Students living in rented properties have legal rights and responsibilities. Students who live in student specific accommodation (SSA) have most of the same rights as private tenants, but there are some differences.
This page has information on tenancies leased by SSA providers. We also have pages on tenancies where a student’s landlord is:
SSA is housing that is used for the sole purpose of providing residential accommodation to students during the academic term.
All SSA tenancies and licences are under the RTB’s remit. This includes SSA provided by colleges, universities and private companies.
There is one exception. If the landlord lives in the same building, or part of a building, as the tenant, the property does not fall under the RTB’s remit.
This exception only applies if the landlord is an individual, not a company or other entity.
Tenants in student specific accommodation have most of the same rights as private tenants. There are some differences.
Landlords renting to students must register the tenancy with the RTB if the property is a:
Check the register of private tenancies and student specific accommodation tenancies to see if your tenancy has been registered. Or you can ask the landlord when they will be registering the tenancy.
Find out more about how to register an SSA tenancy or check the SSA register for a list of all SSA tenancies registered with the RTB.
Find out about rules for correctly setting and reviewing rent in a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) or outside an RPZ.
View a selection of properties to find the most suitable place for your needs. Do not sign a tenancy agreement (lease) or pay a deposit before seeing the property in person.
All providers of property services must hold a Public Services Regulatory Authority (PRSA) licence. This includes estate agents and letting agents.
Ask to see the provider’s licence and take note of the number. Check the Register of Licenced Property Services Providers to make sure the licence is valid.
All rented accommodation must meet basic minimum standards. For example, hot and cold water must be available to the tenant.
The Local Authority (council) where your accommodation is located can inspect it. They can check your accommodation meets minimum standards. If your landlord does not meet these standards they can be prosecuted.
Landlords can also conduct regular inspections of their rented property. They should arrange these inspections with the tenant in advance and give them reasonable notice.
Landlords usually ask for a security deposit at the start of a tenancy. A landlord cannot ask for a deposit that is more than 1 month’s rent. They cannot ask you to pay more than 1 month’s rent in advance.
In other words, you cannot be asked to pay more than the equivalent of 2 month’s rent in total to secure the tenancy.
You can only choose to pay more than 1 month’s rent in advance if you are paying rent and tuition fees to the same relevant provider and your landlord agrees to this.
Once you are happy with the property and the terms of your tenancy agreement, pay the deposit. Ask for a receipt that shows the amount paid and the date. If possible, avoid paying the deposit in cash.
The landlord holds the deposit and should return it when the tenancy ends. To get your full deposit back, follow the rules in your tenancy agreement. Keep the property in good condition.
The landlord can keep part or all of the deposit in the following situations:
When a tenant or landlord wants to end a tenancy, they must send a valid notice of termination to the other party. They must give the minimum notice period required by law. We recommend you follow the RTB sample notices of termination to make sure the notice sent to your landlord is legally correct.
Find the required notice periods and sample notices of termination.
You can end a fixed-term tenancy at any time between 1 May and 1 October each year for any reason.
Outside of these dates, the existing rules about ending a fixed term tenancy apply. A student can only end their tenancy for specific reasons:
Read more about ending an SSA tenancy.
A landlord or agent cannot discriminate against you because of your:
If you feel you have been discriminated against, contact the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Find information about the equality legislation that covers private rented accommodation.
The simplest way to resolve a tenancy dispute is to talk to the other party to fix the issues.
If you cannot resolve the issues, the RTB provides a dispute resolution service for registered landlords and tenants.
Landlords must register a tenancy with the RTB within one month of its start date. They must re-register every year for as long as the tenancy or licence exists.
Use this online form to report a potential unregistered tenancy to the RTB.
The RTB can investigate other violations of rental law by landlords. These include:
Use this online form to report a landlord for breaches of rental law.
Students should be careful of rental scams when returning to college.
Rental fraud occurs when a victim pays money to rent accommodation (usually as a deposit) and discovers it is a scam. For more information visit An Garda Síochána website.
