The Scottish housing market could recover quicker from Covid-19 than the last financial crash if the Government freezes sales taxes to help home buyers, Paul Denton, chief executive of Scottish Building Society, has said.

He said that with the right Government incentives, Scotland could see a return to 2019 levels by the end of next year.

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Mr Denton said: “We are seeing an increase in inquiries and the current market situation is certainly down to social isolation measures rather than any lack of consumer demand.”

It came as average property prices in Scotland rose 1.5 per cent in March to £151,856, although the figures do not take in the impact of lockdown.