The cost of a private rented flat in Glasgow has rocketed to prices that are out of reach for many people in the city.
Overt the last ten years private rents in Glasgow have risen by more than 60%.
The latest report into the Glasgow private rented market by CityLets found a big jump in rents for every size of property.
The average monthly rent for a one bedroom flat in Glasgow in the last three months of 2021 was £739, up by almost 15%.
There is little change from £1000 a month for a two bed property with the average increasing by almost 11% to a whopping £982 per month.
READ MORE:Why are Glasgow private rents rising in Glasgow?
As part of our Beat the Squeeze series the Glasgow Times looked into renting a flat in four areas, popular with renters across the city.
We wanted to see if it was possible to get decent accommodation in an area with good transport links and close to the city centre for an affordable price.
The Office for National Statistics say that on average rent is 27% of a person’s monthly income and other estimates are that 30% of income is considered standard.
So, we looked at someone in Glasgow on the real Living wage of £9.90 per hour which for a full time worker would be around £1230 a month.
Using the 30% rule, that would mean paying rent of £369 a month.
READ MORE: Beat the Squeeze: Council Tax, NI and benefits changes from April
We also looked at what would be available for someone on a higher wage of £ 25,000 a year giving them take home pay of around £1720 a month.
That would mean a monthly rent of £516.
We tested if it is possible to rent in the city at those prices in those income brackets.
The results were that it is close to impossible as prices are much higher and anything at the cheaper end of the market is few and far between.
In Shawlands we tried renting via Clyde Property via its website and the local Slater Hogg Branch for letting.
Clyde had nothing listed for under £595 per month.
For that price there were two listings, a one bed flat in Shawlands and a two bed flat in Battlefield, but both had a let agreed.
A one bedroom flat in Albert Road was advertised at £795, more than half of a person’s earnings on the living wage.
Slater Hogg had seven properties, the cheapest a one bed unfurnished flat for £700.
Another one bed in the area was £850
In Partick we looked at Countrywide for lettings in the area.
Countrywide had nine properties listed in the Partick area, the lowest rent was £675 for a one bedroom flat.
For a two bedroom flat on Chancellor Street, just of Byres Road, the rent was £925.
Despite the price it said viewings were full and there was a waiting list.
A two bed ground floor flat on Woodlands Road is advertised at £1300. Almost 50% above the average in the city.
For Denniston, recently named as one the “coolest neighbourhoods in the world” we looked at Zoopla online.
The lowest price was £695 for a one bed flat close to Duke Street train station.
Two bed flats ranged from £775 to £1015 for a flat in Duke Street.
For Maryhill, we tried sourcing flats through On the Market and found the same as ion the other areas.
There were bedrooms to rent in a shared flat for between £487 and £531.
The lowest rent was £575 for a one bed in Garbraid Court in the north of Maryhill, then £695 for a flat in Leyden Street near Queen Margaret Drive and Maryhill Road.
On Rightmove, one of the biggest websites for letting in Glasgow, there was one flat in all of Glasgow under £400.
A studio in Strathbungo was available for £380, the only property under the 30% threshold of the Living wage.
There was next to nothing in Glasgow for under £500.
For £495, which is 40% of a weekly Living Wage, there is another studio flat, in the north west between Maryhill Road and Kelvinbridge.
On S1 homes there was one property for under £500 in Glasgow, a two bed unfurnished flat in Summerston in the north of the city.
At Band A council tax that adds another £95 a month before any bills are factored in.
Advertised as a: “Super value, second floor studio flat available in quiet, sought-after residential area.
“Perfect for a single person- Please note , there is no separate bedroom, the living area and sleeping area are in one room.”
It seems that if you want to rent in Glasgow and are on wither the living wage or around an average wage, you will either need to be prepared to pay far more than 30% of your wages, be part of a couple with both people in full time work or share.
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