Students' group welcomes legislation ending '51-week only' leases

Muireann Duffy

New legislation banning '51-week only' leases has been welcomed by a student representative body.

The new law, passed by the Oireacthas on Thursday, will "provide required clarity" before the upcoming academic year, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) said.

The union raised the matter with the Department of Further and Higher Education earlier this year after students highlighted they were only being offered 51-week leases, as opposed to term-time leases.

"We are glad that this issue has now been settled ahead of the start of the academic year," USI president Chris Clifford said.

"It will take some stress and pressure off students that were trying to deal with these specific private student accommodation providers, but this issue yet again shows why we should not be relying on private developers to provide our student accommodation.

"They just want to squeeze as much money as possible from students and know how desperate many students are because of the housing crisis.

"Yet again, we call on Government to publish the long-awaited Student Accommodation Strategy urgently," Mr Clifford added.