This can seem like a daunting task, especially if you've never lived away from home before. It will take a bit of effort to find the right place, but rest assured, it will be well worth it!

You can start your search at our very own website, www.ditsu.ie, or call into any Union office for our accommodation available list. The national newspapers are another good spot, particularly the Evening Herald, and there are some great websites for house or appartment hunting too, including www.daft.ie . There are also lots of accommodation agencies that can give you a hand too. Drop into your SU office, and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction.

Once you've found a place you like the look of, it's important to actually go and visit to check it out. Get the landlord to show you around, so you can check that everything is in good condition. Here are a few other things to bear in mind when you view any property:

• Be sure to get the landlord's contact details, and ask for ID when you meet at the property. Bring a friend with you when you view, for safety purposes, and to get an extra opinion on the place.
• If you are dealing with an agent, make sure they are a member of a reputable association (IAVI, for example).
• Double check what deposit is required, and what the rent will be. Make sure to get a rent book.
• Ensure that there is public transport between the property and your DIT site that is regular and accessible.
• Make sure the keys open and close all doors and windows properly. Check that the security system/alarm is working, and that you know how to use it. Be sure to establish who else has keys and access to the property.
• Make sure that all appliances are in good working order. Is there hot and cold running water? Proper ventilation, light and heat?
• What kind of heating is in the property, and will you have to pay the bills for it? Are there any other bills you'll be expected to cover on top of your rent (such as oil or gas bills, electricity, phone, internet, cable TV or bin charges)? Make sure you won't be paying for any bills that are outstanding from previous tenants.
• Look out for signs of dampness. Check inside wardrobes, behind heavy furniture, ceilings and in corners. Be wary of a strong smell of air freshener... what's that hiding?
• If there is anything wrong with the property, ask the landlord if they intend to fix it, and if so, when.
• Always think of your safety. New buildings are obliged to have smoke alarms, fire blankets, fire escapes and the like, but they are only recommended in older buildings. Make sure the landlord provides all necessary safety equipment.

The deposit is the refundable sum of money you hand over to the landlord when you move into your new place. Basically, it's taken as evidence that there's a firm agreement between you and your new landlord, and it implies that each have you assumed rights and obligations that both parties must respect.

Once you're happy with the property, it's time to hand over the deposit. Make sure you get a proper receipt, signed and dated, and preferably on headed paper. Avoid paying cash if at all possible; writing a cheque or getting a bank draft for the deposit and first month's rent leaves a paper trail to show what you've paid in the unlikely event that something goes wrong. Get the landlord's bank details so that you can pay future rent payments directly to their account.

When your tenancy ends the landlord must promptly return the deposit. Meet up with them well in advance of moving out so that you can get this back, and settle any outstanding bills. The landlord is entitled to keep your deposit if you have any rent arrears or have left any damage behind you, but if you feel that your deposit is being withheld unfairly, then contact your SU office for advice.

The relationship between you and your new landlord is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2004. You can, however, also sign a lease, but this can't go against anything that's written in the Act. Your lease might, though, cover something that's not mentioned in the Act, so remember that if you sign a lease, these things will be legally binding.

If your landlord offers you a lease, make sure you read it carefully. If you're not sure about anything, then drop into your local SU office, or give Threshold (the National Housing Organisation) a shout before signing.

Your landlord does not have to provide you with a lease, but they do, by law, have to give you a rent book. You hold on to this, and make sure that all payments you make are recorded in it (there's no harm in getting a receipt as well). You can pick up a free USI rent book in your local SU office.

Here's the legalese about paying your rent, from the new Residential Tenancies Act, 2004.

• The maximum rent payable by a tenant should not be greater than the open market rent.
• Your rent can only be raised once during any twelve-month period (it can only be raised more often if there's been serious work carried on on the property).
• If your landlord wants to raise your rent, they have to give you written notice of 28 days saying how much the increase will be. If you think the increase is unreasonable, contact your local SU office, or complain directly to the PRTB (the Private Residential Tenancies Board).

So you've moved in and gotten all the paperwork sorted out... time to start the parties, right? There's lots of freedoms involved in having your own place, but remember, you have some responsibilities too...

• You have to pay your rent in full, and on time.
• You have to pay, in full, and on time, any bills that you agreed with your landlord when you moved in.
• You have to be a decent person to live next to. Your landlord is obliged by law to act if any of their tenants (including you!) are causing problems for neighbours or other tenants. You can be evicted for misbehaviour... Do you want to lose your new pad for the sake of a mad night?
• You have to let the landlord know if anything needs to be repaired, and you have to let them in to inspect or repair what's broken.
• You have to keep the place in good order, and pay for any damages beyond the normal wear and tear of daily life.
• You have to ask the landlord if you want to make any changes to the property, or if you're letting someone else move in.
• You have to let the landlord know in advance if you plan on moving out. If the amount of notice you need to give isn't mentioned in your lease, or you didn't sign one, then it depends on the length of time you've lived at the property. Check http://www.threshold.ie/page.asp?menu=70&page=256 for details.

Just like you, your landlord has certain rights and responsibilities when you move into their property. Here's a quick rundown on their side of the deal.

• You have the right to privacy, so the landlord can't just walk around your place as though they own it (even though they do!). Your landlord has the right to check up on their property, but they have to let you know about it in advance.
• Your accommodation has to be fit to live in, so if something's not working, or particularly smelly, make sure your landlord knows about it.
• If you break something because you were up to something stupid, then you have to pay for it, but any damage that occurs in the daily run of things should be fixed by the landlord. If something is broken and you need it fixed urgently but can't get hold of your landlord, then you can pay for the repairs yourself, and get the landlord to reimburse you in full later.
• Remember your rent can only be raised once a year, and with prior notice.

Just the same way that you have to give notice if you plan on leaving, your landlord has to give you written warning that they want you to move out. If you've been there less than six months, and don't have a lease that says otherwise, your landlord is required to give you 28 days notice. Once you've been there longer than that, you are entitled to stay on another three and a half years, except in specific circumstances:

• If you haven't complied with the rules (paid rent, for example)
• If the landlord is selling the property
• If the landlord wants to move himself or his family into the property
• If the property is going to be completely refurbished

In any of these cases, the amount of notice you're entitled to depends on how long you've lived there – check out http://www.threshold.ie/page.asp?menu=70&page=241 for details. If you have a fixed term lease, the landlord can only ask you to leave before this period is over if you have seriously broken the rules. If you have, you'll only have 7 days to move on.

• The landlord has to return your deposit when you move out within a reasonable period of time. They can only withhold any part of it if you owe them rent, or have caused damage to the property. Remember to contact your SU office or Threshold if you think your deposit is being unfairly withheld.
• Your landlord is required to register with the PRTB when you move in, so if you have any problem that you cannot sort out, you can ask the PRTB to help resolve it.

Unfortunately, things are a little bit different if your landlord lives in the same property as you. Legally, this makes you a licensee rather than a tenant, which affects your rights. In this case, your landlord doesn't have to register with the PRTB, and you are only entitled to reasonable notice when asked to leave. If you do find yourself sharing a property with a landlord, then insist on a lease or written agreement that covers the amount of rent you'll be paying, the amount of notice either party is required to give, and any info you feel is important.

If someone moves out of a property and finds someone new to replace them, asking the new person to pay rent to themselves rather than directly to the landlord, the new person becomes a sub-tenant. This means you're not on a lease, and your rights aren't as clear. After six months of sub-tenancy, you can ask to be made a tenant and added to any lease, and the landlord can only refuse with good cause.

The only reasons your landlord can hold on to your deposit are if you owe them rent, or you damaged their property. If you feel that your deposit is being withheld unfairly, then contact your SU office, or take the matter directly to the PRTB.

A lease is a legally binding document, so be as sure as you can be that you won't need to break it before you sign it. Sometimes the unexpected happens though, and you might need to move out before the lease is up. It's not stipulated in the Residential Tenancies Act that the landlord can hold on to your deposit if you break your lease, but the landlord can't be left out of pocket by something the tenant does. If this is the case, the landlord can contact the PRTB or take you to court. If you do need to move out, ask the landlord if you can try to find someone to take your place.

Unfortunately, if you are sharing with a couple of people and one of them decides to leave, you and the remaining flatmates are responsible for making up the extra rent. The departing flatmate should try to find someone to replace them, but if they don't, then paying the extra money will be up to the rest of you

• Get everything in writing, including receipts for any money that you pay, any agreements you make, and any notices or warnings.
• Get a rent book (remember you can get a FREE USI one from your Union office), and make sure it's fully filled in.
• Get a full list of all furniture and appliances when you move, and take pictures of the place when you arrive and leave. Ask your landlord to sign and date them.
• Get contents insurance – your landlord's home insurance won't cover you if you get broken into.
• For more info on any aspect of renting, contact Threshold, or your local Students' Union office.

• PRTB (Private Residential Tenancies Board) 2nd Floor, O'Connell Bridge House, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 6350600 E: information@prtb.ie Web: www.prtb.ie
• Threshold (the National Housing Organisation) 21, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7. Tel: 01 6786096 E: advice@threshold.ie Web: www.threshold.ie