Students are highly beneficial to the local economy and an unjustly punished for anti-social behaviour, claims new report.

The report claims that students are highly valued by the local communities, stating that as a result, "the government is seeking to establish twenty new higher education centres as a means of effecting area regeneration and job creation."

After recent calls for the "de-studentification" of Edinburgh by housing and planning minister, Caroline Flint, this review will be gladly welcomed by the city’s students.

Students have come under attack for their anti-social behaviour in residential areas, especially Newington, Marchmont and Morningside. Anti-social behaviour covers everything from loud music, to noise on the streets at night, to leaving rubbish in the stairwell.

However, Thomas Graham, co-ordinator for last year’s “Right to Rent” campaign which successfully halted the legislation to introduce HMO quotas last year, highlighted the benefits of a student rich community. “Whether it’s using local services, such as Warrender Park Post Office, or volunteering through societies such as Children’s Holiday Venture, students contribute massively to our communities.”

Conservative councillor for Southside and Newington, Cameron Rose, spoke candidly of the effect of students on the local community. “Sciennes, Prestonfield, Southside and Newington have a very high concentration of students. I welcome that in general, though it does lead to some pressure points locally.”

Flint’s plan to de-studentify certain areas could be implemented if the quota that Graham halted was to be passed. HMO’s were originally introduced to protect the rights of the tenant and their neighbours by ensuring that properties were well managed and of good quality. Rose points out that landlord regulation already exists in Scotland, but not without its problems. “It is my view that generally we need less regulation but more of the types that will deal with rogue landlords who flout the rules.”

However, HMO licensing could now potentially be used to control the social engineering of certain areas. Last year’s EUSA president Josh MacAlister, told The Edinburgh Evening News; "If quotas were proposed for where any other group of people could or couldn't live it would be totally unacceptable."

Whilst the review, named the Rugg review after the leading researcher, focuses attention on the need to punish sub-standard landlords and improve properties; its primary aim is to see growth in the private rented sector, as this could make a significant contribution to providing accommodation where there is current scarcity.

Talking to The Scotsman in January of this year, William Walters from the Flat Company suggests student accommodation as we know it will change imminently.

“HMO’s are under pressure. It looks as if the relentless capital growth in student accommodation has run its course. Added to that is the increasing preference for purpose-built private student accommodation.”