Rental prices in West Dunbartonshire have risen by more than any other part of Scotland, according to newly-published figures.

Private sector rental statistics released by the Scottish Government on Tuesday show that the local authority showed the highest increase of 7.1 per cent to rent a two-bedroom property.

Ayrshire followed behind with an increase of 6.8 per cent for the same specified property.

The figures show that average rent prices have risen in all except one area in Scotland with 10 out of 18 areas that showed an increase above inflation of 1.5 per cent between September 2020 and 2021.

The only area that saw a drop in the average rental price during the last 12 months is Lothian, with a fall of 2.9 per cent.

However, the region, which includes Edinburgh, showed a cumulative rise of 41.7 per cent in the past decade – the biggest increase of any part of the country.

Lothian also saw the highest average rental cost for a two-bedroom property at £942 per month, vastly more than the £693 in the rest of the country.

On average, rental prices rose by 0.6 per cent in the past year in Scotland and 23.5 per cent in the past decade, according to the figures.

Tenants’ rights minister Patrick Harvie reiterated the Scottish Government’s commitment to implementing rent controls by 2025.

“We are aware that many tenants have been struggling financially as a result of the pandemic and that rising rent costs will only have exacerbated the problem, which is why we have provided £39 million to support tenants struggling at this time,” he said.

“The time is right to do more to support tenants in the private rented sector as we recover from the pandemic.

“We have already committed to tackling high rents by implementing an effective national system of rent controls by the end of 2025.

“Alongside our wider work to deliver a new deal for tenants, we will provide people with more secure, stable, affordable tenancies with improved standards of accommodation and more flexibility to personalise their homes.”