Digs in Ireland: What Students (and Parents) Should Know

Digs means renting a room in a private family home — often with meals, bills or laundry included — while the householder lives there too. It’s one of the most affordable and lowest-commitment ways for a student to live near college, especially in first year. But because a lodger is a licensee rather than a tenant, the protections you’d have in a normal rental don’t apply, so the details you agree before moving in matter enormously.

What exactly are digs?

Digs is the traditional Irish arrangement where a household rents a spare room to a student, usually during term time only. It sits somewhere between family life and independent renting: you get a furnished room in an established home, often with dinner cooked and bills sorted, but you’re living by the household’s rhythms and rules.

What’s included varies from house to house — some hosts provide breakfast and an evening meal, others just kitchen access; some include all bills and Wi-Fi, others charge extra for laundry or heavier utility use. There is no standard package, so never assume — agree exactly what’s included, in writing, before you commit.

What’s the difference between 5-day and 7-day digs?

5-day digs run Monday to Friday, with the student going home at weekends, while 7-day digs give you the room all week. The choice usually comes down to distance and cost:

• 5-day digs suit students whose family home is within reasonable weekend travel. They typically cost less, hosts often prefer them (the family gets weekends to themselves), and students keep home comforts and weekend jobs.
• 7-day digs suit students from further away, or anyone with weekend commitments near college — sports, part-time work, placements.

Clarify the boundaries either way: in 5-day digs, can you stay the odd weekend for an exam or event, and is there a charge? Do you need to clear the room in summer? Can you leave belongings there over holidays?

What is your legal position in digs?

A student in digs is a licensee, not a tenant — you’re staying in the property with the owner’s permission rather than holding a tenancy, and standard tenancy protections do not apply. In practical terms:

• The arrangement is not covered by standard RTB tenancy rights — no statutory notice periods, and no automatic access to RTB dispute resolution as a tenant would have.
• Either side can end the arrangement far more easily than in a tenancy — which cuts both ways.
• Your protection is the agreement you make up front: notice period, deposit terms, and what’s included.

This is why a written agreement matters so much in digs, even a simple one. Citizens Information has a clear guide to sharing accommodation with your landlord. Agree a fair notice period both ways (for example, a few weeks’ notice on each side), and get the deposit amount and refund conditions in writing before any money changes hands.

Why do homeowners offer digs?

Mostly because of rent-a-room relief: under Revenue’s rent-a-room scheme, homeowners can earn up to €14,000 per year tax-free from renting rooms in their own home. That makes hosting a student financially worthwhile for households with a spare room — which is good news for students, because it keeps a steady supply of digs available, particularly in college towns.

Understanding the host’s side helps you too. Hosts who rely on this income want reliable, considerate students who stay the year — so presenting yourself well (and having a parent involved in the first contact, if you’re comfortable with that) genuinely improves your options.

How do you find reputable digs?

Start with your college’s accommodation office — most colleges maintain a digs list of host households and actively recruit hosts near campus each summer. These lists are the safest route because the college is a point of contact if something goes wrong. Other reliable channels:

• Students’ union noticeboards and housing groups
• Word of mouth — students who lived in the house before you are the best reference there is
• Listing websites — usable, but apply the standard scam rules: view in person before paying anything, and be wary of anyone who won’t meet

Never pay a deposit or “holding fee” for a room you (or someone you trust) haven’t seen, and never pay by untraceable means.

What should you ask before committing?

Ask everything now — awkward questions before you move in prevent genuinely awkward conflicts after. A practical checklist:

• Money: What’s the weekly/monthly rate? What deposit, and what are the refund conditions? Is rent paid over holidays?
• Inclusions: Which meals, if any? Bills, Wi-Fi, laundry, heating hours?
• Access: 5-day or 7-day? Is there a key/curfew? Can friends visit? Weekend stays?
• Facilities: Desk and study space? Kitchen access outside mealtimes? Parking or bike storage?
• Household: Who lives there? Pets? Smokers? Other student lodgers?
• Ending it: What notice applies on each side? What happens if either party wants out mid-term?

What should the written agreement cover?

At minimum, a digs agreement should record the money, the inclusions, and the exit terms — signed and dated by both sides. Even an email that both parties confirm is far better than nothing. Cover:

1. Names of student and householder, address, and start date
2. Rent amount, payment day and method
3. Deposit amount and refund conditions
4. Exactly what’s included (meals, bills, laundry, Wi-Fi)
5. 5-day or 7-day, plus holiday/summer arrangements
6. House rules agreed (guests, quiet hours, kitchen use)
7. Notice period required by each side to end the arrangement

Digs won’t suit everyone — if full independence matters most, a house share may fit better. But for an affordable, supported first year near college, well-chosen digs with a clear written agreement is one of the smartest moves an Irish student can make.