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.


7. Main Findings for 1 Bedroom Shared Properties

Note that some areas have a relatively low number of 1 bedroom shared property records recorded, and therefore some caution is needed when interpreting the findings given that the averages presented can be based on a small number of underlying records.

In the year to end September 2021, average 1 bedroom shared rents increased above the average 12 month UK CPI inflation rate of 1.5% in 8 out of 18 areas, with the largest increases being in East Dunbartonshire (22.4%) and Argyll and Bute (13.5%).

Two areas saw little change (within +/-0.5%) in average rents compared with the previous year, including Aberdeen and Shire, and Highland and Islands.

Average rents decreased by more than 0.5% in eight areas, ranging from a drop of 0.6% in Dundee and Angus to a decrease of 7.7% in Perth and Kinross.

Average rents for 1 bedroom shared properties at the Scotland level have decreased by an estimated 0.4% between 2020 and 2021, to reach £398 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 1 bedroom shared 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, nine areas have seen rent increases above the level of CPI inflation, ranging from an increase of 25.3% in Dundee and Angus up to 47.0% in Lothian.

These cumulative increases equate to a range of annualised growth rates between 2.1% in Dundee and Angus up to 3.6% in Lothian, when calculated on a compound annual increase basis between 2010 and 2021.

For the remaining nine areas of Scotland, cumulative increases have been below CPI inflation, and have ranged from 9.9% in Aberdeen and Shire to 23.6% in West Dunbartonshire.

These regional trends combine to show an estimated 30.4% cumulative increase for 1 bedroom shared properties between 2010 and 2021 (equating to an annualised growth rate of 2.4%), to reach £398 in 2021. See Table 5 and Chart 10 below.

Table 5: 1 Bedroom Shared 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 320 460 470 47.0% 2.2%
East Dunbartonshire 300 356 436 45.3% 22.4%
Fife 271 388 361 33.5% -6.9%
Highland and Islands 287 381 382 32.9% 0.2%
Scotland* 305 400 398 30.4% -0.4%
South Lanarkshire 309 362 401 29.8% 10.9%
Forth Valley 276 373 357 29.5% -4.3%
Ayrshires 302 358 384 27.1% 7.3%
Greater Glasgow 313 410 395 26.3% -3.5%
Dundee and Angus 263 331 329 25.3% -0.6%
West Dunbartonshire 289 347 357 23.6% 3.0%
Scottish Borders 256 330 314 22.8% -5.0%
Perth and Kinross 262 347 320 22.4% -7.7%
Argyll and Bute 316 336 381 20.8% 13.5%
West Lothian 279 340 334 20.0% -1.7%
Dumfries and Galloway 278 307 332 19.6% 8.4%
North Lanarkshire 297 320 342 15.1% 6.9%
Renfrewshire / Inverclyde 296 357 332 11.9% -7.0%
Aberdeen and Shire 328 360 361 9.9% 0.2%

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 10: Lothian and East Dunbartonshire have seen the largest cumulative % rises in average 1 bedroom shared rents between 2010 and 2021
Cumulative % Change in Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2021 (years to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1 bedroom shared 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 1 bedroom shared properties across Scotland (£470). Areas with the lowest average rents for 1 bedroom shared properties included Perth and Kinross (£320) and Scottish Borders (£314). See Chart 11 below.

Chart 11: In 2021, Lothian had the highest average monthly 1 bedroom shared rent (£470), with Scottish Borders having the lowest (£314)
Average (mean) Monthly Rents 2021 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 1-Bedroom Shared 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

Back to top