No point in lecturing our students on €10k rents

IT’S been a few years since universities shed their ivory tower image to adopt a more business-like ethos but even so, the sector’s cutthroat approach to campus accommodation is startling.

Just this week a 12% hike in the rents at UCD was proposed, bringing rents almost to €10,000 for the nine-month college year. UCC followed suit, raising rents by 3% while Trinity has announced its intention to examine the matter.

The students’ sit-down protest over the proposals to increase rents over the next three years by the maximum allowed under the rent cap laws led to UCD president Andrew Deeks accusing them of reacting ‘emotionally’, while defending the increase.

It’s easy for the UCD president to talk. He has a magnificent residence, University Lodge, at his disposal and his new offices in beautiful Ardmore House have been renovated for €7.5m.

To students who rely on their parents, their Susi grant or their menial job in McDonald’s for their rent, campus accommodation seems governed by the same cynical and greedy principles that exist across much of the private rental sector. It’s called ‘letting the market decide’.

Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson argues: ‘There’s no reason why you can’t have a good quality rental in Dublin for €700 for one bedroom, €800 to €900 for two beds.’

That rents have spiralled so much is as much a reflection of the profiteering of property owners, as the Government’s laissezfaire attitude to housing.