The “perfect storm” is on its way.
You can be assured that there were some big celebrations last week as students all over the country received their Leaving Certificate results last week.
On Monday, attention switched from partying back to the serious matter of the CAO points for all third-level courses for 2017 Leaving Certificate Students, which were released at 6am on Monday morning.
Again, congratulations on your results and we hope that you got the course you wanted. Remember, if not, there is always an alternative way around these things.
Next on the agenda for Irish students and their parents will be finding accommodation near their chosen colleges and as we have witnessed in the past couple of years, this is not the easiest of prospects.
There’s no need to panic, you just need to know where to look and be wary of any renting scams or ‘cheap’ places doing the rounds.
If something is too good to be true, it probably is.
Enda McGuane, Managing Director of Winters Property, has previously described the accommodation crisis facing students as a “perfect storm” in which many factors contribute to an overwhelming shortage for tens of thousands each September.
We are at this point of the year again in 2017 and the situation has not improved and if anything, has gotten more challenging.
“Winters is the largest provider of student accommodation in Ireland. Almost 3,000-bed spaces sold out in just 90 minutes last February” notes McGuane.
“First years are the ones who are suffering most by the time they get their course offer in August, there is literally no managed student accommodation left.”
McGuane offered advice to concerned parents during this student accommodation shortage.
“The most important focus for every student should be their course choice, content and study. While the stress of the Leaving Cert and achieving enough points required is upsetting enough, without the stress of a seemingly fruitless accommodation search.
“Parents are currently facing an awful situation and are understandably concerned for their teenagers, entering a different city, without structured accommodation options.
“Firstly, do not panic. There will be an initial frenzy in August and September, which will settle down in approximately eight weeks as people move around or into alternative accommodation.
“Students have worked hard to get a specific course which will probably take three to four years to complete. In time, accommodation options will open up but there is always be a bottleneck during these months. Keep in touch with the accommodation office in your chosen college for advice and assistance.
“Colleges are exploring both short and long-term solutions to this national issue, with NUI Galway taking the lead in issuing a special appeal to homeowners this week to open their homes to a student.”
Winters is partnering with the college in order to help house students safely, whilst allowing homeowners to earn up to €14,000 tax-free.
The scheme is similar to that of UCD Students’ Union who held an undercover Snapchat campaign to highlight housing scams in Dublin in the hope of increasing the number of digs on the market.
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