Scots believe house prices will rise in 2015, but confidence remains lower than it was at the same time last year, according to a survey.

The latest quarterly Halifax Housing Market Confidence Tracker found that more Scots thought house prices would go up than feared a fall. In December the difference between the percentage who expected a rise and those who predicted a drop over the next 12 months was +54. This compares with +58 this time last year, but is a big increase over September 2014 when the difference was only +36.

Across the UK, optimism was higher, with a difference of +62, with optimism highest in London, the South East and the East Midlands.

The figures were the first produced for the housing market sentiment tracker since the stamp duty reforms announced in the Chancellors autumn statement.

Craig McKinlay, mortgages director at Halifax, said: "Although it has picked up from the slight dip in November, as we move into 2015 consumer confidence in the outlook for the housing market remains lower than it was at the end of 2013.

"For the last year house price optimism has largely plateaued, but with the build up of downward pressures in the second half of the year, this is actually more remarkable than it seems."

Given some of the market indicators, optimism might not have been expected to be so high, he said. "Consumers have been faced with slowing house price growth in the second half of 2014 together with the prospect of higher interest rates at some point and the uncertainty from the looming general election next May. However this appears to have been offset by the continuing economic recovery, growth in employment and still low mortgage rates."

For those thinking about buying a property, fears about their job security were cited by 50% and the ability to raise a deposit by 61% as barriers to doing so. The figure for deposits was identical to the results from a year ago, but fears about job security had fallen from 56% in December 2013.

While 13% were concerned about interest rates rising, this has fallen sharply from 19% in September.

Of those renting privately, 61% expect rents to rise either a little or a lot over the next 12 months, while just 3% expect them to be level. Just under a third, 32%, expect rents to be the same.