Threshold and University of Galway Students’ Union join forces to support student renters
National housing charity Threshold has partnered with University of Galway Students’ Union to raise awareness among students of their rights as renters. The University of Galway Renters’ Rights Day will take place 11am-3pm on Monday 31st of March and will feature interactive activities and advisory clinics. Students will have the opportunity to speak directly with Threshold advisors, ask renting-related questions and gain valuable insights into their rights. The initiative aims to empower students to navigate rental agreements with confidence and challenge unfair practices when necessary.
Students’ Union President Faye Ní Dhomhnaill said: “Too often we see students who are unsure of their rights when renting issues arise. Renters’ Rights Day is about making sure students have the information and tools they need to navigate the rental market. We are proud to partner with Threshold to push for stronger protections, including a Deposit Protection Scheme, so that students can rent with confidence. We would urge all University of Galway students to attend the Renters’ Rights Day if they want to learn more about their rights as first-time renters.”
Emphasising the importance of the campaign, Threshold’s Campaigns Officer, Cat Clark, said: “For many students, renting during college is their first experience of the private rental market, and so it is vital that students understand their rights and entitlements from the outset. Understanding tenancy agreements, deposit protections, and what to do if an issue arises can make all the difference in ensuring a secure and fair renting experience. We are delighted to have partnered with University of Galway Students’ Union to deliver this important campaign and empower renters with the knowledge they need to navigate the private rental sector.”
Deposit Protection Scheme
A key focus of the campaign is to raise awareness about the need for a Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS),which is already in place in across the UK. Threshold has long advocated for such a scheme, which would see a recognised third-party hold rental deposits. Under this system, deposits would be securely managed by an independent body and returned to the tenant at the end of the lease. In the case where a landlord needs to claim expenses, they can do so by providing proof of legitimate expenses. This would significantly enhance transparency and prevent unfair deposit retention.
Unfair deposit retention is an issue that effects all renters, including students. According to Threshold’s latest Impact Report, 729 renters struggled to receive their deposits in 2024. Despite 93% of cases before the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling in favour of tenants, some renters may be reluctant to challenge their landlords, often due to a lack of awareness.
To address this issue, Threshold and University of Galway Students’ Union are urging students to educate themselves about their rights and take action. As part of Renters’ Rights Day, students are encouraged to sign a petition calling for the introduction of a Deposit Protection Scheme in Ireland and support a move towards a fairer, more transparent rental market.
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Threshold agus Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe le teacht le chéile i gcomhar chun tacaíocht a léiriú do chíosaithe
Tá Threshold tar éis dul i gcomhar le Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chun feasacht ar chearta cíosaithe a ardú i measc mic léinn. Titfidh Lá Chearta na gCíosaithe, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe amach 11am-3pm Dé Luain, an 31 Márta, le himeachtaí idirghníomhacha agus clinicí comhairleacha ar an lá. Beidh deis ag mic léinn labhairt go díreach le comhairleoirí de chuid Threshold, ceisteanna maidir le cíos a chur agus tuiscint fhónta a fháil ar na cearta atá acu. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an tionscnamh mic léinn a chumasú chun plé le comhaontuithe cíosa go muiníneach agus cleachtas éagóra a cheistiú nuair is gá.
Dúirt Faye Ní Dhomhnaill, Uachtarán Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn: “Go rómhinic, feicimid mic léinn nach bhfuil cinnte faoi na cearta atá acu nuair a thagann fadhbanna cíosa chun solais. Is éard atá i gceist le Lá Chearta na gCíosaithe ná a chinntiú go bhfuil an t-eolas agus na huirlisí is gá ag mic léinn chun plé leis an margadh cíosa. Táimid bródúil a bheith ag obair i gcomhar le Threshold chun cosaintí níos láidre a éileamh, ar a n-áirítear Scéim Cosanta Taiscí, ionas gur féidir le mic léinn lóistín a ghlacadh ar cíos go muiníneach. Impímid ar gach mac léinn de chuid na hOllscoile freastal ar Lá Chearta na gCíosaithe más suim leo tuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoin na cearta atá acu agus iad ag glacadh lóistín ar cíos den chéad uair.”
Agus í ag leagan béim ar thábhacht an fheachtais, arsa Cat Clark, Oifigeach Feachtasaíochta Threshold: “I gcás go leor mic léinn, bíonn an chéad bhlaiseadh acu ar an margadh príobháideach cíosa agus iad ag glacadh lóistín ar cíos ar an ollscoil. Mar sin, tá sé fíorthábhachtach go dtuigeann mic léinn na cearta agus na teidlíochtaí atá acu ón tús. Ach tuiscint a bheith acu ar chomhaontuithe tionóntachta, ar chosaintí taiscí agus ar an méid ba cheart a dhéanamh má thagann fadhb chun solais, is féidir an-difear a dhéanamh maidir le coinníollacha cothroma córa a áirithiú. Táimid an-sásta a bheith ag obair i gcomhar le Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ar an bhfeachtas tábhachtach seo chun cíosaithe a chumasú leis an eolas is gá chun teacht slán as an earnáil phríobháideach cíosa.”
Scéim Cosanta Taiscí (SCT)
Ar na príomhfhócais den fheachtas tá ardú feasachta maidir leis an ngá le Scéim Cosanta Taiscí, rud atá i bhfeidhm cheana sa Ríocht Aontaithe. Tá Threshold i mbun stocaireachta dá leithéid de scéim le fada an lá, scéim ina gcoinneodh tríú páirtí na taiscí cíosa. Faoina leithéid de chóras, dhéanfadh comhlacht neamhspleách na taiscí a bhainistiú agus thabharfaí ar ais do na cíosaithe iad ag deireadh an léasa. I gcás go mbeadh ar thiarna talún speansais a éileamh, thiocfadh leis nó léi déanamh amhlaidh ach fianaise ar speansais dlisteanacha a sholáthar. Chuirfeadh sé sin go mór leis an trédhearcacht agus chuirfeadh sé deireadh le coimeád éagóir taiscí.
Is fadhb é coimeád éagóir taiscí a théann i bhfeidhm ar gach cíosaí, mic léinn ina measc. De réir na Tuarascála Tionchair is déanaí ó Threshold, chuaigh sé deacair ar 729 cíosaí taiscí a fháil ar ais in 2024. In ainneoin gur rialaigh an Bord um Thionóntachtaí Cónaithe i bhfabhar 93% de thionóntaí, d’fhéadfadh roinnt cíosaithe a bheith drogallach an tiarna talún a cheistiú, mar gheall ar easpa tuisceana de ghnáth.
Chun dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb sin, tá Threshold agus Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag impí ar mhic léinn eolas a chur a gcearta agus gníomh a dhéanamh. Mar chuid de Lá Chearta na gCíosaithe, moltar do mhic léinn achainí a shíniú chun a éileamh go dtabharfar isteach Scéim Cosanta Taiscí in Éirinn agus chun tacú linn dul i dtreo margadh cíosa atá trédhearcach agus níos cothroime.
