New figures reveals rising costs for Scotland private tenants

The statistics, covering the period from 2010 to September 2025, highlight long-term growth well above inflation in several areas, sparking sharp criticism from tenant campaigners.

The latest data shows mixed trends across property sizes:

• 1-bedroom properties: up 4.0% (+£28), averaging £738 per month
• 2-bedroom properties: up 3.1% (+£28), averaging £921 per month
• 3-bedroom properties: up 1.6% (+£18), averaging £1,154 per month
• 4-bedroom properties: down 1.5% (-£26), averaging £1,767 per month
• 1-bedroom shared properties: up 5.5% (+£29), averaging £560 per month

Two-bedroom homes, the most common rental size, saw increases in 16 out of 18 Broad Rental Market Areas. In 12 of those areas, rent growth outpaced the UK’s average inflation rate of 3.1%. Dumfries and Galloway recorded the sharpest rise at 13% (+£64), while Dundee and Angus (-5.3%) and Lothian (-0.1%) bucked the trend with slight declines.

Lothian remains Scotland’s most expensive region for two-bedroom properties, averaging £1,356 per month, compared with just £569 in Dumfries and Galloway.

Since 2010, four areas have seen average rent increases at or above the average rate of inflation for all property sizes (54.7%). These were Dundee and Angus, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow and Lothian. For 2-bedroom properties, 9 out of 18 areas saw property rent increases by more than the 2010 and 2025 inflation rate (54.7%). All areas saw 4-bedroom property rent increases at or above the 2010 and 2025 inflation rate (54.7%).

The figures prompted a fierce reaction from Living Rent, Scotland’s tenants’ union.

National campaigns chair Ruth Gilbert accused landlords of profiteering at the expense of tenants: “Landlords’ greed has crippled our ability to afford our homes. Over the last fifteen years, landlords have pushed rents as high as double the rate of inflation in some places, draining tenants when they have nothing left to give.”

Ms Gilbert criticised government exemptions to rent controls, arguing they undermined protections for tenants: “The exemptions to rent controls show that this government can’t be trusted to protect the interests of tenants. We need to fight to bring rents down.”

She highlighted Greater Glasgow and Edinburgh as areas where rent increases have far outstripped inflation, leaving wages unable to keep pace.