As the scramble for student housing intensifies ahead of the new academic year, Sligo remains one of the few large urban centres where affordable quality accommodation is readily available.
According to the latest rental survey conducted by the property website, daft.ie, the highest rates of rental increase outside of Dublin have been in Cork at 10.4%, Galway at 10.1% and Limerick at 8.9%.
Rental price rises are being driven by a shortage of available properties and it’s had a profound effect on students who are seeking accommodation as the new college/university year begins.
On August 1st, Daft.ie found just 4,600 properties for rent nationwide, compared to 6,800 on the same day last year.
In Sligo, rental prices have increased slightly but remain very competitive when compared with the national trends in 2015.
According to Daft, the average price of a three-bedroomed house in Dublin is €1351. In Galway city, it’s €812 (up 9%). The monthly cost for a similar property in Sligo is €586 (up 7.3%)
Read the Daft Rental Report here.
“Purpose built accommodation spaces are filling up fast,” says Barry Clohessy, who is the Welfare Officer at IT Sligo Students Union. “But there are still plenty of affordable quality self-catering and digs accommodation options available,” he adds. “65% of the student accommodation in Sligo is within walking distance of the Institute’s campus. So, in terms of the overall cost of living for students, Sligo compares very favourably.”
For more information on student accommodation, contact the IT Sligo Students Union on 071 91 41887 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) or email: welfare@nullitssu.ie.
You can view the current accommodation list for IT Sligo on the ITSSU website.
IT Sligo is also hosting a CAO Drop-In Clinic this Friday, August 28tht, from 10am to 4pm.
This event will give Students and their families the opportunity to take a tour of the IT Sligo campus and get meaningful advice on grants, accommodation, as well finding out more about Sligo as a place to live and learn in.