Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
143. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science If he will ensure measures are put in place to protect students from runaway inflation rates when tenancies change, as could happen under new tenancy legislation. [36869/25]
View answerI fully support the major rental sector reforms announced by Minister Browne, particularly the measures to enhance security of tenure and extend rent control nationwide. These changes are a vital step toward providing greater certainty and protection for all tenants.
However, student accommodation remains a distinct and critical part of our housing system. The annualised cycle of university programmes presents unique challenges for students in private rental and student specific accommodation that must be appropriately addressed. Affordability and availability must remain central to our approach, and I am committed to ensuring future policies reflect the real needs of students.
Minister Browne and I, along with our teams, are committed to address these challenges. The current rent pressure zone restrictions apply to student specific accommodation, and it is our intention to retain this linkage.
Pending the development of provisions to be incorporated into upcoming modifications to the Residential Tenancies Acts, I would like to assure students that the existing protections continue to apply. The Residential Tenancies Acts provide numerous protections for students residing in Student Specific Accommodation. Protections include, Rent increases are capped at a maximum of 2% in Rent Pressure Zones where general inflation is higher.
