A retired Edinburgh woman has spoken of the 'heartbreak' she and her partner feel after grueling six months of flat hunting.
Ruth Towley, 55, Keith, 56, and their 16-year-old cat, Andy, have lived in their flat in the Leith area for 12 years. However their sanctuary is now at risk after they were told, six months ago, that their landlord is selling the property and they will need to move out.
While the couple haven't been served an official eviction notice, Ruth admits there is pressure for them to move as she says architects have visited the flat in preparation for when they leave.
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It's been over a decade since Ruth had to flat hunt and she admits the market is a lot harder than it used to be with such high demand and low supply.
While the market is in a Hunger-Games-like state, she says she is now battling against students and notices how quickly rented flats go. In three months, she only managed to get five viewings, and over the six months, she bagged just 12 in total.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Ruth said: "It's a nightmare. We've been in Leith for about 20 years and trying to get a flat in our local area is so difficult and we're now looking out with this area, in places like Gorgie and Dalry.
"Even getting a viewing is just ridiculous. You'll get a notification from the estate agents that there's a flat available in the area, you'll click the link, and when you try and book a viewing it says it's fully booked or it's already gone.
"We viewed one in Gorgie. We were the first ones to see it and on the bus back I sent an email to tell them we were very interested. But by that evening we were told it had gone.
"And then there's the rent prices. For basically a cupboard, they're wanting thousands of pounds a month. And we've got a decent budget too but the prices are just so high and it feels like there is just nothing out there.
"I wouldn't feel right looking into social housing either, my partner has a good job and we wouldn't want to take something away from a family that would really need it."
In her search for a flat Ruth, who retired early due to health issues, has noticed she is getting beaten by students.
"We're both in our 50s. I don't know if that's going against us, do landlords want a quick turnover now?
"I look at a flat in Leith or see it online, we don't get it, but then a few weeks later I see the new people moving in. And they're students. I just don't understand because students rent short-term and me and Keith are looking for somewhere to settle down again and call a home, just like we have done with the flat we have now.
"It is so frustrating because you think 'Why not me? Is it my age? Money? I just don't know. It's absolutely heartbreaking."
"It's making the pair of us grumpy old farts, the stress of it really takes its toll. It is impacting my mental health, it really gets you down because there's nothing you can do."
Ruth added that she has had a good relationship with her landlord over the last 12 years in her current flat and appreciates that she hasn't been given a date to move out. But she knows there will be a point when that date will come.
"I do feel like we're going to be forced into an area that we don't want to live in. I've been there before, I moved to an area that I thought was just temporary with my kids years ago and you just feel stuck.
"I love Leith, I love the sense of community and people help each other out. You can be involved in the community as much as you want, or you can be invisible. It just has a good vibe."
She added: I don't want much. I don't need a big house with a garden. I just want a wee flat where I can spend my evenings with Keith and our wee cat Andy. It's not too much to ask."
Nicky Lloyd, ESPC’s Head of Lettings, said: “The first half of 2023 has revealed a slightly calmer rental market than what we saw in 2022, despite the cost-of-living crisis, rent freezes and interest rates.
“However, property demand still continues to outweigh supply across many locations with intense competition for stock across Edinburgh where the average time to let was 18 days in the first quarter of 2023.
“The low levels of stock could be because tenants are staying in properties for longer, meaning there are fewer properties returning to the market. It seems likely that these trends will continue as we enter the busy summer period and the restart of the student let market.
“If you need advice on the rental market, get in touch with ESPC Lettings and we will be happy to help.”
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