The student accommodation crisis in Galway

Lollipop95 · 22-08-2015 04:52PM #1

(Wasn't sure whether this would get more of a response here or in the Galway City forum, so mods feel free to move the thread if you so wish!)

I know every place in Ireland is difficult to find accommodation but I think this year in paritcular, Galway is in a league of its own. I only got a place a few days ago and that was because of knowing somebody who knows somebody! Rent is also really pricey in Galway and the student accommodations are expensive too. AFAIK, all student village accommodation in Galway has long been booked out.

It is so disheartening and as I was in the exact same position a few weeks ago, I really empathise with anyone still looking. Commuting really wouldn't be any fun. There's been several articles ok the Galway Advertiser and the Connacht Tribune about the housing crisis in Galway. I really do think the city is crying out for new student accommodation to be built. Galway is really popular for students, so much so that's there's a House Hunting Galway facebook page. As far as I'm aware, there isn't one (not one as huge,anyways) for any other county.

What do you think of the student accommodation crisis in Galway? Are you affected by it or know someone who is? And do you think something desperately needs to be done about the situation? Me personally, I think absolutely yes.

9de5q7tsr8u2im · 22-08-2015 04:53PM

same story here in cork

noah45 · 22-08-2015 05:27PM

Cannot get accommodation in galway for my daughter going to nuig. It seems there are hoards of people vowing houses and then landlord picks someone. Countless other houses/apartments are gone. Really don't know what shell do.
Ads should be removed from daft.ie if house is not vacant.

CatFromHue · 22-08-2015 05:46PM

I know this may seem drastic but can you/she change course to another college where accommodation is easier to find?

Alot of Unis and IT's actually offer the same courses so it might be something to look into.

the groutch · 22-08-2015 06:02PM

The reason there's so little student accommodation is the demand for rental properties from non-students.
And if a landlord has a choice between students paying 9 months rent a year, or someone else paying 12 months, it's a bit of a no-brainer.
You can't exactly go forcing landlords to take students.

snubbleste · 22-08-2015 06:10PM

It's not a Galway issue or a student issue
Rental accommodation is a problem in all urban areas and a cross-section of society.

Contact your local TDs and give them hell on the issue.

jaymcg91 · 22-08-2015 06:33PM

snubbleste wrote: »

It's not a Galway issue or a student issue
Rental accommodation is a problem in all urban areas and a cross-section of society.

Contact your local TDs and give them hell on the issue.

Exactly, definitely isn't a Galway issue. Dublin is far worse off, for example.

Liamo290 · 22-08-2015 08:21PM

I'm in the same boat going to GMIT and can't find accommodation anyway at all and I live in Wexford so commuting isn't even option looks like I might have to defer my course and work and do **** all for a year if I can't get anywhere to stay it's pretty sad because I was really excited going to college this year

CatFromHue · 22-08-2015 08:51PM

Have you thought about changing colleges?

I can't see the housing problem being that much better next year tbh.

Liamo290 · 22-08-2015 09:14PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Have you thought about changing colleges?

I can't see the housing problem being that much better next year tbh.

Yeah I thought about it but I think the only place I could do my course if I was to change is Dublin and that would even be harder to get accommodation

afkasurfjunkie · 22-08-2015 09:16PM

Are digs an option?

Liamo290 · 22-08-2015 09:18PM

afkasurfjunkie wrote: »

Are digs an option?

I might have to consider it I stayed in Diggs in my final year in school and it was horrible no freedom and I would absolutely hate to stay in diggs again

Synnora · 22-08-2015 10:36PM

I'm in the same situation. I'm a mature student in NUIG, starting next week. I'm looking for a house for myself, my partner and young son but can't find anywhere that we can afford. And if we do see one, it's gone by the time we ring up. So I have no choice but to commute from Mayo - 2hr drive each way. I'm hoping we will find somewhere soon. Galway desperately needs more affordable accommodation.

Synnora · 22-08-2015 10:37PM

I'm in the same situation. I'm a mature student in NUIG, starting next week. I'm looking for a house for myself, my partner and young son but can't find anywhere that we can afford. And if we do see one, it's gone by the time we ring up. So I have no choice but to commute from Mayo - 2hr drive each way. I'm hoping we will find somewhere soon. Galway desperately needs more affordable accommodation.

alannahnicole · 22-08-2015 10:47PM

Have you seen the price of the digs? A house on headford road was Ã¢Â‚Â¬115 each in a TWIN ROOM. Only Sunday to Friday also!! It's a joke

kissmequick · 23-08-2015 02:28AM

Liamo290 wrote: »

I might have to consider it I stayed in Diggs in my final year in school and it was horrible no freedom and I would absolutely hate to stay in diggs again

Have you tried the Facebook House Hunting Galway (for sound people) Page?

It would be an awful shame to have to put off your studies 'cos ya can't find a place to live.

There's 3 places on the Page that might suit you, if within Budget etc., that were listed today/tonight, and that you might suit them!

noah45 · 23-08-2015 11:10AM

Gone, too many looking

The Randy Riverbeast · 23-08-2015 01:01PM

Is this mostly a first year issue?

It isnt easy but I never had too much trouble. I dont even know of anyone who had to drop out because they couldnt find accommodation. A few people have had to stay at a friends or live in a hostel for the first week at most.

Liamo290 · 23-08-2015 02:03PM

The Randy Riverbeast wrote: »

Is this mostly a first year issue?

It isnt easy but I never had too much trouble. I dont even know of anyone who had to drop out because they couldnt find accommodation. A few people have had to stay at a friends or live in a hostel for the first week at most.

I think everyone is having trouble all years if you look on the house hunting page for Galway everyone is having trouble

Lollipop95 · 23-08-2015 07:35PM

Although I'm no longer affected by the accommodation issue in Galway, in the Independent the other day, there was a girl from Donegal saying "in Galway, if you're a first year you can't get anything unless you have connections" or something along those lines. As I sad in my OP, I only got accommodation through connections, so I think that's true, if you don't start looking until the CAO offers come out. Which I didn't. I did a plc so while I was confident I'd get my course, I wasn't 100% sure. The Facebook page is inundated with students seeking houses, so there's loads in the same boat! I can only imagine what it's like in Dublin, which makes me question why isn't there a facebook page for those house hunting in Dublin? Or anywhere else for that matter? I can only think it's because the crisis is bigger but that's hard to imagine because Dublin and Cork are way bigger cities. However on the other hand, Galway is a VERY popular place for students to go to college

athtrasna · 24-08-2015 12:20PM

There are Facebook pages for accommodation hunting for Dublin colleges for Dublin too. Student accommodation has been a neglected sector in this country and it's coming back to haunt the colleges now. I got my undergraduate degree in the UK and we were guaranteed two years on campus accommodation and had a large selection of accommodation types to choose from

road_high · 25-08-2015 12:43PM

athtrasna wrote: »

There are Facebook pages for accommodation hunting for Dublin colleges for Dublin too. Student accommodation has been a neglected sector in this country and it's coming back to haunt the colleges now. I got my undergraduate degree in the UK and we were guaranteed two years on campus accommodation and had a large selection of accommodation types to choose from

Totally agree. Lovely to provide all these courses but equally as important is a place to live for the students attending them.
This has been the case for years but gone worse now, I went to UCD and it was a constant crisis and scramble for on campus which you had more chance of winning the lotto than getting some years. Absolute nightmare and typically woeful Irish planning.

noah45 · 26-08-2015 08:02PM

My daughter has finally gotten accommodation. What we did was set up an email alert on daft.ie in both sharing and for rent. The minute we got an alert we phoned up and after about 13-15 alerts eventually got one.

Doing this might help someone here.
Also there are facebook pages for those seeking accomadation.
Good luck

PLL · 30-12-2015 11:57PM

Great advice. I quoted the above to say the reason this happens often nowadays is because students are so desperate and worried someone else will take it they just say yes.

I have 24 year old friends who did this, they had lost out on places because the mammies and daddies of 18 year olds threw money at landlords. Money talks louder than a conversation with the potential tenants to gauge whether they're trustworthy.

The student accommodation crisis in Galway

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