The National Union of Students (NUS) for Scotland has highlighted that students are being forced to pay sky-high rents, experience homelessness, drop out or defer because they cannot find adequate housing.

Students in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling are among those worst affected, with some landlords increasing rent to profit from demand.

NUS Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to urgently intervene, working with students’ associations and institutions to ensure every student has a home. Long term, the students’ union is calling for a student housing strategy and rent controls to improve student tenancy rights.

Commenting on the shortages, Matt Crilly, NUS Scotland President, said: “There are hundreds of students who’ve returned to college and university only to find they don’t have a place to live. Landlords are pricing students out of education with sky high rents.

“It’s deeply concerning that students are being forced to stay in hostels, commute for hours or sofa surf to access their education. The Scottish Government must urgently intervene to address the student housing crisis and provide support to students, students’ associations and institutions to ensure no student has to experience homelessness.

“For years students have had to put up with expensive, sub-standard housing dominated by intimidating landlords and without any real rights. We need a student housing strategy for Scotland that ensures all students have access to safe, affordable accommodation.”