"Many renters are making difficult trade-offs, cutting back on essentials simply to keep a roof over their heads. But the answer to improving affordability is not simple or one-dimensional. It requires a balanced and evidence-led approach"
- Dr Jennifer Harris - SafeDeposits Scotland
Almost one in three private renters in Scotland are struggling to afford their rent, according to new research from the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust.
The Trust's representative survey of tenants across Scotland found that 29% struggled to pay their monthly rent in the past year, a slight improvement on 32% in 2024, but still affecting many thousands of households. By contrast, 35% said it was easy to afford their rent.
Financial pressure is forcing many tenants into difficult trade-offs. Almost half (47%) regularly cut back on essentials such as food, heating, and clothing to pay their rent, while 34% struggled to afford their energy bills.
A majority (59%) did not experience a rent increase in the past 12 months, but four in ten tenants did, rising to almost half in Edinburgh and Glasgow, underlining continued cost pressures in parts of the country.
The survey also highlights difficulties tenants face when accessing housing. Nearly three quarters (73%) reported significant challenges when searching for a property, consistent with last year's findings. Two in five (40%) said finding an affordable property was the single biggest barrier to renting, rising to almost half among those who had moved in the past 12 months.
Despite these pressures, most tenants feel secure and satisfied in their homes. Some 76% said they feel secure and 71% feel satisfied, while the proportion reporting dissatisfaction fell slightly from 12% in 2024 to 10%.
"This research shows that affordability pressures in Scotland's private rented sector remain real and persistent," said Dr Jennifer Harris, head of policy at the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust.
"While there has been a slight improvement compared to last year, nearly one in three tenants struggling to pay their rent is not a marginal issue; it is a structural challenge for Scotland's housing system."
"Many renters are making difficult trade-offs, cutting back on essentials simply to keep a roof over their heads. But the answer to improving affordability is not simple or one-dimensional. It requires a balanced and evidence-led approach."
"That means looking carefully at levels of housing supply, considering what more can be done to support tenant incomes, and addressing the wider economic and cost pressures that are driving rent increases in the first place. Focusing on any single lever in isolation risks overlooking the complexity of the sector."
"At the same time, it is important to recognise that most tenants feel secure and satisfied in their homes. The challenge for policymakers, particularly as parties set out their priorities for the next Scottish Parliament, is how to strengthen affordability and access without undermining stability in the sector."
