Capital council rent outstrips rest of country by £14 a week

Council rent in Edinburgh costs £14 a week more than in the average Scottish town or city, a new report has revealed.

Figures produced in an official city council report show that the average Edinburgh council rent of 68.88 is higher than in any other Scottish local authority area.

It is also much higher than the Scottish average of 54.63 a week and the average of 61.68 charged by Glasgow Housing Association.

The figures were produced after concerns by Labour councillor Cammy Day about whether value for money was provided in Edinburgh.

Mark Turley, director of services for communities at the city council, said: "There are a wide range of factors involved in setting council house rents, and a direct comparison of average rents between Scottish local authorities does not necessarily tell the whole story."