emailed when new properties become available that may interest you. Landlords can also register on the site to have their properties listed.
Where can I Access Information about my rights as a Tenant?
RTB (Residential Tenancies Board)
Tel: +353-1-702 8100
www.rtb.ie
Threshold (The National Housing Organisation)
Tel: 1800 454 454
www.threshold.ie
Citizens Information
Tel: +353-761-07 4000
www.citzensinformation.ie
Is there a Union for renters?
CATU is the Community Action Tenants Union. You can find out more about them on their website.
Accommodation Navigation Guide
As we kick off the new academic year, the hunt for accommodation is underway and here at the TU Dublin Students Union (SU) we're dedicated to being your guide through this process, making it as stress-free as possible.
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