Accommodation Advisory Service Living in Dublin Handbook

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Living in Dublin

Front Arch, Trinity College

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1 Foreword............................. 2 2 Getting Started................... 4 2.1 Setting up a Bank Account 2.2 Getting a Phone

3 Finding Accommodation..... 6 3.1 Where to Look 3.2 Area Guide 3.3 Utilities

-Electricity & Gas -Television, Broadband & Phone

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4 Getting Around..................... 14 Contacts............. 15 5 Emergency 6 Checklist................................. 16

Foreword Hey there, Welcome to the Guidebook to Living in Dublin. You’ll find some useful information here about renting, electricity and heating suppliers, transport and living in Dublin. Moving away from home can be a daunting experience and that’s why we’ve produced this one-stop booklet to help make the transition more straightforward. If you need any assistance throughout the year in relation to accommodation, landlords etc. please call in to me in House 6. As the Welfare Officer of the Students’ Union, I’m here to support you through whatever you might be going through. This might include accommodation issues, sexual health issues, pregnancy, assault, financial issues, mental health etc. My e-mail address is welfare@tcdsu.org. I’m also contactable by phone at 0868373520.

Take Care,

Aisling

Welfare Officer

TCDSU

Useful Website!

For great information on living in Dublin check out w w w. tc d l ife. ie. Here, you’ll find information on all aspects on living in Dublin and Trinity College.

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So, you’ve landed in Dublin and you’re wondering where to go from there. A good place to start is setting up two key pieces of your new “Irish” identity; your phone and your bank account.

Mobile Phone

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One of the first things that International students will want to get their hands on is a mobile phone. It’s best to get this as early as possible so that it can used to organise some where to live. Phones are avail able in Ireland with payment by prepay or billpay. For prepay, it’s a simple case of buying the phone and topping up every time you run out of credit. For billpay, you will first need a bank account and an address.

You will also need to sign up to a fixed contract, which means that prepay is perhaps the best option for Erasmus students, particularly those who are only here for one semester. Non-EU students studying here for 1 year or less will not be able to sign up for a ‘bill-plan’. Typically, students will purchase a prepay phone. All the main providers offer free texts to any network or free calls and texts to phones on their network for €20 credit.

Main Providers: Vodafone www.vodafone.ie

O2 http://www.o2online.ie/ 3 http://www.three.ie Meteor http://www.meteor.ie

We Recommend:

Vodafone If you top up €20 per month, you can choose between free texts to any network OR free calls & texts to Vodafone mobiles.

Internet bundles are also available.Top up by: €25 to add 150MB free internet per month €30 to add 500MB free internet per month.

Banking Bank of Ireland is Trinity’s oncampus banking partner and that comes with benefits, partic ularly for international students.

While most banks require proof of address in order to set up an account, Bank of Ireland’s Trinity branches (located in the Buttery and in the Hamilton build ing) will accept a letter from college, confirming that you are a student. This makes the house hunting process much easier for an incoming international student. As an international student, all you have to do to set up an account is simply to call into either of the on-campus branches with: (i) A letter from Trinity addressed to your home (outside Ireland).

This must be dated and on

headed paper (e.g. your letter of acceptance from the college). (ii) Your Passport or EU national card .

The account set up will provide you with an ATM Laser Card and access to online banking. The account will allow you to transfer money so that you can pay deposits to landlords. To avail of additional services such as credit cards or loans, you must bring proof of address in Ireland (e.g. a Gas or electricity bill). International students should also note that Bank of Ireland can draft letters proving that you have an Irish bank account. These letters are often needed by the visa offices, so feel free to call into them and they’ll be happy to help you out!

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Searching for accommodation in Dublin can be a difficult task. However, if you start early and put in the effort, you’re bound to find somewhere that meets your needs. The first step is to check out a few places online and arrange as many viewings as you are physically capable of. Remember, it’s best to bunch the viewings together by location to save unneces sary mileage on what will be tired legs. The following websites are the best places for initial research, with www.daft. ie providing perhaps the most comprehensive list: www.daft.ie www.rent.ie www.myhome.ie www.collegecribs.ie www.gumtree.ie www.let4u.ie www.tcd.ie/communications/ noticeboard

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www.propertycheck.ie As well as the above sites, make sure to call into the Accom modation Advisory Service, located within the SU Office in House 6. There, you can view the SU’s very own private listings, which are reserved exclusively for Trinity students.

You’ll also find a wealth of in formation on everything from dealing with landlords to who is best to source your internet from.

For those who are searching for accommodation in Dublin for the first time, it’s best to try to familiarize yourself with the city before you search. If you are unsure as to where best to live, or which areas to avoid, call into House 6 and we’ll be happy to help!

Area Guide

A guide to Dublin’s Post Codes • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dublin 1

Abbey Street Amiens Street Capel Street Dorset Street Henry Street Mounjoy Square Malboro Street North Wall O’Connell Street Parnell Square Summerhill Talbot Street

The postcode covers most of Dublin’s northern inner city.

Although on certain streets it can be necessary to be quite mindful of your personal possessions and your safety, the benefits to living in Dublin 1 are plentiful. The city centre location means that college is rarely more than a 15 minute walk away and rent prices tend to be far lower than similarly proximate areas in Dublin 2 and 4. The key to living in Dublin 1 is to be streetwise and to be alert of your surround-

ings, people and places. The area really is worth exploring.

However, be sensible. It might be an idea to check out the location at night to see whether it is somewhere you would feel comfortable walking home at night to.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Dublin 2

Trinity College Dublin Baggot Street Lower College Green Dawson Street Fitzwilliam Square Harcourt Street Kildare Street Lord Edward Square Merrion Square Mount Street Nassau Street Pearse Street St Stephens Green South Great Georges Street Leeson Street

Dublin 2 represents the Holy Grail in terms of accommodation for Trinity students. It is the closest you will ever get

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to college without living on campus. It’s safe, vibrant and is rammed to the gills with pubs, clubs, shops and the odd historical building or two. The area has everything…well almost everything. While Dublin 2 allows you to move from lectures, to pub, to

club, to an undignified passing out on your kitchen floor with minimal steps, this luxury comes at a price. Rent in Dublin 2 far outstrips the rest of Dublin city centre. As much as we wouldn’t like to shatter any ideas of getting a flat above the shops on Grafton street, rumour has it that Bono owns one. However, every so often

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a D2 apartment comes up at a reasonable rate. If ever such a thing happens, do not hesitate and grab it with both hands.

• • • • • • •

Dublin 4

Ballsbridge Donnybrook Irishtown Merrion Pembroke Sandymount Baggot Street Upper

Dublin 4 has a reputation for affluence. Most Irish students know this and international students will discover all in due course. Rent prices in this area are predictably high but if you can afford it, you’ll get a stellar house or apartment for your money. However, within Dublin 4, there are a few hidden pockets where accommodation can be found at more reasonable prices. While Ballsbridge and Donnybrook are at the epicenter of traditional Dublin 4 and come with appropriately high price tags, Ringsend

and Irishtown are much more reasonable. Rents stand around the normal student benchmark of 400 euros per month. The areas are generally safe and are only a twenty minute walk to Trinity. Sandymount strand is also a short walk away and local residents are perennially ‘sunkissed’ orange.

• • • • •

Dublin 6

Dartry Ranelagh Rathmines Rathgar Sandford

Dublin 6 is perhaps the ultimate Trinity student area and takes in two of the most popular suburbs for those seeking accommodation; Ranelagh and Rathmines. While Dublin 4 is the home of the old guard of South Dublin society, the Rathmines -Ranelagh area is regarded as the young professional’s hub. Rent prices here are reasonable, if not necessarily cheap. Houses tend to

be well finished and commuting distances into college are generally under thirty minutes by foot. The green Luas line also fully services these areas, which cuts out the miserable trek to college on a wet October morning. Dublin 6 is also home to the most popular student residence, Trinity Hall.

• • • • • • •

Dublin 6W

Domvilles/Wellington Rossmores Glendowns Kimmage Road Lower Wainsfort Harold’s Cross Road Terenure Road

While the majority of Dublin 6w lies further away from col-

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lege than most Trinity students are prepared to commute, the postcode does possess one area that is within commutable distance for those who are not afraid to stretch their legs or board a bus. Harold’s Cross is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Trinity students. It’s about a 35 minute walk into college but for that extra stride, many students secure houses for

four and five people that even outstrip their own homes, and at reasonable rates. The area itself is reasonably quiet and residential though, so be prepared for hassle from landlords and

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neighbours when 300 people click ‘attending’ to your housewarming party on Facebook.

• • • •

Dublin 7

Arbour Hill Cabra Phibsborough Four Courts

Dublin 7 is a very popular student area. Areas like Phibsborough have traditionally been the haunts of St. Pat’s students but greater numbers of Trinity students are flocking further north, particularly when in search of 4 and 5 bedroom houses. Phibsborough is especially popular with those seeking larger houses at cheap prices. Expect a 25 minute walk into town. Smithfield is also an area with a number of benefits.

The area has been subject to an urban regeneration project in the course of the last ten years, provides

reasonable proximity to college (around a 25 minute walk) and is serviced by the red Luas line, which will take you as far as Abbey Street.

• • • • • • • •

Dublin 8

Dolphins Barn Inchicore Island Bridge Kilmainham Merchants Quay Portobello South Circular Road The Coombe

Dublin 8, unlike the other central southside postcodes, is very much a mixed bag. Properties in this area tend to be reasonably priced. The commute time to college can vary depending on how far west the property is in D8. Typically commute times vary between 20-30 minutes.

However, Dublin 8 certainly does not have the comfortable splendor of its southern postcode counterparts. In fact, some

areas, like the Coombe are simply to be avoided. On South Circular Road and Portobello, you will generally find houses that are inexpensive if slightly more rustic than those found in D4 and D6. This is an emerging student area and well worth a look for those searching for southside accommodation on a budget.

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You’ve found your four walls and a roof but what do you do now? Here is a quick guide to all the main utility suppliers in Ireland.

Electricty + Gas When looking for Electricity and/or Gas, its best to eliminate the ‘or’.

For the student on a budget, you can find big savings of up to 14% by getting your gas and electricity from one supplier. To maximise savings further, it is advisable to pay using Direct Debit and to use the ‘E-Billing’ option. Different suppliers have different deposit requirements.

Main Providers: Electric Ireland www.esb.ie

Bord Gáis www.bordgais.ie

Airtricity www.airtricity.com

We Recommend:

ESB – Electric Ireland does not require a deposit where a direct debit is set up which is a bonus to any student worried about set-up costs. There is no specific length requirement for contracts of one year which is useful for students renting for nine month periods.

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Television, Broadband and Phone

As with the Energy suppliers, savings can be made by ‘bundling’ your Phone, Broadband and Television bills with one company. It also saves the hassle of dealing with 3 separate bills each month. We will however provide you with all of the main companies in each sector.

Television

Sky Television www.sky.com/ireland UPC www.upc.ie

Broadband Eircom www.eircom.net

Phone -Landline Eircom www.eircom.net

Magnet www.magnet.ie Smart Telecom

www.smarttelecom.ie

UPC www.upc.ie

UPC www.upc.ie

We Recommend:

For €66 per month UPC offers 25mb broadband, 84 TV channels and a Home Phone. You can tailor your package to suit your needs and avail of ongoing offers using their website.

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Dublin isn’t a very big city so get ting around shouldn’t pose too many problems. A handy tool to use when viewing possible accommodation is the ‘Google Maps’ directions tool which can provide you with approxi mate travel times on foot or bike.

To avail of student travel offers you must hold a current ‘Student Travel Card’. These are availble from the SU Office in House 6 for €15.

Dublin Bus

www.dublinbus.ie Dublin Bus runs routes all around Dublin. They offer a 30-day non-consecutive ticket for €82 and a 5-day non-consecutive ticket for €17.20

LUAS

www.luas.ie

The LUAS is our tram-car system. There are two lines, the Red line and the Green line. It’s a very reliable service and offers a faster alternative to the areas it serves. They offer a 7-day ticket for €17.50 and a monthly ticket for €61.00 (both consecutive day tickets). This would be sufficient for most student accommodation in Dublin. The closest stops to Trinity are Abbey Street (Red Line) and St. Stephens (Green Line).

Leap Cards

www.leapcard.ie

Leap Cards are the new efficient one-stop-shop for travelling across Dublin. The card can be topped through a prepay system and offers reduced rates for Dublin Bus, LUAS and DART.

We Recommend: Cycling around Dublin is the fastest, cheapest and most of the time the most convenient mode of transport around the city. With 44 stations across the city centre, the Dublin Bike Rental Scheme requires a Long Term Hire Card for only €10 and service charge debited from a credit card after the first 30 minutes of use. Check out www.dublinbikes.ie for a look. Alternatively buy a bike (and a good bike lock)!

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Crime For any emergency contact our emergency services using eithier ‘999’ or ‘112’. Here you will be directed to the relevent services you need. The local police station to college is Pearse St. Garda Station. You can contact them at 01 666 9000.

In college itself, any crime should be reported to the college security at their Front Gate office and or over the phone at 01 896 1317.

Embassy Contacts As an international student, for any queries that may arise during the year involving your Visa amoungst other things, you should contact your embassy and seek advice from them. A list of embassies can be found at www.embassyworld. com/Embassy_Of_Ireland/Foreign_Nations/.

Health As above, for emergencies ring ‘999’ or ‘112’. For any nonurgent health issues book an appointment with the College Health Centre. Their phone number is 01-8961556. There are also emergency clinics for students at 9:30am and 2:30pm.

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Accomodation checklist The best tips The handiest links What to do What not to do

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Checklist for viewing a house/apartment Accommodation

No signs of dampness (check inside cupboards, mould) Is there proper ventilation? (especially in the bathroom and kitchen) Do the windows open?

Will it be easy to heat? Are there draughts or high ceilings?

What sort of heating is there, what will it cost, who’s responsible for the bills?

Is there enough furniture? Are there enough cupboards and shelves?

Are the cooker, fridge (any any other electrical appliances) working?

What way is water heated is it working?

Are there enough electric sockets?

How will electricity/gas/phone be paid for?

Is there a connection fee deposit? A guarantor? Are meters set correctly?

Is there cable television? Who pays the bill?

What are the arrangements for cleaning common areas Are there fire extinguishers and safe exits in the event of a fire?

Do you have access to a garden?

Is there a safe place to put your bike?

Is there internet access? Is it compatible with your computer?

What is the BER rating? The higher the rating, the lower the heating bills!

Area

Is it close to college? Easy to get to?

Is it on a good bus route or near the DART or Luas?

Are there shops nearby?

Agreements Is there a written lease? (if there is get someone knowledgeable to explain

its terms) How much is rent, how often is it to be paid? Does it include electricity/

phone rental?

How much is the deposit?

Is the landlord registered with the PRTB (Private Residential Tenancies Board) Does anyone else have keys to the flat? When can the landlord enter?

What repairs will you be responsible for?

Is there a contact address and phone number for the landlord in your rent book?

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What to do

DO try to bring a parent with you DO keep a rent book: This will set out how much rent is and you will have a record of rent payments

DO request a copy of the letting agreement before signing anything

DO read your rights as outlined below before dealing with a landlord

DO bring a good map of Dublin including bus numbers with you

DO take photos: both when you move in and move out DO agree to a rent you will be able to afford throughout the year

What not to do

DON’T settle for a cupboard just because you’re

worried you won’t find anything else! Just keep calm, keep looking and remember that you’re planning to spend a year in the place you find!

DON’T go with a crowd of people. It may give the impression to landlords that you are a party animal

DON’T worry too much – you will find accommodation!

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Handing over your rent deposit 1. Always meet a prospective landlord in the acommoda -tion.

2. Ask for identification e.g. a business card or an Irish

Property Owner’s Assocation membership card.

3. If you’re dealing with an agent, check they are a

member of a reputable association (for example, IAVI).

4. Get the landlord’s full contact details, including a landline

telephone number, home address or place of business.

5. Only take the property when you are totally satsified.

Ask the following questions before making your decision:

• Is the landlord registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board? Check www.prtb.ie

• Is there a lease or rent book? You can pick up a free USI rent book from your SU.

• Who has access to the property?

• Why did the previous tenant leave?

• Who do I have to contact if I have a problem?

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