International student - need a PPS to rent accommodation?

Grace_Omega · 24-06-2014 01:58PM #1

A friend of mine recently arrived in Ireland from America to do a 1 year master's degree in Trinity. After looking at a lot of apartments for potential accommodation we were told by one landlord that she needs a PPS number in order to rent property. However, the PPS section of the department of social protection website lists a permanent address in Ireland as a requirement for getting a PPS number, which seems like a catch-22 scenario. Even more confusingly, Trinity seems to think a newly arrived student will acquire a PPS *after* getting a permanent address.

We're making enquiries to try and get this resolved, but I wanted to know if anyone else has been in this scenario? How did you sort it out?

Mrs OBumble · 24-06-2014 02:07PM

You cannot get a PPS until you have an address, but it does not need to be permanent.

Where's she staying now? Many back-packer hostels will write a "XXX lives here" letter after you have paid up a certain number of weeks with them. Or if she's staying with friends, get them to write her a letter.

joostl · 24-06-2014 04:15PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You cannot get a PPS until you have an address, but it does not need to be permanent.

Where's she staying now? Many back-packer hostels will write a "XXX lives here" letter after you have paid up a certain number of weeks with them. Or if she's staying with friends, get them to write her a letter.

They can leave the pps section on the prtb application blank

Santa Cruz · 24-06-2014 05:24PM

Grace_Omega wrote: »

A friend of mine recently arrived in Ireland from America to do a 1 year master's degree in Trinity. After looking at a lot of apartments for potential accommodation we were told by one landlord that she needs a PPS number in order to rent property. However, the PPS section of the department of social protection website lists a permanent address in Ireland as a requirement for getting a PPS number, which seems like a catch-22 scenario. Even more confusingly, Trinity seems to think a newly arrived student will acquire a PPS *after* getting a permanent address.

We're making enquiries to try and get this resolved, but I wanted to know if anyone else has been in this scenario? How did you sort it out?

You do not need a PPS to rentr accommodation. When completing the form for PRTB the landlord can leave it blank and explain why no PPS is available

dede12 · 24-06-2014 05:45PM

I did an MA in Ireland last year as an American student & you definitely don't need a PPS number to rent. The only thing an American student would need it for is to work here legally (but its fairly hard to get a job as an international student, especially since you can only do 20hr/week at most). It is possible the landlord just didnt want to rent to a foreign student & used it as an excuse, unfortunately you'll find that does happen.

You dont need a PPS number to open a bank account either (at least at Bank of Ireland you dont, idk about the others) so if he's having trouble finding places that will take a cash rent it would be a good idea to get one set up. That way he can prove his financial stability & can offer to pay the rent via bank transfer which might reassure some landlords who aren't used to renting to foreign students.

Edit: Just wanted to clarify, yes you can apply for a PPS number if you want it after setting up your permanent address (a hostel won't count unfortunately) & registering as an immigrant w/ the Garda but it's not automatically granted (& you can't get a PPS number until you're registered). I lived for 2 years in Ireland, rented 3 different apartments, & never got one because as a student you don't need it unless you get a job.

International student - need a PPS to rent accommodation?

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