Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2021

1. Key findings, based on 2 bedroom properties

The most common type of property in the private rented sector is a 2 bedroom property, with nearly half (49 per cent) of all private rented properties in Scotland estimated to be this size.^[6] Findings relating to other sizes of properties can differ to this, and are provided later in this publication.

• In the year to end September 2021, average 2 bedroom rents increased above UK CPI inflation of 1.5%^[7] in 10 out of 18 areas, with the largest increases being 7.1% in West Dunbartonshire and 6.8% in the Ayrshires.
• An additional four areas saw an increase above 0.5% but below CPI inflation of 1.5%. Three areas saw little change in average rents compared with the previous year, with annual changes within +/-0.5%, whilst the average 2 bedroom rent in Lothian decreased by 2.9%.
• These regional trends combine to show an estimated 0.6% increase in average 2 bedroom monthly rents at a Scotland level, which compares to an average increase in UK CPI of 1.5% across the year to September 2021.
• In the year to end September 2021, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 2 bedroom properties across Scotland (£942). Other areas with high rents included Greater Glasgow (£797) and East Dunbartonshire (£721). Areas with the lowest average rents for 2 bedroom properties included the Ayrshires (£500) and Dumfries and Galloway (£477).
• Figures on changes to rents over the period from 2010 to 2021 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 24.3% from the year to end September 2010 to the year to end September 2021.
• Over the 11 year period from 2010 to 2021, four areas (Lothian, Greater Glasgow, Fife and Forth Valley) have seen rent increases above the level of CPI inflation.
• Over the same period, 14 areas have seen increases below the level of CPI inflation, with average rents in Aberdeen and Shire just 1% higher in 2021 compared to 2010.
• These regional trends combine to show an estimated 25.1% cumulative increase for average 2 bedroom properties in Scotland between 2010 and 2021, reaching £693 in 2021.

The changes in average rents for 2 bedroom properties between 2020 to 2021, and 2010 to 2021, are illustrated in the maps in Figure A and Figure B, respectively.

Figure A shows that when looking at the 2 bedroom property size category between 2020 and 2021, that average rents have increased above CPI inflation of 1.5% in Ayrshires (6.8%), Dundee and Angus (3.4%), East Dunbartonshire (2.3%), Fife (5.2%), Forth Valley (4.6%), North Lanarkshire (2.7%), Perth and Kinross (2.9%), Scottish Borders (3.0%), South Lanarkshire (3.0%), and West Dunbartonshire (7.1%).

Average rents have increased by more than 0.5% but by less than CPI of 1.5% in Argyll and Bute (0.9%), Highland and Islands (0.8%), Renfrewshire / Inverclyde (1.0%) and West Lothian (0.9%), whilst average rents have shown little change (within +/-0.5%) in Aberdeen and Shire (0.0%), Dumfries and Galloway (0.1%) and Greater Glasgow (0.3%), and the average rent has fallen by more than 0.5% in Lothian (-2.9%).

Figure B shows that when looking at the 2 bedroom property size category between 2010 and 2021, that average rents have increased above CPI inflation of 24.3% in Fife (32.8%), Forth Valley (30.3%), Greater Glasgow (41.4%) and Lothian (41.7%).

Average rents have increased by more than 20% but below CPI inflation of 24.3% in Dundee and Angus (20.7%), East Dunbartonshire (24.0%), Highland and Islands (21.6%) and West Lothian (21.8%). Average rents have increased by more than 10% but less than 20% in Argyll and Bute (15.8%), North Lanarkshire (13.7%), Perth and Kinross (16.5%), Scottish Borders (17.0%) and South Lanarkshire (15.7%), whilst average rents have increased by less than 10% in Aberdeen and Shire (1.0%), Ayrshires (7.8%), Dumfries and Galloway (9.5%), Renfrewshire / Inverclyde (9.5%) and West Dunbartonshire (9.2%).