Student organisations are unnecessarily anxious about the accommodation situation, according to the 3,000-member Irish Property Owners' Association (IPOA).
The Union of Students in Ireland recently organised a number of high-profile protests about the situation facing students, claiming they are being forced to rent unsafe accommodation at exorbitant prices because of the Government's failure to enforce legislation regulating the rental sector.
Responding to the protests, Mr Fintan McNamara, spokesman for the association, said: "They are exaggerating the situation. One or two years ago, I would understand it. I would say that the amount of sub-standard accommodation is falling. If you get good-quality accommodation, you get good-quality tenants. There is a lot more property coming on stream which will be residential investment property."
The proposed Residential Tenancies Bill, which aims to protect tenants in rented accommodation, is expected to come into effect next January. Under the terms of the Bill, landlords will be required to register each tenancy in a property with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). In addition, if a new tenant takes over a property, they must register this information again. The cost of each registration will be €70.
"We want landlords to register, we think it is in their interests," said the PRTB's director, Mr Brian O'Neill. "It is important that the landlord registers the date at which the tenancy commences, as if there is a dispute, the registered data is what applies. If a landlord runs into difficulties, they are not entitled to use our services."
Mr O'Neill added: "The intention is to give everyone fair treatment. Property owners have nothing to fear from us. Our aim is to eliminate a lot of the problems that currently exist. We will prosecute landlords if they do not register."
The IPOA would, however, like to see properties registered every four to five years with the relevant local authority. It believes some landlords will pass the cost of registration on to tenants, while others might take part in a "compliance war".
Mr McNamara said: "Our objection is to the bureaucracy and the frequency of registration. Students should be focusing on increased charges, such as the registration charge and the environmental waste charge.
"If you are prepared to travel a bit, you will get a house. I would say that a landlord should not be offering sub-standard accommodation in this day and age."