Student Accommodation
This application form should be completed by (or on behalf of) the owner of any premises which is used as 3rd level student accommodation, to assist Uisce Éireann in making a determination as to whether part or all of the premises should be exempt from water charges for all or part of the year under section 21(6) of the Water Services (No 2) Act 2013.
Under water services legislation the term “dwelling“ means a premises occupied by a person as his or her place of private residence (whether or not as his or her principal private residence).
Dwellings are not subject to water charges. We are now inviting owners of 3rd level student accommodation to provide us with information in relation to the nature and occupancy of the accommodation provided by them. Under legislation:
- Uisce Éireann’s customer means the occupier of the premises in respect of which the water services are provided; and
- it is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the owner of a premises is also the occupier of that premises.
The information that you provide to us in this form will allow Uisce Éireann to determine if the legislative presumption that the owner of a premises is also the occupier of that premises has been rebutted, if the premises is occupied by a person other than the owner as a place of private residence and, if so, the part of the year in which it is so occupied.
Uisce Éireann will determine whether the student accommodation in question (or the relevant part of it) will be regarded for charging purposes, going forward, as a dwelling during the part of the year in which it is so occupied. Once our review of the information provided has been completed in the application form (including any other information we may seek from you - in certain circumstances we may request further information, and/or a site visit may be required) Uisce Éireann will make a decision on whether the premises (or any part of it) ought to be regarded as a dwelling (and, if so, if that is for all or only part of the year). We will communicate that decision to you.
Next steps:
To make an application see the steps below:
- Please download the ‘student accommodation application form' from the below link.
- Before completing the form, please review all the information on the Uisce Éireann website and the application form.
- Once complete, return to customerclassification@water.ie for assessment. In certain circumstances we may request further information, and/or a site visit may be required.
- Once the assessment is completed Uisce Éireann will inform you of the outcome of the assessment.
- Applications must be returned by 30 September 2025.