Surveyors are also more optimistic about the short-term outlook than they were.

A net balance of 30% of respondents in Scotland report that house prices rose in the June survey, up from the net balance of 10% that was seen in the survey previous. This is the second highest balance across all UK regions after NI. And looking ahead, surveyors expect house prices to continue rising.

A net balance of 37% of respondents anticipate house prices will continue increasing over the next three months, which is up from the net balance of 6% that was seen in the May survey.

Scottish surveyors are optimistic on the sales outlook too. In June, the net balance for agreed sales in June was reported to be in negative territory with a net balance of -7%, though it had improved from the -15% that was seen in the May survey. New buyer activity was also muted. But looking ahead, a net balance of 26% of respondents in Scotland expect sales to rise through Q3, which is up from the net balance of 13% that was seen in the survey previous.

Commenting on the sales market in Scotland, Thomas Baird MRICS, Select Surveyors Ltd in Glasgow, said: “Given the political and economic uncertainty over recent months, June has proven to be a steady month for home report instructions in the residential sector.”

In regards to the rental sector, Carolyn Davies MRICS of Savills (UK) Limited in Dumfries, added: “Ongoing under supply of property, range of good qual­ity applicants applying for properties and ability to transact lettings away from the market place.”

Commenting on the UK picture, RICS head of market research & analysis, Tarrant Parsons, said: “June’s survey results offer some cautious encouragement that the worst of the slowdown in market activity may be beginning to pass, with several key indicators moving in a less negative direction for a second consecutive month. That said, any nascent improvement remains fragile and is now being tested by renewed political uncertainty on the domestic front.

“While the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged, uncertainty around the outlook for inflation and borrowing costs continues to weigh on sentiment, even if the recent decline in oil prices is a welcome development. Until there is greater clarity over both the political backdrop and the path of interest rates, housing market activity is likely to remain relatively subdued in the near term.”