Tuesday 04-11-2025 - 14:27

We did it – Our Student Housing Campaign has Changed the Law!

After over a year of campaigning, lobbying, and standing together, we’ve done it. We have changed Scotland’s housing law.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025 has passed Parliament. It includes major wins for students and renters across Scotland. It hasn’t yet received Royal Assent (the formal final step before it becomes law), but once it does, these rights will officially be part of Scotland’s housing system.

This is one of the biggest tenant rights victories in Scottish History, and WE made it happen.

GCU Students’ Association has been at the heart of the National Student Housing Campaign, meeting MSPs, writing briefings and amendments, and standing outside Holyrood with banners and hope, fighting for these changes over the past 14 months. Our campaign changed the direction of this Bill and won rights that will protect students for generations.

The Big 3 Wins for Students are:

Fairer Rent

From now on, landlords can only raise rent once a year and must give 3 months’ written notice. If a rent increase feels unfair, students can challenge it safely. Previously, challenging rent could lead to a larger increase than originally proposed, BUT now your rent can only go down or stay the same, never up.

Rent Controls 

For the first time, Scotland can introduce rent control areas. Landlords won't be able to hike rents when one student moves out and another moves in. A loophole we prevented! Rent controls are a game-changer! They tackle runaway rents, make housing affordable long-term, and give students a fairer deal.

Power to Create 28-Day Notice Rights for Students in PBSA

Until now, students living in private or university-run halls (PBSA) were completely locked into a fixed contract. There was no legal way to leave early, no matter the reason. Thanks to our campaign, this bill now gives Scottish Ministers the power to introduce 28-day notice rights for PBSA and university housing (further details around this are yet to be obtained).

And there’s Even More Good News

Makes shared student flats fairer -  flatmates must give 2–3 months’ warning before leaving a joint tenancy.

Crack downs on damp and unsafe housing with “Awaab’s Law”.

Gives you the right to ask for a pet or make small home changes, and landlords must reply within 30 days.

Ensuring unclaimed deposits fund tenant support, turning lost student money into advice and homelessness prevention.

Strengthens eviction protections and makes councils act early to prevent homelessness.

Forces councils to track rent data, including student rents, so rising costs can’t be ignored again.

This is Massive!

For years, students were left out of housing law. Now, because of our collective fight, students are written into Scotland’s housing system forever.

This is proof that students have power. When we organise, when we fight, and when we refuse to be ignored, we win!! This is the proudest moment of my time as an officer, and a turning point for every student renter in Scotland.

Thank you to every student who emailed an MSP, came to an event, or stood up for change.

We didn’t just influence a bill - we made history. 


Your Full-time Officer Team 2025/2026

Proud members of the National Student Housing Campaign

You can always contact any of your Full Time Officers at:

Tom Tom (Student President): president@GCUstudents.co.uk
Chinaenyenwa Ugo (Vice President SHLS): VP.SHLS@GCUstudents.co.uk
Eilidh Stewart (Vice President GSBS): VP.GSBS@GCUstudents.co.uk
Hamza Siddiqi (Vice President SSE): VP.SSE@GCUstudents.co.uk