Desperate for student accommodation in Edinburgh.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Ds3 is transferring to Herriot Watt from Aberdeen. He was going to share with four friends, but due to various circumstances beyond his control, that hasn't worked out, and three of the four have found other accommodation, so it's now just ds3 and his friend looking for a flat.

They've viewed and applied for plenty, but with no joy - his friend's term has already started (Freshers' Week) and ds3 starts on Monday, and they are still couch surfing.

They are looking for a flat near the university in the centre of Edinburgh - ds3 would prefer to be near his friends and travel out to Herriot Watt.

If anyone knows of anywhere that might be available, I would be so, so grateful - even if it was only short term, to give them somewhere to live whilst they search for somewhere more permanent.

I'll suggest the notice boards to him - that's a good idea, thanks @Euphemia.

We have been in touch with the accomodation service - they are sending him a list of the agents in Edinburgh who deal with students, and worst case, they say they may have some vacancies in the university accomodation if people drop out or make alternative arrangements.

He wants to be in the centre, because that's where all his friends are, but if there's nothing else, he's going to have to compromise on location.

What year is he in? There are loads of older post grads living on campus as well at HW. We had a great time living in campus in the post grad halls which had their own en suite toilets if he could get into them. Great times!

He's just going into second year - he has done two years at Aberdeen, but was unhappy up there so has moved to HW, which meant going back a year.

All his friends are at the campuses that are more central, and are living in the centre, so that is where he and his friend want to be - but like I say - he may have to compromise.

Bit of a side note, but was was he/is he studying?

Starting Uni applications with DS1 and Heriot Watt looks a possibilty (he's looking to do something technology related, engineering or computing). Aberdeen or RGIT could also be possibilities. (as could bloody everywhere since he has no idea if he wants to stay at home/travel/move away or what sopecific route he's like to do)

ANd on a positive note if he does end up at Heriot Watt accommodation, it's as quick for him to get into town to meet with friends as it is to fdo the opposite and it may mean he cuts his nights out a bit shorter (saving him cash and making it easier to make early morning lectures) or he could always crash on the sofa occasionally with his friends.

He's going to be studying Urban Development and Estate management, @WaxOn. He was doing geography at Aberdeen.

Edinburgh is a great place to study and live - ds2 has just graduated from Edinburgh uni, and he loved his four years there. Ds3's been staying over there this summer, couch surfing, whilst he worked at a bar during the Fringe - he found it relatively easy to find work, which was good.

'being in the centre' is a wide net in Edinburgh, as the bus service is fucking awesome. Even places like leith, Newhaven, Morningside, Slateford, Easter Road, Gorgie, Dalry etc feel pretty central and Gorgie, Slateford, Dalry are both on the way to HW, very well served with buses and even have a bakers selling pies on pub walks home :)

I was born, rasied and lived in Edinburgh until I was 30, it is indeed awesome!

I'd look at anywhere roughly along the bus route. Directness is more important that proximity imo. You don't want to be changing too many buses or doubling back on yourself. Haymarket/Gordie/Dalry/sighthill etc is a good call. North end of Longstone too.

There's a brand new private block of student accommodation just opened last weekend in Gorgie Road which is full of HW students and directly on the bus route to Riccarton. It's called The Millhouse (Fresh Student Living). I know it was supposed to be sold out, but there may have been a cancellation. Might be worth a call.

Thanks - I will follow this up.

Dh may have found a short term solution - a twin room in a B&B, for £200 a week, Monday to Friday - they'd have to couch surf or come home for the weekends, and work in the library, but at least they'd have proper beds, whilst they look for something more permanent.

Have you tried air B&B, I stayed at a place right on the airport bus route that had a couple of regular tenants, and a lot of air b&bers are ex students and is close season for tourism until Christmas /hog many..

There's an FB group called 'Edinburgh Houses & Flats Sale/Rent'. Someone on there is trying to get together a group to rent their 5-bed penthouse flat in Slateford area. It's £2100pcm for the whole place.

Thanks, @dotdotdotmustdash - I will go and look ! You are a star!

i used citylets when I was renting and went to Heriot Watt. Colleagues have told me horror stories about how hard it is to rent in Morningside/Bruntsfield/Meadows/Tollcross nowadays. Apparently you have to fill in application forms just to view flats let alone lease them.

I was Slateford which is a 15 min bike ride along the canal from HW

Try Gumtree if you haven't already, there are usually a lot of rooms available both long and short term.

Private landlords also use Gumtree to advertise and are a lot better than the agencies in my experience.

If you don't have any luck, let me know and I can pass on the number for at least one landlord I've dealt with!

Thank you both!!

Please keep your fingers crossed tomorrow - dh is going across to do a flat viewing with ds3 and this one isn't a mass viewing, where they'll end up competing against lots of better candidates - it's just them viewing the flat, and hopefully that means they've got a better chance of being offered it.

It would be wonderful if this could finally get sorted out - dh has been really stressed out about the whole thing, and has been a total arse to me, as a result - that is his go-to option, when stressed - so there have been far too many rows and far too much unhappiness as a result.

WOO HOO!!!

He has been offered not one, but TWO flats this morning! One is available in just over a week, and is ideally placed for the two of them, so dh has paid the deposit, and they just need to do the paperwork.

I am so relieved - dh has been stressing out so much, about this - and taking the stress out on me, and it has caused no end of rows and unhappiness. Hopefully now he will calm down a bit - because work is going to be absolutely awful over the next few weeks, with the start of a new project meaning lots of travelling, hassle and stress - oh joy.

Great news re the flat but not so much on the work and DH front. Is there something wrong with your DH (depression?) because otherwise he needs to stop behaving like an arse. If there is something wrong then i'd suggest he pulls his finger out his bum and seeks appropriate help. That's not appropriate behaviour from a grown adult. He should be taking responsibility for his own feelings, he is not a toddler.

Glad it has worked out.

@WaxOnFeckOff - you are right about dh needing to stop behaving like an arse - it is something we've struggled with in the past, and he's got a lot better at it, as he's got older. His behaving so badly over the whole flat hunting thing was very much out of character for him.

To be honest, I have wondered about depression too - I have had depression all my adult life, so I am very aware of the possibility. At the moment, though, I do think it is more about stress - and that is going to improve when this new project is up and running - and he is looking at taking his pension soon (he can take it at age 55), and then cutting down on his work, so he won't be away from home as much - and that will make such a difference.

When he is at home, he's far more relaxed and happy - it is pretty shitty for him when he's away all or most of the week - though this was his choice. The longer term plan is for him to cut a day or two from his working week, and make sure that at least one of the days he is working, he works from home - that way he can sleep in his own bed, and walk the dogs, both of which make him much happier.

Bottom line - yes he's behaved like a total arse over the past couple of weeks, but it is not the usual him, so I am prepared to forgive him.