Students are being urged to follow a five-point checklist

The National Union of Students and Scottish Gas warn gas appliances could pose a threat and some students have not seen safety certificates.

They are being urged to follow a five-point safety checklist and ensure appliances have been professionally installed and maintained.

By law, landlords should have gas appliances checked annually.

Students, who are paying an average of more than �260 per month for a room, are being warned to ensure both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted in their homes and that electrical wiring is in good condition.

Scottish Gas has drawn up a five-point checklist, which advises:

• Check with your landlord that the gas appliances in the property were professionally installed by a CORGI registered installer

• Check the property has functional smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors

• Check with your landlord that the furniture is fire- resistant

• In case there is a fire, check that you know the quickest way out and that the route is kept clear

• Check that all electrical appliances have been properly wired and check electrical sockets and switches for signs of burning or scorching.

Scottish Gas' Chris Bielby said many students were being short-changed.

He said: "Despite in many cases paying top-level prices, too many students are still getting bottom-end houses for their money.

Living in low quality, often dangerous accommodation is often seen as a rite of passage Melanie Ward NUS Scotland president

"The law around safety checks is there to help save lives.

"It's totally unacceptable that they still aren't getting the standard of homes everyone else takes for granted.

"But that just makes it more important than ever that students and their parents take every possible step to make sure the new university year starts safely and stays safe."

NUS Scotland president Melanie Ward said: "For those students living in the private rented sector, living in low quality, often dangerous accommodation is often seen as a rite of passage.

"The NUS urges students to take note of this checklist, as so many of these issues could be cleared up and sorted out by landlords at minimal cost."