USI is urging students to beware of unscrupulous landlords, who are targeting students’ deposits as income. These deposits are being retained infairly rather than acting as insurance for landlords that the terms of their leases will be complied with properly. 

Research has found that:

• 40% of students have had their deposit unfairly withheld.
• 75% of cases reported to the PRTB are in relation to the deposit retention.
• Over 60% of students have had over €200 unfairly taken off their deposit.

USI issued the warning at the launch of its 2011 Rent Book & Accommodation Guide at the National College of Ireland Students’ Union on  August 15th. 

The 2011 guide, which has been produced with the support of Threshold and the Department of the Environment, will provide students and parents with all the practical information needed on any accommodation issues they may face throughout the college year. 

USI also launched its campaign for the introduction of a Deposit Protection Scheme to protect students from being ripped off by rogue landlords, and this year’s guide also includes a petition encouraging students and their families to support the USI campaign. 

The Rent Book - which was officially launched by Senator Aideen Hayden, Chair of Threshold- the National Housing Organisation, & USI President Gary Redmond - also lists a number of support organisations and services that are available if students run into issues with their landlord.

You can obtain a copy of the guide at your local students' unions.

Click here to access a digital copy of the Rent Book.

Click here to see pics of the Rent Book 2011 launch.