Flats to rent in Scotland: Highest rated by residents

The McEwan partments to rent in Edinburgh

Looking to find the best new flats to rent in Scotland? HomeViews collects reviews and ratings from thousands of carefully verified residents across the UK. Here we reveal the top-rated apartments in Scotland, according to the people who are living in them now.

What’s the rental market like in Scotland?

The rental-only trend that’s been revolutionising the UK rental landscape has only just started to take effect in Scotland. While London is home to over 40,000 Build to Rent properties, Scotland currently only has just over 1,600.

However, Build to Rent is set to grow significantly across Scotland in the coming years. As of Q2 2023, 3,129 rental-only units were under construction, while a further 13,144 were in the planning phase.

The private rental market in Scotland varies greatly according to the area, but you can find some bargains. While the median rent per calendar month for a property in Edinburgh is £1,599, you can rent in Glasgow for an average of £1,226 PCM. Further north, Aberdeen’s average rental cost is just £825 PCM.

The best flats to rent in Scotland – according to residents

The rental developments below are the highest rated in Scotland, as of July 2023. These five developments of flats to rent in Scotland provide an indication of the state of play in Scotland’s rental market, with an indication of what’s to come in the future. HomeViews’ verified resident reviews contain details on all aspects of the lived rental experience, from design and facilities, to the management team, services, location and value for money.

*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.

1. The McEwan, EH3

Moda Living
4.91 (128 reviews) 4.91 (128 reviews)
Area guide to City of Edinburgh
Image of The McEwan, EH3

The second-best rated rental development in Scotland is The McEwan, another near-flawlessly reviewed building, this time in the heart of Fountainbridge, just a few minutes from Edinburgh city centre and Haymarket train station. There are 476 state-of-the-art rental homes, with residents enjoying access to a wide range of amenity spaces including a gym, studio, cinema room, a co-working space, shared lounges and public spaces. On site, there are also two private dining rooms with panoramic views over the city and Edinburgh Castle. In addition, The McEwan has 24-hour concierge and maintenance services and the development is also pet-friendly.

Read reviews and details of The McEwan, EH3

2. The Point, AB10

Dandara Living
4.90 (94 reviews) 4.90 (94 reviews)
Area guide to Aberdeen
Image of The Point, AB10

The best rental flats in Scotland, according to verified reviews on HomeViews, are at The Point by Dandara Living. Garnering almost perfect scores across the board, this rental development sits in the Schoolhill area of the city. It consists of 342 apartments for rent, with residents benefitting from a private gym, cinema, break-out area, library and a coffee shop. As well as this, the development is just five-minutes away from Aberdeen city centre.

Read reviews and details of The Point, AB10

3. Solasta Riverside, G5

urbanbubble, Legal & General
4.70 (60 reviews) 4.70 (60 reviews)
Area guide to City of Glasgow
Image of Solasta Riverside, G5

For number 3 we’re headed over to Glasgow. Solasta Riverside is a new city centre district. Based on the South Bank of the iconic river Clyde, the development sits directly opposite Central Station. Furthermore, Solasta Riverside’s residential development consists of two 18-story complexes, including 324 Build-to-Rent apartments. Solasta Riverside is located on the Clyde riverside, facing the International Financial Services District. Additionally, with direct access to bus, rail, cycle and motorway networks, and only 15 minutes from Glasgow International Airport, Solasta Riverside will activate over a quarter of a mile of river frontage.

Read reviews and details of Solasta Riverside, G5

4. Kingsford Residence, EH7

Kingsford Group
4.44 (62 reviews) 4.44 (62 reviews)
Area guide to City of Edinburgh
Image of Kingsford Residence, EH7

In 4th we have Kingsford Residence, managed by the Kingsford Group and located on McDonald Road, which offers residents the opportunity to stay in a former Victorian school building which has been newly converted to form one of Edinburgh’s first operational Build to Rent developments. The apartments retain many of the original features of the building while blending them seamlessly with contemporary open plan living and modern fixtures.

Located in the area of Broughton, the Kingsford Residence is within easy walking distance of all that the city centre has to offer. Within the development there’s a great variety of communal spaces including the Club Room, Gym, the Bridge (dining/co-working space, which can also be hired for private event space), the Garden, and the Roof Terrace which offers spectacular views across the Edinburgh skyline.

Read reviews and details of Kingsford Residence, EH7

5. Salamander Street, EH6

Hillcrest
4.27 (6 reviews) 4.27 (6 reviews)
Area guide to City of Edinburgh
Image of Salamander Street, EH6

To round off the list, we have Salamander Street by Hillcrest, which sits in an up-and-coming area of Edinburgh. The development is 6 storeys high and provides 145 units. In addition there is a range of 1, 2, 3 ,4 bed flats and maisonettes. As well as a verity of apartments, residents benefit from a basement carpark. The development was funded as part of the Scottish Government’s National Housing Trust initiative, providing affordable homes with the potential opportunity for tenants to buy the properties after five years.

Read reviews and details of Salamander Street, EH6

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What is Build to Rent?

Build to Rent developments are purpose-built for renting, rather than for sales. Developments tend to be new apartment blocks or refurbished older sites, and offer a different experience to the traditional private rental sector.

Because Build to Rent properties often include several features that traditional housing and apartments don’t provide. These can include communal working, dining and social areas and membership to on-site gyms and health clubs. Rental agreements regularly include Wi-Fi and utility bills. Some properties even have concierge services or on-site management teams.

Build to Rent is sometimes more expensive than traditional renting, but developments offer more flexibility and perks. Rental developments can offer long tenancies of three years or more, while others specialise in short-term tenancies.


Would you like to find out more about living in Scotland? Read our area guide by clicking the link below, and search for the best new build properties to rent and buy across the country.

Scotland

Scotland
Boasting some of the highest scores for standards of living in the UK, Scotland is a country of extraordinary natural beauty. Add to that its friendly, cultured cities and a rich history stretching back for centuries, and you have a location that offers something Read more about Scotland
What is HomeViews?

HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.

written by

Jan Moys

A residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content... Read all

A residential property expert with ov... Read all