Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2020

Private Sector Rent Statistics, Scotland, 2010 to 2020

Main findings for average rent changes in the latest year (2019 to 2020)^[1]:

• In the year to end September 2020, average 2 bedroom rents increased above CPI inflation of 0.5% in 11 out of 18 areas, with the largest increase being 4.0% in East Dunbartonshire. Five areas saw little change in average rents compared with the previous year, with annual changes within +/-0.5%. Average rents decreased by more than 0.5% in the Ayrshires (-0.6%) and West Dunbartonshire (-1.3%).
• These regional trends combine to show an estimated 1.1% increase in average 2 bedroom monthly rents at a Scotland level.
• At a Scotland level there were also estimated increases in average rents for 1 bedroom (1.8%), 3 bedroom (2.2%), 4 bedroom (2.0%) and 1 bedroom shared properties (2.5%).

Main findings for average rent changes between 2010 and 2020:

• Lothian and Greater Glasgow have seen average rents increase above the rate of inflation between 2010 and 2020 across all property sizes.
• Forth Valley and Fife have seen average rents rise above the rate of inflation for all property sizes except 1 bedroom properties.
• 5 Areas (Ayrshires, Dumfries and Galloway, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire) have seen average rents rise less than the rate of inflation across all property sizes between 2010 and 2020.

The latest figures presented in this publication cover average rents across the year from 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020. Government measures to reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) were introduced from mid-March 2020 onwards, with housing market related restrictions being eased towards the end of June 2020. Any COVID related impacts on the figures presented may therefore be limited, given that the time period relating to any potential impacts from COVID covers only part of the full annual period presented.

This publication presents statistics on private sector rent levels in Scotland over the years 2010 to 2020 (years to end September) for different property sizes across each of the 18 Broad Rental Market Areas in Scotland^[2]. It contains information on average rents as well as rents at the higher and lower end of the market^[3]. The publication uses data from the Rent Service Scotland market evidence database, which is collected for the purposes of determining annual Local Housing Allowance levels and Local Reference Rent.

The main users of this publication are likely to include those involved in housing policy and practice, researchers, tenants, landlords, letting agents, and other individuals with an interest in the private rented sector.

Note that the rental information contained in the market evidence database is largely based on advertised rents, therefore it is important to note that the statistics presented in this publication do not represent rent increases for existing tenants.

Also note that for this publication, Scotland figures have been calculated using a weighted stock approach based on separate Scottish Household Survey estimates on the profile of rental stock by area and property size over time. This differs to previous publications which have presented unweighted Scotland average figures. Further information on this is available in Section 8 and Annex D.