Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2017
This publication presents statistics on private sector rent levels in Scotland over the years 2010 to 2017.
Main Findings for 2 Bedroom Properties
From 2016 to 2017, 15 out of 18 areas have seen increases in rent for 2 bedroom properties. These ranged from 0.7% in the Ayrshires to 6.9% in Lothian and 7.0% in Greater Glasgow. The areas which showed decreases in average rents for 2 bedroom properties between 2016 and 2017 were Aberdeen and Shire (-9.6%), Argyll and Bute (-1.7%) and West Dunbartonshire (-0.5%). This is the third consecutive annual decrease for Aberdeen and Shire, which is likely to reflect decreased demand for rental properties following the downturn in the oil industry. See Chart 4 and Table 2 below.
These regional trends combine to show an increase of 4.4% in average rents between 2016 and 2017 for 2 bedroom properties, at the Scotland level, from £616 to £643. This compares to an increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 3.0% in the year to Sept-17.
Over the 7 year period from 2010 to 2017, the Lothian area of the country has seen the highest increase in private rents for 2 bedroom properties, with average monthly rents rising from £665 per month to £888, or 33.7% (cumulative increase over 7 years). Average rents in the Greater Glasgow area have risen by a cumulative 32.1% over the last 7 years (from £564 to £745).
For the remaining areas of Scotland, cumulative increases over the last 7 years have ranged from 0.7% in West Dunbartonshire to 14.9% in Fife.
These regional trends combine to show a 19.9% cumulative increase in average rents from 2010 to 2017 for 2 bedroom properties at the Scotland level, from £536 to £643.
Figures on changes to rents over the period from 2010 to 2017 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 15.9% from Sept-10 to Sept-17. Over the 7 year period, average rents for 2 bedroom properties in the Lothian and Greater Glasgow areas have risen faster than the consumer price index, whilst changes in average rents for 2 bedroom properties in other areas of the country have been below the rise in the consumer price index.
Chart 4: Cumulative % Change In Average (mean) Rents from 2010 to 2017 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 2-Bedroom Properties
Table 2: 2 Bedroom Properties - Average (mean) Monthly Rents (£): Cumulative Changes 2010 to 2017, by Broad Rental Market Area
| 2010 | 2016 | 2017 | 2010 to 2017 change | 2016 to 2017 change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lothian | 665 | 831 | 888 | 33.7% | 6.9% |
| Greater Glasgow | 564 | 696 | 745 | 32.1% | 7.0% |
| Scotland | 536 | 616 | 643 | 19.9% | 4.4% |
| Fife | 464 | 511 | 533 | 14.9% | 4.4% |
| Forth Valley | 492 | 530 | 563 | 14.2% | 6.2% |
| Highland and Islands | 503 | 561 | 575 | 14.2% | 2.5% |
| West Lothian | 527 | 578 | 599 | 13.5% | 3.6% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 581 | 636 | 653 | 12.4% | 2.8% |
| Dundee and Angus | 497 | 546 | 555 | 11.6% | 1.6% |
| Perth and Kinross | 506 | 540 | 549 | 8.4% | 1.7% |
| South Lanarkshire | 481 | 500 | 520 | 8.2% | 4.0% |
| Renfrewshire / Inverclyde | 473 | 494 | 508 | 7.3% | 2.8% |
| Aberdeen and Shire | 643 | 754 | 682 | 6.1% | -9.6% |
| North Lanarkshire | 455 | 476 | 480 | 5.6% | 0.9% |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 435 | 447 | 453 | 4.2% | 1.5% |
| Scottish Borders | 442 | 452 | 459 | 3.9% | 1.4% |
| Argyll and Bute | 503 | 525 | 516 | 2.6% | -1.7% |
| West Dunbartonshire | 492 | 498 | 496 | 0.7% | -0.5% |
| Ayrshires | 464 | 463 | 467 | 0.5% | 0.7% |
See Reference Tables ( Tables 7 to 14) for a more detailed breakdown of quartile and average rents for each year.
For the year to end-September 2017, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 2 bedroom properties across Scotland (£888). Other areas with higher rents included Greater Glasgow (£745), and Aberdeen and Shire (£682). Areas with the lowest average rents for 2 bedroom properties were Dumfries and Galloway (£453) and Scottish Borders (£459). See Chart 5 below.
Chart 5: Average (mean) Monthly Rents from 2017 (year to end-Sept), by Broad Rental Market Area - 2-Bedroom Properties
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