RENTS have soared by more than a third in parts of Scotland over the past five years, prompting calls for an accelerated programme of housebuilding.

Official new statistics show the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom property in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire rose by 36 per cent between 2010 to 2015.

The area has experienced a dip of 2.7 per cent in the last year, but still has the highest monthly average at £874.

Over the last five years rents in Lothian increased by 24.7 per cent, while in Glasgow they rose by 18.5per cent, both over the rate of inflation.

Meanwhile, private rents in Glasgow have increased faster than anywhere else in Scotland in the past 12 months.

Scottish Government figures show private sector rents in the city rising above inflation outstripping property hotspots of Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

It showed increases for two bedroom properties, the most common in the private rental market, in the past year of 6.6 per cent in Glasgow compared to 6.4 per cent in Lothian. A total of 13 areas experienced increases in the latest year.

The report shows the average two bedroom flat or house in Glasgow costing £668 a month, the third highest in the county.

The Government's Private Housing Bill currently making its way through Holyrood would give councils the ability to implement rent controls in areas of pressure.

But sector professionals have accused the Government of "knee-jerk reactions" to the rise.

Annie Mauger, director of the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland, said: "While we recognise the need to ensure that private rent remains affordable for the increasing number of people making their home in the private sector, rent regulation alone will not fix the problem.

"The simple fact remains that we are not building enough homes in Scotland. As long as demand continues to outstrip supply, affordability will remain an issue across all tenures."

Across Scotland there has been a 13.7 per cent cumulative rise in the average rent for a two-bed property since 2010.

Alongside Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, average rents over the year were down in the Scottish Borders, Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire and Fife.

Overall average rents increased by 2.2% across Scotland during the year, the Scottish Government figures also show.

Property agents in Glasgow said over a longer period rents had been stable and it was only in the last two years there had been a marked increased.

Stephen O’Neill, managing director of Newton Property, said: “It is simple supply and demand, supply has contracted in the last few years meaning rents go up.

“A rise of 6.6 per cent in one year is huge and in some core areas it will be even higher.

"High rental growth is not good for the rental market because it encourages knee jerk reaction from governments."

He added: “Between 2007 and 2013 a lot of properties came on the market from accidental landlords, who couldn’t sell their homes.

“Since the market improved in 2013 they sold up. They were always short term landlords.

“Exacerbating that has been increased legislation in the last three years that persuaded many to sell up.”