Tuesday 28-04-2026 - 13:20

Ever wondered how your vote in the upcoming Scottish Elections could impact your access to housing? This is the second article in a series as part of the full-time officer team objective of voter education campaigning, helping you understand why it’s so important to vote thoughtfully come May 7^th, 2026.

Over the past two year, we have spent a lot of time working on student housing: lobbying MSPs, campaigning across Scotland, and pushing for change in student accommodation. One thing has become very clear:

Who gets into the Scottish Parliament has an impact on students whether you vote or NOT.

And I know this matters because many of you told us in our annual student survey that accommodation is one of your biggest challenges.

Housing isn’t just about where you live. It’s about:

• how much of your income goes on rent
• whether you need a guarantor
• the quality of your accommodation
• your rights as a tenant
• and whether students are even considered in decisions that affect them

We’ve seen first-hand that when people in positions of influence choose to prioritise student issues, real change happens. And when they don’t, students are often excluded from national decision planning and strategy.

There are different perspectives across the six main political parties in Scotland, and each candidate will bring their own priorities. That’s why it’s important not to be unbothered about voting or to vote based on familiarity or popularity alone, but to look closely at what’s being said and what’s been done before.

So as you’re thinking about voting, I’d encourage you to ask:

• What are candidates saying about housing?
• How did they vote for the Scotland Housing Bill 2025 when we proposed amendments?
• Do they understand the specific challenges students face?
• Are they proposing solutions, or just acknowledging the problem?
• Have they supported student-focused changes before?
• Do their actions match their promises?

This isn’t about telling you who to vote for.

It’s about reminding you that your vote has power and that power is strongest when it’s informed. We made some progress on student housing because students paid attention, got involved, and pushed for change. Now it’s your turn. Vote in the Scottish Elections come May 7^th but most importantly Vote with intention.

Here's a helpful quiz tool from Wonkhe to help you map what each party is promising and how it aligns with your views.

You can contact Tom Tom at: president@GCUstudents.co.uk