Scottish letting agents give us their views on their local market.
“Aberdeen’s sales market remains challenging, with a substantial volume of properties competing for a limited pool of active buyers. Even well-presented homes can take longer to secure a sale, and sellers are increasingly having to be realistic about both pricing and timescales. By contrast, the city’s rental market continues to perform strongly, with healthy demand across a range of property types and tenants often willing to move quickly for homes that are well maintained and realistically priced. For owners whose sale is not progressing as hoped, letting can provide an attractive alternative while retaining the option to sell at a later stage.”
“The PRS is, as ever at this time of year, very buoyant, with demand exceeding supply for quality, well-presented accommodation in popular locations. Southside demand is high as tenants are squeezed out of the West End on affordability. As we prepare for the introduction of Awaab’s Law in Scotland, GPL have been getting systems in place to monitor and deal with the situation. We are awaiting with bated breath what measures and guidance the Scottish Government will introduce in September to help with this. We’re also preparing for AI systems to improve efficiency across enquiries, referencing, repairs and compliance.”>
“The rental market is strong just now with lots of people moving. The time to let for properties is decreasing as tenant demand increases which is fairly normal for this time of year. Tenants favour properties that are in good decorative order and in a good state of repair. The rents are down slightly from last year which might eliminate the need for future rent controls. Some landlords are still favouring selling their properties rather than remaining in the rental market with the forthcoming legislation changes.”
“The Leith rental market remained resilient throughout Q2 2026, with demand continuing to outstrip supply for well-presented properties in desirable locations. While applicant numbers have moderated from the exceptionally high levels seen in recent years, quality one and two-bedroom homes continue to attract strong interest and achieve swift lets. Tenants are becoming more discerning, with condition, energy efficiency and value for money playing an increasingly important role in decision-making. Supply remains constrained by limited new stock and ongoing landlord exits, supporting rental values across the area. Overall, Leith continues to be one of Edinburgh’s strongest and most competitive rental markets.”
“We are enjoying continued strong demand from qualified tenants who expect and rightly demand high standards of accommodation and service. It is clear tenants will pay good rent for compliant, well-presented properties and work harmoniously with the agent that responds, communicates, and actions any issues raised. Similarly, landlords want good service, peace of mind and a professional relationship with an agent, forming a partnership that will last the duration of the time they own the property. As our industry continues to be more credible and professional by the quarter it’s a win, win, win, for tenant, landlord and agent.”
“Tenant demand has been high as we approach the usual frenetic summer season, with Time to Let (TTL) often less than 10 days for the better presented properties. As ever, landlords who have invested in regular maintenance throughout their stewardship of their property see the benefit and are achieving the stronger rental figures. Tenant enquires and new instructions continue to perform well.”
“The Edinburgh rental market is now more stable and we’re no longer seeing those aggressive price hikes that defined the last few years. Even with that cooling, the market remains active and competitive, with a shorter time-to-let recorded in the last quarter. Most of the demand is still coming from people looking for one and two-bedroom homes, while interest in larger, more expensive properties has started to soften. Moving forward, the quality will remain a factor, with well-presented, mid-market properties expected to perform the best in terms of time to let.”
“Tenant change overs have slowed a little into Q2 again, matching last year’s trend, with a steadier level of natural movement being evident. TTLs have reduced in keeping with the same period pattern from 2025. The market is showing a continued levelling off in terms of property rental prices, although still an increase from last year. Demand for property remains high mid-market where the prices are set fairly. Strategic exit planning with our clients where that becomes necessary for them, continues for a small portion of people and that is freeing stock for the investor market to take the baton and take the properties to the next step.”
“The rental market in Stirling is still very active, with tenant demand continuing to exceed the supply of available properties. Strong demand combined with limited housing stock, has created a highly competitive environment. Well-presented properties are often let quickly, with multiple applications received shortly after coming to market. In some cases we market a property for only a day before being fully booked for viewings. Looking ahead, market conditions are expected to remain favourable for landlords, with continued rental growth anticipated unless the supply of available homes increases significantly.”
“The Edinburgh rental market continues to perform well although it is showing clear signs of cooling from the overheated conditions we experienced post-Covid. Supply remains somewhat constrained which should continue to support rents however, enquiry levels have eased and time to let figures have climbed. This cooling should be viewed as a return to a more normal and stable market, rather than a sign of weakness. After a number of years of exceptional rental inflation, Edinburgh appears to be moving into a more sustainable phase with rents stabilising while underlying demand remains resilient. The city therefore continues to offer a compelling environment for investment supported by strong fundamentals, limited supply and its enduring appeal as a place to live, work and study.”
“Demand is high for well presented, modern energy efficient properties of all sizes and prospective tenants are willing to pay a premium to secure such properties. Key areas with high demand are prominently Inverurie, Ellon and Banchory with increased enquiries building for Peterhead mainly due the variety of employment opportunities arising within the town. There are encouraging signs of new landlords entering the private rental sector either through renting out their own homes due to a variety of personal reasons or exploring buy to let investments.”
“Q2 has been another positive quarter for the Edinburgh rental market, with demand for well-presented properties continuing to outstrip supply in many areas. Strong tenant demand, particularly from students and young professionals has helped support healthy rental values and low void periods. The student market bounced back this year after a mixed 2025. Market activity has remained resilient despite wider economic uncertainty, with landlords benefiting from sustained occupancy levels and ongoing interest from prospective tenants. Looking ahead, the fundamentals of the market remain encouraging. Limited housing supply, continued population growth, and strong demand for quality rental accommodation are expected to support a stable and active lettings market throughout the remainder of the year.”
“Q2 began slightly slower than expected, with a higher number of properties available across the Edinburgh rental market. However, demand quickly picked up throughout May and returned to anticipated levels. Rental values have remained stable, highlighting the importance of presenting properties in their best possible condition to attract strong tenant interest. In addition, the Renters’ Rights changes came into effect during the quarter. While these introduce some adjustments for landlords and tenants, they are generally viewed as fair and reasonable measures.”
“The Edinburgh rental market remains competitive, although we’re seeing tenants become increasingly considered in their decisions. Well-presented properties in desirable locations continue to attract strong interest, but renters are understandably placing greater emphasis on value, condition, and overall quality. From a landlord perspective, rising costs and an increasingly complex regulatory environment continue to shape decision-making. Despite these pressures, demand for good-quality rental homes remains resilient. Our experience this quarter reinforces that realistic pricing, strong presentation, and responsive management are increasingly important in securing good tenants and maintaining successful, long-term tenancies.”
“The Renfrewshire rental market remains very active with consistent tenant demand across most property types. We are still seeing strong interest in one and two bedroom properties, particularly in Paisley and commuter friendly areas, where affordability continues to attract tenants priced out of Glasgow. Well-presented homes are letting quickly and often attract multiple enquiries, although the intensity of competition has eased slightly compared to last year. Supply remains limited across the area, helping to sustain rental values and keep void periods low.”
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