Applications for British citizenship by US residents reached a record 9,300 last year, according to figures. The number is more than double the equivalent figure for 2022 when Joe Biden was in the White House. Experts say the surge is not only due to President Donald Trump but also lower rents.
Rise in US renters in Scotland
A new study found a 63% rise in the number of Americans renting properties in Scotland since Trump was re-elected, compared to 29% in London. The research, carried out by property technology firm Goodlord, analysed more than 300,000 tenancy agreements signed in the past two years, comparing them to 2023 and 2024 when the Democrats were in power.
Goodlord revealed Americans renting properties in Scotland have jumped from 265 to 431 since Trump was re-elected in November 2024. The average age of US renters moving to Scotland is 27, pointing towards young professionals being the keenest to move there, with Edinburgh and Glasgow the most popular destinations.
Cheaper rents and personal stories
Cheaper rents have also been a huge draw. The Goodlord study found that the average monthly rent paid by US citizens living in Scotland is £1,711, compared to £3,756 in Manhattan and £3,345 in San Francisco.
American comedian Beth Knight, 41, swapped Oklahoma for the UK and settled in Glasgow after finding London rents too expensive. She said: “Glasgow is a really creative, welcoming and liberal place. I had no idea it was such an arty city. I love that I don’t have to own a car and can take trains everywhere. I really appreciate the NHS, the social security safety net and the way that Scotland takes care of people. There are more rights for women here than there are in America currently. The weather is quite mild all year round, plus you guys are really funny and not very religious.”
Political and economic drivers
Goodlord’s chief executive officer William Reeve said: “These figures give further weight to claims that volatility in US politics is driving many Americans to seek a new home in the UK.”
Lib Dem MP for Edinburgh West Christine Jardine said: “I have been inundated with messages from those in America who no longer wished to live under a Trump presidency. Why not offer sanctuary to those who want to flee, if they can make our country a better, more prosperous place for our people in the process?”
