Looking for a buy-to-let mortgage in Hastings or St Leonards-on-Sea? We are a local broker based on Havelock Road in the town centre, and we help first-time landlords, personal-name investors and portfolio landlords find lending that fits the property, the rent and their plans.
Hastings has a wide spread of rental stock. There are Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Clive Vale, Ore and Blacklands, 1930s and post-war family homes in Hollington and Silverhill, and large Regency and Victorian houses around Warrior Square and the St Leonards seafront that were split into flats decades ago.
Converted flats in St Leonards can come with short leases, high service charges or very small floor areas, and some lenders will not lend on flats above shops on Queens Road or the London Road. Our St Leonards-on-Sea mortgage guide covers the local quirks in more detail.
Tenant demand comes from people working locally, including staff at the Conquest Hospital, students at East Sussex College's Station Plaza and Ore Valley campuses, and London commuters: the fastest trains to Charing Cross currently take around an hour and a half.
If you are letting out your former Hastings home after moving, that may be a let-to-buy or consumer buy-to-let case instead, and we can advise on both.
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.
Buy-to-let lenders start with the rent, not your salary. They check that the expected monthly rent covers the mortgage payment by a set margin, often around 125% for basic-rate taxpayers and 145% for higher-rate taxpayers, calculated at a test interest rate that is usually higher than the rate you will pay. If the rent falls short, some lenders let you top up from your personal income.
Most lenders want a deposit of at least 25%. A smaller deposit is sometimes possible, but the rent test becomes harder to pass. Lenders also look at your credit file, your experience as a landlord and, for some, a minimum personal income.
Licensing in Hastings. Hastings Borough Council ran a selective licensing scheme in seven wards from 2015 to 2020. There is no selective scheme in force at the time of writing, but the council has said it intends to bring one back, and HMO licensing still applies. Check the council's current rules before you buy, especially in the central St Leonards and town centre wards.
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.
Transparent Mortgage Services is an independent broker run by Russell Braiden CeMAP. We are directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 925926) and rated 5.0 stars from 109 Google reviews. We are based at 17 Havelock Road in Hastings and can visit you at home around Hastings and Bexhill, or talk by phone or video.
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, but criteria vary. Lenders look at the lease length, service charge, floor area and whether the flat is above commercial premises. Very small studios and short leases narrow the choice, so we check those points before you make an offer.
Yes, with a holiday let mortgage rather than a standard buy-to-let. Lenders assess holiday lets on expected seasonal income, and the furnished holiday let tax regime ended in April 2025, so speak to your accountant as well.
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.
