Fears as stock levels plummet by up to 70 per cent in locations across Scotland

Our Chief Executive, and Scotsman columnist, David Alexander said property prices have risen rapidly and continue to remain “buoyant” due to the supply shortage, with thousands fewer properties on the market compared to just 18 months ago.

“That this is happening across Scotland from major urban areas to smaller towns tells you that the market is desperately short of supply which, in turn, is causing bidding wars for the properties that do come onto the market.

“However, we now have the property market going in two different directions. Interest-rate rises, the cost-of-living crisis, and utility prices rocketing are suppressing buyer interest at the same time that extremely low levels of stock are inflating demand… it is an unusual combination resulting in a contradictory market that is both booming and cooling at the same time.

“The causes of this shortage are varied including the loss of a substantial period of housebuilding due to the pandemic and subsequent labour and material shortages, but there had been low levels of new and development building in the years prior to 2020. The market needs a certain number of new properties each year simply to keep pace with demand, and if that stops for even a relatively short period the impact is substantial for some time to come.”