Students protest at landlords withholding rent deposits

MINISTER OF State for Housing Willie Penrose has asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board to examine the merits of introducing a deposit protection scheme for people who rent properties.

The Union of Students in Ireland has made representations to the previous and current Government about that idea which it says would offer protection to students who are increasingly experiencing difficulties when seeking the return of deposits from landlords.

Members of the union last night pitched more than 20 tents outside the Department of the Environment on Custom House Quay in Dublin and held an overnight sleep-out demonstration to highlight the issue.

Union president Gary Redmond said the union dealt with hundreds of cases annually of students “who simply cannot get their deposits back”, with landlords disappearing when keys were handed back and students being excessively penalised for matters such as wear and tear.

Research by the union and housing organisation Threshold found that more than 60 per cent of students had in excess of €200 unfairly withheld from their deposits. Of those, 40 per cent got back none of the money to which they were entitled.

“Some of them are charged €50 for broken glasses or €500 for cleaning of the carpets,” he said. “Reasonable wear and tear is the responsibility of the landlord.”

The union said the introduction of a deposit protection scheme, already in place in the UK and New Zealand, would end the problems.

The UK model offers two options with landlords either handing the deposit over to a third party like the Private Residential Tenancies Board for the duration of the lease or taking up an insurance scheme which pays out if there is a dispute between landlord and tenant.

The average students will pay at least €3,500 in rent over the duration of the academic year and some are paying deposits of up to €1,000 which, if not returned, can negatively impact on their to return to college the following term, Mr Redmond said.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said Mr Penrose had asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board to examine the idea of a deposit retention scheme and that he was awaiting their response.

Mr Redmond said that, based on his discussions with the department, it appeared to be leaning towards increasing the fines levied on landlords for failing to return deposits rather than introducing the protection scheme.

“What good is a fine after three years?” he asked.

“If the PRTB were holding on to the deposit that would mean it could be returned when the PRTB rules in favour of the student rather than having to go through a court process.”