Annual rents across Scotland decreased by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest Citylets figures. The country's three largest cities experienced minimal movement in rent levels compared to a year earlier, as supply and demand reportedly became more closely balanced.
This period of market calm precedes the first market assessments by local authorities, which are due to be carried out ahead of the May 2027 deadline for rent controls. Citylets suggested that a subdued economic outlook could contribute to these trends continuing through the remainder of 2026 and into next year.
Thomas Ashdown, managing director of Citylets, stated that this sustained calm would be welcomed by both landlords and tenants. He added that market assessments should reflect around two years of minimal to negative growth in data for Scotland's largest markets, following the return to full free market status in April 2025.
Karen Turner, a director at Rettie & Co, noted that the Scottish rental market is showing signs of returning to a more balanced position. She attributed this to increased supply and greater regulatory clarity, despite continued strong tenant demand in many areas.