ALEX Cole-Hamilton has been blasted after hiking the rent on Airbnb property during the Edinburgh Festival.
The National has previously told of how Cole-Hamilton increased the price of a night’s stay at the Airbnb property in the garden of his house in Edinburgh by more than 150% between August 2021 and August 2023.
Now, it appears that the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader has once again hiked the cost of a visit to coincide with the Edinburgh Festival.
The shed, which is described as a “cosy self-contained cabin” can be rented for £151 a night in July.
However, in August the price increases to £216 a night, leading some to accuse Cole-Hamilton of profiteering from the housing shortage during the festival.
Eilidh Keay, of tenants' union Living Rent Edinburgh, said: “Alex Cole-Hamilton’s decision to let out his shed for £216 a night during a local and national housing emergency is beyond belief."
While Scottish Greens MSP Ariane Burgess said: “When large parts of a city become overrun with expensive holiday lets, it upsets the balance of communities.”
It’s understood that Cole-Hamilton earns around £10,000 per year from renting out the property on Airbnb.
You can read our review of the Airbnb here.
