Glasgow students left without hot water as ‘gangs of youths’ repeatedly trashed halls

Residents at a student accommodation block in Glasgow claim they have been left without hot water for weeks while also suffering frequent break-ins by gangs of youths.

Tenants at Xenia Students’ Central House on Jamaica Street have raised concerns about their safety, reporting that issues began as early as last year. One resident told the Glasgow Times that “massive gangs of youngsters” have been entering the property multiple times since February 2024, leaving some residents fearful.

“I used Xenia when I moved to Glasgow. It was okay for two-years, but at the beginning of 2024, we started getting break-ins,” the resident said.

“There is a magnetic locked door downstairs, and they’re getting past that and coming into the building. It’s a massive gang of kids trashing the place. I took photos and sent them to the head office, but I heard nothing.

“The common rooms don’t have anything in them anymore because they’ve all been smashed up, and items have been stolen. It’s happening multiple times a month. Kids break in, trash stuff, smash windows, turn off smoke alarms and fire alarms, which means we all have to evacuate.

“The other day, someone was being threatened. I’ve been threatened. It’s so frustrating. You have to leave the building and hope they’re not in the common room and won’t bother you. I’m quite resilient, but some of my neighbours say they are scared all the time.”

Xenia Students, a major UK-based student housing provider, operates several properties in Glasgow, including locations on Jamaica Street, Bath Street, and St Andrews Street. The company offers rooms with prices reaching up to £1,020 per month.

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In October, several police vans were seen outside Central House following reports of an alleged break-in. Three teenagers, aged 15, 17, and 18, along with a 21-year-old man, were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

The Xenia Students website states that Central House has 24/7 CCTV and an out-of-hours service for “peace of mind”. However, residents have expressed frustration over what they perceive as inadequate security measures.

In an email seen by the Glasgow Times, management acknowledged that the security condition of the property is a “topic of conversation”.

Ongoing hot water issues

In addition to security concerns, students have reported ongoing issues with the building’s hot water supply. Some have resorted to purchasing gym memberships to access showers after hot water was reportedly cut off in January.

One resident said: “We haven’t had hot water for a month. First, it was no water, then it was just cold water. It’s a horrible situation, but it has definitely brought everyone together. Management claims they’ve been in touch with contractors.

“We have to pay for a membership to the gym to shower and then send Xenia the invoice to get reimbursed. It’s a bit cheeky to ask us to do that. We just can’t let them get away with this.”

A second resident added: “There has been no hot water in the building for weeks. At this point, I just feel like the living conditions here are not even humane. The whole condition is outrageous.”

In a further email to a tenant, Xenia stated that it is “doing everything in its power to rectify all outstanding matters” and that the gym memberships are a “temporary solution” while it works on a permanent fix for the hot water issue.

Xenia’s response

A Xenia Students spokesperson said: “A burst pipe originating from one room has caused damage to floor four of Central House. To stem the flow of water, the supply was swiftly turned off.

“The main boilers, heaters, and pumps were kept running for as long as possible until it was decided that they needed to be turned off completely.

“Xenia Estates are working as quickly as possible to find a permanent resolution to this issue and hope to have an update to all tenants by the end of the day today.

“Gym memberships are being reimbursed to any tenants who choose to take out a membership at the local gym across the road.”

However, residents remain frustrated, with some questioning how long it will take for conditions at Central House to improve.

Regarding this, a Xenia Lettings spokesperson added: “We have been in constant contact with the tenants since the boiler failed a few weeks ago. 

“During this time, whilst we had to wait for the delivery of the replacement part, we arranged and covered the costs for all tenants to use a nearby gym to ensure that they had access to hot water washing facilities. 

“We conduct regular maintenance checks, and our buildings are fully compliant to all regulations. This was an unforeseen event which we are confident will be resolved today.”

Featured image via Pexels