Commercial Mortgages Kent
Commercial mortgages for owner-occupied and investment property across Kent, structured around yield, tenant strength, location and a credible longer-term position.
Location can affect value, occupier demand and lender appetite. The property, income and borrower still determine the credit case.
Minimum commercial mortgage facility: £350,000
Personal service with established backing.
You deal directly with me, from the initial assessment through to completion. EAS Finance grew from work for large institutional clients, where accuracy, evidence and accountability were expected.
EAS Finance is an appointed representative of White Rose Finance Group, established in 2004. The group brings more than 20 years of experience across the full breadth of commercial and property lending, together with extensive lender relationships.
Commercial mortgages Kent, priced against the town, not the county.
Kent’s commercial property market is not a single, uniform picture. According to the Kent Property Market Report, produced jointly by Kent County Council and Caxtons Property Consultants, investment yields on prime assets in strong towns have held between 7.25% and 8.25%, while weaker secondary towns sit above 11.5%. That gap matters directly to how a commercial mortgage is priced and structured, the same asking rent in two different towns can represent very different risk to a lender.
Industrial and logistics space has been a consistent bright spot. Site availability rose from 125 to 145 across the county in the most recent reporting year, industrial rents have edged upward, and developers such as Panattoni continue to invest in Kent, including a fourth Kent site acquired on the A20 near Lenham. Retail tells a more mixed story, with closures in some towns offset by genuine rental growth elsewhere, Canterbury and Ashford both recorded double-digit retail rental growth in the most recent year.
A commercial mortgage in Kent is assessed against the specific property, tenant and town, not a single county-wide assumption.
Where the requirement is short-term or acquisition-led rather than a standard term mortgage, our bridging finance Kent page may be more relevant. For development and construction finance, see development finance Kent.
Commercial property we see financed across Kent
Facility structure changes with property type, tenant strength and intended use.
Industrial and logistics units
Warehousing and distribution space, an area of sustained demand across Kent’s logistics corridors.
Office buildings
Owner-occupied or investment offices, including relocations from London to lower-cost Kent towns.
Retail and high street units
Individual units or small parades, assessed against the specific town’s occupancy and rental trend.
Retail parks and out-of-town
Larger retail formats, where yields have shown modest improvement in recent reporting.
Mixed-use property
Commercial ground floor with residential upper parts, common across Kent’s town centres.
Owner-occupied trade premises
Workshops, trade counters and business premises purchased for the owner’s own operating use.
What Kent commercial lenders look at closely
The property’s fundamentals matter everywhere, but Kent’s town-by-town variation means location carries particular weight in how a case is assessed.
Town and location
Whether the property sits in a strong prime town or a weaker secondary location, directly affecting yield and lender appetite.
Tenant and lease
Covenant strength, lease length and rent review pattern for investment purchases, or trading history for owner-occupiers.
Sector resilience
Industrial and logistics have shown consistent demand, while retail requires more careful, location-specific assessment.
Exit and hold strategy
Whether the position is a long-term hold, a refinance in due course, or a shorter-term strategy requiring a different structure.
Where Kent’s commercial market currently stands
| Prime town yields | Around 7.25% to 8.25%, reflecting strong occupier demand in Kent’s better-performing towns. |
|---|---|
| Secondary town yields | Above 11.5%, reflecting weaker occupier demand and higher perceived risk. |
| Retail park yields | Improved slightly to around 5.5% to 6% in the most recent reporting period. |
| Industrial rents | Around £135 per square metre in Ashford, with availability and planning consents both rising. |
| Ashford commercial rents | Around 76% lower than equivalent London space, a factor in relocation demand. |
| Retail rental growth | Canterbury and Ashford both recorded double-digit growth in the most recent year, against a mixed picture elsewhere. |
Figures drawn from the Kent Property Market Report, produced jointly by Kent County Council and Caxtons Property Consultants. Figures are indicative and should always be confirmed for the specific property and transaction.
What we need to understand a Kent transaction
- Property address, type and current use
- Purchase price or current valuation
- Tenant details and lease terms, if an investment purchase
- Trading accounts and business plan, if owner-occupied
- Deposit or equity available
- Intended hold period and exit or refinance strategy
- Any planning, condition or title matters affecting the property
Frequently asked questions
Why do commercial mortgage rates vary so much across Kent?
Yields on prime commercial assets in strong Kent towns have held between around 7.25% and 8.25%, while weaker secondary towns sit above 11.5%. Lenders price commercial mortgages against that underlying yield and risk, so location has a direct effect on the terms available.
Is industrial property a strong sector for commercial mortgages in Kent?
Industrial and logistics has been one of the more resilient sectors, with site availability and rents both rising in recent reporting periods, supported by ongoing investment from developers in the county’s logistics corridors.
Can I get a commercial mortgage for a retail unit in Kent?
Yes, though retail performance varies significantly by town. Some Kent town centres have seen genuine rental growth in recent years, while others have faced closures, so the specific location and tenant strength are assessed closely.
Do lenders treat owner-occupied and investment purchases differently?
Yes. Owner-occupied purchases are typically assessed against the trading business’s accounts and ability to service the mortgage, while investment purchases are assessed primarily against the tenant, lease and rental income.
Why are businesses relocating commercial premises to Kent from London?
Towns such as Ashford offer commercial rents significantly below London, combined with fast rail journey times into the capital, which has made relocation an attractive option for some businesses seeking lower operating costs.
Other finance and locations
Discuss a Kent commercial mortgage requirement.
For commercial mortgage requirements of £350,000 or more, send us the property, town, purchase price, tenant or trading position, deposit available and intended hold or exit strategy.
This page provides general information about commercial mortgages and does not constitute personal financial advice. EAS Finance is a trading name of Elite Admin Services Ltd (FRN 1044838), an appointed representative of White Rose Finance Group Ltd (FRN 630772), authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. EAS Finance is a credit broker, not a lender. Lending terms, leverage and criteria vary by transaction and lender. Market figures are indicative and sourced from the Kent Property Market Report; always confirm current terms for the specific transaction.