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Publication - Statistics

Private Sector Rent Statistics, Scotland, 2010 to 2024

Published
26 November 2024
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Housing

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 2024.

Supporting documents

The results of the Scottish Household Survey provide official statistics on the size of private rented sector in Scotland.  The full results can be found here: Scottish Household Survey results - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The operation of the survey was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting published results for 2020 and 2021.  Chart 13 below illustrates long term trends in the estimated size of the Scottish private rented sector.  Since 1999, it has grown from 120,000 to 320,000 in 2022.  The Scottish Household Survey publication tables noted there is evidence to suggest the 2022 sample under-represented social rented and private rented households.  The estimated size of the PRS sector fell between 2019 and 2022 from 340,000 to 320,000 should therefore be treated with caution. 

Chart 17 - Scottish Household Survey estimates of household tenure by year, 1999 to 2022: Estimated numbers of households (note this chart excludes a small proportion of "other" tenure households)

Note: Data for 2020 and 2021 were excluded from this chart due to survey quality issues arising from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Scottish Landlord Register provides the number of registered properties.  This is an additional source of evidence on the size of the PRS sector in Scotland.  The number of properties is published monthly here: Housing statistics: Scottish Landlord Register data - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The data up to September 2024 shows 350,129 properties are registered on the Scottish Landlord Registration System up from 339,525 in January 2022.  There are some limitations of this data source, such as the fact that registrations last for a period of three years and there could be a time lag in landlords de-registering properties which are no longer available for rent. Also in the case of any landlords looking to leave the sector or reduce their portfolio, it should also be recognised that the process could take several months from freeing up properties to completing sales.

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