Buy to let mortgage loans increased at a tremendous rate last year due to the impressive amounts renters were willing to pay for a residence.  Gross lending was up almost 20% compared with 2011, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.  The total number of buy to let mortgages reached a four year high, totaling almost 137,000.

Paul Smee of the CML commented on the demand originating from tenants for more rental property, saying: "The overall outlook for the buy-to-let sector is positive. Landlords who can demonstrate a strong track record are in a good position to expand their portfolios."

Other analysts and members of the housing community spoke out regarding the reasons behind the high numbers of renters now living in tenant housing.  Many believe one of the reasons for high tenant demand is first timers are struggling to amass enough deposit for a house and choosing to stay in rental housing for the time being.

Smee continued to remark on the number of homes which had trouble keeping up with the monthly mortgage, saying: "Households fall into difficulty for a variety of reasons, most of which cannot be anticipated.  Wherever possible, lenders will work with borrowers to manage periods of temporary financial difficulty and enable them to keep their home. Anyone worried about their situation should talk to their lender, who will try to help them."

Whilst many households are just hanging on financially, there could be solutions out of trouble with the assistance of a remortgage.  Remortgages can provide opportunities which may not be realized by the everyday homeowner.