Property Hawk website editor Chris Horne recently claimed that buy-to-let mortgages have remained in demand despite the economic downturn - and now it would seem that many landlords seeking these products come from down under.

Martyn Gerrard, chairman of the north-west London division of the National Association of Estate Agents, and estate agent in the capital Steve Smith have both noted significant interest in the UK property investment market among Australians.

Mr Smith told the Australian Daily Telegraph that there has always been demand for British property from the other side of the world, but it is only since house prices came down recently that many have acted.

Some ten to 15 per cent of the landlords on the estate agent's books are apparently from the country.

Meanwhile, Mr Gerrard told the newspaper that there has been "a lot of foreign interest in April/May not just from Australia but from other places (such as Japan and Europe as a whole)".

Landlords of any nationality may require safe storage facilities to hoard equipment for their properties.

Written by Paul Governor