STUDENTS across the country are facing an accommodation crisis as growing numbers vie for fewer flats.

The situation has become so desperate that young people have been involved in car chases to secure a term-time home. They say they have been forced to rent a property six months before term starts to ensure they have somewhere to live, with their flat sitting empty while they pay a premium running into thousands of pounds.

Growing student populations, greater restrictions and regulations on Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), a changing property market and a lack of action by councils to address the problem have been blamed for the crisis.

Josh MacAlister, president of Edinburgh University Students' Association, was one of those who ran up against fierce competition to secure a flat. He told how he had been involved in car races to try and get to a property to let first. There is a massive shortage of student accommodation in Edinburgh; one area where there has been an increase in population has been students.

"There are 63,000 students in all the universities and colleges in Edinburgh and there is only 450,000 of a general population in Edinburgh.

"That is increasing because universities are expected to grow and there is an ongoing increase of student numbers, both from abroad and across Britain.

"The council hasn't really responded to that very well, either in service provision or in giving planning permission to developers who will build affordable housing. They have also restricted numbers of HMOs in certain area which is a form of social engineering."

There are currently around 6000 HMOs in Edinburgh, which has four universities: Edinburgh (23,000), Napier (14,000), Heriot-Watt (10,000 students) and Queen Margaret (5400).

Last year, Edinburgh City Council increased its "sensitive areas", such as Marchmont, Tollcross and Comely Bank, from 25 to 63. In these areas, no more than 30% of properties are permitted to be HMOs.

Some fear the effect of such policies is only now becoming clear. Braemore Property Residential, an Edinburgh agency, let its first student flat in March, fully six months before the new term starts and appealed for new rental properties because its stock of student accommodation is so low.

Director Colette Murphy said many flats formerly used for students were now being sold to families.

She said: "Normally we get a rush of approaches from students in the late spring who need to find accommodation while they are studying in Edinburgh. But we had our first inquiry back in February and the calls have not stopped since then.

"When our first HMO-approved flat came on to the market in March, we had 16 students instantly chasing after it and it was let within hours. To have tenants take out reservations in March for a three-bedroom flat, which will cost them £1000 a month, shows the level of demand."

In Glasgow, the city council plans to put a ceiling on the number of HMOs in the west end, a move that students say would be devastating to a young community that is already vastly under-served and would lead to the creation of student ghettos.

The council's blueprint for development into the next decade will look to restrict any further planning consents for HMOs in the Hillhead and Woodlands areas. Glasgow has half the number of HMOs of Edinburgh, despite having twice the population.

There are almost 15,000 undergraduate and more than 4500 postgraduate students at the University of Glasgow, of whom only half come from the greater Glasgow area. A further 25% come from elsewhere in Scotland and 13% from other parts of the UK. Around 6% of students come from elsewhere in the European Union and 10% from other foreign countries.

There are 2557 HMOs in Glasgow, which has three universities: Glasgow, Strathclyde, (25,000 students) and Glasgow Caledonian (17,000).

Peter Grant, of Grant Management, which has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, said: "Fundamentally, HMO is a good thing; it is about safety, which is of paramount importance.

"However, some of the new regulations do nothing more than protect existing landlords. Coupled with high and growing demand, tenants will end up paying higher rents for poor-quality accommodation. There is a growing urgency for universities, property managers and the council to sit down to solve some of the problems which currently exist."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "In terms of affordable accommodation development, the council's main policy is to promote and assist housing development in the less-developed areas of the city." This relates to the north and east of the city.

Paul Edie, Edinburgh housing convener, said: "The City of Edinburgh Council was the first local authority in Scotland to introduce an affordable housing planning policy. We encourage developers to provide land for affordable homes to be built on.

In addition the council is working closely with the Scottish Executive to secure additional investment for affordable housing in the city.

"The registration of landlords and HMO licensing were introduced to ensure that all tenants, including students, are renting good quality accommodation that is safe and well managed."

A spokesman for Glasgow University said: "There is an adequate supply of properly licensed and regulated HMO accommodation in the city and students are advised not to be rushed into renting flats which they may later find do not fully comply with the regulations."

A spokesman for Edinburgh University said: "We cannot comment on the precise nature of the HMO marketplace, specifically with regard to the required length of tenancies, but can confirm that for the forthcoming academic year, commencing in September, the university's accommodation services division does have spaces available for continuing and returning students."

Strathclyde University Students Association said it did not have a major problem yet on the east side of the city, as did Glasgow Caledonian University's Students Association.

Although there is no shortage as such, rising prices have been cited as a growing concern at Dundee University, Abertay University in Dundee and at both Aberdeen University and Robert Gordon University, also in Aberdeen.

Richard Miller, president of Aberdeen University Students Association, said: "There has been an increase in prices and the value of property has gone up significantly over the past few years. Last year we didn't have many people with a problem getting settled in but every year we are getting more anxious because we have more students coming through."

St Andrews has a different problem. Flats in the medieval quarter of the Fife town, close to the university, were being sold at up to 20% over the asking price after rising by around 25% in the years following Prince William's stay there. Residents there have complained over the number of HMO licences which have been granted in response to the rising number of students who want to live in the town.

They fear that the proliferation of short-term accommodation could threaten the social balance of the coastal town, turning it into an - albeit privileged - student ghetto.

A tale of two cities

Edinburgh University
With 23,000 students, it manages about 5000 beds for new students across its main campus at Pollock Halls and more than 25 other locations around the city, with a mix of catered and self-catered. Guarantees are in place for the majority key groups of these new students, especially new undergraduates plus new postgraduates from outwith the EU. In addition, Edinburgh manages around 1000 beds for returning and continuing students who do not want to go into private sector; some are specifically for use by couples and families.