Glasgow has seen the completion of almost 6,000 purpose-built student rooms over the past decade, with the majority located in the city center. Since 2015, 20 student accommodation blocks have been built, addressing the growing demand for student housing. Additionally, in 2023, Glasgow City Council approved plans for the construction of another 3,222 student beds, a significant increase compared to previous years.

However, the city continues to struggle to meet rising demand. Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows that the number of students in Glasgow has grown by over 20,000 in the past decade. This surge in student numbers has exacerbated an ongoing housing crisis, with rents in the city skyrocketing due to limited supply.

In response to this housing emergency, Glasgow City Council declared a housing emergency in 2023 and has since been working to bring vacant properties back into use. Earlier this month, the council wrote to the owners of more than 2,500 empty properties urging them to rent them out.

Glasgow’s universities have also seen a significant increase in student numbers. Glasgow University alone has grown its student population by over 12,000 since 2015. Strathclyde University and Glasgow Caledonian University have seen similar increases, with rises of approximately 3,000 and 5,000 students, respectively.

Despite these efforts, a report co-authored by Glasgow University at the start of this academic year warned of a severe student housing shortfall, estimating a gap of more than 6,000 beds in the city.