Cross-party MSPs backed amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that would extend rent control powers to include student accommodation – both purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and university-owned halls, marking a significant development in the drive for parity and fairness across all forms of tenancy.

Despite strong evidence from sector stakeholders and parliamentary committees, the Bill had originally excluded student tenancies from its core protections – a gap that campaigners saw as a glaring oversight. Until now, these tenancies operated largely outside the existing private residential tenancy framework, leaving student renters without the rent controls or termination rights afforded to other private tenants.

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s scrutiny session saw unusually strong cross-party unity, with MSPs from the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, and the Scottish Greens all pressing for change. They cited rising student homelessness, extortionate PBSA rents, and inflexible tenancy terms that trap students in contracts even after withdrawing from studies.

The crux of the debate was around paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the 2016 Private Housing (Tenancies) Act, which exempts halls and PBSA from standard private tenancy rules. As a result, students living in these accommodations are currently not covered by rent controls or notice-to-leave protections. That exemption is now firmly under challenge.

Housing minister Paul McLennan had argued that “student accommodation provision operates on a different basis [to] the wider private rented sector” because it aligns with academic years, and that “rental costs for PBSA and university halls usually include more than [the rent] as a result”.

Despite his opposition, the committee passed several key amendments:

• Amendment 51: Extends the definition of “relevant tenancies” in the Bill to include student accommodation.
• Amendments 52 and 53: Require student tenancies to be part of local authority data reporting and rent control decisions.
• Amendments 144–146: Strengthen local authority power by requiring ministers to act on rent control recommendations – now explicitly including student tenancies.

Following the vote, Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer said: “Far too many students pay sky high rents for halls and other purpose-built accommodation. They deserve the same rights as other renters, and I am glad that MSPs have backed plans to crack down on the accommodation operators ripping off students.

“Students deserve the same protections as other renters. Their halls are their home, but in many cases the costs are simply out of control and what they get for their money is extremely poor.

“Private providers, the likes of UNITE and Student Roost, account for over three quarters of purpose-built student accommodation. Their high rates are leaving many students reliant on food banks.

“Thanks to the Scottish Greens this bill will deliver much needed rent controls and more protections for renters. Our MSPs will continue working with other parties to ensure students get the full benefits of that work and their housing costs are brought back under control.”

Rent controls ‘risk PBSA investment’

Property agents have warned about the impact that rent controls for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in Scotland could have on investment.

Scottish Property Federation director David Melhuish said the sector plays a critical and growing role in providing vitally needed accommodation to support students and takes the pressure off the wider rented sector by reducing competition between students and other residents.

“The amendment, unless revoked later in the Bill’s journey, will have a chilling effect on investment in this key sector and will further reduce the supply of accommodation available to students,” Melhuish added.

“Other provisions in the Bill have already affected other parts of the residential sector in Scotland, particularly the built-to-rent sector, where the threat of rent controls has been significant and pronounced – resulting in a halt on new planning applications for new build rental accommodation and the potential loss of some £3 billion of investment in Scotland.”