A new toolkit has been launched to help prevent students from being scammed when renting accommodation.
'Scamwatch toolkit 2026', which was launched by Threshold, ICOS and AMLÉ, will equip student unions and accommodation officers with digital material and other resources to help colleges, universities and student representatives share scam awareness messages.
The campaign comes as students continue to face intense pressure in the accommodation market.
Many students are being pushed into the wider rental market due to short supply, where they can become more exposed to scams.
Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway were facing a shortfall of at least 38,900 student bed spaces at the end of 2025, according to recent figures.
Threshold Campaigns Officer Cat Clark, said: “Student unions, accommodation officers and other frontline supports are often the people students turn to first when they are worried about housing.
"Through this year’s Scamwatch toolkit, we want to equip them with clear, practical resources they can use to help students spot red flags and avoid being caught by increasingly convincing scams."
The toolkit will also be translated into Spanish and Portuguese to better support international students.
Brian Hearne, Policy and Communications Manager, at ICOS, said: “For many international students, the search for accommodation begins before they arrive in Ireland, which can make it harder to verify listings and easier for scammers to take advantage."
The three rules to avoid rental scams are; to inspect the property in person, use secure payment methods and a contract, trust your instinct and look for help.
