Trapped in your student housing contract?

Trapped in your student housing contract? We're pushing for change.

Students living in private halls can find themselves locked into expensive accommodation contracts, even when their circumstances change. The SRC is calling for stronger rights to protect students from unfair contract terms.

Imagine signing a contract for student accommodation, only to find out you can't attend university after all. Or needing to leave your accommodation due to illness or a family emergency.

You might expect to be able to cancel your contract, but for many students living in private halls, it isn't that simple.

Students in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), commonly known as private student halls, can be tied into fixed-term contracts that are difficult to end early.

This can mean continuing to pay rent for accommodation they can no longer use, or being required to find a replacement tenant before they can leave.

What is the SRC doing about it?

The SRC Advice Centre regularly supports students facing these situations, helping them understand their rights and challenge problems with accommodation providers.

But we're also working to change the rules themselves.

Through our advice work, we see first-hand how restrictive accommodation contracts can affect students. We use this experience to raise concerns with policymakers and campaign for stronger protections.

In 2025, the SRC called for changes to student housing rights as part of our response to the Scottish Government's Housing Bill consultation.

Now, the Scottish Government is considering new rules that could make it easier for students in private halls to end their contracts early in certain circumstances.

We're responding to this consultation to make sure students' experiences and concerns are heard.

Hannah Watters, SRC VP Student Support, said:

“Students shouldn't be trapped in expensive accommodation contracts when their circumstances change. We know from the work of our Advice Centre how difficult these situations can be, and we're pushing for stronger protections to make sure students are treated fairly.”

What changes are we calling for?

We believe students should have a fair and straightforward way to end their accommodation contracts when their circumstances change.

The SRC is calling for:

• Stronger protections: Students should be able to end their contracts in more circumstances, including if their visa is refused, they cannot begin their course, or they have to interrupt their studies.
• Clearer rules: Accommodation providers should not be able to use unclear definitions to prevent students from leaving.
• Fair notice periods: Students should not face additional rent charges because their accommodation provider has delayed a decision.
• Independent appeals: Students should be able to challenge a refusal through an independent process, rather than leaving the final decision with their accommodation provider.

We also believe these protections should apply from the moment a student signs their accommodation contract, not just when they move in.

This is particularly important for international students, who often arrange accommodation months before arriving in Glasgow.

What happens next?

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 gives the Scottish Government the power to introduce new rules on ending student accommodation contracts early.

The Government is currently consulting on how these rules should work, with the consultation closing on 22 October 2026.

The proposed changes are not yet in force, but they represent an opportunity to improve protections for students living in private halls.

The SRC will continue to advocate for fairer student housing rights and keep students updated on any developments.

Need help with your accommodation?

If you're having problems with your accommodation contract, you don't have to work through it alone.

The SRC Advice Centre provides free, confidential, independent and impartial advice to University of Glasgow students on accommodation issues and a range of other student concerns.

Visit glasgowunisrc.org/advice/accommodation or email advice@src.gla.ac.uk to find out how we can help.