The exploration of new income streams has been a key driver of this growth, pushing January business up by 15 per cent compared to January 2007.
"With strong government housing targets there is a renewed focus on the self build sector," explained David Murphy, sales and marketing director at TMB. "There are a host of benefits in building your own home not least the fact that VAT can be claimed back.
"Additionally, many people are switching on to the fact that an alternative to finding an empty plot of land is to knock down a property and build the replacement to individual specifications."
Murphy said that intermediaries were right to look at the sector with fresh eyes, however stressed that no matter how lucrative the income stream may seem, it is important not to dive in feet first.
Instead brokers must make sure that they are armed with the right information with robust lender partnerships in place before they begin advising in order to give the best service to clients.
