Glasgow Accommodation - shortage

[RubyDarke]

Email arrived yesterday from Glasgow Uni to the effect that if you have not already applied for accommodation, there is none - and not only Uni provided but private lets. A quick scout of private halls shows that many have been reserved by universities.
Email states that if you have not already got accommodation offer, then do not register/enrol/travel to Glasgow without having accommodation in place first.

I assume that this is because results are already out in Scotland, so combined with A Level students who have firmed Glasgow, they are basically full already.

This is very worrying for us as it's DD's insurance place. It seems possible that if she misses her Firm offer she may not find anywhere to live.

Planning an emergency dash up to Glasgow following results if she hasn't made her Firm....

I saw that announcement this morning. I think they are still guaranteeing uni accommodation to conditional offer holders who applied by the cut off date and got an offer. Did your DD apply for accommodation before the mid July cut off?

If not hopefully she will find something. Coming up to look earlier will help. Even if it is a Airbnb for a few weeks until someone drops out of halls.

Meant to add post on scotsnet if you want advice on other areas of glasgow rather than West End/City Centre. Some areas are easily commutable (and cheaper) plus remember if she is under 22 she can get a free bus pass.

Only firm offer holders were able to apply for accommodation - as it's her insurance, she wasn't able to. We knew that it was unlikely she'd have guaranteed accommodation if she went there but the tone of this email indicates that finding any accommodation at all will be a challenge.

Fingers crossed she makes her Firm offer.

Thanks for the advice about other areas of the city. Good point about people dropping out, but it's still a risk.

St Andrews having same issue. A couple of hundred students at least without accommodation (think mostly 2nd years and above though)

My bad. You used to be able to apply for accommodation in advance if you had firmed or insured glasgow but they only guaranteed uni accommodation if you did this early enough.

To be honest none of the communications have been clear (including this one which is framed very much as "when you come here" - problematic for England as the embargo starts tomorrow) but we were disappointed when the earlier communication stated that only firmed offer holders could apply. I too had thought at that point that she would have been able to apply.

If no accommodation is found in that first weekend I think we'll be looking at alternatives. We can't afford to send her up there without a firm plan for the whole year. Such as shame as she loves the course.

Looked at my DDs uni and it's clearer "apply when you accept an offer unconditional or conditional (firm or insurance)".

That is so much clearer. Everywhere is very different.

Anyway trying not to worry about it until it actually happens....

There is such a widespread accommodation crisis in so many University towns/cities and it seems no one is doing anything about it. What’s happened? A few years ago, every time I saw a new building development, 9 times out of 10 it was new ‘student accommodation’ being built. Yet there is this crisis in Glasgow, St Andrews, Bristol, Edinburgh and many more places. It would appear that Universities have expanded to create more student places - with many specifically targeting the more income-generating overseas, non-UK students - without any consideration to where all these students are actually going to live. How can that happen? Universities of all places should be able to do the sums and see the impact of this explosion in places.

Or are there the same amount of student places but the housing stock and accommodation places have shrunk? Or is there plenty of accommodation laying empty because it’s completely out of the price bracket of your average student?

Whatever the reason, something has gone horribly wrong if students are having to reconsider taking up places at University because they can’t find anywhere to live or the accommodation they can find is completely unaffordable. Will University become an option only for those who want to study in their home town and live with Mum and Dad or for the extremely well-off?

My DC is off to a Uni that has a horrendous housing crisis but they’re safely in halls for their first year. I dread them finding anywhere in 2nd year and what they (ie. us) might have to pay for it if they do find something.

I think they need to set up student tent encampments for those who won’t find accommodation. Preferably slap bang in the middle of the University grounds so they’re nice and visible to visitors - someone needs to sit up and take notice of this crisis.

"I think they need to set up student tent encampments for those who won’t find accommodation. Preferably slap bang in the middle of the University grounds so they’re nice and visible to visitors - someone needs to sit up and take notice of this crisis."

Great idea. For Edinburgh and StA I would recommend the gardens of the principals rather nice grace and favour accommodation.

Exactly what I was thinking SandyIrvine 😂

Same problem in London atm. Trying to find a 3 bed for my dd and 2 friends for 2nd year and missing out on flats after bidding at 2,200 and 2,300 so assume others are bidding 2,500.
My dd could stay at home as we live in London but her two friends can’t so not sure what will happen to them!

These flats are advertised at £2k pcm mostly. People are up bidding on them!

I was expecting there to be a squeeze on university own accommodation, but not to discover that the private lets have shrunk so overall there is more demand than can be met.

I am so hoping that DD gets her first choice - accommodation (subsidised) for all 3 years and so easy to negotiate.

DD struggling to find accommodation in Edinburgh. She was looking to share with one other, but now have the option of sharing with another two - either way it's not helping them find a flat. All four of them are regularly searching, and at least two Mums. She's fourth year so really needs to be in city - a commute isn't optional at she and her friend live 600-700 miles away.

This often happens as the universities reserve accommodation for people who say they are coming but actually end up going elsewhere. Sometimes it clears up nearer to the start of semester as they get a clearer picture of how many students they will actually have. I see Glasgow have quite an early accommodation guarantee date of mid July which isn't really helpful. Sorry you are going through this I know it's very stressful and I hope that your daughter gets a place in accommodation

The private rental market in Glasgow has been very challenging for the last year or so - there is a shortage which I imagine is impacting student accommodation. This is a pity as Glasgow is a great city ( I'm biased as a Glaswegian).

In terms of areas to look at - do consider slightly out of the traditional areas of the West End. Places on the South side of the river close to Govan, Ibrox and Cessnockand Shields Rd subway stations are worth considering- a word of caution the first 3 are areas which would be considered "gritty". Also Bridge St and West St subway stations - although its less residential around those.

Worth having a look further out of the West End to Anniesland as there will be buses along Great Western Rd. You could look into the City Centre but then would be competing with students from Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian.

Good luck

Also do post on Scotsnet as someone may know of someone with a room/flat

Many universities (especially Russell Group institutions like Glasgow) took much larger numbers of students than usual into year 1 in 2021 and, to a slightly lesser extent, in 2020. Many of those students will now be struggling to find private rented accommodation. I don't know what Glasgow's rules are regarding more than one year in university halls, so I don't know whether increased numbers staying in halls for year 2 are contributing to the shortage. As there are three universities plus the school of art in Glasgow, I'd imagine there is a lot of pressure on the accommodation supply.

It would appear that Universities have expanded to create more student places - with many specifically targeting the more income-generating overseas, non-UK students - without any consideration to where all these students are actually going to live. How can that happen? Universities of all places should be able to do the sums and see the impact of this explosion in places.

There has been a short-term expansion - because of massive A-Level grade inflation in 2020 and 2021- that the high-demand universities want to reverse, hence much lower numbers of offers this year. They're not going to build or underwrite new accommodation that they don't intend to need in a couple of years' time.

But did Glasgow send out the same message last year, or in 2020? Two of DS2's friends have just completed their first year there and I dont remember them mentioning anything, but they did both have Glasgow as their firm choice. If the universities are making fewer offers, then is there something different about the applicant pool this year - more RUK and international / more local applicants deciding to apply for accommodation rather than live at home?

There seem to be space, albeit not much in private halls in Glasgow. Some allow you to book with free cancellation if you don’t take the uni place.

Just booked some on Tues.

DD got her accommodation offer this morning to her top choice halls. She had a conditional but had Glasgow as her 1st choice and had submitted back in April so I suspect the letter is very much aimed at backup students and clearing.

I moved to glasgow 18mo ago. (Not as a student). Accommodation was a nightmare - stayed as a lodger for 3 months (found on spare room) before finding a flat to rent. However, we love the flat we rent so much, and looking to buy in the next few months.

Glasgow is a fantastic city, as an English person I have found my lifelong home. More like home than home (I miss Glasgow when I’m not here 🤣). I have also lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow imo is far superior.

When we were looking there was a lot of private halls that seemed to be available, not cheap but no uni accommodation seems to be cheap. I’d recommend spare room if really struggling.

Hope your dd finds something x

Keen to hear more Glasgow experiences
From this year. We are in Scotland. Ds had UofG as first choice- a conditional. Exam results out Tuesday past and he has met the condition. We applied for halls by the deadline of 14 July- just- maybe 8 July.

He got the email on Tuesday saying halls not guaranteed but website FAQs still saying spaces available for first yr undergraduates.

The uncertainty and waiting is taking away the joy of having met his grade conditions and being able to look forward to going to uni...