“I’m not giving my house to an African”: – Scottish Parliament Roundtable exposes the harsh reality of the student housing crisis in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Responding after hosting a Student Housing and Cost-of-living roundtable in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (25th January 2023), Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “Our students are at breaking point.
“Today in the roundtable I hosted at the Scottish Parliament, we heard again and again, from students all across the packed room, about issues such as a lack of housing, unsafe conditions, unscrupulous landlords, sofa surfing and extortionate prices.
“In Edinburgh and the Lothians, we heard about how this student housing crisis has been impacted even more by Edinburgh’s crisis-hit housing market.
“For students facing these problems, it can cause significant mental health difficulties during what is already a very stressful time.
“For international students, this stress can be compounded as landlords are taking advantage of newcomers to the city, charging extortionate rents and asking for unreasonable deposits.
“A student talked about the anxiety felt by Ukrainian students trying to find a safe home in Scotland.
“Another student told of how a landlord told them “I’m not giving my house to an African”.
“Another told of how “my friend was living in a five bedroom flat sharing with 10 other students”
“These few examples are totally unacceptable and they are sadly a reflection of wider issues being felt by students across Edinburgh and Scotland.
“What was clear from the roundtable is that students feel the urgent need for a Student Housing Strategy, more regulation of purpose-built student accommodation and more rights afforded to those who are tenants in these accommodations.
“Students are also calling out for more funding for support with transport, mental health, damp and the cost-of-living.
“We need an urgent solution, now.
“I was glad to see many MSPs in attendance to listen to students’ concerns, as well as representatives from local universities and organisations such as the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative, Living Rent and NUS.
“It is important that moving forward, students, universities, local authorities, the private sector, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government all work in partnership.
“I will be raising a motion in the Scottish Parliament and asking for a Member’s debate. Now is the time for action, not just words”
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