The buy-to-let property market in Scotland is benefiting from the effects of the global credit crunch.

Landlords in the country have witnessed an increased demand for their rental properties.

It is because potential first-time buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to get a mortgage and buy a place of their own.

As a result of the increased demand, Scottish buy-to-let investors have seen rents rise in recent months.

"Generally speaking we have already seen a firming up of rental rates in the market, with good take up of any good quality property on offer," said Diarmid Mackenzie Smith, lettings manager at Rettie & Co.

"With the effects of the so-called ''credit crunch'', first-time buyers will now come back into the rental sector which will explain the increase in rental demand and signs of rental increases that have recently been experienced," he added.

Paragon recently revealed that UK landlords saw rents rise by 2.4 per cent in February.