diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/archive-tab.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/archive-tab.tsx
index 3d397c6..aeebe28 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/archive-tab.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/archive-tab.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { getJson } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/app/_components/skeleton'
 
 function ArchiveTabSkeleton() {
@@ -266,8 +267,9 @@ export default function ArchiveTab() {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/administrator/archive')
-      .then(r => r.json())
+    // Also fixes a hang: the old chain had no .catch, so a rejected fetch left
+    // setLoading(false) unreached and the tab stuck on its skeleton forever.
+    getJson<{ groups?: SemesterGroup[] }>('/api/administrator/archive', {})
       .then(data => {
         setGroups(data.groups || [])
         setLoading(false)
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/booking-settings-tab.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/booking-settings-tab.tsx
index 23c75e9..0660242 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/booking-settings-tab.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/booking-settings-tab.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { getJson } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 import { createBrowserClient } from '@supabase/ssr'
 import { getAuthedUser } from '@/lib/auth'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/app/_components/skeleton'
@@ -107,9 +108,14 @@ export default function BookingSettingsTab() {
   const [deletePermissionChecked, setDeletePermissionChecked] = useState(false)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/administrator/settings')
-      .then(r => r.json())
+    // The stakes here are higher than a blank screen. Every field below falls
+    // back to a hardcoded default when the value is missing, so an error body
+    // would silently populate the form with 0 / 0 / 24 -- and an admin who then
+    // pressed Save would write those over the real booking limits. Failing the
+    // load outright keeps the tab on its skeleton instead.
+    getJson<Record<string, number> | null>('/api/administrator/settings', null)
       .then(data => {
+        if (!data) return
         setMinDaysRoom(data.min_days_advance_room ?? 0)
         setMinDaysTabling(data.min_days_advance_tabling ?? 0)
         setMinHoursSpaces(data.min_hours_advance_spaces ?? 24)
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/one-time-form.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/one-time-form.tsx
index ba93878..416bc64 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/one-time-form.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/one-time-form.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { getJson } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 import TimePicker from './time-picker'
 import DateField from '@/app/_components/date-field'
 import BookingScopeSelector, { type BookingScopeValue } from '@/app/_components/booking-scope-selector'
@@ -100,14 +101,12 @@ export default function OneTimeForm({ bodies, semesters, onClose, onSuccess }: O
   const [requestTypeFilter, setRequestTypeFilter] = useState<'all' | BookingScope>('all')
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/administrator/requests')
-      .then(r => r.json())
+    getJson<{ requests?: PendingRequest[] }>('/api/administrator/requests', {})
       .then(({ requests }) => {
         setPendingRequests(
           (requests ?? []).filter((r: PendingRequest) => r.status === 'Pending' && r.type === 'One-Time Room')
         )
       })
-      .catch(() => {})
   }, [])
 
   const visibleRequests = pendingRequests
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/sga-spaces-tab.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/sga-spaces-tab.tsx
index 69e17bf..ae9ac9c 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/sga-spaces-tab.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/sga-spaces-tab.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from 'react'
 import TimePicker from './time-picker'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/app/_components/skeleton'
 import DateField from '@/app/_components/date-field'
+import { getJsonArray } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 
 function TableSkeleton({ cols }: { cols: number }) {
   return (
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ export default function SGASpacesTab() {
   const [spaces, setSpaces] = useState<Space[]>([])
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/spaces').then(r => r.json()).then(setSpaces)
+    getJsonArray<Space>('/api/spaces').then(setSpaces)
   }, [])
 
   return (
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/tabling-form.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/tabling-form.tsx
index ce97e92..9745489 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/tabling-form.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/tabling-form.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { getJson } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 import TimePicker from './time-picker'
 import DateField from '@/app/_components/date-field'
 import BookingScopeSelector, { type BookingScopeValue } from '@/app/_components/booking-scope-selector'
@@ -104,14 +105,12 @@ export default function TablingForm({ bodies, semesters, onClose, onSuccess }: T
   const [requestTypeFilter, setRequestTypeFilter] = useState<'all' | BookingScope>('all')
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/administrator/requests')
-      .then(r => r.json())
+    getJson<{ requests?: PendingRequest[] }>('/api/administrator/requests', {})
       .then(({ requests }) => {
         setPendingRequests(
           (requests ?? []).filter((r: PendingRequest) => r.status === 'Pending' && r.type === 'Tabling')
         )
       })
-      .catch(() => {})
   }, [])
 
   const visibleRequests = pendingRequests
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/weekly-form.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/weekly-form.tsx
index ba61929..ae8b27b 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/administrator/weekly-form.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/administrator/weekly-form.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { getJson } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 import TimePicker from './time-picker'
 import DateField from '@/app/_components/date-field'
 import BookingScopeSelector, { type BookingScopeValue } from '@/app/_components/booking-scope-selector'
@@ -93,14 +94,12 @@ export default function WeeklyForm({ bodies, semesters, onClose, onSuccess }: We
   const [requestTypeFilter, setRequestTypeFilter] = useState<'all' | BookingScope>('all')
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/administrator/requests')
-      .then(r => r.json())
+    getJson<{ requests?: PendingRequest[] }>('/api/administrator/requests', {})
       .then(({ requests }) => {
         setPendingRequests(
           (requests ?? []).filter((r: PendingRequest) => r.status === 'Pending' && r.type === 'Weekly Room')
         )
       })
-      .catch(() => {})
   }, [])
 
   const visibleRequests = pendingRequests
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/dashboard-shell.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/dashboard-shell.tsx
index 661de3f..55c9442 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/dashboard-shell.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/dashboard-shell.tsx
@@ -210,9 +210,26 @@ export default function DashboardShell({
     load()
   }, [fetchDashboard])
 
+  /**
+   * Ends the session on this device only.
+   *
+   * signOut() defaults to scope 'global', which revokes every refresh token the
+   * user holds anywhere. Signing out on a laptop therefore also killed the
+   * session on their phone, in their other tab, and the copy the Edge middleware
+   * refreshes -- and each of those then failed its next refresh with a 400 and
+   * started serving 401s. Over 24h, 9 of 28 refresh attempts were failing that
+   * way, split across the browser and the middleware.
+   *
+   * 'local' is what "Sign Out" means on a shared dashboard: this browser, not
+   * every device I own. The paths that mean "this account may not be used" --
+   * deactivation in force-sign-out.tsx and LoginCard, an expired invite --
+   * deliberately keep the global scope.
+   */
+  const signOutThisDevice = () => supabase.auth.signOut({ scope: 'local' })
+
   const handleLogout = async () => {
     localStorage.removeItem('chambers_last_active')
-    await supabase.auth.signOut()
+    await signOutThisDevice()
     router.push('/')
   }
 
@@ -227,7 +244,7 @@ export default function DashboardShell({
         clearInterval(countdownIntervalRef.current!)
         countdownIntervalRef.current = null
         localStorage.removeItem('chambers_last_active')
-        supabase.auth.signOut().then(() => router.push('/'))
+        signOutThisDevice().then(() => router.push('/'))
       }
     }, 1000)
   }
@@ -251,7 +268,7 @@ export default function DashboardShell({
     if (storedLastActive) {
       const elapsed = Date.now() - parseInt(storedLastActive, 10)
       if (elapsed >= IDLE_MS) {
-        supabase.auth.signOut().then(() => router.push('/'))
+        signOutThisDevice().then(() => router.push('/'))
         return
       }
     }
@@ -276,7 +293,7 @@ export default function DashboardShell({
           if (elapsed >= IDLE_MS) {
             if (idleTimerRef.current) clearTimeout(idleTimerRef.current)
             if (countdownIntervalRef.current) clearInterval(countdownIntervalRef.current)
-            supabase.auth.signOut().then(() => router.push('/'))
+            signOutThisDevice().then(() => router.push('/'))
           }
         }
       }
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/force-sign-out.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/force-sign-out.tsx
index bd2d6c1..c133bab 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/force-sign-out.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/force-sign-out.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ export default function ForceSignOut() {
   useEffect(() => {
     const signOut = async () => {
       localStorage.removeItem('chambers_last_active')
+      // Global scope on purpose, unlike the sign-outs in dashboard-shell. This
+      // one runs because the account was deactivated, so every session it holds
+      // anywhere should end -- not just the one in this browser.
       await createClient().auth.signOut()
       router.replace('/')
     }
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/settings-modal.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/settings-modal.tsx
index 2e35684..c3d53b5 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/settings-modal.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/settings-modal.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client'
 
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { getJson } from '@/lib/fetch-json'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/app/_components/skeleton'
 import { getPrefsForRole, EMAIL_PREF_LABELS, EmailPrefKey } from '@/lib/email-preferences'
 
@@ -57,16 +58,19 @@ export default function SettingsModal({ onClose, cachedSettings, onSettingsLoade
 
   const loadSettings = () => {
     setLoading(true)
-    fetch('/api/me/settings')
-      .then(r => r.json())
-      .then((data: Settings) => {
+    // null rather than a blank Settings object on failure. Every consumer below
+    // is already guarded on `settings &&`, so null renders as empty sections,
+    // whereas an error body cast to Settings would put undefined into the name
+    // field and the preference toggles and invite the user to save it back.
+    getJson<Settings | null>('/api/me/settings', null)
+      .then(data => {
+        setLoading(false)
+        if (!data) return
         setSettings(data)
         setNameValue(data.full_name ?? '')
         setSelectedBodyId('')
-        setLoading(false)
         onSettingsLoaded?.(data)
       })
-      .catch(() => setLoading(false))
   }
 
   useEffect(() => { if (cachedSettings == null) loadSettings() }, [])
diff --git a/app/(dashboard)/sga-spaces/page.tsx b/app/(dashboard)/sga-spaces/page.tsx
index 89fe030..2cfa294 100644
--- a/app/(dashboard)/sga-spaces/page.tsx
+++ b/app/(dashboard)/sga-spaces/page.tsx
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ function CalendarSkeleton() {
 export default function SGASpacesPage() {
   const [spaces, setSpaces] = useState<Space[]>([])
   const [spacesLoading, setSpacesLoading] = useState(true)
+  const [spacesError, setSpacesError] = useState(false)
   const [selectedSpaceId, setSelectedSpaceId] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [bookings, setBookings] = useState<Booking[]>([])
   const [blackouts, setBlackouts] = useState<Blackout[]>([])
@@ -184,16 +185,40 @@ export default function SGASpacesPage() {
     })
   }, [])
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    fetch('/api/spaces')
-      .then(r => r.json())
-      .then((data: Space[]) => {
-        setSpaces(data)
-        if (data.length > 0) setSelectedSpaceId(data[0].id)
-      })
-      .finally(() => setSpacesLoading(false))
+  // Handled explicitly rather than via getJson: on this page an empty list is a
+  // meaningful answer ("no rooms configured"), so quietly substituting one for a
+  // failed request would tell the user something untrue.
+  //
+  // Issue #53: /api/spaces returned a transient 401, r.json() resolved happily
+  // with { error: 'Unauthorized' }, that object went into `spaces`, and the page
+  // died on the next spaces.find(). The response shape is now checked before it
+  // is trusted, so a bad response can only ever produce an error state.
+  const loadSpaces = useCallback(async () => {
+    setSpacesLoading(true)
+    setSpacesError(false)
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch('/api/spaces')
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`/api/spaces responded ${res.status}`)
+
+      const data: unknown = await res.json()
+      if (!Array.isArray(data)) throw new Error('/api/spaces did not return a list')
+
+      const list = data as Space[]
+      setSpaces(list)
+      if (list.length > 0) setSelectedSpaceId(prev => prev || list[0].id)
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to load spaces:', err)
+      setSpaces([])
+      setSpacesError(true)
+    } finally {
+      setSpacesLoading(false)
+    }
   }, [])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    loadSpaces()
+  }, [loadSpaces])
+
   // Remaining hours only change when the user books or cancels -- not when the
   // calendar week changes. Keying this off `bookings` refetched it on every week
   // navigation and fired it twice on mount (once with the initial empty array).
@@ -279,6 +304,29 @@ export default function SGASpacesPage() {
     return <SGASpacesSkeleton />
   }
 
+  // Distinct from "no rooms configured", which renders the normal empty calendar
+  // below. The failure that prompted this was transient and a reload cleared it,
+  // so the useful thing to offer is another attempt.
+  if (spacesError) {
+    return (
+      <div className="space-y-5">
+        <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-[#f0f6ff]">SGA Spaces</h1>
+        <div className="border border-[#1e5080] rounded-xl bg-[#184073] p-6 max-w-md">
+          <p className="text-[#f0f6ff] font-medium mb-1">Couldn&apos;t load the spaces</p>
+          <p className="text-sm text-[#93b8d8] mb-4">
+            Something went wrong reaching the server. This is usually temporary.
+          </p>
+          <button
+            onClick={loadSpaces}
+            className="py-2 px-4 bg-[#c8102e] hover:bg-[#a50d26] text-white text-sm font-medium rounded-lg transition-colors"
+          >
+            Try again
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
   return (
     <>
       <div className="space-y-5">
diff --git a/app/_components/LoginCard.tsx b/app/_components/LoginCard.tsx
index 9acbdac..3b030b6 100644
--- a/app/_components/LoginCard.tsx
+++ b/app/_components/LoginCard.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ export default function LoginCard() {
       .single()
 
     if (!profile?.is_active) {
+      // Global scope kept deliberately here and below: these mean the account
+      // may not be used at all, so every session it holds should end. An
+      // ordinary sign-out (dashboard-shell) is scoped 'local' instead.
       await supabase.auth.signOut()
       setError('Your account has been deactivated. Please contact an administrator.')
       setLoading(false)
diff --git a/app/onboarding/page.tsx b/app/onboarding/page.tsx
index 0cd5bf7..db7fc0b 100644
--- a/app/onboarding/page.tsx
+++ b/app/onboarding/page.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ export default function OnboardingPage() {
         .single()
 
       if (!profile?.is_active) {
+        // Global scope deliberately: the account is deactivated, so every
+        // session it holds should end, not only this browser's. See
+        // dashboard-shell for the ordinary 'local' sign-out.
         await supabase.auth.signOut()
         router.push('/')
         return
diff --git a/lib/fetch-json.ts b/lib/fetch-json.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50078e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/fetch-json.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/**
+ * GET a JSON endpoint, falling back to a known-good value when the request does
+ * not succeed.
+ *
+ * Written for a bug that took down the SGA Spaces page (issue #53). The call
+ * sites all looked like this:
+ *
+ *   fetch('/api/spaces')
+ *     .then(r => r.json())
+ *     .then((data: Space[]) => setSpaces(data))
+ *
+ * The annotation is a promise the code cannot keep. An error response is still
+ * valid JSON, so `r.json()` resolves happily with `{ error: 'Unauthorized' }`,
+ * that object lands in state typed as an array, and the page dies on the next
+ * `spaces.find(...)`. TypeScript cannot catch it: the cast is asserted at a
+ * boundary where the real shape is only known at runtime.
+ *
+ * Passing the fallback in makes the failure case impossible to leave out, and
+ * keeps the type honest -- the return is whatever the caller was already
+ * prepared to render.
+ *
+ * Silent on failure by design: these are background reads whose call sites have
+ * no error UI. Where "the request failed" is different from "there is nothing
+ * here" -- as it is on the Spaces page, where an empty list reads as "no rooms
+ * exist" -- handle the response explicitly instead of reaching for this.
+ */
+export async function getJson<T>(url: string, fallback: T): Promise<T> {
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch(url)
+    if (!res.ok) return fallback
+    const data = await res.json()
+    return (data ?? fallback) as T
+  } catch {
+    // Network failure, or a body that is not JSON at all (an HTML error page
+    // from a proxy, say). Both are "no data", same as a non-2xx.
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * As getJson, but guarantees an array. Use for list endpoints whose result is
+ * indexed, mapped or searched -- an object arriving where an array is expected
+ * is precisely what crashed issue #53.
+ */
+export async function getJsonArray<T>(url: string): Promise<T[]> {
+  const data = await getJson<unknown>(url, [])
+  return Array.isArray(data) ? (data as T[]) : []
+}