USI is urging students to visit digs website homes.usi.ie ahead of CAO Round 2 Offers
There are over 900 rooms available to rent on the accommodation website, homes.usi.ie, where homeowners advertise rooms for students to rent. Ahead of second round of CAO Round 2 offers tomorrow, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is urging students not to panic, and to visit homes.usi.ie to help alleviate the pressure of looking for accommodation.
USI President Michael Kerrigan said, “We’re now seeing digs benefitting both the homeowner and the student. Students have somewhere warm and safe near where they’re studying. The homeowner gets to claim up to €14,000-a-year tax free. Worryingly, 38 students in our study on housing stated that they have no accommodation and had to sleep on friends’ couches, floors or in cars. In two cases, students declared sleeping rough and availing of homeless aid. We don’t want to see this happen to more students.”
“To have 900 rooms ready to rent at one time on homes.usi.ie is a clear sign that homeowners are responding to the student accommodation crisis.” Michael Kerrigan, USI President, said. “There is still a shortage of accommodation, therefore anyone who has already accepted their place at college should start making arrangements for accommodation right now and to seriously consider visiting homes.usi.ie.”
It is best to contact the homeowners by mobile phone and discuss the house rules before moving in. In case of any queries USI provides an online support to website users on homes@usi.ie. Homes.usi.ie also offers accommodation advice. The union note that there are offers advertised on mainstream websites that openly discriminate against students, but homes.usi.ie offers student-friendly accommodation and it is free of charge both for students and homeowners.
*** NO REPRODUCTION FEE *** DUBLIN : 25/7/2017 : 1 In 10 Students Living In Digs, Says USI. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is today encouraging homeowners to rent their spare rooms to students during the college term can avail of 14,000 tax-free a year from a rent-a-room relief scheme available. USI are launching the Homes For Study campaign with a free website, homes.usi.ie, as new findings from the Union show 1 in 10 students are living in digs style accommodation. Pictured (l-r) at the launch of the USI Homes For Study campaign were XXX. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
MEDIA CONTACT : dan.waugh@usi.ie