New Statistics on Private Tenancies in Highlands and Islands Show Urgent Need for Rent Controls

Official statistics published today by the Scottish Government show that rents across Scotland consistently outstripped inflation for all property types since 2010, with an alarming increase over the past year.

In the Highlands and Islands, tenants in one-bedroom shared properties have seen rents go up by an average of 67% since 2010, a full third above the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure for the same period. 

In 2023 to 2024 alone, the increase was 7%, over double the CPI figure.

Renters at the opposite end of the housing spectrum were also affected: those in four-bedroom properties in the Highlands and Islands faced an eye-watering 11.3% average 2023-24 rise in their tenancies. 

This was significantly above the Scottish average (8.3%), and the fourth-highest year-on-year rise amongst areas in Scotland for which full sample sizes were attained.

Rent controls currently put forward in the Housing (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report would limit annual rent increases to CPI+1%, which would have resulted in a 4% cap in 2023-24. 

Under these proposals, annual rent rises would be held to a maximum increase of 6%.

Commenting, SNP MSP Emma Roddick said:

“If any further proof were necessary, the statistics published today show why rent controls, as proposed in the Scottish Government’s Housing Bill, are urgently needed. 

“Recent polling shows that implementing rent controls would prove extremely popular, with 82% of Scots supporting them: these statistics illustrate the obvious reasons behind that support.

“Even in the midst of a cost of living crisis, rents across Scotland have continued to rise well in excess of inflation, and in several areas at three or four times CPI. 

“Without rent controls in place, there is nothing to prevent such sharp increases in cost for tenants across the country.

“Whilst acknowledging the small size of the private rented sector in areas like Shetland, there can be no excuse for unfair price rises. 

“Rent controls are needed to protect those in the Highlands and Islands already struggling with the soaring, unchecked costs of private tenancies.”