Students starting their place at the University of Glasgow have been told not to enrol if they do not have accommodation secured - amid a housing crisis. Education bosses said a 'significant contraction in the private rental market' meant they could not guarantee accommodation for students.
And a spokesperson confirmed they had asked some students to 'pause studies' because of a lack of housing. Masters student Louise Gorse, 23, has been on the hunt for a one-bedroom property she could share with her partner since June.
The couple believed three months would be enough time to find a flat but had to extend their search outside the city - and said they would be happy with a two-hour walk. Despite enquiring for more than 50 flats they only managed to secure four viewings during the summer-long search.
Louise said: "We have tried to get a viewing for every flat that has been put up that is under £700. We've still not found anywhere. The main issue we are having is just the massive demand. I can't say I'm hopeful.”
Her course has now started, leaving her to commute from Edinburgh, where the couple have been temporarily living with her boyfriend's parents. She said one flat first advertised on a Saturday afternoon had received over 215 inquiries by the time the letting agent opened its office on Monday morning.
Louise said blanket bans on taking in students had also been an issue. And she said some letting agents have included a 'proposed rent' box on application forms to suggest a monthly figure above the one that was advertised.
Louise added: "The letting agent said that because of demand being so high, some tenants have been offering to pay more than the advertised rent. I don't know whether this comes from the letting agency or the landlord, but the letting agency said so many people have been doing it that they've had to put the box on the form.
"It seems very wrong. You're being outbid and sometimes this is without even viewing the flat. A lot of places have been going to people who pay three months' rent in advance. So, thousands of pounds upfront which obviously not all of us are in the position to do.
"The whole point of renting is that you don't have to pay this massive upfront fee, otherwise, everybody would just buy. Renting is for people who get their income every month and then spend it on rent. It just completely defeats the purpose of looking for somewhere to rent. There has to be some regulation on it."
The National Union of Students (NUS) in Scotland said the lack of housing is 'deeply concerning"'. Scotland president Ellie Gomersall said: "I'm deeply concerned by continued reports of student housing shortages across Glasgow - the second year in a row that this has happened.
"NUS Scotland's Broke survey, published earlier this year, found that 12 percent of students in Scotland had experienced homelessness since they began their studies."
A University of Glasgow spokesperson said: "Regrettably, due to a significant contraction in the private rental market, demand for rooms continues to be substantially ahead of expectation both in Glasgow and more broadly across the UK.
"Like most urban universities, we cannot guarantee accommodation for returning students. As part of our efforts to address the issue, we have increased the number of rooms under University management by 25 per cent for this academic year.
"We have focused - as is our usual policy - on providing accommodation to first-year undergraduate students who live at a significant distance from our campus. There has been no significant increase in student numbers for this year.
"To address issues with the availability of accommodation within Glasgow, we are already taking steps to increase accommodation provision for future years and we are continuing to engage with private providers and with local government on issues with the city's private rental market.
"We understand the concern students have about finding accommodation for the new semester, and we are taking a number of actions to support our students and ensure continuity of learning wherever possible.
"In some cases, our advice may include pausing studies for this academic year while ensuring students continue to have access to University systems and services. Comprehensive advice is available from students' advisers of study and the Students' Representative Council Advice Centre."
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