I'm starting my PhD in Sept and preferably want to live out of halls. Everyone I've ever known move away to uni as a postgrad in private accommodation has aimed for mid-August, but I know in the case of Edinburgh this is right in the middle of Fringe and that presumably makes hunting a bigger nightmare than other places in the UK...
Do people just start looking/sign a contract earlier than everywhere else or is Fringe less of a problem than I've assumed?
If you would like a flat by September you are best to start looking now and be prepared to take a flat with a lease starting anytime from now really. You might find somewhere next week, but it could easily take 2-3 months of looking particularly if you aren’t currently living in Edinburgh and can’t attend viewings at short notice. If you get one early then you can spend the time enjoying things like the fringe!