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International student - need a PPS to rent accommodation?

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  • 24-06-2014 1:58pm
    #1
    Grace_Omega
    Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭


    A friend of mine recently arrived in Ireland from America to do a 1 year master's degree in Trinity. After looking at a lot of apartments for potential accommodation we were told by one landlord that she needs a PPS number in order to rent property. However, the PPS section of the department of social protection website lists a permanent address in Ireland as a requirement for getting a PPS number, which seems like a catch-22 scenario. Even more confusingly, Trinity seems to think a newly arrived student will acquire a PPS *after* getting a permanent address.

    We're making enquiries to try and get this resolved, but I wanted to know if anyone else has been in this scenario? How did you sort it out?


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    #2
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,960 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    You cannot get a PPS until you have an address, but it does not need to be permanent.

    Where's she staying now? Many back-packer hostels will write a "XXX lives here" letter after you have paid up a certain number of weeks with them. Or if she's staying with friends, get them to write her a letter.


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    #3
    joostl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 58 ✭✭joostl


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    You cannot get a PPS until you have an address, but it does not need to be permanent.

    Where's she staying now? Many back-packer hostels will write a "XXX lives here" letter after you have paid up a certain number of weeks with them. Or if she's staying with friends, get them to write her a letter.

    They can leave the pps section on the prtb application blank


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    #4
    Santa Cruz
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,126 ✭✭✭Santa Cruz


    Grace_Omega wrote: »
    A friend of mine recently arrived in Ireland from America to do a 1 year master's degree in Trinity. After looking at a lot of apartments for potential accommodation we were told by one landlord that she needs a PPS number in order to rent property. However, the PPS section of the department of social protection website lists a permanent address in Ireland as a requirement for getting a PPS number, which seems like a catch-22 scenario. Even more confusingly, Trinity seems to think a newly arrived student will acquire a PPS *after* getting a permanent address.

    We're making enquiries to try and get this resolved, but I wanted to know if anyone else has been in this scenario? How did you sort it out?

    You do not need a PPS to rentr accommodation. When completing the form for PRTB the landlord can leave it blank and explain why no PPS is available


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    #5
    dede12
    Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭dede12


    I did an MA in Ireland last year as an American student & you definitely don't need a PPS number to rent. The only thing an American student would need it for is to work here legally (but its fairly hard to get a job as an international student, especially since you can only do 20hr/week at most). It is possible the landlord just didnt want to rent to a foreign student & used it as an excuse, unfortunately you'll find that does happen.

    You dont need a PPS number to open a bank account either (at least at Bank of Ireland you dont, idk about the others) so if he's having trouble finding places that will take a cash rent it would be a good idea to get one set up. That way he can prove his financial stability & can offer to pay the rent via bank transfer which might reassure some landlords who aren't used to renting to foreign students.

    Edit: Just wanted to clarify, yes you can apply for a PPS number if you want it after setting up your permanent address (a hostel won't count unfortunately) & registering as an immigrant w/ the Garda but it's not automatically granted (& you can't get a PPS number until you're registered). I lived for 2 years in Ireland, rented 3 different apartments, & never got one because as a student you don't need it unless you get a job.


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