Private Sector Rent Statistics, Scotland, 2010 to 2024

Note that figures are based predominantly on advertised rents.

Main findings for average rent changes in the latest year (2023 to 2024):

• 2 bedroom properties are the most common privately rented property in Scotland. Average 2 bedroom properties rents in Scotland rose by 6.2% in the year to end September 2024 to reach £893 per month, up £52 per month compared with the previous year.
• Lothian had the highest average monthly 2 bedroom rents (£1,358) in the latest year to end September 2024.  Dumfries and Galloway had the lowest (£505).
• Average 2 bedroom property rent changes exceeded the 12 month UK CPI inflation rate (3.0%) in 17 out of 18 Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMAs).  Highest changes were in Lothian (+14.0%) and West Lothian (+12.2%).  Lowest changes were in Greater Glasgow (-2.4%) and Dumfries and Galloway (+3.7%). This 2.4% decrease in Greater Glasgow followed a 22.3% increase in 2023.
• Monthly Scottish average rents grew for all property sizes in the latest year:
  • +9.6% or +£62 for 1-bedroom properties, reaching £710 per month.
  • +6.2% or +£52 for 2-bedroom properties, reaching £893 per month.  
  • +10.7% or +£110 for 3-bedroom properties, reaching £1,136 per month.
  • +8.3% or +£137 for 4-bedroom properties, reaching £1,793 per month.
  • +8.3% or +£41 for 1 bedroom shared properties, reaching £530 per month.

Main findings for cumulative average rent changes between 2010 and 2024:

• 6 BRMAs saw average rent increases above the rate of inflation between 2010 and 2024 (50.0%) for all property sizes.  These were Dundee and Angus, East Dunbartonshire, Fife, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow and Lothian. 
• Every BRMA has at least one property size where the increases in average rents have exceeded the rate of inflation between 2010 and 2024 (50.0%). 
• 4 bedroom property rents changes most commonly exceeded the 2010 and 2024 inflation rate (50.0%); only West Dunbartonshire’s (+48.6%) was lower. 

Note: Statistics in this publication are based predominantly on advertised rents.  Advertised rents are where a property becomes available to rent due to tenant turnover or when a property is new to market.  Existing tenancy rents, where the the property has been occupied for more than 12 months, are not reflected this publication.  This means the rent statistics presented here do not reflect the direct impact of rental restrictions arising from the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 and the Rent Adjudication (Temporary Modifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk) which only affect existing tenants.