Individuals and businesses with rooms to rent from across Waterford city and county, south Tipperary, south Kilkenny and south west Wexford can do so easily with SETU help
As students return to campus this September, South East Technological University (WIT) is inviting Waterford residents who would like some company, or to bring in extra money (tax free) to rent out their spare rooms to its students.
Derek Delaney, SETU Novus Accommodation Manager says there is high demand for accommodation in Waterford and that a door-to-door leaflet drop is under way to encourage city residents to rent spare rooms to students.
Tax free income under rent-a-room relief
WIT is bringing students back on a phased basis – first years start college on Wednesday, 22 September, with other students having started on 8 September.
“We want to get the message out to people that who may not have considered renting out their spare room that they could be helping someone out by doing so –and there is a financial benefit. People can earn up to €14,000 a year tax free by renting out rooms in a home ‘rent-a-room relief’, so there is a huge opportunity for anybody whether they have a number of bedrooms or one spare bedroom,” he says.
Free to advertise
“It is free to advertise using the witstudentpad.ie website, developed in conjunction with SETU Novus. We understand not everybody who has a spare room is tech savvy, so if you can’t get a friend or family member to help you, we have set up a phone line to take details of rooms available. If you have a room to rent and can’t use the internet phone us on 087 – 0628322.”
Lauren English-Adams, Welfare & Equality Officer at South East Technological University Students' Union (WITSU) explains that while many SETU students live in commuting distance of Waterford, she has been contacted by students from across the country, who cannot commute and who urgently need a room.
Benefits of renting a room
English-Adams who is also liaising with hotels and B&Bs to source rooms, outlines the benefits for home owners:
“Renting a spare room to a student is a great way to have company if you’re on your own or have a large, empty house. It can also be a way to cover the cost of a son or daughter’s rent elsewhere while they are away during the week – or to pay winter heating bills or save for a post-pandemic holiday.”
“There are a variety of students looking for a room – from first years and second years finding their feet, and international students studying for a semester in Ireland to apprentices on block study at SETU. You can choose whether or not you want to rent the room Sunday to Friday and for the academic term only. People who would like to try out renting a room don’t have to commit for a full year. Students will likely go home for a one-week study break in October, and have a few weeks off over Christmas. Semester 2 starts in mid-January and the final exam is mid-May.”
Email and phone hotline for advertisers
People can start adding their room/property to https://www.witstudentpad.ie/Landlords. The witstudentpad.ie website connects people with rooms to rent with students seeking accommodation. It is also suitable for landlords, and accommodation providers such as B&Bs, and hotels wishing to advertise vacancies directly to SETU students. The contact details for people unable to place an ad online are 087 – 0628322 or [email protected].
People with rooms to rent from outside the city can also advertise e.g. across county Waterford, south Tipperary, south Kilkenny and south west Wexford which are in driving distance of or on bus routes to SETU and attractive to students.