IPOA urges students to exercise caution when seeking accommodation

Dublin People 22 Aug 2025
As the 2025/2026 academic year draws near, thousands of students are today receiving Leaving Certificate results and offers will soon follow from third-level educational institutions across the country.
This annual milestone inevitably brings with it a hurried search for suitable accommodation, which will intensify next week once CAO offers are released.
Unfortunately, amid incoming changes to rental regulations, the supply of available rentals to meet growing student demand will be an even larger issue this year. Such a scenario opens the student rental market to unscrupulous actors who seek to defraud young students and their families of deposits.
The Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA) is warning students to be vigilant as they begin their accommodation search. Legitimate landlords, including IPOA members, will always operate in compliance with rental market laws and uphold the highest standards of professionalism. To safeguard against potential pitfalls and prevent fraudulent payment being made, prospective tenants are strongly encouraged to follow some practical advice:
  • Request proof of property ownership from potential landlords. This may include verifiable insurance records or Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts.
  • Be wary of accommodation only advertised on social media or if the person offering a rental will only communicate with you via messaging applications like WhatsApp.
  • Be vigilant if there is an unusual sense of urgency by the ‘landlord’ in securing a deposit or if the deposit requested is worth more than one-month’s rent.
  • Be wary of rents that are ‘too good to be true’. Trust your gut and sense-check an advertisement with a friend or family member if you are unsure whether it’s legitimate.
  • Inspect the property before you pay money to the landlord. When satisfied, make payment and ensure you receive a receipt from the owner or agent.
  • Be cautious if the property owner is consistently unable to or refuses to meet you in person.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions, a legitimate property owner will be happy to answer.
  • Know your rights – familiarise yourself with the Residential Tenancies Board, http://www.rtb.ie/
  • Watch out for illegal subletting agreements – all agreements should be made directly with the property owner or with their consent.
Mary Conway, Chairperson of the IPOA said “It’s disheartening that these precautions have become necessary, and that we are having to warn students annually, but the presence of unscrupulous actors in the rental market necessitates ultra-vigilance when paying deposits.”
“Students entering the market for the first time are advised to acquaint themselves with the pertinent legal regulations. A good starting point for this is the Residential Tenancies Board website – www.rtb.ie. It’s important for students to fully scrutinise their prospective rental property and the landlord – we urge students not to jump at the first opportunity for accommodation without having thought it through and feeling certain. By taking a vigilant approach, we can stamp out the practice of those falsely claiming to be property owners and safeguard people’s hard-earned money.”

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