The National Union of Students (NUS) protested the Scottish Parliament last week, 14 November, regarding the exclusion of students’ protection from the forthcoming housing bill.
The Housing Bill, introduced by MSP Patrick Harvey on 26 March 2024, attempts to improve housing in Scotland. The bill proposes new rights for tenants which would make it easier for them to challenge unlawful eviction. It would also introducing rent controls.
However, the bill has been criticised for ignoring student housing needs which, according to NUS protesters leave many students vulnerable.
Sai Shraddha Suresh Viswanathan, NUS Scotland president, was one of the main organisers of the protest and stated that: “We are not a liability; we are first-class citizens.”
Other protestors called student housing hard to find and, when found, “expensive” and “substandard”.
A survey done by NUS UK found that in 2023 to 2024, nineteen percent of students in Scotland resorted to food banks, and over 40% of UK students report problems with heating. In addition, more than 20% face pest infestations.
A student representative from the University of Stirling stated, “After paying rent, students often have just £50 or less for food and basic living expenses,”
One of the main concerns raised during the protest was the requirement for a guarantor. Under current laws, students must secure a guarantor who meets specific income criteria to rent flats.
This requirement disproportionately affects international students, many of whom are asked to pay six months’ rent upfront. It also poses challenges for students with financial difficulties or complex family situations, such as those coming from foster care.
“To demand a parent as a guarantor is pro-poverty. This is about sustenance and human rights,” stated Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Several Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) supported the demands that NUS made. Maggie Chapman, Scottish Green Party MSP for North East Scotland, supported the student cause.
“I am here because I support the asks of students. They are too often left out of tenant protections and housing legislation,” she said.
John Mason, MSP, suggested that a legislative compromise would likely emerge.
“We’ll end up somewhere in the middle; not everyone will be happy,” he remarked. Mason acknowledged a pressing need for clarity, stating, “We do need an explanation for why rent controls do not cover student accommodation.”
Image via Giulia Sinclair