As Taylor Swift prepares for her sold-out gigs in Edinburgh, locals have chosen to abandon their homes to make way for fans willing to pay large sums for a night’s stay in the Scottish capital.
Desperate fans have struggled to find accommodation in Edinburgh as hotels were quickly booked up despite tripling their rates during the megastar’s three-night residency between June 7 and 9.
But Edinburgh locals have come to the rescue – with one man listing his property on Airbnb for £585 per night.
The listing said: ‘Apartment overlooks Murrayfield Stadium. Perfect for Taylor Swift fans! Even if you don’t have tickets, listen to gig from balcony.’
For around half the price of a one-night stay in the nearby apartment, you can buy an in-person seat for Swift’s concert on ticket resell website ViaGoGo.
Taylor Swift (pictured) will play at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on June 7, 8 and 9
One man has listed his property on Airbnb for £585 per night
The cheeky host joined Airbnb one month ago and has no reviews so far.
His one-bedroom one-bathroom apartment is advertised as being able to host three guests – as there is an ‘extra long sofa’ suitable for one.
James Peter, who works as a chef, has also hitched a ride on what some are dubbing ‘Swiftmania’.
Mr Peter has temporarily hung up his cooking apron to become a landlord for the week, listing a room in the house he shares with his wife for £269 per night.
He told MailOnline: ‘We have a spare bedroom in the flat we just moved into. I thought we could use the opportunity for income.
‘We read in the newspaper that many concert goers were having difficulty with getting accommodation. We saw it as an opportunity for ourselves and for those looking for accommodation.’
His Airbnb listing advises Swifties that the property is only a 15-minute walk to Murrayfield Stadium.
The local chef also mentions that he will cook breakfast for the guests free of charge.
Mr Peter has another property available for fans, although it is further away from the venue, which costs £468 per night.
Meanwhile Marie Claire Semeraro opted to rent out the entirety of her three-bedroom house in Edinburgh to help those desperate to find accommodation during the Taylor Swift frenzy.
She said: ‘We are in Glasgow for another gig so just thought I’d reach out to people struggling.’
The American megastar will play at Murrayfield Stadium where final preparations are taking place
Fans queue for The Eras Tour merchandise at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh
The one-bedroom one-bathroom property has a double bed
A slight view of Murrayfield stadium from the apartment listed on Airbnb
The property has a living room decorated with guitars and a wooden dining table
The listing said: ‘Even if you don’t have tickets, listen to gig from balcony’
The apartment also has an ‘extra long sofa’ suitable to sleep one guest
Located near Murrayfield, the flat has one bathroom
The Airbnb listing from James Peter
Mr Peter has temporarily hung up his cooking apron to become a landlord for the week, listing a room in his house (pictured) on Airbnb for £269 per night
Sara Molpeceres, a mature student studying Graphic Design at Edinburgh College, has also listed her apartment during what she calls the ‘Taylor Swift weekend’.
A double room in her flat, which is a 25-minute drive from the stadium, will set Swifties back £380 for three nights.
But as Sara points out in her Facebook post, her ‘very cute cat’ is included in the price.
Although the prices Edinburgh residents are charging may make your eyes water, researchers have calculated that each Swiftie attending a concert in the UK will spend an average of £848.
This includes an average spend of £121 on accommodation.
Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour is set to boost the British economy by almost £1billion, the new report has revealed.
On top of the ticket price, fans will splash out on travel, accommodation, a pre-concert meal, official merchandise and many will be a themed outfit for the occasion as well.
Dr Peter Brooks, Chief Behavioural Scientist at Barclays, said: ‘Whoever came up with the phrase “money can’t buy happiness” clearly wasn’t a Swiftie.’
A double room in Sara Molpeceres’ flat, which is a 25-minute drive from the stadium, will set Swifties back £380 for three nights
A Facebook post by Sara Molpeceres
Sara points out in her Facebook post, her ‘very cute cat is included’ in the price
He continued: ‘There’s growing evidence that spending on experiences boosts happiness and well-being more so than purchasing physical items, especially if that experience is shared with friends and loved ones.
‘When it comes to cultural icons like Taylor Swift – like we saw with Elvis and Beatlemania in the 50s and 60s – supporters have such a strong connection to the artist and to the rest of the fandom that the desire to spend becomes even more powerful.
‘For non-fans, £848 may seem like an enormous amount to splash out on a concert – but for Eras Tour ticketholders, every pound they spend is an investment in the memories they’ll create.’
