Richard is a fantastic host. He offers more than a clean room and bed to crash in. I arrived in Edinburgh alone at the start of a long grad school journey. He offered the perfect welcome (after an 8 hour flight delay) which included a nice impromptu dinner as I arrived hungry at dinner time. He sensed my journey wore me out - that's a personable host.
Besides a clean room and the typical housing amenities my 10 days with Richard included unexpected touches from great advice on transportation, grocery shopping, use of his washer to introductions to great bands and Scottish jokes. He succeeded at making me feel more than welcome and in this I felt reassured that my decision to move here was the right decision.
Certain guests may find the location in Leith too far removed from the central attractions. However, Leith offers travelers the opportunity to experience a more insider's view of Edinburgh. Leith is in the midst of a gentrification so it has its artisan coffee shops and Michelin star restaurants but within that still exists a sense of edgy authenticity. Give the location a chance - Edinburgh is compact. Walk down Leith Walk to get a sense of the people or get on the bus (his flat is close to major lines) for a short ride into the city centre.