ACCOMMODATION:

We have seen a surge of international students arriving in many Scottish Universities since Autumn last year. This has resulted a surge in requirement for a large number of additional accommodation to cater for these arriving international students.

SLAS - Sri Lankan Association in Scotland has received a large number of inquiries and request for help from lots of Sri Lankan students before and after they arrive in Scotland. We have either spoken to or written to each one of them to assist in whatever the way we could. However, there is still a very large number of students those who do arrive without such contact or due diligence.

 

One of the question that everyone was asking is that if we can provide assistance to find them accommodation. Unfortunately, there's very little we could do to help anyone with this particular request. Here's why:

1. The whole of United Kingdom, specifically Scotland has a severe shortage of general housing. Whether you are a native Scott, Brit or an international student, this affects them all.

2. High demand and lack of availability means, almost all type of accommodation available may not be listed on publicly available websites or with letting agents. They tend to go off the market / let agreed without coming to/advertised the market.

3. Long waitlists with letting agents. Lettings agents across the country has long waitlists for letting but that are not necessarily served on a first come first served basis. They normally go with requirements from the landlords. For an example, some landlords wish to let their property only to couples. This may deprive those wish to rent with children. If anyone wish to bring their family with them, they may need to consider bringing their family once they are settled in. However, the 1st year students may get University provided accommodation in their 1st year of study.

4. Landlords/Agents may need a financial deposit in advance. Read more in here: https://www.safedepositsscotland.com

As we understand from some of the Sri Lankan students arrived here for the current academic year, there's a large number of them still struggling to find suitable accommodation with some still staying in hotel rooms with their families including children.

It is up to the individuals to decide how you want to live here during your studies but we know for a fact that those who arrived to study in Dundee University could not find accommodation locally so had to stay in far cities like Glasgow, Aberdeen or Edinburgh and commute. This is very much the case for those who arrived in other cities and Universities.

5. Those students who came to study in Scotland through local agents of the Scottish Universities are apparently told by the agents that finding accommodation in Scotland is an easy task, which is not accurate, unless money isn't an object. We highly recommend that you demand such local agents to provide proof of availability of such accommodation closer to your place of study within a reasonable budget.

As fellow Sri Lankans, we urge all foreign students to be thorough with your due diligence and seek confirmation and evidence of availability of suitable accommodation from your agents or the place of study before you travel. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate such needs or assist finding required accommodation other than directing them to local letting agents. This information is already available in our website at https://www.slascot.org.uk/en/life-in-scotland/living-in-scotland

 

Please share this with anyone who wishes to come to Scotland for studies and needs accommodation.

 

We wish best of luck with your studies. Welcome to SLAS - Sri Lankan Association in Scotland and welcome to Scotland.