DUE TO THE “unanticipated” amount of building work it is taking to convert the former Montrose Hotel into student accommodation, many of the students who had signed up to live there will have to stay in actual hotels for the first two weeks of term.

The former hotel, which has undergone a major overhaul to turn the Dublin 4 landmark just across the road from UCD into three-to-four-star hotel standard accommodation for students, is due to open this September.

Price 

Now management have had to offer alternative accommodation in hotels, as well as compensation of €200 a week. Students are also being offered either a €100 iTunes voucher or a years subscription to film service like Netflix to make up for the inconvenience.

All the former hotel rooms have been revamped for students by developers Ziggurat Student Accommodation. The accommodation is open to all students, but the majority who will be living there are UCD students.

Former Education Minister Ruairi Quinn taking a look at the refurbished rooms at the former Montrose Hotel. Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, property manager Georgina Wade said that there are 166 rooms in total, but the building delays will only impact 58 students.

“The target was 1 September, but we have experienced delays that we couldn’t foresee,” she said.

Wade said they contacted all students affected well before the delays were made public, explaining that some students will be moving in on 12 September, while another group, who were always aware they would not be moving in on 1 September, will not be moving in until 27 September.

“A two week delay isn’t huge in the whole scheme of things,” she added.

A classic room is priced at €180 per week, while the penthouse (which is coming soon) is priced at €265 per week. All prices are based on a 43 week term basis.

There will be round-the-clock security, on site laundry and car parking spaces. Utilities, broadband internet and contents insurance are all included in the room rental, according to the developers.

Former Education Minister Ruairi Quinn taking a look at the refurbished rooms at the former Montrose Hotel. Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

The accommodation has proved popular, with all rooms selling out. There is reportedly a waiting list of about 150 people.

“We have been taking bookings since March, but it was not until May/June that the things started to really get busy. Most rooms are booked up, but there will most likely be some cancellations, so the next people on the list will be offered those rooms as they become available,” said Wade, adding, “we really didn’t think the demand would be this great”.

Read: Landmark Montrose Hotel to be converted to ‘high-spec’ student housing>