While there is a high demand for housing in Galway, various options are available for students throughout Galway City and its surrounding areas. Whether this is your first time moving away from home or you have rented accommodation before, finding the right place to live is crucial to a happy and successful university experience. To help make this move easier for you, we are here to offer support and advice on making the right choice.
We advise you to consider all the accommodation options available before making your choice. Options include student residences; self-catering accommodation; owner-occupied accomodation with meals included; shared houses and shared flats. We advise students to be aware of their rights when choosing from different types of accommodation. Owner-occupied accommodation, while a cheaper option may not guarantee the security and rights that a tenancy offers.
Students make a significant contribution to their surrounding community although this can sometimes go unnoticed. John Hannon, director of student services at University of Galway says, “Students are our future leaders – our art managers, business analysts, coders, doctors ... the people who sustain Galway and make its future sustainable.
There are over a thousand students who get an award each year from the President for volunteering to help our communities eg, to bring children to Teddy Bear Hospital on campus, or go out into the community on school visits (Cell Explorers). Societies raise hundreds of thousands of euros for charities every year.
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They ensure Galway is Ireland’s most multicultural and vibrant city; they bring fun, energy and life to the city and its environs. They ensure the success of our festivals, music, culture, sport and language.”
With housing in high demand in Galway City, it is important that University of Galway students and their parents and guardians get informed of the options available to them.
Finding student accommodation is the most important thing you will need to plan for whilst at university and you need to consider the location, living space and your budget. To make things a little easier, we have put together our top tips to choosing your home for the next academic year:
Visit Studentpad
The Studentpad search portal is the most secure way to search for private student accommodation in Galway. All properties advertised go through a registration process and are regularly updated. Click here to start your search.
You can also use other websites, however caution is urged. Do not part with any money until you have seen the property in person.
Get informed
While your first preference might be the city centre, Galway’s various residential areas and environs have a lot to offer. You can learn more about accommodation options throughout the city and its surrounding areas here.
Accommodation comes in different forms. Studio apartments are uncommon in Galway and larger houses are in short supply. Most availability appears as rooms in owner-occupied homes.
The number of students who choose the option of owner-occupied accommodation continues to grow; this is where a student pays a homeowner for accommodation offered on a full-time or five-day basis. Living arrangements are agreed upon with the homeowner. Some may provide meals, while others prefer to give students access to the kitchen to prepare their own food.
Search smart
Don’t get caught by rental fraud – always meet a prospective landlord in the accommodation to be rented and remember to keep copies of receipts and correspondence. Ensure that keys fit, and rental contract is signed, before paying deposit. Make sure you are informed of your tenancy rights. Tenancy rights are one of the most important factors when it comes to housing.
You can learn more about tenancy safety and rights on the Accommodation Advisory Service website.
What is your budget?
Working out how much you can afford to spend on accommodation each month is very important. You need to consider your expenses including travel, bills, and food. Discover useful information about the cost of living in Galway here.
What’s included within the rent?
When working out your budget, make sure you understand what’s included in the rent. Some accommodation providers offer all-inclusive bill packages, so you don’t need to worry about utility and wifi bills. You should always check out whether bills are included in the rent, so that you can factor this into your budget.
Key tips for renting
Always view a property before paying a deposit and always bring a friend or parent with you when meeting a landlord. Ensure you have a rental agreement and always read and understand the rental agreement before signing. Always get a receipt for the deposit paid and any rent paid in advance and always make a list of furniture and appliances with the landlord. Damage or loss of property is a regular reason for losing a deposit. If there are any outstanding repairs that need to be fixed before you move in, ask the landlord to state in writing that they will be repaired – take photos if necessary.
Start as early as possible
Given the shortage of accommodation throughout Ireland, it’s wise to start refining your choices now. If you are travelling to Galway from abroad, you can book short-term accommodation for your arrival, then view properties before committing to a deposit.
We recommend scheduling viewings and arriving in Galway before term time, if possible, to ensure that you have accommodation confirmed in good time.
As you know, some CAO places have already been offered, while two more rounds of offers are yet to be issued to school-leaving applicants. Key dates to keep an eye on are:
Wednesday, 30th August at 2pm – Round One offers
Monday, 11th September at 2pm – Round Two offers
Galway homeowners – room to spare?
Would you like to earn up to up to €14,000 tax free?
Sign up for the rent-a-room scheme now and advertise your space to 19,000+ students for free.
We know that recent inflation in energy costs has been challenging for homeowners. The rent-a-room scheme offers a way to earn extra income, while helping a student to find their feet in Galway.
Find out more today by visiting University of Galway Rent-a-Room.
The scheme advises homeowners to create a lease/rental agreement that sets out the expectations and obligations of both homeowner and tenant.
The Accommodation Advisory Service is located on the first floor of the Áras Uí Chathail Building. For Accommodation queries, email us at accommodation@universityofgalway.ie or call us on +353 (0) 91 49 3540