Scottish housing shortfall prevents students from living at university

The University of St. Andrews is asking students to find alternative housing options, often miles from campus, as the town is facing an ‘acute housing shortage’.

St. Andrews has offered 140 students housing in Dundee, 14miles north, citing a rising number of Airbnb properties as the reason the university is so short on accommodation.

The institution’s website states the commute to Dundee is an hour each way, however campaigners say this isn’t good enough as 130 people have applied to the university for help.

The Campaign for Affordable Student Housing at St Andrews (CASH), said in a statement posted to their Facebook: ‘We demand action on the local housing crisis, and we won’t stop until St. Andrews is affordable and accessible for our entire community.’

CASH marched through the university campus on Monday, making a stand that something needs to change.

According to the university, the increase in tourist numbers and the towns hosting of The Open Championship golf tournament has put pressure on the availability of private lets for students.

Before term began, St. Andrews sent a message to students who were unsuccessful in securing a place in halls of residence. The message, reported by STV News, said: ‘There is an acute shortage of private-sector accommodation in St. Andrews just now caused by a range of external factors which are unlikely to ease in the short term.

‘We know that this is causing concern to some students who have not already secured a place to live for the new academic year. Over the past week 130 students have contacted us to say they are having difficulty finding accommodation.’

The University of Glasgow have also informed students they may not be able to find somewhere to stay due to a housing shortage.

Students have been advised to withdraw from their studies if they can’t find a place to live. 

National Union of Students Scotland (NUS) President, Ellie Gomersall, said she was ‘deeply concerned’ about reports that Glasgow cannot afford to house students.

‘NUS Scotland’s Broke survey found that 12% of students in Scotland had experienced homelessness since they began their studies,’ she said, ‘With cost-of-living rising and without any action from institutions and the Scottish government, I cannot see how homelessness won’t go up this year.’

Other university students across the UK are also struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis.

A survey run by website Save The Student has revealed eight-in-ten students are worried about making ends meet as their maintenance loans fail to cover the cost of rent and food.

Visit here to read more about how the financial crisis is causing more people to become homeless.

Photo by Brett Jordan