As fans flock to the U.K. for Taylor Swift’s upcoming sold-out concerts, Edinburgh faces a significant housing challenge. The city is dealing with a housing emergency and the surge of Swift’s fans is exacerbating the situation, putting a strain on accommodations for its homeless population.
Swift’s Eras Tour, which is the first to gross over $1 billion worldwide, is expected to draw approximately 210,000 fans and could inject over $125 million into the Scottish economy. This influx has led to a spike in demand for hotel rooms.
Shelter Scotland’s director, Alison Watson, reported that some homeless individuals have been relocated to other nearby cities. One person offered temporary housing more than 120 miles away, calling the situation a “blatant injustice.”
“It simply should not be the case that hosting a major event at Murrayfield has significant knock-on effects for people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh,” Watson said.
In 2023, Edinburgh declared a housing emergency, which was followed by a national housing emergency declared by the Scottish government on May 15.
Despite legal requirements to provide emergency temporary accommodations for the homeless, which can include hotels, the Edinburgh City Council maintains that it is not displacing tenants specifically for the concerts. However, securing suitable accommodations during the event has proven difficult.
“It is a symptom of the housing emergency we face in Edinburgh that at times we must use tourist accommodation to house homeless households,” Jane Meagher, the council’s housing chair, said.
Meagher added that tourist accommodations are reluctantly used as a last resort to house homeless people. Efforts are underway to find suitable alternatives for affected residents.
