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Gardaí alert students to a surge in rental scams as Ireland faces a student housing shortage, with the Irish Property Owners Association urging urgent government action to keep landlords in the private market and expand new student accommodation. Garda statistics show 230 scam reports and €400,000 in losses to July 2026, highlighting the risk to students competing for limited housing options.
The Garda general public safety agency has launched a warning to students across the country after data from both the Irish Property Owners Association and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation shows a convergence of a severe housing shortage and a sharp rise in accommodation‑related scams.
In 2026 the association reported that the pool of private rental units available to university and college applicants had dipped further after recent changes to tenancy regulation. The new laws, that entered force in March, made it easier for landlords to terminate leases, boosting the number of evictions and leading many to sell off properties rather than commit to long‑term six‑year agreements. The net effect, the IPOA says, is a tightening of the limited, already sparse, market for student housing.
Mary Conway, chairwoman of the IPOA, warned that the National Student Accommodation Strategy acknowledges an almost 15,000 bed deficit for the present generation while projecting that some 42,000 additional beds will be required by 2035. She said the scarcity of suitable places is rooted in policies that have made it less attractive for investors to retain properties in the private rental sector.
"The only way forward is to turn the hand back toward landlords and to accelerate the construction of new student housing," Conway told the agency. The IPOA is calling on the government to adopt urgent measures to keep landlords engaged, improve the financial appeal of long‑term rentals, and accelerate delivery of new student accommodation. Against this backdrop, Det. Insp.
Alan Govern of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation highlighted a spike in accommodation scams during the peak period from August to October. From the start of the year up to the end of July, Gardaí have logged 230 separate reports of fraud, with victims collectively losing an estimated 400,000 euros.
The most common con involves a property that is either fictitious or already taken, with scam artists requesting a deposit or holding fee and then vanishing with the money.
"Students should carry out due diligence and confirm that any potential rental is officially registered with the Residential Tenancies Board," Govern advised. The message to aspiring students and their families is clear: the environment of scarcity has created fertile ground for offenders. In light of the latest data, the Garda and the IPOA urge all applicants to verify the legitimacy of listings by checking the property's status with the RTB before making any payments.
Politicians, planners and housing developers will need to intervene not only to bring more new student units to market but also to implement safeguards that protect those who live below the cramped realities of a shrinking supply. The story is a stark reminder that the shortage of safe, affordable accommodation is not only an economic problem but a social threat that must be addressed by all those that shape policy and practice in Ireland's housing sector
Student Housing Rental Scams Government Policy Landlord Supply Gardaí
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