THERE was outrage across Limerick after it was discovered that 18 international students found themselves being “deceived” into living in a “crammed” two-bedroom home in the city.
The deputy president of TUS Students Union hit out that “these students were deceived under false pretences, told they would be sharing with only three or four others. Instead, they arrived to discover a house with just two bedrooms (and) a tiny kitchen”
One local TD, after visiting the overcrowded home, said “you can imagine the chaos – bunk beds crammed into every room, with no space for dignity or privacy”.
An online advertisement for the two-bed property in Limerick City on housing website Daft.ie has been taken down since the discovery of the “disgraceful” living conditions.
TUS Students Union deputy president Gearóid Folan described the scenes as “the single worst case of student accommodation I have ever encountered”.
“These students travelled from overseas to seek an education here in Ireland and have been completely taken advantage of.”
He said that “the students have flown in from overseas. They arrived without family or local supports, only to find themselves trapped in an exploitative situation at their most vulnerable moment.”
TUS Global confirmed it has already secured alternative accommodation for the affected TUS students.
“We have advised all students involved to report the matter to An Garda Síochána,” Mr Folan added.
He said that the students had been “each paying €500 a month” to live in the cramped conditions – equating to €9,000 cumulatively.
“No landlord should be allowed to exploit students in this way, and we must see change. This is simply horrifying,” Mr Folan said.
Limerick Labour TD Conor Sheehan said he was “truly shocked” at he saw visiting the overcrowded city home, issuing a call for the government to “finally act on slum landlords”.
Deputy Sheehan described the house as “crammed with beds” and representing a “massive health and safety risk”.
“I was truly shocked to witness the conditions in this house in my own city of Limerick. 18 people were living in a two-bedroom property, misled into thinking this was acceptable accommodation. It was overcrowded, unsafe, and frankly disgraceful.
“You can imagine the chaos – bunk beds crammed into every room, with no space for dignity or privacy,” Deputy Sheehan said.
Deputy Sheehan hit out that “we need a proper crackdown on slum landlords”.
“People are being taken advantage of and misled into living in conditions that put their health and safety at risk. This is not just a matter of poor quality housing – it is exploitation, pure and simple.”
In the wake of the harrowing, cramped living conditions, the Labour TD called on the government to “act on slum landlords and commit to a serious programme of regulation and investment in safe, affordable housing”.
“This is a symptom of a much bigger problem,” Deputy Sheehan said.
“Unfortunately, for far too many people, there simply isn’t decent and affordable housing available. The accommodation crisis is as bad as ever.”
Deputy Sheehan hit out that the “government has failed to grasp the nettle” on the housing crisis.
“Time and again, government has promised action, but they have consistently failed to deliver. It is young people, workers, and students who are paying the price.”
He said he was now “calling on government to take a serious look at what is happening on the ground in accommodation right across the country”.
“We need strong regulation and enforcement to protect tenants from exploitation, and we need a major public housing and student accommodation programme to ensure safe, affordable homes for all.
“This crisis is deepening every year, yet the response from government has been piecemeal and inadequate. Enough is enough.”