As 20,000 University of Galway students return to college on September 7, the Students’ Union is appealing to the public for help finding students accommodation.
The Union is asking those with suitable spare rooms to open them up to student renters by advertising them for free on the University Student Pad website. The rent-a-room relief scheme allows homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per year tax-free.
SU President Seán de Búrca says the SU will be distributing leaflets in town and to housing near the university campus this week, calling on anyone with a spare room to consider renting to a student.
“Our students are among the worst affected by the continuing housing crisis,” says de Búrca. “Each year we have students commuting for up to 7 hours a day, paying extortionate rent, sleeping on friends’ couches or living in hostels.”
SU Vice President/Welfare and Equality Officer Molly Hickey adds that the Union is getting hundreds of emails and phone calls every day from students and their families, “desperately seeking housing...
“It’s heartbreaking to hear the circumstances that students are finding themselves in. There’s also been an increase in accommodation fraud which is adding to this nightmare situation.”
Those wishing to advertise a room on University Student Pad can register their property for free at https://www.uniofgalway studentpad.ie/landlords
