An agency which supports international students in Ireland has said substandard housing conditions are threatening Ireland's ability to promote itself as a global destination for education, research and innovation.
The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) has published a study which documents how international students have over the past year been prey to accommodation scams, or been obliged to live in substandard and often overcrowded properties.
Citing a number of cases where students came across predators seeking sex in exchange for accommodation, it has said urgent legislative action is needed to address this.
ICOS Chief Executive Laura Harmon said: "Ireland is an outstanding study destination, with colleges that go above and beyond to support students and provide an excellent student experience. However, the lack of affordable housing for students demands urgent action if Ireland is to maintain its strong reputation abroad."
The study gathered the experiences of more than 500 international students who participated in an online survey during two weeks in September and October of last year.
They were from 64 different countries. Half were in Ireland to study English, and more than half were living in Dublin.
Just over half of respondents said they shared a bedroom, with one-in-five saying they shared a bedroom with two or more people. One-in-ten were sleeping in bedrooms with three or more people.
Of those surveyed, 14% of respondents said that in the past they had stayed in accommodation where they had shared a bed with someone they did not know.
Of respondents who said that they had been the victim of an accommodation scam, most had not reported the incident.
Highlighting the vulnerability of many foreign students in Ireland, the most common reason for not reporting the scam was that the victim did not know how to report it or they felt that nothing would be done.
ICOS said that less than a quarter of those who responded were aware of the rights they have as tenants.
ICOS said that regulations governing the private rental market need to be enforced and it has called for a scaling up of purpose-built student accommodation, including a National Student Accommodation Strategy that ensures students studying in Ireland have access to safe, affordable housing.
"Despite the number of inspections of private properties increasing significantly in recent years, ICOS observes that there were many reports of breaches of the minimum standards as set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019," the report stated.
It continues: "For example, 12% of respondents reported not having heating, while one in ten did not have access to cooking facilities, and 38% said they do not have a lease agreement."
"This would suggest that the regulations are not being enforced by local authorities," it concluded.
ICOS said it remains deeply concerned to see that the exploitative practice of 'sex for rent' continues to prevail, despite commitments from the Government over a number of years to outlaw it.
Citing a number of responses where mostly female students said they had been offered accommodation in exchange for sex or seen an ad to that effect, ICOS said a legal loophole continued to allow predators to act with impunity.
"Once again, ICOS calls on the Government to urgently introduce legislation to criminalise landlords and individuals who attempt to exploit vulnerable renters through 'sex for rent' propositions," it said.
ICOS has also called on the Government to introduce basic legislative rights for people living in 'rent a room' or digs accommodation, and to also augment rights for people who sublet.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Harmon said that sex for rent proposals were among the most concerning findings of the report.
"(What's) most extremely concerning is the issue around sex for rent proposals, predators who are taking advantage of vulnerable people. 5% of women responded and said that they had encountered an ad or a proposal in relation to sex for rent. There is no standalone legislation in Ireland in relation to this," she said.
Ms Harmon said that she had received assurances from Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan that the matter would be looked into.
"Ireland is a world class study destination. We offer an incredible student experience ... They come here for many different reasons and they like their student experience here. But unfortunately, the housing crisis is often clouding that," she added.
