According to Bradford and Bingley, residential rental incomes are set to grow over the coming six months.

This has been attributed to the influx of immigrants and the continued difficulty of getting on the property ladder. The survey found that the typical investor is male and aged between 36 and 45.

Andy Wiggans, director of mortgages at Bradford and Bingley, said: “Despite recent reports of a slowdown in the buy-to-let sector, our biggest ever survey of those at the heart of the market shows it remains strong.

”Buy-to-let remains a popular market that attracts a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life looking for long-term capital growth or a means of supplementing their pension.”

Recent interest rate rises, however, have made it more difficult to pay mortgages, which could pose problems for landlords with a significant portfolio, who will see their outgoings pushed up.