In student accommodation? We’ve got you covered.

You’ve probably heard about The Student Tenancies Bill, otherwise known as the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2024, but what does this mean for you as a renter? Well, if you’re a student renting student accommodation: you’ve basically just gotten a lot more protection under the law.

Despite this new legislation now being in place, student accommodation providers are still taking the piss. This week, student accommodation provider Yugo has been caught deliberately giving renters incorrect information about the 51-week law change, instead informing students that only certain rooms are available for shorter leases. If you don’t want to rely on your landlord to give you their version of the law, get to know your rights:

Student leases cannot exceed 41 weeks in length.

Unless specifically requested by the student tenant, and then agreed to by the SSA provider, any lease exceeding 41 weeks by a student accommodation provider is now illegal. This was done to allow students to go home in the summer when the college year ends. In previous years the enforcement of 51 week leases was exploitative as many students would end up paying for accommodation they had moved out of, without the opportunity to sublet.

Private Student Accommodation Providers Cannot Ask For An Advance Payment Of More Than 1 Month’s Rent.

Unless you are in official college accommodation (e.g. Trinity Halls, or UCD official accommodation), they cannot ask for more than 1 month’s rent in advance.

You Can Terminate Your Lease Without Cause

Despite what some accomodation providers inform students, as long as you give 28+ days notice – the student tenant can serve a Notice of Termination of their student lease between 1 May-1 October.

You Can Report Rule Breaking To The Residential Tenancies Board

Sanctions will apply to an SSA provider exceeding that 41 week limit, so if you suspect rules are being broken – get in touch with them. They’re there to help!

Elsewhere on District: Know Your Rights: Moving Out Edition