Renting in Edinburgh's south side

[movingtoedinburgh]

Can anyone give us an indication of how much we might expect to pay to rent a 3 (or more) bedroom house, with garden, in Sciennes/Grange area of Edinburgh, and where we should look to find one available?

DH has just been offered a job in Edinburgh, starting in September, so we're desperately trying to get organised. We're coming from the Reading area. I'm lucky enough to be able to keep the same job even though we're relocating.

We've had a good look around and are really hoping to be able to rent a 3+ bedroom house with a wee garden for a year or two in the South Side, preferably in the Sciennes/Grange area. Partly it's to be in the Sciennes/Gillespie school catchment areas (DS, 4, won't start P1 until next year, and DD will soon be 3), partly it's convenient for DH's job, but it's more because it's such a lovely area which gives you the best of both worlds: the space (i.e. gardens) of the suburbs, yet it's a quick walk into the heart of the city. There's just so much so close. When we all came up with DH for his interviews, the children really loved the meadows playparks! I know it's a very desirable area, but I can certainly understand why. It's lovely!

Our budget is up to £2000/month. I hoped/expected we'd have loads to choose from with that budget. Can we expect to be able to rent a house with a garden in the Sciennes/Grange are for this? It needn't be a huge, but we really want a house (rather than a flat), and a private garden. We might just be able to stretch for a little more, though If we have to choose, we'll go further out to have the garden.

But there just doesn't seem to be anything to rent out there? I'm struggling to tell how much renting places in this area actually costs. Okay, there's one place that looks great, but it's far bigger (6 bedrooms!) than we need and that's reflected in the unaffordable price (for us) of £2700 pcm. Other than that, nothing.

Or maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Another MN thread recommended citylets, and I've been to the usual national property portals rightmove/primelocation/zoopla. Is there anywhere else to look?

Should I contact rental agents directly and ask to 'go on their books'? Does that ever work?

Hi there. In that area of town, you will find most houses are on the large side and will therefore be unaffordable to rent. There are some 3/4 bedroom houses with gardens at the Newington end of southside, but the Grange is chock full of huge detached houses and Sciennes is mostly flats.

Properties of the sort you are looking for are like hen's teeth in Edinburgh. Every time a 4/5 bed family home comes on the market in the desirable parts of town, it sells almost immediately for a handsome sum - precisely because most of the housing stock is 6 bed unaffordable mansions OR 3 bed flats.

Sorry not be more encouraging! Try looking on ESPC (Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre - main resource for property) for a good snapshot of what is on offer for sale. They do have some lettings there too.

Just backing up what WillPenn says really. Most 3-bed properties in that part of Edinburgh are flats so you will have a bit of a struggle to find a house of that size to rent. But you may be able to find larger properties which have been subdivided into smaller ones. These are classed as flats, though they often have quite a 'house' feel to them. Maybe try talking to a rental agent about your likely options?

Try local letting agents
DJAlexander
Braemore
Rettie and Co
Ryden

I'd contact them directly (rather than just browsing the websites) and let them know what you're looking for. Yes this is worthwhile as you'll be contacted if something suitable comes up.

Agree re-lack of 3 bed "houses" in the desired locations. Try for "lower villa" with garden, which is normally the ground floor of a house which has been divided. Also "garden flat" or "double-lower garden flat" can be very nice ground floor/ground and basement floors.

You could also consider looking along through Marchmont and Churchill, and even Merchiston/Morningside/Bruntsfield if you are willing to consider Burroughmuir's catchment as well as Gillespie's.