The lettings and estate agency said that over the same period rents in Wales rose by £36 to reach £828 per month, which was an increase of 5.5%, while in England the increase was £44 to £1430 per month, which was a rise of 3.6%.

There was considerable variation in increases across Scotland with ten regions recording above inflation rises while eight showed below inflation levels.

West Lothian had the greatest increase of 9.8% increasing by £79 to £915 per month; all of the Ayrshire area recorded a rise of 6.3% going up by £35 to £657 per month, while Greater Glasgow rose by 5.6% increasing £59 to £1275.

In Lothian there was an increase of 0.2% equating to a rise of £4 to reach £1428; while in Fife and Dundee and Angus there were falls of £3 and £10 to reach £810 and £831 respectively.

Lothian, Greater Glasgow, and East Dunbartonshire are the areas with the most expensive average rents of £1428; £1275; and £1151 while Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, and the Borders had the lowest average rents of £554; £657; and £706 respectively.

David Alexander, chief executive officer of DJ Alexander Scotland, said: “There are, of course, differences across Scotland with some areas experiencing near double digit increases while others are actually seeing rents falling.

“Some of these figures can be distorted by the relatively low volume of property transactions in the area. There are clearly more properties being rented in the larger cities than many rural parts of the country.”