Students are being forced to rent unsafe accommodation at exorbitant prices because of the Government's failure to enforce legislation regulating the rental sector, according to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
USI's welfare officer, Mr Glen Guilfoyle, described as "scandalous" the fact only one in five landlords in the Republic is registered with the Department of the Environment, despite being obliged under law to register.
It was leading to a situation where professionals could afford to rent "the best places" with students being left "to rent in the shadow economy in dwellings where there are often dangerous health and safety breaches".
USI yesterday staged a protest on Grafton Street, Dublin, aimed at making students aware of their rights and entitlements as tenants.
In Galway, students seeking accommodation queued for several hours yesterday at the office's of the Galway Advertiser, in the rush to secure accommodation before the academic year starts next month.
Mr Guilfoyle said anecdotal evidence continued to suggest students were being asked to pay up to €150 a week for a room in shared accommodation in Dublin. Elsewhere weekly rents were as high as €100-€120.
He cautioned students against agreeing to rent accommodation "unless they are certain that the flat or house is satisfactory". Students should make sure they were given a receipt for any deposit paid and a log book to record rental payments.
They should also check a property complies with health and safety regulations, with working smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
An inventory of contents and previous damage to a property should also be agreed with a landlord.
Mr Guilfoyle warned students who were renting on-campus accommodation to be aware that they would be asked to sign over many of their rights when entering into rental agreements with some third-level institutions. The colleges he said could carry out spot- checks of premises. Overnight guests were not allowed and tenants could be evicted with minimal if any notice.