Industry leaders in Scotland have called on Westminster to intervene and increase the availability of mortgages to boost confidence in the market.

Homes for Scotland’s Board has issued the call in order to "stop the housing crisis from deepening even further".

The organisation says house sales for July – September dropped to their lowest level since Registers of Scotland records began.

Homes for Scotland has also pointed to recent Bank of Scotland research in which 60% of respondents said raising a deposit was the main barrier to buying a home.

54% named concerns about job security and 35% blamed general mortgage availability.

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The organisation’s Chairman Andy Pearson said: "There are around 160,000 people on housing waiting lists in Scotland yet only 15,000 new homes were built last year – the lowest level since the Second World War.

"With every new home built supporting four jobs and every nine one apprenticeship, the wider social, economic and environmental benefits of increasing housing production are well recognised."

He added: "The Scottish Government has supported us in helping buyers overcome the difficulties caused by large deposit requirements through the MI New Homescheme, which celebrated its first sale this week.

"Whilst it is vital that the Scottish Government continues to maximise investment in housing and remove barriers to development in Scotland, this week’s reports demonstrate the UK Government needs to take more urgent action to stimulate the wider economy and boost consumer confidence.

"This is particularly important in relation to increasing the general flow of mortgage finance and removing constraints on corporate lending, both of which continue to hamper recovery in our sector."

(IT)