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 in a Shared Property

From 2018 to 2019, 10 out of 18 areas have seen increases in average rents for 1 bedroom shared properties. The increases ranged from 0.2% in Perth and Kinross to 16.8% in Argyll and Bute. Highlands and Islands saw no change. There were seven areas that saw decreases, ranging from a drop of 14.9% in the Scottish Borders to a drop of 0.9% in South Lanarkshire. See Chart 10 and Table 5 below.

These regional trends combine to show an increase of 2.0% in average rents from £366 in 2018 to £373 in 2019 for 1 bedroom in a shared property at the Scotland level. This compares to an increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 1.7% in the year to Sept-19.

Over the 9 year period from 2010 to 2019, the Lothian has seen the highest increase in average private rents for 1 bedroom shared properties, with average rents rising by 43.9% (cumulative increase over 9 years).

A further 5 areas have seen increases that were higher than the Scotland average over the 9 years (24.5%). These ranged from 25.2% in Forth Valley to 30.8% in Dundee and Angus. Other areas that saw increases to a lesser extent ranged from 1.9% in Dumfries and Galloway to 22.3% in the Ayrshires.

These regional trends combine to show a 24.5% cumulative increase from £300 in 2010 to £373 in 2019 for 1 bedroom shared properties at the Scotland level.

Figures on changes to rents for 1 bedroom shared 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, average rents for 1 bedroom shared properties in 7 out of 18 areas of Scotland have risen faster than the consumer price index, and West Lothian has risen at the same rate. Changes in average rents for 1 bedroom shared properties in other areas of the country have been below the rise in the consumer price index. This is shown on Chart 10.

Chart 10 Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2019 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1 bedroom shared properties

Chart 10 Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2019 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1 bedroom shared properties

Table 5 - 1 Bedroom Shared 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 320 425 460 43.9% 8.2%
Dundee and Angus 263 332 344 30.8% 3.5%
Fife 271 372 351 29.6% -5.7%
Highland and Islands 287 371 371 29.1% 0.0%
Greater Glasgow 313 386 403 28.8% 4.6%
Forth Valley 276 371 345 25.2% -7.0%
Scotland 300 366 373 24.5% 2.0%
Ayrshires 302 359 369 22.3% 2.8%
West Lothian 279 348 337 20.8% -3.2%
Perth and Kinross 262 312 312 19.3% 0.2%
Scottish Borders 256 357 304 18.9% -14.9%
Argyll and Bute 316 320 374 18.5% 16.8%
East Dunbartonshire 300 347 352 17.3% 1.6%
West Dunbartonshire 289 312 333 15.1% 6.7%
Renfrewshire / Inverclyde 296 309 332 12.0% 7.4%
Aberdeen and Shire 328 354 359 9.3% 1.4%
South Lanarkshire 309 337 334 8.1% -0.9%
North Lanarkshire 297 331 303 2.2% -8.3%
Dumfries and Galloway 278 295 283 1.9% -3.9%

Note: Figures for rooms in shared properties represent "rent only", i.e. exclude any payments for shared services.

See Reference Tables (Tables 7 to 14) 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 shared properties across Scotland (£460). Other areas with higher rents included Greater Glasgow (£403) and Argyll and Bute (£374). Areas with the lowest average rents included Dumfries and Galloway (£283) and North Lanarkshire (£303). See Chart 11 below.

Chart 11 Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2019 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Shared Properties

Chart 11 Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2019 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Shared Properties

Contact

Email: felix.palin@gov.scot

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