STUDENTS heading to Scotland’s universities next month face the highest rents ever for accommodation.

The cost of the most expensive halls of residence north of the border will this year break the £1000 per month barrier for the first time.

Research reveals that many universities have hiked the prices of their official halls this year by five per cent, far in excess of the current 2.6 per cent inflation rate.

The president of the National Union of Students for Scotland attacked the increases and called on universities to reconsider.

Luke Humberstone said:“It’s appalling to see student rent, particularly in university-owned accommodation, rising so sharply.

“The fact that these price hikes are so far above the rate of inflation raises significant questions about the motivation behind them, and how universities justify forcing such significant additional costs onto stretched student finances.

“Safe and affordable quality housing should be a basic right that all students have access to - and as publicly funded educational charities our universities should not be looking to maximise profits from it.

“We’d encourage universities to look at the prices they’re charging students, and ensure that these vital facilities are accessible to all.”

The choice of accommodation open to the country’s students has never been greater, as private developers cash in on the education market.

However, inquiries show costs are rising for those who opt to stay in halls and apartments run by the universities themselves.

Invariably, additional services are provided to students as part of their costs, like wi-fi, cleaning, heating and lighting, contents insurance, CCTV security and kitchen facilities or meals. There is generally a night porter on duty as well.

Heriot Watt University boasts of its “beautiful” campus in Edinburgh but some rooms will be five per cent more expensive when the first intake arrives in September.

The university offers en suite single rooms for as little as £107 per week but its most expensive accommodation for the 2017-2018 year will be the studio flat at £200.

A spokeswoman for Heriot-Watt University said: “We are comparable to other universities’ accommodation rates. The percentage increase on last year ranges from 0.8 to 5% depending on accommodation type. Having carried out a review of the rental rates, our increases now reflect appropriate levels for our various types of room.”