In an already difficult housing market for students, Irish universities have increased the prices of their on-site housing ahead of rent caps being imposed on purpose-built student accommodation.
Students at University College Cork will experience the largest surges in rent, with UCC’s prices rising by more than 10% across all of its halls. Those wanting an en-suite bathroom at Mardyke Hall will pay 11.5% more than last year.
The latest hurdle for students in their housing search
Ireland is experiencing a chronic national housing shortage, causing rents to spiral: in Dublin, the average rent increased by 12% in the year up to March 2018. Affordable student housing is at a premium, with homeowners encouraged to rent out their spare rooms to students in return for financial incentives.
To combat this, the Irish government launched the National Student Accommodation Strategy in 2017, with the ambitious pledge of building 21,000 new PBSA beds by 2024.
