Young professionals taking up student digs

YOUNG professionals are pushing students out of the housing market around UCC and CIT, according to student leaders.

Campus accommodation in UCC has been full since March, and the private accommodation close to CIT filled by April. While there are still rooms left in private houses in the College Road, Glasheen, and Bishopstown areas, the wider rent crisis has pushed young professionals into house sharing arrangements. Many landlords have opted for these older tenants as they can afford higher rent and sign on for 12-month instead of 9-month leases.

Main Quadrangle, University College Cork. Photo by Tomas Tyner.

Shane Falvey, President of CIT Students’ Union, said that last year the accommodation problems on their side of the city were “catastrophic” and he believes that this year will be even worse as more private houses in Bishopstown move from the student market to the professional market.

However, he said that people shouldn’t panic as many students had already sorted accommodation, but he urged prospective students to start looking now.

“If students have CIT down on the CAO, they should be looking. It’s worth putting down a deposit on accommodation at your top three college choices,” he said.

With supply at the root of the problem, Mr Falvey said that his union will be working with locals in the coming weeks to make rooms available to rent. Homeowners can earn up to €12,000 per year tax-free by renting out spare rooms, and Mr Falvey said more people are taking advantage of this scheme.

However, he said CIT will need to look at purpose-built student accommodation in its long-term strategic plan, which is due to be drafted later this year, but they may find it difficult to get help from the government.

CIT Campus in Bishopstown.

Last week, Richard Bruton, the new Minister for Education and Skills, was told there was “no scope” for any significant capital investment for student accommodation. Minister for Housing Simon Coveney did mention addressing the student housing crisis as a means to relieving pressure on the wider rental crisis while speaking at Cork County Council on Monday.

Katie Quinlan, UCC Students’ Union Welfare Officer, dubbed the government’s words “hollow” in terms of addressing student accommodation. She said they speak about “equity of access” for students, but fail to tackle some basic needs.

“I think people like Richard Bruton and Simon Coveney are disconnected from students looking for houses that aren’t there. The seem to really forget about students. If we want to get people to graduate, we have to make sure they have a bed to stay in,” she said.However, she warned students not to panic, but to be “persistent” when looking for a space.“If you are checking the websites once a day, you should be checking them twice a day. Talk to people that you know are finishing college or moving somewhere else and see if there is a room in their house,” she said.The university also has a Facebook group called ‘UCC Accommodation’ that students and prospective students can join to advertise and find rooms.