Average rent in Scottish Borders
The average private rent in Scottish Borders was £715 a month in September 2026, -0.4% on a year earlier. A two-bedroom home costs £635, 51% below the UK average of £1,287 and 30% below the average for Scotland. It is the 3rd cheapest of 18 areas in Scotland. Over the past year, 1 bed homes rose fastest (+0.4%).
Rent by number of bedrooms
Average monthly private rent (pcm).
Salary needed to rent in Scottish Borders
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 | £479 | £19,160 | £14,370 |
| 2 bedrooms | £635 | £25,400 | £19,050 |
How rents in Scottish Borders have changed
Average rent is +46.8% since 2016.
| Year | Average rent | 2 bed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £715 | £635 |
| 2025 | £718 | £640 |
| 2024 | £660 | £587 |
| 2023 | £643 | £575 |
| 2022 | £589 | £527 |
| 2021 | £574 | £515 |
| 2020 | £540 | £486 |
| 2019 | £530 | £478 |
| 2018 | £520 | £469 |
| 2017 | £500 | £456 |
| 2016 | £487 | £446 |
Areas with similar rents
| # | Area | Region | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Change (12m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesbrough | North East | £498 | £634 | £754 | +3.9% |
| 2 | Pendle | North West | £499 | £636 | £743 | +6.4% |
| 3 | Neath Port Talbot | Wales | £501 | £636 | £728 | +6.3% |
| 4 | Darlington | North East | £497 | £631 | £769 | +6.2% |
| 5 | Northumberland | North East | £496 | £631 | £768 | +7.0% |
| 6 | Doncaster | Yorkshire and The Humber | £496 | £641 | £763 | +5.2% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Scottish Borders?
The average private rent in Scottish Borders was £715 a month in September 2026, down 0.4% on a year earlier. A one-bedroom averaged £479 and a two-bedroom £635 (ONS Price Index of Private Rents).
What salary do you need to rent in Scottish Borders?
To keep a £479 one-bedroom rent within 30% of gross income you need about £19,160 a year. Letting agents usually ask for an annual income of 30 times the monthly rent, which is £14,370.
Is Scottish Borders expensive to rent compared with the rest of the UK?
A two-bedroom in Scottish Borders costs £635 a month, 51% below the UK average of £1,287. It ranks 14 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.