Students are being warned to verify letting agents’ credentials ahead of next week’s college offers, as accommodation scammers target desperate students seeking housing for the new academic year.
With Leaving Certificate results released Friday and first-round college offers due Wednesday, August 27th, demand for student accommodation is expected to surge. The Property Services Regulatory Authority has issued warnings about bogus letting agents attempting to extract fraudulent payments from vulnerable students.
“During the accommodation search, students may encounter bogus letting agents who attempt to exploit them by fraudulently extracting financial payments,” the PSRA stated, noting that fake agents often operate online while falsely claiming valid license numbers.
The authority advises students to request physical licenses from property service providers – credit card-sized documents featuring the agent’s name, photograph, license categories, expiry date, and unique six or 12-digit PSRA number beginning with double zeros. Students should verify license numbers through the PSRA Register at psr.ie.
Meanwhile, UCD Students’ Union launched a campaign Tuesday targeting homeowners in Dublin’s commuter belt to open spare rooms to students. The initiative highlights potential benefits from the Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme, allowing homeowners to earn up to €14,000 annually tax-free.
UCDSU welfare officer Emilia O’Hagan emphasized mutual benefits but criticized exploitative practices: “Unfortunately, we have seen a growth in rooms being offered for five days only, and set at a price of what you imagine a full week would cost.”
Union officers distributed flyers at transport hubs, directly appealing to commuters with spare rooms while sharing success stories from previous arrangements.
UCDSU president Michael Roche expressed frustration at the ongoing crisis: “We can only hope that this type of action won’t be necessary in Augusts to come but yet again, student representatives are out pleading with the public to step in and provide a platform for students to pursue their education.”