All parts of Scotland except one have seen increases in the average cost of renting a standard-sized home over the last year, figures show.
Rent levels for two-bedroom private properties rose in 17 out of 18 areas analysed between 2015 and 2016.
They ranged from a slight increase of 0.1% in Dumfries and Galloway to a 4.6% jump in West Dunbartonshire.
By contrast, rental costs in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire fell by 13.7% in 12 months following the downturn in the oil industry – the largest annual drop in average two-bedroom rents since 2010.
The combined results amount to a Scotland-wide average increase of 1% in rents for such properties – the lowest annual rise in six years.
Despite Aberdeen and the surrounding shire’s performance over the last year, rents were found to have increased above the rate of inflation, by more than 17%, over the longer period from 2010-16.
The Lothians saw the highest increase in private rents for two-bedroom properties, with average monthly rents rising by more than 25% over the six years.
Average rents in the Greater Glasgow area have risen by a cumulative 23.5% since 2010.
All other areas had cumulative rent increases below the inflation rate.
For the year to the end of September, the Lothians had the highest average monthly rents for two-bedroom properties in Scotland, standing at £831.
Other areas with high rents included the Aberdeen area, at £754, while Greater Glasgow rents sit at an average of £696.
Areas with the lowest average rents for such properties included Dumfries and Galloway at £447, the Borders (£452), and Ayrshire (£463).
The official figures were published on Tuesday by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.
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