The Trust’s latest representative survey of tenants across Scotland found that 29% struggled to pay their monthly rent in the past year, a slight improvement on 32% in 2024, but still affecting many thousands of households across the country. In contrast, 35% said it was easy to afford their rent.

Financial pressure is also forcing many tenants to make difficult trade-offs. Almost half of all tenants (47%) said they regularly cut back on household essentials such as food, heating, and clothing in order to pay their rent, whilst 34% found it difficult to afford their energy bills.

While a majority (59%) did not experience a rent increase in the past 12 months, four in ten tenants did, rising to almost half in Edinburgh and Glasgow, underlining continued cost pressures in parts of the country.

The survey also highlights the difficulties tenants face when accessing housing. Nearly three quarters (73%) said they faced significant challenges when searching for a property, consistent with last year’s findings.

Two in five (40%) of all tenants, and nearly half of those who had moved in the past 12 months, said finding an affordable property was the single biggest barrier when looking for somewhere to rent.

Despite these pressures, most tenants report feeling secure and satisfied in their homes, with 76% saying they feel secure and 71% saying they feel satisfied as tenants. The proportion reporting they feel dissatisfied has fallen slightly from 12% in 2024 to 10%.

Dr Jennifer Harris, head of policy at the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust, said: “This research shows that affordability pressures in Scotland’s private rented sector remain real and persistent. While there has been a slight improvement compared to last year, nearly one in three tenants struggling to pay their rent is not a marginal issue, it is a structural challenge for Scotland’s housing system.

“Many renters are making difficult trade-offs, cutting back on essentials simply to keep a roof over their heads. But the answer to improving affordability is not simple or one-dimensional. It requires a balanced and evidence-led approach.

“That means looking carefully at levels of housing supply, considering what more can be done to support tenant incomes, and addressing the wider economic and cost pressures that are driving rent increases in the first place. Focusing on any single lever in isolation risks overlooking the complexity of the sector.

“At the same time, it is important to recognise that most tenants feel secure and satisfied in their homes. The challenge for policymakers, particularly as parties set out their priorities for the next Scottish Parliament, is how to strengthen affordability and access without undermining stability in the sector.”