UCD accrue €37.2million in 2022/2023 Financial Year from Student Residences
Figures obtained by The University Observer through the Freedom of Information Act show that University College Dublin generated €37.2million income from student accommodation in the 2022/2023 financial year.
A breakdown of rental income per accommodation complex shows that UCD Village (Phase 1) generated the most income for the college, reporting €9,834,216. Phase 1 of the UCD Village consists of over 900 student bedrooms across Blocks D and E and the Village Centre. The models of rooms include 60 studio apartments, 164 12-14 bedroom ‘Village Halls’, 410 ‘Village 1’ bedrooms, 272 ‘Village 2’ bedrooms and 18 ‘Village 3’ bedrooms.
Glenomena houses 1-8 generated €7,440,408, whilst notably houses 9 and 10 have been recorded as generating €-424,259. The University Observer has sought further clarification on this figure.
Belgrove, with a total of 779 bedrooms, generated €6,560,462 worth of income in the 2022/23 financial year, whilst Merville accommodation generated €4,502,089. The Ashfield Residence generated €3,202,419.
Roebuck Castle Catered accommodation, which is primarily home to International students, with its 133 single ensuite bedrooms, reads €1,194,229. Its next door neighbour, Roebuck Hall, reported an income of €2,825,764.
As for the UCD student accommodation in Blackrock on the Smurfit campus, more than €2million was generated in the 2022/2023 financial year; €1,218,675 from Proby Residence, and €873,846 from Blackrock Halls.
Six of these residences also boast laundry facilities (Ashfield, Belgrove, Blackrock, Glenomena, Roebuck, Village Block E). Another Freedom of Information Request submitted by The University Observer revealed that also in the 2022/23 financial year,
UCD Generate ‘€442,000*’ from Clothes Washing facilities on Campus
(*Record of data extracted from University systems). This figure pertains to all laundry facilities and “is not limited to the academic term.
In a UCD Students’ Union Accommodation Town Hall on 14 October, attended by The University Observer, students raised their concerns and difficulties in finding accommodation, and ongoing issues with UCD Residences were highlighted.
These included maintenance issues, such as broken doors, showers, and heating, and a slow resolution of problems by UCD Residences. UCDSU Welfare Officer Ciara Donohue also stated that certain complaints to UCD Residences had been inaccurately marked as completed, and only when she intervened was the problem resolved.
One student living in a UCD residence said they feel they are paying a lot for a “very mediocre” set up. They claimed the residence was dated, with many elements damaged. Clearly echoing the sentiment in the room, they stated “for the price I’m paying each month, it shouldn’t be like that.” The student did not share which UCD accommodation block they reside in.
Further, Donohue raised the social challenges faced by students. In UCD Village Studios, for example, students cannot choose their roommates; one student reported to Donohue that this had resulted in them feeling they did not have a safe space to pray.
International students highlighted the issues they faced when applying for accommodation on the UCD Accommodation Pad. The Accommodation Pad is maintained by the UCD Residences Booking and Support Office, and can only be accessed by UCD students and staff. It allows local landlords offering off-campus accommodation to list houses, apartments, flats, or other self-catered accommodation on the webpage, open to be contacted by students or staff who wish to avail of it.
Students at the Town Hall claimed that despite contacting as many listed accommodations as possible, they rarely received replies.
They further claimed that most listings required in-person meetings, which for international students, was not a feasible option.
Another student stated that their efforts to find accommodation on the Pad were similarly unsuccessful; the majority of listings request ‘females only’, severely limiting the options available for non-female students. An equal majority of listings are for digs-style accommodation, only available for five days a week. Again, it is international students who are disproportionately impacted by this, with nowhere to return to on the weekends.
UCDSU President Miranda Bauer assured the Town Hall attendees that she would contact the UCD Accommodation Pad to raise these concerns. Bauer also stated that she was aware of listings on the accommodation pad that had not been updated or removed when no longer available, and of people getting in touch to say that they had offered accommodation to the platform, but the site had not been updated to reflect this.
In a UCDSU Student Fees and Levy Town Hall on 22 October, the conversation quickly turned back to UCD accommodation.
Students living in UCD residences again raised issues such as black mould, broken windows, and inadequate responses from UCD Residences.
UCD Residences have been approached for comment. This story will be updated if comment is provided.