Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2016

Main Findings for 4 Bedroom Properties

From 2015 to 2016, 12 out of 18 areas have seen increases in rent for 4 bedroom properties. The increases ranged from 16.1% in Forth Valley, 9.3% in Greater Glasgow, and 5.2% in West Dunbartonshire, to 0.5% in Dundee and Angus and 0.1% in Lothian. Six areas saw decreases, ranging from -0.2% in Dumfries and Galloway and -0.9% in Scottish Borders, to -8.0% in North Lanarkshire and -13.5% in Aberdeen and Shire. See Chart 8 and Table 7 below.

The regional trends combine to show a 0.7% decrease for 4 bedroom properties at the Scotland level.

Over the 2010 to 2016 period, the Aberdeen and Shire area of the country has seen the highest increase in private rents for 4 bedroom properties, with average monthly rents rising by 36.8% (cumulative increase over 6 years) despite rents falling between 2015 and 2016. Average rents in Forth Valley have risen by 22.7%, whilst average rents in Greater Glasgow have increased by 21.8% and Renfrewshire / Inverclyde by 21.7%. Dundee and Angus and Ayrshires saw similar percentage increases in average rents (19.9% and 19.7% respectively).

For the other areas of Scotland, cumulative increases have ranged from 18.7% (Perth and Kinross) to 4.1% (Dumfries and Galloway). No areas of Scotland have seen decreases in average rent for 4 bedroom properties between 2010 and 2016.

These regional trends combine to show a 13.7% cumulative increase from 2010 to 2016 for 4 bedroom properties at the Scotland level.

Figures on changes to rents for 4 bedroom properties over the period from 2010 to 2016 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 12.6 % from Sept-10 to Sept-16. For example over the 4 year period, average rents for 4 bedroom properties in 9 out of 18 areas (Aberdeen and Shire, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow, Renfrewshire / Inverclyde, Dundee and Angus, Ayrshires, Perth and Kinross, Lothian, and Fife) have risen faster than the consumer price index, whilst changes in average rents for 4 bedroom properties in the other nine areas of the country have been below the rise in the consumer price index.

CHART 8: Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2016 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 4-Bedroom Properties

TABLE 7: 4 Bedroom Properties - Average (mean) Monthly Rents (£): Cumulative Changes 2010 to 2016, by Broad Rental Market Area

See Reference Tables (Tables 12 to 18) for a more detailed breakdown of quartile and average rents for each year.

For the year to end-September 2016, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 4 bedroom properties across Scotland (£1,512). Other areas with higher rents included Greater Glasgow (£1,299), Aberdeen and Shire (£1,291) and East Dunbartonshire (£1,277). Areas with the lowest average rents included Highlands and Islands (£822), Scottish Borders (£740), and Dumfries and Galloway (£646). See Chart 9 and Table 8 below.

CHART 9: Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2016 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 4-Bedroom Properties

TABLE 8: Average (mean) monthly rents for 4 Bedroom Properties in 2016 (year to end-Sept)