Statistics on annual average private sector rents to the end of
September 2023 have been released today by Scotland’s Chief
Statistician.
These statistics are based predominantly on advertised rents, and
so reflect rents that landlords are charging when their
properties become available for rent at the point of tenant
turnover or when properties are new to the rental market. As such
these rents will not reflect the Cost of Living (Tenants
Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 rent cap restrictions from
September 2022, which only apply to existing tenants.
Average rents for 2 bedroom properties, the most common size of
property in the private rented sector, increased at a Scotland
level by 14.3% in the year to end September 2023, to reach an
average of £841 per month, up £105 per month compared with the
previous year.
Average 2 bedroom rents increased in all 18 Broad Rental Market
Areas of Scotland compared with the previous year. Increases in
11 of these areas were above the average 12 month UK CPI
inflation rate of 9.0%, ranging from 9.6% (or £59 per month) for
South Lanarkshire up to 22.3% (or £191 per month) in Greater
Glasgow. Whilst the lowest increases were seen in Dumfries and
Galloway (1.5% or £7 per month), West Lothian (2.3% or £16 per
month), Perth and Kinross (2.8% or £18 per month) and Highland
and Islands (3.0% or £19 per month).
In the latest year to end September 2023, Lothian had the highest
average monthly 2 bedroom rent (£1,192), with Dumfries and
Galloway having the lowest (£487).
Average rents increased at a Scotland level in the latest year
across all property size categories, with increases of:
- 11.7% or £68 per month for 1-bedroom properties, reaching
£648 per month
- 14.3% or £105 per month for 2-bedroom properties, reaching
£841 per month
- 13.3% or £121 per month for 3-bedroom properties, reaching
£1,026 per month
- 13.4% or £196 per month for 4-bedroom properties, reaching
£1,656 per month
- 15.1% or £64 per month for 1 bedroom shared properties,
reaching £490 per month.
Over the longer term since 2010, Lothian and Greater Glasgow have
seen increases in average rents above the rate of inflation
between 2010 and 2023 across all property sizes.
Dundee and Angus, East Dunbartonshire, Fife and Forth Valley have
seen increases in average rents above the rate of inflation for
all property sizes except 1 bedroom properties. Whilst Argyll and
Bute, the Ayrshires and Dumfries and Galloway have seen increases
in average rents of less than the rate of inflation across all
property sizes between 2010 and 2023.
Background
These statistics refer to the average 12 month UK Consumer Price
Index rate of inflation, which was 9.0% across the year to end
September 2023, and which has been 45.7% between the year to end
September 2010 and the year to end September 2023.
The full statistical
publication, based predominantly on advertised rent
data, includes main findings on rent levels for one bedroom, two
bedroom, three bedroom, four bedroom, and one bedroom shared
properties. It presents information on rent levels for these
property sizes across each of the 18 broad rental market areas in
Scotland and contains information on average rents as well as
rents at the higher and lower end of the market.
The publication uses data from the Rent Service Scotland market
evidence database, which is collected for the purposes of
determining annual Local Housing Allowance levels.
