A young man in search for a home in Edinburgh has been left to sleep on friend's sofas after failing to find his own rental.
Luke Gregory, 19, has been searching for a place to call home in Edinburgh since September 2022 after he was accepted as a risk and compliance operator at a finance firm in the city centre. Originally from Dundee, the young lad was eager to move to Edinburgh and wanted to avoid a lengthy two-hour commute.
Edinburgh is in the grips of a housing crisis as demand for homes rises along with prices.
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Speaking exclusively to Edinburgh Live, Luke explained that he had been flat hunting since September and he and his mother had enquired in around 300 flats in total and only bagged 10 viewings. He even admitted to almost falling for a scam last week - luckily no money was exchanged.
"I'm trying to be positive about it, but it scares the hell out of my parents," he said. "My parents have been massively helpful, I'm really lucky. Things got really bad recently, I was even looking at hostels and I just had to come home for Christmas."
Luke finished high school earlier this year and was lucky enough to bag a job in Edinburgh which started in October. He started looking for somewhere to live in September and while he was still looking, a family friend let him stay for the first three weeks until they went on holiday. He then had to pack his bag and leave.
"I've been living out of my old rugby bag since October. I just pack my work clothes and toiletries and go home at the weekend to pack clean clothes.
"I've got two good mates in Edinburgh who I jump between. I know it's awful and I'm such a leech for doing it, so I just stay at one of theirs from Monday to Wednesday, and then the other until Friday night.
"But it's been tough. Especially during their exam time when they are both stressed and then there's me sleeping on their couch - it's embarrassing!"
Luke believes its his age that is holding him back from being successful in the flat hunt process, even when he's looking for flatshares. "Even though I work full-time, I am only 19. Maybe when I'm 30 or 40, I'd think 'I don't want a 19 living with me!' So I'm looking for post-graduates, or even students if they don't mind me paying council tax. But when I'm looking at flatshares, I do say I work in the office 9-5, I'm not a big party animal, I don't rave, I don't smoke or have any pets..but still there's nothing."
Out of all the flats and flatshares that Luke has enquired about, he only had been given 10 viewings. In one instance, he explained his mum took the day off work, picked his little brother up from school and drove them all down from Dundee to Edinburgh to view a flat.
"Just a couple of weeks ago we went to view a flat. It sounded like it was guaranteed to me to be honest, the estate agent sounded really promising. We got into Edinburgh, were taking a picture by the Christmas tree at the Mound and I got a text saying the flat had been given to someone else.
"I just felt gutted for my mum! She had come all this way, and then drove back that night for nothing. So then I posted on flatshare groups on Facebook, thinking hopefully someone will know someone who can help me."
While he is grateful that his employer is really understanding, and allows him to work from home from time to time, Luke is feeling the strain on his social life.
"I do a lot of social activities, like rugby, or boxing or chess, and can't exactly do that here. I can't bring muddy rugby boots into my friends house, I don't have anywhere to put them or carry round boxing gloves.
"Even this Christmas, I love my record player, and my gran asked if I wanted a vinyl. And it's like, there's no point. I won't be able to use it for months! It's just tough."
Luke's flat hunt is still ongoing and with each viewing he bags, he grows a little more hopeful. But anyone who is searching for somewhere to live in the capital knows the level of competitiveness, and the risings rent and sale prices are just another hurdle.
Have you been affected by the housing crisis in Edinburgh? Get in touch at news@edinburghlive.co.uk.
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