Congratulations! If you’ve received your CAO (Central Applications Office) offer, you’re likely feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Whether you’re heading to university in Dublin, Galway, Cork, or anywhere else across Ireland, one thing is certain — you need to find student accommodation, and fast.

With thousands of students receiving their CAO offers around the same time, the student rental market becomes fiercely competitive. The best way to apply for rental in Ireland is by preparing early and presenting a strong tenant profile for landlords.

This guide will walk you through the key steps after receiving your CAO offer, from accepting your course to setting up a tenant CV and securing your student accommodation.

Step 1: Accept Your Offer

Once your CAO offer arrives, make sure to respond within the given deadline. Accepting your offer as soon as possible sets everything else in motion — registration, SUSI application, and of course, your accommodation search.

Step 2: Start Looking for Accommodation Immediately

Ireland’s student accommodation market is highly competitive, especially in big university cities. You don’t want to wait until the last minute, because:

• Listings disappear fast
• Prices go up closer to term start
• You’ll have fewer choices

As soon as you accept your offer, start browsing listings. Use tools like Tenantin.ie to simplify the search process and get daily alerts tailored to your preferences.

Step 3: Create a Tenant CV

Just like a job resume, a tenant CV helps landlords quickly learn more about you as a potential tenant. It includes:

• Personal details
• Rental history
• Employment status or grant confirmation
• Tenant references in Ireland (college tutors, employers, etc.)

Having a tenant resume ready gives you an edge, showing landlords that you’re organized, serious, and ready to move in.

Step 4: Build a Tenant Profile for Landlords

At Tenantin.ie, you can build a free tenant profile for landlords that stands out. Our platform helps you:

• Fill in rental history, personal info, employment details
• Generate and download your free tenant CV
• Upload references and supporting documents

You can then easily share this profile with private landlords, improving your chances of getting selected for viewings or offers.

Step 5: Use “On a Hunt” (Premium Feature)

For students who want to increase their chances of finding a rental quickly, our “On a Hunt” feature is a game changer:

• Daily Email Alerts: Get notified of new listings from across Facebook groups, Meta Marketplace, and more.
• Automatic Enquiries: Our system contacts matching listings on FindQo.ie for you.
• Assigned Account Manager: Expert help from our team to assist in your home search.
• Boosted Resume Visibility: Landlords see your tenant profile first when they’re searching for tenants.

Step 6: Organise Tenant References in Ireland

Landlords often ask for tenant references in Ireland to confirm reliability. Even if you haven’t rented before, references from:

• A tutor or teacher
• A part-time employer
• A family friend or coach

…can go a long way in strengthening your profile. Tenantin.ie helps guide you on who to ask, how to write a reference, and where to include it in your profile.

Step 7: Prepare to Move

Once your accommodation is confirmed:

• Finalise paperwork with the landlord
• Plan your move-in date
• Budget for the deposit and first month’s rent

A little preparation now can save a lot of stress down the line.

Why Use Tenantin.ie?

Tenantin.ie is designed to support Irish renters, especially students navigating the housing market for the first time.

Our free tools help you:

• Build a complete tenant profile
• Generate your free tenant resume
• Stand out in a competitive market

Our premium “On a Hunt” service gives you:

• Proactive search assistance
• Daily property alerts
• Support from real humans

Whether you’re a first-time renter or just need help organizing your information, we’ve got your back.