Rent service Scotland rental letting data and mailshot letter: FOI release

Information requested

I am seeking some information/have a couple questions on:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/cost-of-living-rent-and-eviction/pages/illustrative-rent-increasecalculator/

This market evidence is sourced through a variety of means, including advertised rental information, private landlord and letting agent returns, and mailshot initiatives, although the majority of evidence is obtained from advertised rents.'

A copy of the afore mentioned mailshot initiative materials/letters mentioned above.

Confirmation that data of active rental contracts is included in the data set for Scot Govt's estimations of 'market rate' alongside data of those currently advertised and from other sources, or any documentation pertaining to what data sets/methodology is used.

As a 2nd separate request, I would ask for the data set from the mail shot initiative.

Response

I enclose a copy of the mailshot letter sent by Rent service Scotland to Local Authorities at Annex A.

The Landlord Registration System is an administrative system used to deliver on Scottish Ministers’ obligations to manage the registration of landlords and rental properties. The registration scheme is administered by the 32 Local Authorities in Scotland. As Rent Service Scotland are not administrators of the register, we are unable to carry out direct mailshots to landlords and letting agents and therefore ask for help from Local Authorities to mailshot landlords.

About Rent Service Scotland - gov.scot explains the collection of market evidence and invites landlords, letting agents and tenants to share rental lettings.

‘If you can help please complete the market evidence form and return it to Rent Service Scotland. If you prefer to use your own form or provide the information in another way, please do so. The collection, storage, use and disposal of lettings information is strictly controlled to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018.’

You asked if data of active rentals is included in the data set for the Scottish Governments estimates of market rate. The answer is yes, Rent Service Scotland has a requirement to collect rental letting data from a variety of sources to include advertised and transactional rents Rent Officer Handbook: Lettings Research - GOV.UK.

In the latest year to end September 2025, Private Sector Rent Statistics, Scotland, 2010 to 2025 - gov.scot The data collection methodology is published within this annual report. The majority of Rent Service Scotland’s Market Evidence records were based on advertised rents, with the remainder being based on transactional data received from letting agents or landlords. Note that a proportion of the transactional data received will also relate to recently advertised rents, where the records received relate to tenancies which have only been recently advertised or let.

You asked for the data set from the mail shot initiative. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for as Rent Service Scotland receives all responses to requests for market evidence via the email inbox and telephone number listed on the market evidence form and does not distinguish if the information was provided via a mailshot initiative or normal collection methods. The same form, email address and telephone number is used in mailshot materials used by Local Authorities in Private Rented Sector newsletters.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested on the dataset for mail shot initiatives.

You may find it helpful to refer to Broad Market Rental Area (BRMA) statistics: FOI release - gov.scot

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600522140 - Information Released - Annex A

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