Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2019

This publication presents statistics on private sector rent levels in Scotland over the years 2010 to 2019.


Main Findings for 1 Bedroom Properties

Over the past year, 13 out of 18 areas have seen increases in average rents for 1 bedroom properties. Perth and Kinross has seen the highest increase (4.1%) while Dumfries and Galloway has seen an increase of 4.0%. Both of these areas, as well as Lothian (3.4%), Dundee and Angus (2.9%), West Lothian (2.8%), Forth Valley (2.4%), South Lanarkshire (2.3%), Greater Glasgow (2.2%), Fife (2.2%), and Renfrewshire / Inverclyde (1.9%) are areas that have shown increases which are higher than the CPI inflation of 1.7% in 2018-2019. Other areas that have seen increases are 1.5% in the Highlands and Islands, 0.8% in East Dunbartonshire and 0.7% in the Scottish borders.

Five areas saw a decrease, ranging from a 0.1% drop in the Ayrshires to a 1.8% drop in Argyll and Bute. This is the fourth consecutive annual decrease (0.3%) for Aberdeen and Shire, which is likely to reflect decreased demand for rental properties in recent years following the downturn in the oil industry.

Average rents for 1 bedroom properties have increased by 1.9% between 2018 and 2019, at the Scotland level, from £510 in 2018 to £519 in 2019. This compares to an increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 1.7% in the year to Sept-19.

Figures on changes to rents for 1 bedroom properties over the period from 2010 to 2019 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 20.8% from Sept-10 to Sept-19.

Over the 9 year period from 2010 to 2019, two areas have seen rent increases above the level of CPI inflation. Lothian has seen the highest increase in private rents for 1 bedroom properties, with average rents rising by 44.5% (cumulative increase over 9 years) and average rents in the Greater Glasgow area have risen by 33.7% between 2010 and 2019.

For the remaining areas of Scotland, cumulative increases were below CPI inflation and have ranged from 1.6% in West Dunbartonshire to 17.6% in West Lothian. Two areas saw average rents fall between 2010 and 2019. These were the Ayrshires (-1.4%) and Aberdeen and Shire (-11.1%). These regional trends combine to show a 19.1% cumulative increase for 1 bedroom properties from £436 in 2010 to £519 in 2019. See Chart 2 and Table 1 below.

Chart 2 Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2019 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Properties

Chart 2 Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2019 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Properties

Table 1 - 1 Bedroom Properties - Average (mean) Monthly Rents (£): Cumulative Changes 2010 to 2019, by Broad Rental Market Area

2010 2018 2019 2010 to 2019 change 2018 to 2019 change
Lothian 520 728 752 44.5% 3.4%
Greater Glasgow 437 572 585 33.7% 2.2%
Scotland 436 510 519 19.1% 1.9%
West Lothian 428 490 504 17.6% 2.8%
East Dunbartonshire 450 521 526 16.9% 0.8%
Highland and Islands 415 471 478 15.1% 1.5%
Dundee and Angus 351 390 402 14.4% 2.9%
Forth Valley 387 428 438 13.3% 2.4%
Perth and Kinross 377 410 427 13.1% 4.1%
Dumfries and Galloway 359 389 404 12.6% 4.0%
Fife 379 413 422 11.4% 2.2%
Argyll and Bute 382 424 417 9.1% -1.8%
Scottish Borders 336 357 360 7.0% 0.7%
South Lanarkshire 382 397 406 6.2% 2.3%
North Lanarkshire 373 394 391 4.8% -0.7%
Renfrewshire / Inverclyde 374 384 392 4.6% 1.9%
West Dunbartonshire 397 405 403 1.6% -0.4%
Ayrshires 375 370 370 -1.4% -0.1%
Aberdeen and Shire 529 473 470 -11.1% -0.5%

See Reference Tables (Tables 7 to 15) for a more detailed breakdown of quartile and average rents for each year.

For the year to end-September 2019, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 1 bedroom properties across Scotland (£752), with Greater Glasgow having rents of £585. Areas with the lowest average rents for 1 bedroom properties included Scottish Borders (£360) and Ayrshires (£370). See Chart 3 below.

Chart 3 Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2019 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Properties

Chart 3 Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2019 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Properties

Contact

Email: felix.palin@gov.scot

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