Scottish letting agents give us their views on their local market.
“After a false start thanks to prolonged snowfall and inclement weather, the 2026 rental year has certainly started positively. Spring has brought with it the usual period of tenants vacating as university courses are close to completion, but new tenancies are keeping the market moving nicely. As ever, poor quality stock is slower to move but well-presented, sensibly priced properties are quick to be snapped up with Time to Let (TTL) for these properties frequently less than a week.”
“Q1 was very mixed. Superb, reasonably priced properties remained on the market longer than usual, and several prospective tenancies fell through due to tenants reserving more than one property at a time. We were, however, delighted to welcome several new landlords, bringing high-quality yet affordable properties to the market. We also noted some reductions in rental prices. While this is typically a quieter time of year, activity was further impacted by rising fuel costs, food prices, and council tax increases.”
“Tenant leads increased marginally in Q1 2026 when compared with Q4 2025. Overall, there has been an increase in average rent in the last 12 months. There has also been a renewed interest by investors from the Central Belt and England. All this could be a good indication of how active the letting market is going to be in Aberdeen in 2026. With the global economy under threat due to high oil and gas prices, Aberdeen’s mature oil and gas industry is very likely to play a key part in giving the British economy the energy resilience that it needs. This, in turn, will support the property market in the Granite City.”
“Rental growth in Edinburgh has stabilised and the market remains firmly landlord-favoured. Tenant demand continues to be structurally strong, driven by international students, young professionals, and the ongoing shortage of available housing across the city. While tenants now have slightly more negotiating power than in recent years, demand continues to outstrip supply, meaning well-presented properties are still letting quickly and achieving strong rental values. Tenant expectations are also evolving, with quality playing a more important role in decision-making. Properties with higher EPC ratings, modern interiors and a high standard of maintenance are increasingly prioritised by prospective tenants.”
“The Edinburgh letting market has slowed down a little with rents reducing slightly and time to let increasing. Stock levels have returned to normal, so there are many properties available for rent now giving tenants more choice. Landlords should exercise caution with rent increases at the moment, particularly as rising energy prices will put pressure on tenant’s affordability. Given the sharp increases in rent over the last couple of years, a slight market correction is normal and nothing to worry about for investors. In many cases the rents are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.”
“The Edinburgh letting market is beginning to soften, with a noticeable increase in available stock for tenants. After several years of acute supply–demand imbalance in the post Covid period, conditions have eased, creating a more balanced and sustainable environment. Tenants now have greater choice, and this shift is influencing the overall market dynamic. This does not indicate a weak market; rather, it reflects a natural period of adjustment. For landlords, it underscores the importance of strategic pricing and high quality presentation to remain competitive as the market adjusts.”
“The first quarter of 2026 started a little slower compared to the momentum at the end of last year for A Flat In Town. January and February were quiet, but March brought a noticeable lift in activity, making it one of our busiest months for some time. We’ve also had a clear increase in meetings with landlords reviewing their options, particularly due to the rising costs from the recent second home council tax changes. The landlords we have met are definitely feeling the pressure to make quick decisions. Thankfully for us, and the rental sector, they agree that letting out their properties, with our guidance and support, is the most practical and sustainable solution.”
“In the first months of 2026, we continue to see more landlords choosing to sell properties, reducing long-term rental supply while tenant demand remains strong. A growing proportion of enquiries are from tenants served Notice to Leave due to landlords exiting the sector, which many attribute to ongoing regulatory changes, including proposals within the Housing (Scotland) Bill. With limited new supply coming to market, competition for available homes in Leith remains high, with particularly high demand remaining for 1 & 2 bed furnished properties, whilst we see a lesser demand for unfurnished and larger rentals. Current conditions suggest rents are likely to remain under upward pressure through 2026.”
“The rental market in Stirling has remained steady, with consistent demand for properties that are priced correctly and presented well. For investors, Stirling and Falkirk continue to provide relatively short letting times for well-located properties, particularly one and two-bedroom flats, with yields remaining attractive compared with many similar Scottish markets. Demand is currently outpacing supply, which is helping to support stable rental values. Students form a key part of the Stirling market and, with ongoing restrictions on the number of HMO licences available, the supply of suitable student accommodation remains limited. As a result, demand for student-friendly properties is expected to be strong over the coming months.”
“Q1 2026 has delivered a steady start for Edinburgh’s rental market across our managed portfolio, with demand remaining consistently strong for well presented 1–2 bed homes and HMO stock. TTL remains low, though tenants are increasingly value driven, prioritising energy efficiency and quality finishes. Supply has improved marginally, helped by a small return of properties from the short let sector, yet overall availability remains tight enough to support firm rental values. Affordability pressures continue to moderate tenant movement, especially in the professional sector, but underlying fundamentals remain sound. Student demand is already building ahead of the summer cycle, reinforcing the city’s structural undersupply. Overall, the market feels stable, resilient, and broadly aligned with pre-pandemic seasonal patterns.”
“Edinburgh’s rental market remained highly competitive through Q1 2026, with demand continuing to outpace available supply across much of the city. Well-presented one and two-bedroom properties in central neighbourhoods are letting particularly quickly, often attracting strong levels of tenant interest shortly after marketing. While rental growth has steadied compared to the rapid increases seen in previous years, achievable rents remain firm. From our perspective, landlords who maintain properties to a high standard and price sensibly continue to secure quality tenants with minimal void periods. Overall, the Edinburgh market remains resilient despite ongoing regulatory pressures.”
“Edinburgh’s rental market has remained resilient in Q1 2026, with demand continuing to exceed supply across much of the city despite a more stable rental growth environment compared to recent years. Well-presented properties in central locations are still letting quickly, particularly to professional tenants and those relocating to the city. With supply remaining constrained, landlords are increasingly looking at ways to maximise returns from existing assets. In Edinburgh this includes growing interest in corporate and festival accommodation, particularly for larger HMO properties during the summer months. At iERO we are seeing strong demand in this area, providing landlords with an opportunity to enhance returns while maintaining long-term tenancies.”
“The first quarter of the year has been broadly steady in Aberdeen, with little material change compared with the previous quarter. Competition between letting agents remains high and levels of new organic business continue to be relatively subdued. Ongoing global uncertainty continues to place pressure on governments and wider markets. Locally, Aberdeen’s corporate rental market remains somewhat sluggish, reflecting the continued challenges facing the oil and gas sector. Following the recent meeting with the Chancellor, where it was indicated that the Energy Profits Levy may be brought to an end next year, there is cautious optimism that this could offer some relief to the industry. Any positive movement within the energy sector would likely feed through to the local rental market.”
“The start of the year has been very busy with lots of notices and properties coming onto the market. We have also been busy with new landlords entering the market and investors looking to increase portfolios but long standing ‘accidental landlords’ continue to realise their investments and leave the PRS. Affordability is pushing rents down, particularly for one bedroom properties and going forward, landlords may need to consider accepting lower rents as energy and inflation are set to rise, but with no interest rate drop on the horizon, this will squeeze ROI for all.”
“Quarter 1 began relatively slowly, largely due to the adverse weather experienced at the beginning of January. However, there are encouraging signs that the Aberdeenshire lettings market is regaining momentum. Demand remains particularly strong for two and three bedroom properties under £1,200, especially within the main commuter towns and villages serving Aberdeen. We are also seeing a healthy level of enquiries from prospective new landlords and investors looking to enter the Aberdeenshire rental market. This should hopefully convert into new instructions in Q2 and help maintain a steady supply of new properties coming to market across the Shire.”
“We are about to head into our historically busier period, during the brighter and warmer months, and I expect a thriving summer ahead. Though we leave behind a relatively sluggish turn of the year, with properties taking longer to let and with modest rent levels. Evidently, the Edinburgh rental market is returning to a noticeable seasonality pattern. Rent levels do remain as strong as ever, despite wider general political and economic uncertainties, but the growth over the last year or two has cooled. Supply levels are healthy and the best presented, modernised and well maintained properties rent the fastest, at the strongest rent levels.”
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