Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2017

This publication presents statistics on private sector rent levels in Scotland over the years 2010 to 2017.


Main Findings for 1 Bedroom in a Shared Property

From 2016 to 2017, 15 out of 18 areas have seen increases in rent for 1 bedroom shared properties. The increases ranged from 0.1% in Renfrewshire / Inverclyde to 18.7% in East Dunbartonshire. There were three areas that saw decreases, ranging from -0.3% in Argyll and Bute to -11.3% in Aberdeen and Shire. This is the second consecutive annual decrease for Aberdeen and Shire, which is likely to reflect decreased demand for rental properties following the downturn in the oil industry. See Chart 10 and Table 5 below.

These regional trends combine to show an increase of 3.0% in average rents from £340 in 2016 to £350 in 2017 for 1 bedroom in a shared property at the Scotland level. This compares to an increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 3.0% in the year to Sept-17.

Over the 7 year period from 2010 to 2017, Forth Valley has seen the highest increase in average private rents for 1 bedroom shared properties, with average rents rising by 29.5% (cumulative increase over 7 years).

A further 10 areas have seen increases that were higher than the Scotland average over the 7 years (16.6%). These ranged from 16.8% in North Lanarkshire to 28.4% in Fife.

Other areas that saw increases to a lesser extent ranged from 2.7% in Renfrewshire / Inverclyde to 14.6% in West Dunbartonshire. Argyll and Bute was the only area to see an decrease in average rents between 2010 and 2017 (-4.7%).

These regional trends combine to show a 16.6% cumulative increase from £300 in 2010 to £350 in 2017 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 2017 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 15.9% from Sept-10 to Sept-17. Over the 7 year period, average rents for 1 bedroom shared properties in 11 out of 18 areas of Scotland have risen faster than the consumer price index, whilst 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 2017 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Shared Properties

Chart 10: Cumulative % Change In Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2017 (year 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 2017, by Broad Rental Market Area

2010 2016 2017 2010 to 2017 change 2016 to 2017 change
Forth Valley 276 351 357 29.5% 1.8%
Fife 271 368 348 28.4% -5.6%
East Dunbartonshire 300 325 385 28.3% 18.7%
Greater Glasgow 313 372 386 23.1% 3.6%
Scottish Borders 256 270 312 22.1% 15.5%
Lothian 320 368 390 22.0% 6.1%
South Lanarkshire 309 315 371 20.1% 17.8%
West Lothian 279 318 332 19.0% 4.2%
Dundee and Angus 263 296 309 17.6% 4.6%
Perth and Kinross 262 288 308 17.6% 6.8%
North Lanarkshire 297 320 347 16.8% 8.4%
Scotland 300 340 350 16.6% 3.0%
West Dunbartonshire 289 322 331 14.6% 2.8%
Highland and Islands 287 320 327 13.9% 2.3%
Ayrshires 302 335 338 12.1% 0.9%
Aberdeen and Shire 328 404 358 9.1% -11.3%
Dumfries and Galloway 278 285 292 5.1% 2.5%
Renfrewshire / Inverclyde 296 304 304 2.7% 0.1%
Argyll and Bute 316 302 301 -4.7% -0.3%

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 2017, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 1 bedroom shared properties across Scotland (£390). Other areas with higher rents included Greater Glasgow (£386), East Dunbartonshire (£385), South Lanarkshire (£371), and Aberdeen and Shire (£358). Areas with the lowest average rents included Dumfries and Galloway (£292), Argyll and Bute (£301) and Renfrewshire / Inverclyde (£304). See Chart 11 below.

Chart 11: Average (mean) Monthly Rents from 2017 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Shared Properties

Chart 11: Average (mean) Monthly Rents from 2017 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Shared Properties

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