They can, but it depends on the type of accommodation and the agreement you have. Private rented student housing and some purpose-built student accommodation may be covered by rent pressure zone rules where the arrangement is a residential tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act. University halls or accommodation provided under a licence may be treated differently, and RPZ rules may not apply in the same way. Check your written agreement and the current guidance on gov.ie or the RTB website; if there is a dispute, the RTB or a solicitor would assess the individual facts.