Industry bodies urge government action as housing emergency grips Scotland

An industry body claims that Scotland has moved past a housing crisis and is in the midst of a housing emergency.

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) in Scotland declared a housing emergency at the Scotland Housing Festival this week.

Last year, housing emergencies were declared in Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow. With mounting concerns over housing, a student body is now calling on the Scottish government to do more to help protect student renters.

Scottish government takes its head out of the sand

The National Union of Students in Scotland (NUS) says the government must “take its head out of the sand” and bring rents down.

According to a NUS Study, 12% of students in Scotland have experienced homelessness during their studies.

NUS Scotland President Ellie Gomersall said: “The housing emergency has been plain to see for students for years, but as three councils last year declared housing emergencies and the industry increasingly sees the scale of the problem, it’s essential that the Scottish government takes its head out of the sand, declares a national housing emergency, and delivers urgent and radical action through the Housing Bill.

“Renters are experiencing the sharp end of this crisis, especially student renters, and they must be the government’s first concern.”

Bring rates down to an affordable level

Ms Gomersall is calling for rent controls to be in place after the emergency rent cap ends.

She said: “As the emergency rent cap and eviction ban comes to an end, the Scottish government must act quickly to extend real renter protections beyond March until they can introduce their Housing Bill.

“To meet the scale of the challenge, the Housing Bill must not simply slow rent rises but bring rates down to an affordable level – and it must be free from loopholes which disadvantage students and apply equally to purpose-built student accommodation.”

According to NUS research, student rents on average increased at three times the rate of student support between 2021 and 2023.