Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe this week called on the Government to expedite plans to introduce promised legislation to ban mandatory 51 week student leases, before the Dáil goes into recess on July 15.
An Taoiseach Simon Harris has said on multiple occasions, both as Minister for Further & Higher Education, and in his current role, that this issue would be addressed, and although a memo was brought to cabinet at the end of May, legislation has yet to be introduced.
The academic year will run from September 9 to May 9, a length that spans nearly 35 weeks, for University of Galway students in 2024 / 25. According to University of Galway Students' Union, the cost of having to pay 'an extra 16 weeks of rent outside of term time' leaves 'students and their families under huge financial pressure'.
The organisation goes on to say that this additional cost, in the midst of an ongoing cost of living crisis, acts as a 'huge barrier to accessing education'.
Students’ Union president Dean Kenny, said, “51 week mandatory leases for students are unfair, unnecessary and take advantage of students who neither want nor need a lease for that length of time.
"It is imperative that this issue is addressed before the Dáil goes into recess. A failure to do so will result in more unnecessary hardship and additional costs for students, allowing landlords and private providers to take advantage, as we have already seen on multiple occasions this year in Galway.
"Particularly in the case of Hubble Living student accommodation, who attempted to raise rents by more than 30 per cent for the upcoming academic year.”
Hubble Living
In February this year, Hubble Living announced its plans to increase the rates for its de luxe and de luxe ensuite rooms by a 'minimum yearly increase of €2,500' for the 2024 /2025 academic year. Prior to the announcement, Hubble Living offered three tiers of accommodation, single, twin and de luxe rooms, with costs ranging from €6,163 to €8,484 for nine month tenancies.
In addition to increasing costs, Hubble Living announced that following 'planned renovation works on the rooms in the complex', its single and twin accommodations would no longer be offered going forward, leaving only de luxe and de luxe ensuite rooms instead.
In April, following backlash from tenants, University of Galway Students' Union, TDs, ministers and local representatives, Hubble Living announced that it would not be going ahead with the price increase.
