Students have reacted with anger as it emerged their principal is being put up in a £1.7 million grace and favour townhouse as they struggle to find accommodation.
Edinburgh Live reported this week how a common room at the University of Edinburgh's Pollock Halls has had to be converted into makeshift digs with students sleeping in bunk beds.
Now it has emerged the uni is footing a £17,000 bill for the running costs of principal Peter Mathieson's house on plush Regent Terrace. Meanwhile students around the city are struggling to find accommodation due to a shortage in affordable private accommodation.
One student told us it would be cheaper to get a 14-hour ferry home to Shetland twice a week than pay their current rent but he needs to be here to study and attend lectures.
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While another described the situation as "infuriating" and said "now I'm stuck homeless with no security when he's in his big house getting his bills paid. It's a kick in the teeth when I'm already down."
Over the last year the university forked out £4,243.55 on council tax for the property, £5799.82 on fuel bills. over £1k on cleaning costs and another £1k on window cleaning and gardening maintenance.
Other yearly costs include joinery works repairing and replacing window sills and mastic sealant coming to £4,932.62 and £563.15 to Install wireless detection. Servicing his Aga Cooker cost £300.55 while £56.15 was spent investigating and repairing a fault in the water system.
There is no rent or mortgage on the property as it was a gift donated to the university in 2015; with an estimated market value of £1,750,000.
The terms of the donation were that the property be used as the official residence of the principal and for official functions pertaining to their role.
The property is located in central Edinburgh and comprises a four-storey mid-terrace stone built 200-year-old building with five bedrooms, four reception rooms, and kitchen. There is a garden to the rear.
Meanwhile Edinburgh Live spoke to a number of students across the city who have no home or accommodation due to the ongoing housing crisis and sky rocketing living costs in the capital.
Dylan Morrish said: "Being from Shetland it’s immediately difficult given the fact the only way to travel to Edinburgh is a 14-hour boat journey or a 1.5 hour plane - which costs upwards of £100 per flight."
He explained: "I am a fourth year student and I always have been able to secure a flat before travelling to Edinburgh to begin my studies. In first year I stayed in halls of residence and second and third year I stayed in private, rented accommodation.
"Each year, I have to give up out flat over summer to allow myself the opportunity to save money for rent for the following academic year."
This year has been a challenge and like many students Dylan has struggled with the competition to find a flat.
He said: "However, the demand this year for flats has really hampered my search. I have received emails to register for flat viewings at for example 1pm and when attempted to register for flat viewings two minutes later, all viewings have been gone.
"Paired with the fact that even when I have secured a viewing, they letting agent is unwilling to do them remotely or the flat is already letted before viewings have taking place."
He said: "I attended a viewing and was told that there was 900 inquiries within 2 hours of the flat going on market. The demand has been unprecedented and thus I have been stressed attempting to secure accommodation. Thus, I arrived in Edinburgh with no accommodation and have had to stay with my girlfriend on a short-term basis.
"Finally, our luck struck and we have been able to secure a 2 bedroom property, at the colossal cost of £1495 a month. This works out at £747.50 a month each, with no utilities included.
"After doing the maths, it would be cheaper for me to take 2 x 14 hour boat journeys a week and commute from the Shetland Islands as opposed to have to pay the rent we are currently paying.
"But, this isn’t viable as I would have to spend over 24 hours a week commuting to and from my university. However, I am thankful to have a flat, but the cost of rent is a great deal higher than what I am used to paying. Therefore, it is highly likely I will have to obtain a job during my honours year to support the cost of my rent."
Another student Tasha Prenten, is in her fourth year studying International Relations. After being at Edinburgh university for years she has also seen the situation worsening over the years.
She said: "In late August I split up with my partner of these years in an emergency situation. I had to leave asap and I know singing the 28 days with nowhere to go was stupid but I did not have any other options for my safety and sanity.
"My friend who is at Strathclyde and in student accommodation said we could live together on the commuter line, we looked for flats in Falkirk and other surrounding areas.
"The only thing we needed as a non negotiable was to be within walking distance of the station as I can't drive (seizures) and she can't drive and has no money to learn. We have applied for one beds (we would use the living room as a bedroom) and two beds.
"I've lived here three years and this is my new home. I cannot go home often and I came here with the intention of living here permanently and hopefully buying a house where I can move my mum in."
Adding: "All the student accommodation is way out of budget. I also hated living in halls because I have autism and living with strangers is my idea of the 9th circle of hell even if I could afford it. So the 28 days came up, I had to box all my stuff up, rent a van and move it into my friends tiny studio apartment.
"I've been there since the 12th of September. It's probably a fire hazard with all that stuff in there but I can't afford storage because I need to keep money aside for deposits. I can't afford Edinburgh on my own and I can't get money from my family or friends because out of all of them I'm the one who gets the most money.
"I get student finance and a bursary from the university, I send some money home because I know my family are really struggling but this is genuinely the most stressful experience of my life so far."
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Tasha also said: "It's genuinely infuriating because it's just another kick from the system. I struggled all my life to claw my way out of poverty, get to a good uni so I could get a good job and now I'm stuck homeless with no security when he's in his big house getting his bills paid.
"It's a kick in the teeth when I'm already down. It's just another way poorer students are alienated from education."
A University of Edinburgh spokesman said the Regent Terrace property is used for official events and also spoke of the institution's work in providing accommodation for students.
He added: “In common with most other universities, accommodation for the University of Edinburgh’s Principal and their immediate family is provided as part of the role. The Principal occupies the accommodation, which was donated to the University in 2015, on a representative basis, and as such, the institution covers fuel costs and costs for maintaining the building.
"The residence is used for official events to welcome international guests and dignitaries which strengthens the University’s global reputation and increases our partnerships and potential funding streams.
“We are not operating any policy to encourage students to defer or interrupt their studies as a result of accommodation issues, but we are acutely aware that some students have been struggling to find suitable accommodation in Edinburgh. We want to support them throughout this increasingly challenging period and continue to offer accommodation advice and support alongside our Students’ Association’s Advice Place. We aim to help any students who are having difficulties finding accommodation, and we are doing everything we can to support anyone that contacts us for help."
They added: “All students who met the requirements of our accommodation guarantee have been offered a place in University residences this year. We have also been in a position to provide offers of accommodation to more than 2,600 students over and above our guaranteed places.
“Students looking for private sector accommodation are competing with Edinburgh’s expanding workforce as well as visitors who are attracted to short-term lets across the city. Even though these factors are largely outside the University’s control, we understand that we have a part to play in finding solutions to the problem.
“We continue to work with our partner organisations across the city including the City of Edinburgh Council and other higher and further education providers to refresh our longer term accommodation strategy. In the short-term we have just opened a new refurbished building in Gilmore Place in central Edinburgh which can accommodate 230 students.”
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