Need a buy-to-let mortgage in Folkestone? We help landlords in Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton with purchases, remortgages and portfolio lending, from Victorian conversions on the Leas to family homes in Cheriton.
Folkestone's biggest selling point for tenants is the high-speed line: the fastest trains reach London St Pancras in under an hour. That, along with the regeneration of the harbour and the Creative Quarter around Tontine Street and the Old High Street, has brought in commuters, creative workers and people relocating from London and other parts of Kent.
The town's housing stock is varied. Large Victorian and Edwardian houses on and near the Leas were mostly converted into flats long ago. Terraced streets in central and east Folkestone are popular for single lets, and Cheriton and Hythe have more family homes. Sandgate has a mix of seafront cottages and flats. Looking further ahead, Otterpool Park, a new garden town with outline permission for 8,500 homes, is planned to the west.
For lenders, Leas conversions can come with short leases or high service charges, some blocks need fire safety documentation, and coastal properties may be exposed to wind and flood risk. Our Folkestone, Hythe and Sandgate mortgage guide covers the local detail.
Some Folkestone landlords also run holiday lets near the harbour and the Leas, which need holiday let mortgages.
Speak to a friendly, expert Mortgage Adviser about your unique mortgage needs.
We'll search 1000s of products for the best mortgage and present our advice to you.
Your Adviser will complete your application, liaise with the lender and you, keep you informed until completion.
The key number is the rent. A lender's surveyor gives an opinion of the achievable monthly rent, and the lender works out how big a loan that rent will support at its stress rate. Higher-rate taxpayers usually face a tougher test than basic-rate taxpayers, and longer fixed rates can sometimes be assessed more generously.
Expect to need a deposit of around 25% for most mainstream buy-to-let products, a clean or explainable credit history and, with many lenders, some evidence of personal income. Leasehold flats bring extra checks on lease length, service charges and the building itself.
Local rules. Folkestone & Hythe District Council applies the national mandatory HMO licensing rules. Check the council's website for any additional or selective schemes and for planning rules on converting houses into flats or HMOs.
Buying an additional property in England means a 5% stamp duty surcharge on top of the normal rates. Individual landlords now get only a basic-rate tax credit for mortgage interest, so ask your accountant whether personal or company ownership suits you.
Since 1 May 2026, under the Renters' Rights Act, section 21 evictions have ended, tenancies are periodic, rent can rise only once a year and rent in advance is capped at one month. Rented homes must meet EPC E now, and the government has confirmed a move to EPC C or equivalent by 1 October 2030.
Our broker fee is £599. For a purchase it is payable when your mortgage offer is issued; for a remortgage to a new lender it is charged on completion. Where there is adverse credit the fee is £999, or up to 1% of the loan. We do not charge a fee for product transfers with your existing lender, and we confirm any fee in writing before we start.
We are a small, local brokerage, and you deal with the same adviser from start to finish. We are directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 925926) and rated 5.0 stars from 109 Google reviews. We are based in Hastings and most Folkestone clients work with us by phone or video, with documents uploaded securely; you are also welcome at our Hastings office.
Tell us about the property and your plans and we will tell you honestly what is possible. Get in touch or call 01424 444597.
Usually, yes. Lenders look at lease length, service charges, the building's condition and fire safety. Short leases and very small flats narrow the choice.
Lenders mainly look at the rent and the property, but strong local demand helps the surveyor's view of the achievable rent. Fast trains to St Pancras are one reason commuters rent in Folkestone.
Most lenders ask for at least 25% of the purchase price. Some products allow a smaller deposit, but the rent has to cover a higher mortgage payment, so the numbers are harder to make work. We will show you what your deposit and the expected rent can support.
Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA. Consumer buy-to-let, such as letting a former home or letting to a close relative, is regulated. We will tell you which applies to you.
Important: Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Some are, for example consumer buy-to-let, where you let a former home or let to a close family member. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The FCA does not regulate tax advice, so please speak to an accountant about tax.
Transparent Mortgage Services is a trading style of Transparent Financial Associates Limited, which is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 925926). 17 Havelock Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1BP. Telephone 01424 444597.
