Buy to let landlords were advanced £4.2 billion in gross mortgage lending in the first quarter of 2013.

The UK's buy to let market is continuing to grow, new research has shown.

According to the latest findings from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the first quarter of this year saw gross mortgage lending of £4.2 billion across 33,500 home loans advanced to buy to let landlords.

This type of lending accounted for 13.4% of total outstanding mortgage lending by the end of March, which was greater than the 13% recorded the previous quarter and up on the 12.9% reported at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Paul Smee, director general of the CML, noted the buy to let sector continues its high level of performance, with landlords and tenants demand rental property of a high quality.

Mr Smee stated: "Loan performance compares favourably with the owner-occupier sector, and buy-to-let continues to grow as a proportion of the overall mortgage market."