There were 66,465 mortgages approved during February 2019 (seasonally adjusted), according to e.surv.

Approvals were 3.8% higher than a year ago, the survey found, although they did drop down 0.5% compared to a month ago.

This follows a positive January and e.surv says it suggests that the current lack of confidence in the housing market has not filtered through to the mortgage market.

The proportion of loans going to small deposit buyers, typically first-timers, fell back slightly.

However, the market outlook remains generally positive for this group of borrowers.

Some 26.3% of all loans went to this segment of the market, down on the 27.1% recorded in January’ssurvey.

The latest Mortgage Monitor from e.surv said that, once again, remortgage activity has been a large driver of the market, with many borrowers looking to seal a cheap mortgage.

Many lenders have cut rates to try and tempt borrowers to market, it added.

Richard Sexton, director at e.surv, said: “While confidence has fallen in the housing market due to economic and political turbulence, the mortgage market continues to grow.

“Existing homeowners are able to lock into cheap fixed rate deals while first-time buyers are being helped by more generous criteria being offered by banks and building societies.

“Raising a deposit remains a challenge for young borrowers, but there are more products being launched which are targeting those with little cash to spare.”