Strait Talking
Scotland’s private rented sector entered 2026 with a surprising sense of calm. Despite global turbulence and economic uncertainty, the latest Citylets Q1 2026 Report shows a market holding steady, with rents largely flat across major cities and Time to Let (TTL) metrics signalling a balanced relationship between supply and demand. After years of rapid growth, the sector appears to be catching its breath, telling us a lot about where the market may be heading next.
Key Highlights
- National average rent dips slightly for the first time since 2017, down 0.4% year-on-year.
- Edinburgh and Glasgow show near-zero annual change, signalling stabilisation in Scotland’s largest rental markets.
- TTL remains tight, with the average property letting in 35 days, and many in under a month.
- 1 and 2-bedroom properties still lead rental growth, posting modest increases of 0.7–0.8% YoY.
- Larger properties soften, with 3 and 4-bedroom homes recording small annual declines.
- Long-term growth remains strong, with five and 10 year rent increases still above 40–50% across most property sizes.
- Market sentiment steady, with continued landlord churn but growing interest from portfolio investors.
Q1 in Aberdeen City and Shire
Northwood Branch Manager Scott Morrison said that at the start of the year, the lettings market across Aberdeen City and Shire had experienced ‘an unusual, but welcome’ flurry of move-ins due to high levels of enquiries in December, with February and March returning to more predictable numbers.
He said: “Asking prices in parts of Aberdeen have been reduced as landlords struggle to re-let at previous rental values despite good property standards. Aberdeenshire properties have continued to rent out well.
“Meanwhile, with the Housing Bill on the horizon, rents have continued to increase in occupied properties, bringing them more in line with current market values. Students are trying to beat the Q2 into Q3 rush making enquiries about summer availability; as such, we predict another busy summer with students continuing to prefer the PRS rather than PBSA.”
