Every college in the country has hiked its student accommodation fees for the upcoming term, according to a new survey.

The Irish Independent survey found that the cost of university-owned and on-campus accommodation has risen by as much as 11.5%.

University College Dublin’s Roebuck Castle came in as the most expensive in Ireland – costing more than €11,500 for the term.

Meanwhile, the cost of staying at University College Cork has risen the most – with rents at its Mardyke Hall up 11.5%.

Student rent caps

On Newstalk Breakfast, the President of the Union of Students in Ireland Lorna Fitzpatrick said the hikes are not surprising.

“These increases came just ahead of the introduction of the 4% rent caps for purpose-built student accommodation,” she said. “So, universities were trying to increase rents before they come into play, from next week onwards.”

“So this is placing a significant financial pressure on students and on their families.”

The new rent caps for student housing come into force on August 15th.

Funding

Ms Fitzpatrick said she believes colleges are using rents to make up for a shortfall in funding:

“The universities have done this to try and fill a gap I suppose that has been left by lack of Government action in terms of a funding model for higher education,” she said.

The highest rise in Dublin was at Trinity College where rents are up 5.57%; however, costs are also up at the rest of the capitals colleges.

Rents at the University of Limerick are up 6.2% while Maynooth prices are up 4.4%.

Main image shows the Roebuck Castle Development in UCD