Why Universities Are Fueling an Airbnb Boom That’s Killing Long-Term Rentals—and What That Means for Your Next Investment Move

Here’s a perplexing conundrum for you: in Ireland’s bustling university towns, there are more than twice as many Airbnb listings as there are long-term rental homes. Yep, you read that right—amidst a swelling student population and a crippling housing shortage, short-term lets are gobbling up spaces that could otherwise shelter tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. With over 65,000 Leaving Cert students anxiously awaiting their fate and rents soaring to eye-watering heights, the struggle to find affordable accommodation is tipping from inconvenient to downright crisis. Why is the dream of college becoming a commute nightmare—or worse, a dropped-out statistic? Sprinkle in government budget cutbacks and promises unkept, and you’ve got a recipe for mass frustration. The deeper you dig, the starker the imbalance—think 18-to-1 in Galway. How did we get here? And more importantly, what’s the game plan to flip this script before an entire generation pays the price? Let’s unpack this housing fiasco that’s putting education on the back burner, while Airbnb keeps cashing in. LEARN MORE

There are more than twice as many Airbnb listings in Ireland’s third-level university and college cities than long-term rentals as the students across the country struggle to find affordable accommodation, an Irish Mail on Sunday survey reveals.

It comes amid growing anger over the government’s decision to axe cost-of-living supports, despite promises in June to help students and their families in the October budget.

As more than 65,000 Leaving Cert students await their CAO offers, our analysis showed there were 5,917 short-term lets available on Airbnb on a given day this week.

This compared to just 2,939 longterm rentals listed on Daft.ie. In Dublin alone, 2,846 Airbnb lettings compete with just 1,261 longterm homes listed on Daft.

The imbalance is even starker in smaller university towns. In Maynooth, Sligo, and Tralee, shortterm lets outnumber long-term options by three-to-one or more.

In Galway, the situation is at crisis point; 595 entire homes are listed on Airbnb, while just 33 are available for rent, an extraordinary 18-to-1 gap.

Student-specific housing is also scarce; just 1,048 purpose-built rooms were recorded nationwide.

The total student population last year was just over 260,000, according to the HSE. Dublin city centre has just 250 dedicated rooms for a student population of 125,000. Cork city is further behind with 57 dedicated student rooms listed on Daft for more than 26,000 enrolled students.

The chronic shortage of accommodation means many students will be forced to commute long distances to attend college when the new term begins next month. Others have had to switch courses to attend colleges closer to their homes, while in some cases students have been forced to postpone their third-level education.

Student unions say college goers are being priced out of education entirely as average monthly rents hit €2,000 nationwide and €2,500 in Dublin. While dedicated student accommodation costs are lower, averaging €600 to €1,000 a month, union leaders say the limited availability of such properties and rising rents are forcing students to transfer or drop out.

Munster Technological University (MTU) Student Union President for Tralee Cian McGrath told the MoS some students have to commute “three and a half hours each way”.

“As a result, he added, these students are “missing out on an awful, awful lot, especially the social aspect of college”.

In MTU’s Tralee, where MTU has its Kerry campus, there are three times the number of short-term lets than long-term options.

McGrath said: “We only have three purpose-built buildings of student accommodation and in Tralee. We’re looking at maybe 3,500 to 4,000 students now and the accommodation just isn’t available anymore.”

He added the problem in Tralee is exacerbated by the fact that technological universities in Europe are not allowed to own their own accommodation spaces.

McGrath said: “Technological universities can’t own their own accommodation. It’s been something that’s been hindering a lot of progress. There’s plenty of land to be built on, it’s just being held back.

“New student accommodation on campus in MTU Kerry is another five, 10 years away. Last week, we put up a call out for people of Tralee to give up any spare rooms they have to provide digs.

“I put a call out to ask any older people or anyone at all if they have spare rooms. We’ve had a good turnout, a good few people signed up for it. But it’s still not enough.”

In Dublin, Trinity College Student Union President Seán Thim O’Leary echoed these concerns and levelled his frustration at Government policy.

He told the MoS: “This is in line with a Government that’s constantly been placing student needs on the back burner and just generally placing the housing crisis on the back burner. We have incredibly high rates compared to our European neighbours, sometimes upwards of double the rates that students pay in other countries.”

O’Leary painted a stark picture of the conditions facing some students due to the accommodation crisis.

“Circumstances leave a lot of students stuck between the option of couch surfing, of taking incredibly long commutes. You have students skipping meals or, in the worst case, a lot of students opt to drop out of college. That’s a disgrace.”

Based in Wexford, O’Leary said his own commute of more than two hours is now “common” because many students simply “can’t afford to live in Dublin”.

The student leader accused the government of failing to clamp down on short-term lets, which he said is fuelling the massive shortfall of affordable rental properties.

He added: “It comes down to a problem of regulation. This needs to be at the top of the government’s priority. They actually need to view housing rights and the rights of students as fundamental rights, which they don’t. It is a very desperate situation to be in.”

In response to queries from the MoS the Department of Higher Education said Minister James Lawless “is acutely conscious of the challenges facing students, including the cost and availability of student accommodation, and is focused on delivering targeted and effective interventions which support learners”.

A spokesperson added: “The minister will be bringing a new student accommodation strategy to government in the coming months which will aim to increase the supply of accommodation across the country.

“The stock of student beds has increased to 49,000, with work underway on nearly 1,900 additional student bed spaces, and planning permission in place for a further nearly 13,000 beds, as of earlier this summer.

“The Government has committed €100m of State funding to short-term activation of student accommodation. The first of these projects is delivering 116 beds in Maynooth University, which will be ready for students for the coming academic year.”

The department said the minister would enhance financial support for students by raising SUSI income thresholds by 15%, allowing more families to access grants. The government would also increase rent tax credit to €1,000 for families with student renters.

(Pic: Getty Images)