Mr Yousaf, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, was elected ahead of fellow MSPs Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, is expected to be elected as first minister today.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “We congratulate Humza Yousaf on his appointment as the First Minister of Scotland. We look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government under his leadership to champion the role of property agents and ensure there is investment and support for all housing tenures.

“Supply of property to rent is the most pressing issue affecting agents, landlords and tenants in Scotland, so it is vital that the Yousaf government carry out a full review of property taxation, introduce pro-growth measures and build a more conducive relationship with the private rented sector.”

David Alexander the chief executive officer of DJ Alexander Scotland Ltd, added: “The election of Humza Yousaf as the new SNP leader, and consequently the new First Minister of Scotland, is concerning for the housing sector given that he stood as the continuity candidate.

“If he does persist with the existing housing policy of Nicola Sturgeon then I foresee some very difficult times for Scotland’s tenants. The low numbers of social housing, the reluctance to support housebuilding, and the negative attitude toward the private rented sector have all resulted in fewer homes for Scots, rising rents, increased evictions for tenants, and a housing waiting list that numbers in the hundreds of thousands.

“I would welcome a positive approach from Mr Yousaf if he is not to replicate the mistakes of the previous administration. The concern is that he will continue to view housing as a political rather than a social issue and seek to demonise parts of the housing sector.

David said: “A proper housing strategy requires planning over a ten or even 20-year period with target-lead proposals to ensure that planning regulations, land development, and financial incentives are developed to encourage the right homes in the right areas both to reflect the current and future needs of Scottish society.

“We need a long-term, fundamental rethink on the delivery of housing for homeowners, for tenants in the public and private sector, and in the way that new housing is delivered. Housing must be a major part of the new administrations’ plans. New social and private building developments with large scale infrastructure investment would produce jobs, create wealth, and provide homes for people who want to work and live in Scotland.”