The UK buy-to-let property market remains buoyant and has not been too badly affected by the global credit crunch.

Blevins Franks Mortgage Services pointed out that lenders have not focused too much on buy-to-let when it has come to tightening their criteria.

Although some deals have been removed, the firm claims that it has been nothing like the scale of the problem seen in the wider mortgage market.

Further to this, tighter conditions in the mortgage market mean that many potential homebuyers are now turning to rented accommodation instead, spelling good news for buy-to-let investors.

"It [the global credit crunch] sounds very doom and gloom, but the buy-to-let market is actually very buoyant," said Christopher Tanner from Blevins Franks.

"Lenders are less worried about buy-to-let than anything else.

"There''s never a wrong, or right, time [to invest]. But by doing the wrong thing, you could put yourself at risk. So if you are a first-time investor, make sure you find a property that''s suitable," he continued.

The Association of Residential Letting Agents recently revealed that rents increased across the UK in the three months to February.