RICS Scotland has set up an independent commission to look at some of the challenges faced by the property market in Scotland.

The new panel will be made up of experts from social housing, academia, the public sector and private industry. They are due to issue a report on their findings at the end of January.

Recommendations made by the panel will then be used to help the Scottish Government improve the country's housing market.

Some of the key issues set to be examined by the panel include the supply of new rented accommodation in Scotland and how the housing industry can help remove barriers to owner-occupation.

The Scottish Housing Commission was launched by RICS Scotland following the success of a similar UK-wide scheme. The UK Housing Commission looked at how government and industry could drive investment in affordable housing and boost housebuilding projects across the country.

Those due to give practical evidence to the new Scottish panel include property professionals and those who work in the not-for-profit housing sector along with investors, developers, stakeholders and public interest bodies.

Their views will then be used by ministers to help them formulate policies to improve the supply of housing.

Strutt & Parker’s Robert McCulloch said: “This should be a good thing for the Scottish housing market.

“Whilst at Strutt & Parker we are seeing an upswing in the middle to top end of the market, there obviously has to be provision for those starting out with their first property to ensure that there is affordable housing available. As far as we are concerned, the sooner people get on the property ladder the better.”

RICS Scotland chairman Tom Barclay said the commission would assess the impact of the global financial crisis on the affordability of housing in Scotland.

Where applicable, the panel will also look at the effect of UK Government policies on the short, medium and long term supply of Scottish rented housing in the not-for-profit and private rented sectors, as well as the barriers that currently prevent owner occupation, Mr Barclay said.

He added: “Through expert input and evaluation the commission will make practical recommendations to public policy makers, and the sector, on initiatives to improve the delivery of the right homes, of the right tenure, in the right places to satisfy unmet demand and all on a sustainable basis.”

For more information, contact one of our agents in Scotland.