Residential sales in Scotland have risen 6.5% during the second quarter of 2015/16 compared with the same period last year, according to new statistics.

The figures by the Registers of Scotland (RoS) reveal a total of 28,019 properties were submitted for registration between July and September.

This figure is the highest volume of sales for any quarter since quarter one of 2008/09.

West Lothian recorded the highest percentage rise in the volume of sales, with an annual increase of 23.1% to 905 residential sales.


The highest figure was in the City of Edinburgh, which rose 9.6% to 2,530 individual sales.

Aberdeenshire showed the largest percentage fall in volumes, down 13.5% to 1,437.

Overall, the largest market was the City of Edinburgh, with sale of over £805m for the quarter, an increase of 6.2% on the previous year.

West Lothian recorded the highest increase in value with sales of over £148m, up 31.5%.

The largest decrease in market value was seen in Aberdeenshire, down 16.6% to just over £323m compared to the same quarter in 2014.

Semi-detached houses were the only property types that showed an increase in prices over the quarter, up 2% to £159,854.

RoS' business development director, John King, said: "As well as a significant increase in the volume of sales, we've seen the total value of sales across Scotland rise by 6 per cent on the previous year to £4.74 billion. Like volumes, this represents the highest value of sales for any quarter since quarter one of 2008-09."

(LM/MH)