Stop Student Rent Hikes – proposed law to protect renters
Stop Student Rent Hikes - proposed law to protect renters - The Labour Party
Labour’s spokesperson on further and higher education Senator Laura Harmon has today (Wednesday 5th August) published legislation to stop landlords circumventing rent controls.
The Residential Tenancies (Student Rent) Bill 2026 aims to prevent student accommodation providers from circumventing rent controls by ensuring mandatory service charges are included in rental prices.
Speaking at the launch in Cork today, Senator Harmon said this safeguard has been long promised by Minister Lawless and he must now act to progress Labour’s legislation.
Senator Laura Harmon said:
“Some student accommodation providers use so-called “mandatory fees” as a way to circumvent rent controls which is driving up already very high costs of accommodation for students.
“Service charges like security and building related costs are often added on, which are then added onto the agreed rent.
“For example, DCU students faced a 1.7% increase in their monthly rents last year, but when service charges were added, the total increase came to almost 7%. It’s wrong, and as Minister Lawless himself has said, it is utterly against the spirit of the law.
“As a former USI President, I understand uniquely the struggles and challenges faced by so many students when it comes to facing the costs of attending college. My legislation will provide clarity and transparency when it comes to the rents charged by accommodation providers. It will stamp out bogus charges which are effectively rent increases.
“Just last month, AMLE (Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éireann) clearly said that the cost of college is becoming the single greatest barrier to higher education in Ireland. New research published by Switcher.ie today proves that the cost of further and higher education shows no sign of abating, with costs rising almost €500 year on year.
“While Dublin remains the most expensive place to study with average costs of almost €2,000, Cork and Maynooth are close behind with over €1,600 in each area. Average accommodation costs are rising year on year and we cannot allow providers to use this loophole in the rent controls to increase rents any further for students.
“I hope that the Minister will work with me on enacting this much needed protection for students and their families. Students are already under huge financial pressure and many are facing impossible choices between torturous commutes, paying above the odds for accommodation or dropping out of college altogether. It’s unacceptable and we need to see action now.”
ENDS
Residential Tenancies (Student Rent) Bill 2026: https://labour.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Residential-Tenancies-Student-Rent-Bill.pdf