Average rent in Lothian
The average private rent in Lothian was £1,411 a month in September 2026, +1.0% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £1,324, 3% above the UK average of £1,287 and 45% above the average for Scotland. It is the most expensive of 18 areas in Scotland. Over the past year, 1 bed homes rose fastest (+3.2%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Lothian
Two common tests: rent at no more than 30% of gross income, and the letting-agent referencing check of an annual income at least 30× the monthly rent.
| Home | Rent (pcm) | Salary for 30% rule | Agent check (30× rent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | £1,036 | £41,440 | £31,080 |
| 2 bedrooms | £1,324 | £52,960 | £39,720 |
How rents in Lothian have changed
Average rent is +60.5% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,411 | £1,324 |
| 2025 | £1,397 | £1,297 |
| 2024 | £1,378 | £1,281 |
| 2023 | £1,210 | £1,127 |
| 2022 | £1,084 | £1,000 |
| 2021 | £1,028 | £947 |
| 2020 | £1,032 | £962 |
| 2019 | £1,015 | £945 |
| 2018 | £980 | £914 |
| 2017 | £919 | £860 |
| 2016 | £879 | £823 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winchester | South East | £1,021 | £1,325 | £1,633 | +4.8% |
| 2 | Buckinghamshire | South East | £1,043 | £1,321 | £1,616 | +5.8% |
| 3 | South Oxfordshire | South East | £1,053 | £1,307 | £1,634 | +5.2% |
| 4 | Hart | South East | £1,025 | £1,306 | £1,586 | +3.2% |
| 5 | Tonbridge and Malling | South East | £1,039 | £1,343 | £1,639 | +3.6% |
| 6 | Mid Sussex | South East | £1,018 | £1,302 | £1,636 | +4.3% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Lothian?
The average private rent in Lothian was £1,411 a month in September 2026, up 1.0% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £1,036 and a two-bedroom £1,324 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Lothian?
To keep a £1,036 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £41,440 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £31,080.
Is Lothian expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Lothian costs £1,324 a month, 3% above the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 219 of 282 larger UK areas from cheapest to most expensive.
Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (September 2026), average of new and existing private tenancies — official statistics in development. House prices: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index. Pay: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, median gross pay of full-time employees by place of residence. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See our methodology.