Recommend places to live in Dublin - postgrad

Miss_Moneypenny

Hi everyone
I am moving to Dublin in late September / October to do a postgrad in TCD. I don't want to live on campus and have a budget of 350 per month for rent. I don't mind walking, let's say, 40 mins to get to the campus and don't mind having a single / small room - it's just for a year! I don't know Dublin very well and was hoping someone might have some advise re nice places to live within my budget. Basically I want to live somewhere that I feel safe walking home on a winter evening - the cheaper the better!
Also, I was wondering if landlords exclude students typically. I was working for the past 5 years (am 30) and am not interested in the stereotypical "student life".

Victor

What else will you be doing for the year? Working, socialising, visiting friends, nights out?

It makes sense to find somewhere convenient to the majority of the above - typically a lot of places available in Drumcondra and Phibsborough. Quality varies.

Some landlords don't want students. Some understand them and accept them. When you explain that you are 30 and a postgrad, most of them will understnad that you aren't a 19 year old mammy's boy / girl on their first expedition into the real world and will thrash the place within a fortnight.

Miss_Moneypenny

Thanks Victor
Was on daft there checking out Drumcondra - looks like a handy place to live. I am considering getting a part time job to tide me over for the year and have a good friend in South Dublin so somewhere not too far from the centre would be perfect. Also no plans to party like mad - it looks like Drumcondra is well served by buses / dart so getting in and out after hours shouldnt be an issue:) Thanks again for that

bangersandmash

Miss_Moneypenny wrote: »

Hi everyone
I am moving to Dublin in late September / October to do a postgrad in TCD. I don't want to live on campus and have a budget of 350 per month for rent. I don't mind walking, let's say, 40 mins to get to the campus and don't mind having a single / small room - it's just for a year! I don't know Dublin very well and was hoping someone might have some advise re nice places to live within my budget. Basically I want to live somewhere that I feel safe walking home on a winter evening - the cheaper the better!
Also, I was wondering if landlords exclude students typically. I was working for the past 5 years (am 30) and am not interested in the stereotypical "student life".

I'd advise when calling landlords or agents you describe yourself as a 'Postgraduate', a 'Postgraduate researcher', or something similar. Unfortunately the word 'student' has negative connotations to many landlords.

There are currently many empty rental properties in Dublin and rents are in freefall in many areas. That said September/October is still likely to be the toughest time to find accommodation. An influx of students puts more pressure on the rental market in general. Many students take accommodation in early August to secure better properties. Given the figure you're looking to spend, you're probably going to find yourself competing undergrad students for a room in a house share. Your age and the fact that you're female should give you an advantage.

In terms of areas within walking distance you could look at Drumcondra on the northside, or Rathmines & Ranelagh on the southside. You'll generally pay a premium south of the river. All these areas tend to have a mix of residential and students populations. You might also look at house shares in slightly more distant suburbs with good transport links like Clontarf or Stillorgan. Walking may not be practical there, but these quieter areas might suit fine if living a student life isn't your goal, and you'll often find a better standard of accommodation (i.e. not period houses split into grotty bedsits).

Fajitas!

Drumcondra is very handy (Lived there last year), plenty of public transport, plenty of cheap enough rooms, and a few (but not loads) of amenities. It gets a bit hectic on match (or the odd concert) days, which isn't fun if you own a car/want to study, with Croke Pk. being up the road. I think only the 41's and the 16C's are the only buses that won't drop you off as close to Trinity as possible. Handy to know.

On the downside, a lot of the places there are apartments within old houses, and can be cold/damp/run down.

I'm living in a complex in Dublin 8 at the moment, and find it great - 10 minutes from town on a bus, walking is possible, rent is perfect, new enough building. There's some unsavory parts to D8, but they're not the worst.

To be honest, I think landlords know a student that's going to trash a house, and a student that's going to leave it in good condition. Just be honest, tell them you're not interested in partying, your applying for a postgrad. Any references from previous landlords will be appreciated.

Miss_Moneypenny

bangersandmash wrote: »

I'd advise when calling landlords or agents you describe yourself as a 'Postgraduate', a 'Postgraduate researcher', or something similar. Unfortunately the word 'student' has negative connotations to many landlords.

There are currently many empty rental properties in Dublin and rents are in freefall in many areas. That said September/October is still likely to be the toughest time to find accommodation. An influx of students puts more pressure on the rental market in general. Many students take accommodation in early August to secure better properties. Given the figure you're looking to spend, you're probably going to find yourself competing undergrad students for a room in a house share. Your age and the fact that you're female should give you an advantage.

In terms of areas within walking distance you could look at Drumcondra on the northside, or Rathmines & Ranelagh on the southside. You'll generally pay a premium south of the river. All these areas tend to have a mix of residential and students populations. You might also look at house shares in slightly more distant suburbs with good transport links like Clontarf or Stillorgan. Walking may not be practical there, but these quieter areas might suit fine if living a student life isn't your goal, and you'll often find a better standard of accommodation (i.e. not period houses split into grotty bedsits).

thanks I think I will go looking early in that case - early August as I have holidays from work then. I checked out Stillorgan and Dundrum - look really nice. Yes I think I will stress the postgraduate element!

Miss_Moneypenny

Fajitas! wrote: »

Drumcondra is very handy (Lived there last year), plenty of public transport, plenty of cheap enough rooms, and a few (but not loads) of amenities. It gets a bit hectic on match (or the odd concert) days, which isn't fun if you own a car/want to study, with Croke Pk. being up the road. I think only the 41's and the 16C's are the only buses that won't drop you off as close to Trinity as possible. Handy to know.

On the downside, a lot of the places there are apartments within old houses, and can be cold/damp/run down.

I'm living in a complex in Dublin 8 at the moment, and find it great - 10 minutes from town on a bus, walking is possible, rent is perfect, new enough building. There's some unsavory parts to D8, but they're not the worst.

To be honest, I think landlords know a student that's going to trash a house, and a student that's going to leave it in good condition. Just be honest, tell them you're not interested in partying, your applying for a postgrad. Any references from previous landlords will be appreciated.

Thanks its good to hear from someone who has lived in Drumcondra - sounds like a bit of a mixed bag in terms of standards of accommodation. I think I will take a weekend and just have a walk around all these areas and get a feel for it...at least I have time to think about it - 5 months.
Everyone is so helpful here - thank you:)

Fajitas!

If you're walking about, pop in to Anderson's crepe place for a bite to eat