As CAO offers are received, a severe shortage of suitable, secure, and affordable student housing spells disappointment and stress for thousands of students
The IPOA is warning that over-regulation of the rental market is driving students into the arms of institutional investors’ more expensive accommodation
As CAO offers today trigger a surge in competition between students to secure housing, the Irish Property Owners’ Association (IPOA) has called on the Government to act urgently to accelerate delivery of affordable student accommodation from universities and additionally, to incentivise small landlords to remain in, or re-enter, the rental market.
In recent years, many “small landlords” who once provided affordable accommodation for students have exited the market due to rent caps, over-regulation and strict taxation. Unlike other businesses, landlords do not have access to tax reliefs for costs and services required for property refurbishments and repairs. Such regulations and tax treatment have driven many small-scale property owners to withdraw their properties from the market, which has drastically reduced the pool of affordable accommodation, leaving students with little choice but to pay inflated prices for purpose-built student blocks operated by institutional investors
For many students, the consequences are stark: deferring college, accepting less-preferred courses, long commutes that damage wellbeing and academic success, or couch-surfing without a permanent home. What should be a moment of pride and celebration is instead overshadowed by fear and uncertainty. The IPOA is calling for urgent Government action to increase availability in the rental market and ensure sufficient supply of affordable accommodation so students can look forward to continuing their education rather than worrying about where they will live.
Mary Conway, Chairperson of the IPOA, said “Students deserve more than anxiety about where they will live. But the reality is that affordable housing options are quickly disappearing because smaller landlords – who traditionally provided a bulk of rentals for students – have been forced out of the market. The cost of existing accommodation often far-exceeds the average student budget.
The Government must urgently rebalance the rental market: accelerate delivery of affordable student housing through universities and create a fairer, more sustainable environment that encourages landlords to remain in the rental market, which will increase options for students. Without decisive action, thousands of students who received their offers today risk being locked out of higher education simply because they cannot secure a place to live.”