'I live in a van because rent is too high'

A student at the University of Limerick has taken an unconventional approach to the ongoing accommodation crisis, choosing to live in a converted van rather than pay what he describes as unaffordable rent.

Conor Davidson, a 22-year-old chemical engineering student at UL, says the decision was driven by the high cost of rent in Limerick.

"I live in a van because the rent is too high," he said.

"I get to live for free near the campus, so it worked out well.

"It shouldn't be this hard to find accommodation, especially if you go to a different city and you don’t know anyone," he said.

"If I didn’t come up with this, I think I would have dropped out."
The shortage in student accommodation is not unique to Limerick and UL says it is continuing to work with the Government, its partners in Limerick and the wider sector nationally to find solutions to the issue.

Conor, who is from Co Cavan, said traditional student "digs" were not a viable long-term option for him.

Instead, he turned to social media for inspiration, following van life content on YouTube and Instagram to convert his vehicle into a functional living space.

His set-up includes solar panels, a heater, a cooking hob, and basic sleeping arrangements, while he relies on campus facilities for water and showers.

However, the lifestyle is not without its challenges.

Conor admits it can be difficult during colder months, and he has occasionally been disturbed at night.

"It gets cold in wintertime, and sometimes people knock on the side of the van," he said.

While he acknowledges that van living is not a solution for everyone, he says it has allowed him to continue his studies without the financial strain of rent.

Lack of available accommodation
A commuter hub operating on campus offers free breakfasts to students travelling in each day.

The initiative, which is funded by UL, runs from Monday to Thursday between 8am and 9am in the university’s new Student Centre.

UL Student President Síofra Foley said the service was introduced in response to the pressures facing commuting students.

"We have the commuter hub here for students who are coming in early, often sitting in their cars just trying to find parking," she said.

"They're already paying for fuel and parking, and then adding breakfast on top of that, so we wanted to give something back."
She said around 150 students use the service each morning, with numbers increasing during exam periods.

"There's nearly 20,000 students at UL now, so there is a much larger cohort commuting every day," she said.

Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dervla Ryan conducted a commuter survey, which found students are under increasing financial strain.

"We offer free breakfast - tea, coffee, porridge, toast, fruit and breakfast bars - and it's really a cost-of-living measure," she said.

"A lot of students can't afford food and are skipping meals just to pay rent or fuel costs."
She said the survey found students commuting to UL spend an average of an hour-and-a-half travelling each way.

The student officer said she admires Conor's creativity in converting a van, but says "it shows the lengths some students have to go just to have somewhere to sleep".

"We really need purpose-built accommodation.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy - just a bed, a desk, a wardrobe and somewhere safe to sleep," she said.

"The university is trying to build accommodation, but it needs Government backing to make it affordable."
Meanwhile, work on what is set to be the largest student accommodation project ever built outside Dublin is expected to begin in the coming months in Limerick.

Planning permission has been granted to Whitebox Developments for the €300 million project which will provide 1,400 bedspaces in close proximity to UL.

The purpose-built student accommodation scheme will be developed on land fronting Groody Road and Dublin Road, Castletroy, and will comprise five blocks ranging from five to eight storeys.

It is expected to significantly ease the shortage of student accommodation in Limerick.