Buy-to-let investors up 7% amid low interest rates

The number of buy-to-let investors has topped 1.75 million for the first time after a 7% increase in the past year, new figures have shown.

Estate agent ludlowthompson said rental income, minus costs, jumped by 8% to £14.2 billion.

Years of low interest rates are leading investors to snap up residential property to rent out, said the report.

Stephen Ludlow, the estate agent's chairman, said: "Investors continue to be drawn to the buy-to-let market as the returns routinely outperform those of other investments."

"Buy-to-let investments are a highly popular alternative to the volatility investors often risk when investing in the stock market."

Research has estimated that almost a third of residents in London live in the private rental sector.