Something pretty incredible has happened in Edinburgh’s rental market this month. For the first time in over three years, the number of available rental properties on Rightmove has climbed above 1,200, marking a dramatic shift in market conditions.

To put this into perspective, for the past three years, the number of available rental properties in Edinburgh advertised on Rightmove had never surpassed 1,000. That milestone was broken in November 2024, and since then, stock levels have continued to rise month after month through December, January, and now February where we’ve hit this new high of over 1,200 available properties.

 

WHAT’S DRIVING THE INCREASE?

A key factor behind this surge in supply is the significant rise in new rental listings. In February 2025, there were 1,095 new rental properties advertised on Rightmove, compared to just 792 in February 2024. This represents a 38% increase year on year, meaning either more landlords are bringing properties to market or more tenants are moving out of tenancies creating a higher number of relets on the market. It also looks like tenant demand has fallen so fewer properties are being snapped up immediately.

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS?

This shift in supply is starting to cool Edinburgh’s rental market, which has seen double-digit rent inflation over the past two to three years. As more properties become available, we’re beginning to see the following trends emerge:

  • Rents will start to fall – With more competition among landlords, asking rents are being adjusted downward in some cases.
  • Time to let is increasing – Properties are staying on the market longer as tenants have more options.
  • More choice for tenants – After years of limited availability, renters now have a better selection of properties.

If this trend continues, rental inflation could drop to zero or even turn negative in the coming months.

 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR EDINBURGH’S RENTAL MARKET?

Looking ahead, we expect supply levels to remain high through March, April, and possibly into May, before reducing over the summer as seasonal demand picks up. The next few months will be crucial in determining whether this shift is temporary or signals a longer-term rebalancing of the rental market.

We’ll continue tracking the data and keeping you updated on the latest trends. Stay tuned for next month’s update!