How to get a flat if you're 'too posh to queue'

The affluent homebuyers, who don’t want to camp on the street, or can’t spare the time, during sales for new-build properties in desirable areas, have been spending up to 300 a day for the unusual service.

Property management companies in Edinburgh and Glasgow said well-heeled professionals had been approaching students via student union noticeboards. University officials also confirmed they had seen adverts in newspapers from students offering their services "for a good rate" to camp out during the frenzy for flats last summer at Glasgow Harbour.

The move by prospective homebuyers to avoid the queuing system for new homes follows the "early-bird" reservation scheme employed by the housebuilder Charles Church, which involves handing over 500 to secure a property.

Maria Ponte, an associate director for land and new-builds at the property management company Rettie & Co, said three students queued outside their India Street offices in Edinburgh last October for one of 24 flats designed by the award-winning Edinburgh architect Richard Murphy at the Tron development, just off Old Fishmarket Close.

She said: "I thought it showed initiative by people who were desperate for the flats.

"It was all very civilised in the queue, and nobody was angry that the students were there and were being paid to queue.

"If homebuyers are unable to stand in a queue without leaving their place, then good on them that they have had the initiative to come up with a way round it."

Mark Hordern, the marketing manger of Glasgow Solicitors Property Centre (GSPC), said paid "place-savers" allowed people to take a break from queuing. "Queuing by proxy has happened in Glasgow, with the going rate about 50 for four hours," said Mr Hordern. "They also queue overnight, with the homebuyer relieving them in the morning.

"Unless students are wealthy they have to earn money to supplement their grants, so some find this a good job because they can study at the same time."

Irene Lithgow, Bryant Homes’ regional sales and marketing director, said she believed students were paid at the Glasgow Harbour development.

"People started queuing for our flats about ten days before they went on sale," she said. "I think people were being paid up to 300 a night, but it didn’t cause any trouble in the queue.

"I think it was very enterprising of people so that they could avoid the inconvenience and the cold."

Craig Hall, the marketing manager of the developer Applecross, said: "We have already had a great deal of interest in Eyre Place, a prestigious development in Edinburgh’s New Town and expect a lot of people to queue when it goes on sale.

"But we recommend that students should negotiate their fee carefully, in case they have to do a night shift."

Alida Melaragri, the associate residential development director at Knight Frank, said: "I know students are hired to stand in property queues. Investors do it when they are limited to one flat each under certain developers’ rules, so they can buy a few homes. People who also work full-time employ students. We are very aware it goes on."

Simon Fairclough, marketing director of Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre, said: "Queuing by proxy strikes me as being unfair and could cause riots."

Rami Okasha, the president of the National Union of Students, said: "If students don’t want to get into debt, then they are forced to take low-paid or unusual jobs, such as queuing outside flats during the night."