Half of students did not get their rental deposits back after they were forced to vacate their accommodation at the beginning of lockdown. It also shows students have serious concerns about the year ahead, with three-quarters worried about being able to pay for accommodation ahead of the new academic year. Nearly half (45pc) of students have been asked to pay more than one month’s rent in security deposits, while one-fifth have been asked to pay four months’ rent in advance. “Our new survey on the impact of Covid-19 on students shows that 49pc of students did not have their rental deposits refunded when they were forced to vacate their student accommodation,” she said. “The practice of looking for more than one month’s rent upfront leaves students in a very difficult situation.

Source: Irish Independent September 10, 2020 11:58 UTC