SLURP, the Edinburgh-based student society, published a report which suggests nearly 60 per cent of students are “worried” about finding accommodation for the next academic year.
Their report also suggested one-in-six students had not signed a tenancy agreement at the beginning of first semester
Based on the statistics reported by Slurp’s for the 2023 academic year there has been no improvement.
Both surveys excluded students in their first year as they are guaranteed housing by the University of Edinburgh.
Speaking to LBC, Co-president of SLURP Lawrence Williams described the results of the survey as “really shocking”.
He continued: “The student housing crisis is just one part of the wider housing crisis – a lack of housing, a lack of accessible housing and how expensive housing is.”
“Student numbers have increased dramatically in the last decade too and universities don’t match that intake to how much housing is available because they don’t have to take responsibility after the first year.”
SLURP has previously asked the University of Edinburgh to introduce a mandatory housing questionnaire as part of matriculation, to more easily identify students struggling to find accommodation.
For students without anywhere to stay, the University of Edinburgh does offer emergency accommodation services.
Speaking to The Student on the difficulties of finding housing, one student said: “It is so stressful finding accommodation.”
“As a returning exchange student, I really struggled to find a flat for this term. Almost everything was either taken or well out of my budget.”
“My maintenance loan barely covers rent as it is, and housing keeps getting more and more expensive.”
Maintenance loans are set to rise by more than inflation (3.1 per cent) for the 2025/26 academic year.
However, according to Money Saving Expert, some students are nearly £1000 worse off compared to where they would be if maintenance loans had kept up with inflation in recent years.
“Edinburgh Streets” by City.and.Color is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
