Post-Brexit, Ireland is bursting at the seams. As a measure of how desperate the situation has become, the executive director of the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS), Laura Harmon, has issued a statement regarding the student accommodation crisis and how it’s impacting overseas students in the country.
“International students are more vulnerable when it comes to accommodation scams,” she says, “as they often have little knowledge of the rental market landscape in Ireland, meaning they run a higher risk of being exploited. Fraudsters are looking to take advantage of vulnerable students on a wider scale than ever before, with Gardaí [the national police service of Ireland] reporting a 30% increase in reports.
“The student accommodation crisis is worse than ever now due to a lack of supply, exorbitant rents and ineffective regulations on overcrowding among other issues. The accommodation crisis will impact on Ireland’s reputation abroad as a study destination. Without action, this will have serious ramifications for Ireland’s higher education sector as well as our economy. International students contribute more than €2.2bn annually to Ireland, and play an important role enriching Irish education and society.’’
ICOS is offering advice to students on how to avoid being taken advantage of on its website.
