LIMERICK — An investigation has been launched after 18 students were discovered living in a two-bedroom rented house, in what has been described as a clear case of landlord exploitation.
The landlord, who had initially assured students from the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) that only four to six people would be accommodated, charged €500 per person—collecting a total of €9,000 in rent.
The property, consisting of just two bedrooms, a small living area, and a kitchen, had students packed across three levels: six on the ground floor, six on the first floor, and six in the attic. With inadequate kitchen facilities, many were forced to cook in their bedrooms. All of the tenants were Indian postgraduate students.
Following media reports, the TUS Students’ Union intervened, securing alternative accommodation for the group. Deputy president Gearoid Folan urged the students to file a formal complaint with the Gardaí.
The case has sparked wider criticism, with opposition leaders, including Social Democrat TD Jen Cummins, calling it evidence of the deepening student accommodation crisis in Ireland. Cummins said urgent government action is needed to prevent such exploitation, particularly in university towns like Limerick.
Irish Samachar English News