Rents ‘soaring out of control’ for third level students in Cork

There are roughly five times as many beds in privately-owned purpose-built student accommodation in Cork than there are beds in university accommodation.

University College Cork Students’ Union president Katie Haplin Hill told The Echo: “Student accommodation prices are soaring out of control, with investors making huge profits on students desperate to secure a place to live for the academic term.

“This approach of relying on private providers to plug demand is unsustainable, incentivising premium builds that are out of reach for the majority of students.

“Significant investment into publicly-owned and affordable purpose-built student accommodation is needed from the next Government.”

UCC’s campus accommodation has approximately 1,530 beds, with Victoria Mills having 418 beds, Victoria Lodge 335, Castlewhite 298, Mardyke Hall 42, University Hall 180, and the Crow’s Nest 255. 

However, there are close to 7,500 beds in private-owned accommodation built specifically for students, with a UCC document advising students in 2023 that there were 6,000 private beds available at the time and nearly 900 more in the process.

There have been nearly 1,500 built since — 832 from Bróga House and Ashlin House in 2023 and 623 new beds from Bottleworks in 2024.

Advice

The UCC document advises: “In Cork there are many more rooms available through privately-run student apartment complexes than campus accommodation.

“When looking for accommodation it is important to keep these buildings in mind from the very beginning even if campus accommodation is your preference.” 

Though the cheapest accommodation is €4,154 for the college year, most is considerably higher, with the newest development, Bottle Works, charging to €450 per week for a 39-week period, a total of €17,550.

Private student complexes, that serve both UCC and MTU, which has no campus accommodation, include Abbey Wharf, North Abbey Street Apartments, Abbeyville, Brookfield, Deans Hall, Eden Hall, Seven North Mall, Sheraton Lodge, South Mall Court, The Spires, Farranlea Hall, Sheares Gate, Davcon Court, Parchment Square, Coleman Court, Hatch, and Bottle Works.

Several are operated by companies which own multiple complexes, such as Scholarlee who own Mardyke, Magazine Rd, Bishop St and Washington St complexes, Yugo which owns Melbourne Point, Lee Point, Amnis House, and Nido which owns Ashlin House, Broga House, and Curraheen Point.