Co. Kildare students searching for accommodation warned of rising rent prices
By Kim O’Leary
Students from Co. Kildare starting college this September are at risk of missing out on their dream courses in college because of a chronic shortage of rental accommodation.
Around 2,720 Kildare students completed the Leaving Certificate this year and many of them are expected to go on to study at third-level institutions across the country.
The supply of accommodation is at an all-time low as more than 50,000 students turn their thoughts to going to college.
The shortage of student rents is adding to the existing problems across the entire housing market. Many students will be unable to find somewhere to live during the academic year unless their families already live near university, and they can stay at home.
Thousands of students have just begun the scramble for somewhere to live as the academic year is about to start.
This comes as rents have risen nationwide by almost 12pc in the year to June 2017.The average monthly rent nationwide is now €1,159. This is up €122 a month since last year.
Meanwhile, a report published by Aviva found that just under half of parents 49 per cent say that they have made no financial preparations to meet the cost of putting their children through third level education.
Aviva’s Cost of Education Report, which shows that, on average, parents expect to pay out €5,122 a year to send a child to a third level college or university. If the student has to move away from home to go to college, the expected cost is almost double, at €10,125.
The research for the Report, carried out for Aviva by RED C, found considerable openness and some support for the idea of a student loan system with repayment to be contingent on the income earned by graduates.
Ann O’Keeffe, Head of Individual Life and Pensions at Aviva said: “Parents want to give their children the best possible chance in life and in Ireland that has always meant giving them the best education you can afford. In that context, it’s not surprising that parents want to explore all options for funding Higher education, including the option of a student loan system. But whatever the outcome of that debate, education will continue to be a big item in the family budget.”
For students and parents seeking information and advice on accommodation visit www.threshold.ie