Rent arrears and other debts in student housing
This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales
You might not be able to graduate or progress to the next year of your course if you owe money to your university of college.
What kind of debt
You could owe:
rent
cost of repairs done because of damage
library fines
car parking tickets for the campus.
If you are prevented from graduating or progressing to the next year because of these debts you should try to negotiate with the accommodation provider.
These sorts of rules are likely to be set out in disciplinary procedures or codes. Check yours to make sure you know what will happen if you fail to pay or what charges you might get.
Further help
If you need more support for rent arrears and other debts, there are organisations that can help you.
National Association of Student Money Advisers
If you're having difficulty paying your rent, the National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA) has student money advisers in institutions throughout the UK.
You can find useful information on the NASMA website.
Young Scot Lawline
Young Scot Lawline is a free, confidential helpline available to anyone aged 11-25. It’s open 24-hours a day and offers legal advice on any legal problem, including debt.