Coronavirus Act 2020

Student accommodation

11 (1) The Scottish Ministers may give a direction under this paragraph (a “student accommodation closure direction”) that applies to—

(a) the relevant manager of one or more named student accommodation premises in Scotland;

(b) the relevant managers of all student accommodation premises in Scotland (or any part of Scotland);

(c) the relevant managers of a particular description of student accommodation premises in Scotland (or any part of Scotland).

(2) A student accommodation closure direction is a direction that—

(a) requires a relevant manager of student accommodation premises to take reasonable steps to restrict access to the premises for a specified period, or

(b) provides for persons for whom student accommodation is provided to be confined in their student accommodation for a specified period.

(3) A student accommodation closure direction may provide that any failure to comply with a duty or time limit imposed under any enactment or rule of law relating to education is to be disregarded to the extent that it would be attributable to the direction.

(4) A student accommodation closure direction may—

(a) require the taking of actions in general terms, or require the taking of particular actions, that the Scottish Ministers consider reasonable;

(b) make different provision for different purposes (for example, for different descriptions of people for whom student accommodation is provided);

(c) prohibit access in respect of the whole or a specified part of student accommodation premises;

(d) prohibit access in respect of the carrying on of all activities or in respect of the carrying on of specified activities;

(e) be framed by reference to whatever matters the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate;

(f) make transitional, transitory or saving provision;

(g) make such other provision as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate in connection with the giving of the direction.

(5) In this paragraph—

• “relevant manager”, in relation to student accommodation, means a person having responsibility for the management of the accommodation;

• “specified” means specified, or falling within a description specified, in a direction under this paragraph;

• “student” means a person who is matriculated at a further education institution or a higher education institution;

• “student accommodation” means residential accommodation which has been built or converted solely for the purpose of being provided to students;

• “student accommodation premises” means a place where student accommodation is provided.