Some students have already signed up for flats for next year.
Maureen Townsend, from property management company Letting Centre, said the number signing up early was on a par with last year.
Mr Edgar said there were more flats than students.
There was no need for students to get in early, Mr Edgar said.
If students held out longer, landlords would be forced to drop rents, he said.
He also recommended students consider flatting in areas outside the expensive "scarfie" area, which included Castle and Hyde Sts.
Ms Townsend said most of the flats picked up early were the properties of "high quality".
"There is definitely letting going on for 2013 already," Ms Townsend said.
As it did last year, the company would be looking to have most of its properties let for next year by October.
University of Otago accommodation manager Adele Evans said students should also avoid signing up for flats early because their plans could change during the year.
A growing tactic among students was to wait until the start of the year to go hunting for flats in an effort to find cheaper rent for fewer weeks, she said.
Mr Edgar reminded students to remember to apply to get their bond back after they left flats.
Figures from the Department of Building and Housing showed that as of May this year, $296,294.17 in bond was owed to 1646 Dunedin tenants.