Accommodation

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Welcome to the accommodation page. This page has been moved from the DP/Welfare area to facilitate easier access.

Please take a look at your tenant rights and obligations in the link on the right and also take note of the recommendations of the University and Union when looking at accommodation.

Do not take a landlord's word that there are 20 people interested in his/her house and you must give a deposit now to secure it. This is not legitimate business practice.

Legal Aid Solicitors Gerard J. Meehan and Co. will be in the SU from 4pm on Tuesday the 10th of May to advise anyone on leases. Please DO NOT SIGN a lease if you think you may need to get it checked over. Leases are legally binding and there can be banana skins in them.

Students' Union Recommendations

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please note that neither the University of Limerick nor ULSU hold a list of recommended housing. The quality or service derived from listings on the webiste, adverts and otherwise promoted accommodation cannot be verified by either organisation.

A good place to start looking for accommodation is the UL Accommodation Office. The office is located at D0035 (up the stairs beside the Main Reception in UL). The office provides information on accommodation and also a list of accommodation currently available both on and off campus. The Accommodation Office website (www.ul.ie/~accommodation) has info on both on and off campus accommodation and is definitely worth a look. Threshold is a government agency that offers advise and support on accommodation issues (www.threshold.ie) and are a good first stop for problems that may arise.

Renting a house can be plain sailing, but occasionally things go wrong. If a dispute arises and you don`t know how to deal with it bring the matter to the attention of your Welfare Officer or the Accommodation Office. The PRTB offers a dispute resolution service (www.prtb.ie) but only as a last resort. Using the following guidelines will help protect you and will help your case when disputes occur. Remember to check your BER rating.

Students' Union Recommendations

ALWAYS make sure that all agreements are in writing.

Request a rent book. This will set out how much rent is payable and specify contact details for your landlord

Request an inventory. This is a list of all the contents of the house and any structural damage or wear and tear in the house. Check the list, add anything that`s missing and make sure the landlord and the tenants sign it

Take photos. Take pictures of all rooms in the house and the exterior before you move in and when you move out. If possible have dates on the pictures (most digital cameras can do this). Print the photos and post them to yourself by registerd post. Do not open the envelope until you have gotten your deposit back or you have taken legal advice on a dispute. This is vital evidence for dispute resolution

Keep everything. Keep all receipts and bills and letters related to the house. Make sure the landlord signs your rent book or gives you a dated receipt every time you pay rent

Contact the Welfare Officer who can advise on a landlords track record with students.

Deposits

You may forfeit some or all of your deposit if you:

Do not properly terminate the tenancy or attempt to terminate the tenancy of a fixed term lease.
Damage the property above normal wear and tear (ask for receipts for anything deducted for damage)
Leave unpaid bills or rent (again as for receipts)

The Law

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 covers all the legalities in relation to accommodation. The "quick guide" is available online at www.prtb.ie or from your SU Welfare Officer. Here are some of the basics relating to students:

Tenants must:

Pay rent and other specified charges
Avoid causing damage to the property
Not engage in or allow anti-social behaviour
Not alter the premises or sub-let the premises without the landlords written consent
Allow access for repairs and routine inspections (by appointment)

Landlords must:

Carry out repairs
Provide a point of contact
Promptly refund deposits (beyond damage charges and arrears)
Not penalise tenants for making complaints or taking action to enforce their rights

These obligations must be adhered to whether or not there is a lease or written agreement. Additional obligations, however, can be included in the lease.

Tenancy Termination

The landlord may terminate without specifying grounds during the first 6 months, after which the landlord can terminate the tenancy if:

The tenant does not comply with the obligations of tenancy
The dwelling is overcrowded
The landlord wishes to refurbish the dwelling
The landlord requires the dwelling for personal or family member occupation
The landlord intends to change the business use of the dwelling
The landlord intends to sell the dwelling in the next 3 months

Notice time for termination (Landlord and Tenant)

Less than 6 months - 28 days
6 months - 1 yr - 35 days

Shorter notice periods apply where termination is for non-compliance with tenancy obligations (7 days for anti-social behaviour, 28 days for other breaches) and the parties may also agree a shorter notice period at the time of termination.

Dispute Resolution

The Private Residential Tenancy Board (PRTB) has been set up to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. The PRTB dispute resolution service replaces the court in relation to the majority of landlord and tenant disputes. The PRTB is a service for tenants, landlords and other stakeholders (such as neighbours).

Anyone wishing to refer a dispute to the PRTB should contact it directly in the first instance and discuss the matter. The PRTB will provide an Application Form, which should be completed and returned to the Board along with the appropriate application fee.

The PRTB deals with (amongst others):

Refund or retention of deposits
Breaches of tenancy obligations (by either landlords or tenants)
Failure to follow the correct procedure to terminate a tenancy
Invalid reason for terminating a tenancy
Termination notices
Tenants and sub-tenants remaining in occupation despite receiving a valid termination notice
Claims for costs and damages from either the landlord or the tenant arising from failures by either party to comply with their obligations
Claims for costs or damages or both by a landlord or tenant claiming improper termination of a tenancy
Penalisation of tenants by landlords, e.g. for referring a dispute to the PRTB
Claims for rent arrears or other charges

Disclaimer: Neither the Univseristy of Limerick Students' Union nor the University of Limerick accepts any liability in relation to properties listed. Properties are not screened.