Warning for Galway students ahead of semester beginning

This comes as demand for accommodation grows and rental scams continue to be a concern.

The Students' Union has warned students not to rush into securing a property without making sure everything is above board. This comes as demand for accommodation continues to grow and rental scams continue to be a concern.

With housing options in short supply, students have been advised to take their time when viewing properties and to make sure they meet their needs before committing to a tenancy or handing over a deposit.

The warning comes as Galway continues to face a severe student accommodation crisis, with students being forced into lengthy commutes, couch-surfing and, in some cases, sleeping in their cars.

University of Galway Students' Union President Seán de Búrca previously told JOE he was expecting another difficult autumn for students.

"In the long and short term, it looks like things are going to get worse," he said.

"We have students who are commuting all the way from Kerry and we have people who are sleeping on friends' couches, we have homeless students, and that's just the ones we know about."

The latest advice from the Students' Union focuses particularly on protecting students from scams and ensuring they know exactly what they are signing up for.

Here is the list of tips they provided:

The Students' Union has previously warned that even students who manage to secure accommodation can find themselves paying huge rents for properties that are not suitable to live in.

"In a different housing market I think we would see a lot more people coming and saying 'the place I'm living is a kip', but now they're not doing that because they know it beats the alternative of having nowhere to live at all," de Búrca said.

First-year students are likely to be particularly vulnerable, as CAO offers can leave them with only a short period to find somewhere to live before the academic year begins.

"So I really worry about them, especially when they're just coming into college and just starting out," de Búrca previously said.

With the new semester approaching, the Students' Union is urging students not to let the pressure of finding somewhere to live push them into making a decision too quickly.

"There are still some properties available so don't panic," the Union said, urging students to keep a close eye on accommodation websites, particularly University of Galway's Studentpad service.

The Students' Union says students should make sure they have all the necessities in place before making a commitment and should remain particularly alert to potential rental scams.

If you would like to tell us about your student accommodation experience, please email [email protected] .