Join the Co-op
As a fully mutual housing co-operative, all residents are also part-owners (known as “members” in co-op lingo) of ESHC. So, if you would like to live in the Co-op, then in most cases you’ll also have to join as a member. Co-op members are responsible for the day-to-day management of our housing. We are, in effect, our own landlords. As such, all members take on specific duties (or “roles”) to ensure that all the work gets done. To learn more about how we run things here, visit this page.
As a student co-op, we operate on the following academic calendar (dates inclusive):
- Term 1: September–December
- Term 2: January–May
- Summer: June–August
Rent typically changes on 1st September each year. As such, members can sign tenancy agreements for up to one year (1st Sep–31st Aug), but they can also sign for whole terms as defined above e.g. an Erasmus student coming to Edinburgh just for the Spring could sign a tenancy for 1st Jan–31st May or their tenancy could end 31st Aug if they want to stay for the Summer.
Current members who continue to satisfy our membership requirements (i.e. of being a student and participating actively in the Co-op) can sign new tenancies as needed. We believe in secure housing!
Member Applications
We have three open application periods each year: September, January and June.
Applications for September move-in are now open! They will close on the 13th May. Apply to be a member here.
September Applications
Applications for September move-in generally open in May, with decisions sent out to applicants by June. All applicants from this period who accept an offer of a place will be guaranteed a room—and will be responsible for rent—from 1st September.
January Applications
Applications for January move-in generally open in October, with decisions sent out to applicants by mid-November. All applicants from this period who accept an offer of a place will be guaranteed a room—and will be responsible for rent—from 1st January.
June Applications
Some members move out at the end of May, so we open applications to new members for the Summer. Applications for June move-in open in February time, with decisions sent out to applicants by mid-April to May. All applicants from this period who accept an offer of a place will be guaranteed a room—and will be responsible for rent—from 1st June. This is a replacement of the old system where Summer members only stayed between June-August.
Subletting
Some members sublet their rooms for shorter periods of time and over parts of the summer. Subletting is privately conducted between the member and the person subletting. However, the Co-op has a strict policy that no member may generate a financial profit through subletting their room. That is, if you are subletting a room in the Co-op, you should be paying the same rent that any member pays (pro-rata if less than a month). If you are paying more than the current rent, please let us know.
If you would like to sublet a room for a shorter period of time, this is the page for you.