Homeless Students Forced to Sofa-Surf Amid 'Accommodation Crisis' in Scotland

An acute shortage of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across Scotland's major cities has led to an accommodation crisis for students, pushing many into homelessness or "sofa-surfing" situations. Almost all available PBSA in Glasgow and Edinburgh for the upcoming academic year has been booked, with demand far exceeding supply, leading to calls for the Scottish Government to address this recurring issue and provide a sustainable solution. The problem is particularly challenging for international students who often pay substantial fees to study in Scotland and are now struggling to find suitable housing.

StuRents statistics show that, as far back as February this year, more than 90% of PBSA studios were already booked, with more than 80% clusters taken too. This is well ahead of the same period the year before.

Richard Ward, the head of research at StuRents, said the problem has been heightened by the rise in student numbers following the 2020 Covid lockdown.

The National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland highlights the urgent need for a long-term solution to the problem, as a significant proportion of students, especially international ones, have experienced homelessness during their studies due to the lack of available accommodations. The imbalance between supply and demand has led to rising rental prices, putting even more pressure on students' finances. The Scottish Government is set to respond to a review into PBSA and its recommendations later this month, with hopes that it will provide a way to alleviate the housing crisis and ensure affordable, high-quality housing options for students.

Read more about the Scottish student housing crisis on News.stv.