Galway students appeal to public for spare rooms amid housing shortage
Friday 7 August 2026
University of Galway student union and university authorities are appealing to local homeowners to rent out spare rooms amid a severe accommodation shortage.
University of Galway students have appealed directly to the public for help securing accommodation ahead of the new academic term by distributing leaflets.
The student union's campaign involves distributing approximately 600 leaflets throughout Galway city, encouraging residents with suitable spare rooms to advertise them on the university's Student Pad platform. This initiative follows a wider drive by the university, which distributed 40,000 flyers to local homes to urge residents to open up accommodation for the upcoming semester.
The appeals highlight severe accommodation shortages, rising rents, and competition from short-term holiday lets in the city. To encourage participation, stakeholders are highlighting the national rent-a-room relief scheme, which allows homeowners to earn up to €14,000 annually in tax-free income by renting out a spare room.
According to figures reported by RTÉ, student rental costs in Galway typically range from €600 to €1,200 per month. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway has also issued similar appeals, calling on local homeowners to assist by opening their spare rooms to students.