Student accommodation in Edinburgh

Student accommodation in Edinburgh starts at £130 and can cost over £375 per person per week (pppw). The average rental cost for student houses in Edinburgh is around £146 pppw, excluding bills. For purpose built apartments, the average is £190 pppw. How much you spend all depends on your preferences and whether you choose to opt for a student house share in Edinburgh or luxury student property. Your chosen neighbourhood can have a huge influence on your monthly rental cost too.

We would advise you to start looking for student housing in Edinburgh as soon as you have secured a place at your chosen university.

The majority of returning second-year students choose to step away from the busy centre and find a balance at one of the neighbouring hotspots for student lets in Edinburgh. Places like Trinity and Leith offer just that, along with a short commute to campus and plenty of student life all around.

The University of Edinburgh is considered one of the top Universities in the country, ranked 4th in the UK and 14th in the World as per the QS World University Ranking.

Edinburgh is generally a more expensive city for students in comparison to other popular locations, with the cost of living being one of the highest in Scotland. However, our selection of areas and student flats in Edinburgh offers you a range of affordable options to suit all budgets.

Most students tend to congregate around the city centre when it comes to private student accommodation in Edinburgh, due to the lively atmosphere and generous amenities all over town. Some other popular areas include Fountainbridge, Leith and Old Town.

Many student properties in Edinburgh are now advertised with bills included in the price. Where this is the case, your rental price could include electricity, gas, internet, TV licence and water bills and this is clearly stated on the listing. Properties without bills included are also available, giving you the flexibility to choose your own energy and water suppliers and internet service provider.

It is normal for property managers to require you to pay a security deposit at the time of booking or before you move in. Where a deposit is required and you are signing a tenancy agreement, your property manager must protect your deposit in a legally recognised tenancy deposit scheme. As long as you look after the property and have no deductions for damage or unpaid rent, your deposit will be returned to you after your tenancy agreement ends. Tenancy deposits are legally capped at five weeks’ rent per person, so if your own portion of the rent is £100 per week, the maximum deposit would be £500. It is more common however for student deposits to be in the £100-250 range.

The majority of student housing in Edinburgh is rented for fixed contract lengths. For purpose built student accommodation, 43 and 51 week fixed term contracts are the most common. For shared houses, 52 week stays are the most common and generally start in July to September.

Short-term student rentals in Edinburgh are becoming more popular every year. As a result, property managers are increasingly offering shorter tenancy lengths, whether for the summer period or for individual semesters and terms. This is more common in the purpose built student accommodation sector than in shared student rental houses in Edinburgh.