As the new Academic Year approaches, many of you will be on the hunt for Accommodation - both in Limerick and in Thurles. We have compiled some information from Threshold of what to expect when you rent privately.
When looking for private rented accommodation you may be asked to provide certain information to a prospective landlord or agent.
Below is a list of items that prospective tenants may be asked to provide:
- PPS No. (this is required for the registration of the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board) (www.rtb.ie)
- A reference from your previous landlord
- A reference from your current employer
- Photo I.D. such as a driving license or passport
- Evidence of residency
- Recent bank statements
- Payslips
Deposits
When you rent a property, you will usually have to pay a security deposit.
Under the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021any upfront payment upon the commencement of a tenancy will be restricted to a total value that does not exceed two months’ rent *The limits on deposits and advance payments of rent introduced by the RTA(2) 2021 only apply to tenancies created from 9 August 2021 onwards.
i.e. a deposit and one month's rent in advance.
You should not hand over a deposit to a prospective landlord or agent until you are certain that you are happy with the condition of the property, the terms and conditions of the letting, and are willing to rent it.
You should avoid paying in cash and always get a receipt.
You should always pay the deposit directly to the landlord/agent and not to another tenant.
Once your tenancy has been created, your landlord must provide you with an inventory at the beginning of the tenancy and Threshold advises you to make a note of any existing damage or wear and tear.
Take photos if possible.
Sharing with a Landlord
If you share accommodation with the landlord, then this is a license arrangement and the normal landlord and tenant laws do not apply and a licensee will not be able to avail of dispute mechanisms available for tenants. We recommend that both parties still draft an agreement in writing covering the key issues of deposit, rent, bills, house rules, and how to end the letting which can be referred to if a dispute arises. Should you encounter difficulties in getting your deposit back at the end of the letting you may be able to refer a case to the small claims court.
Renting from a Tenant
If you are renting a room from one of the existing tenants, you may also be a licensee and the normal landlord and tenant laws do not apply. After six months, however, you can apply to become a tenant on the same terms and conditions as the existing tenants. If the landlord refuses you may be able to refer a dispute to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) see www.rtb.ie.
SEEKING accommodation
MISU
*MISU is facilitating this accommodation list for MIC students and does not accept any responsibility for any accommodation issues arising from this page and does not get involved in any accommodation disputes.
MIC
Accommodation List (lIMERICK & THURLES) (LIMERICK & THURLES)
*Mary Immaculate College accepts no liability for the accuracy of the information supplied by property owners. The College has not inspected these properties nor does it make any representations/recommendations on behalf of the landlords.
Advice
Please make contact with Róisin Burke (MISU PRESIDENT) if you require advice on Accommodation - all her details can be found here.
You can also contact the MIC Accommodation Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Threshold can be contacted by freephone on 1800 454 454, we would also encourage everyone to visit www.threshold,ie.