Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2021

This publication presents statistics on average private sector rent levels in Scotland by Broad Rental Market Area and size of property, for the years 2010 to 2021.


5. Main Findings for 3 Bedroom Properties

In the year to end September 2021, average 3 bedroom rents increased above the average 12 month UK CPI inflation rate of 1.5% in 9 out of 18 areas, with the highest increasing being seen in Fife (8.4%), Scottish Borders (5.1%), and East Dunbartonshire (4.2%). A further two areas saw increases in average rents but below CPI, including Forth Valley (0.6%) and Highland and Islands (1.4%).

Two areas saw little change (within +/-0.5%) in average rents compared with the previous year, including Dumfries and Galloway and West Dunbartonshire.

Average rents decreased by more than 0.5% in Greater Glasgow (-1.2%), Aberdeen and Shire (-2.1%), Renfrewshire / Inverclyde (-2.5%), Lothian (-3.2%) and Argyll and Bute (-11.0%).

Average rents for 3 bedroom properties at the Scotland level showed no change (0.0%) between 2020 and 2021, remaining at £843 in 2021, which compares to an average increase in UK CPI of 1.5% across the year to September 2021.

Figures on longer term changes to rents for 3 bedroom properties over the period from 2010 to 2021 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in UK CPI 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, eight areas have seen rent increases above the level of CPI inflation, ranging from an increase of 26.9% in West Lothian up to 41.8% in Lothian.

These cumulative increases equate to a range of annualised growth rates between 2.2% in West Lothian to 3.2% in Lothian, when calculated on a compound annual increase basis between 2010 and 2021.

For the remaining ten areas of Scotland, cumulative increases have been below CPI inflation, and have ranged from 3.4% in Argyll and Bute up to 24.0% in Highland and Islands.

These regional trends combine to show an estimated 25.3% cumulative increase for 3 bedroom properties between 2010 and 2021 (equating to an annualised growth rate of 2.1%), to £844 in 2021. See Table 3 and Chart 6 below.

Table 3: 3 Bedroom Properties - Average (mean) monthly rents (£): Cumulative changes 2010 to 2021, by Broad Rental Market Area
2010 2020 2021 2010 to 2021 change 2020 to 2021 change
Lothian 918 1,344 1,301 41.8% -3.2%
Forth Valley 643 893 899 39.9% 0.6%
Greater Glasgow 728 1,028 1,016 39.5% -1.2%
Fife 563 718 778 38.2% 8.4%
East Dunbartonshire 750 976 1,017 35.6% 4.2%
Scottish Borders 515 630 663 28.7% 5.1%
Dundee and Angus 633 783 809 27.9% 3.4%
West Lothian 616 764 781 26.9% 2.3%
Scotland* 674 844 844 25.3% 0.0%
Highland and Islands 595 727 737 24.0% 1.4%
Perth and Kinross 647 762 777 20.0% 2.0%
South Lanarkshire 627 710 732 16.8% 3.1%
Aberdeen and Shire 744 886 867 16.6% -2.1%
West Dunbartonshire 591 674 672 13.6% -0.4%
Dumfries and Galloway 500 547 547 9.5% -0.1%
North Lanarkshire 549 585 600 9.4% 2.5%
Ayrshires 556 597 608 9.3% 1.8%
Renfrewshire / Inverclyde 612 658 642 4.9% -2.5%
Argyll and Bute 638 741 659 3.4% -11.0%

See Reference Tables (Tables 7 to 17) for a more detailed breakdown of quartile and average rents for each year.

* Note that the Scotland figures have been calculated using a weighted stock approach. See Section 8 for further details.

Chart 6: Lothian, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow, Fife and East Dunbartonshire have seen the largest cumulative % rises in average 3 bedroom rents between 2010 and 2021
Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2021 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 3-Bedroom Properties

*Note that the Scotland figures have been calculated using a weighted stock approach. See Section 8 for further details.

In the year to end September 2021, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 3 bedroom properties across Scotland (£1,301). Areas with the lowest average rents for 3 bedroom properties included the Ayrshires (£608), North Lanarkshire (£600) and Dumfries and Galloway (£547). See Chart 7 below.

Chart 7: In 2021, Lothian had the highest average monthly 2 bedroom rent (£1,301), with Dumfries and Galloway having the lowest (£547)
Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2021 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area -  3-Bedroom Properties

*Note that the Scotland figures have been calculated using a weighted stock approach. See Section 8 for further details.

Contact

Email: housingstatistics@gov.scot

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