Figures published today show that the average rents in Scotland across all properties have increased by over inflation, with 2 bedroom properties increasing by 19%.
In addition, average rents for 2 bedroom rental properties in Lothian and Greater Glasgow have increased by over 33% and 32% respectively between 2010 and 2017.
The Scottish Household Survey shows that the number of young people aged 16-34 who privately rent a property has also increased from 25% to 40% over the last ten years.
Statistics have previously shown that the number of new homes completed per year has fallen by more than a third, home ownership has fallen and Council housing stock has declined.
Commenting on the report, Scottish Conservative Housing Spokesman Graham Simpson said:
“Every part of the SNP housing strategy is falling apart. This report is a further indictment that due to the scarcity of affordable homes, rents are being pushed sky high, particularly for young people unable to get on the housing ladder.
“The SNP has pledged to build at least 50,000 new affordable homes over this Parliament, however, if they continue at the current rate they will miss this target by 2 years.
“The Scottish Conservatives have a variety of innovative policies that would comprehensively tackle this housing shortfall and speed up the planning process to ensure that everyone has housing options.
“We need to return to building 25,000 new homes every year with half of those properties being affordable, in cooperation with the private and voluntary sectors.
“We should encourage new brownfield developments, give more support to self-builders and offsite construction, and look to build a series of New Towns with a focus on innovative ways of financing infrastructure.
“This has to come hand in hand with improving existing stock, be it our tenements or the thousands of empty houses across Scotland.
“The Scottish Government has failed to meet its housing targets and is condemning tenants to unaffordable rents.”