Ministers must intervene to help universities offer suitable accommodation
Scottish universities have been getting understandably hot under their gowns about the Higher Education Governance Bill, but another piece of legislation now wending its way through Holyrood has more direct consequences for the sector.
Yesterday, private landlords expressed dismay about the new Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill which they say will make it much more difficult to evict anti-social tenants.
Not so, says the Scottish Government, insisting it gives much-needed security to families amongst the 14 per cent of households which rent privately and will prevent unscrupulous landlords from ramping up bills unreasonably.
Private discussions with government have, I am told, reassured the bigger operators that negative effects will be limited but what has received far less attention are fears universities are going to be hit by an unintended consequence of the new rules.
Tenants will be protected from sudden eviction because tenancies will no longer automatically end on the last date of an agreed rental period and occupants will need to formally sign off the lease for the property to become legally vacant …