Letting a property in Folkestone and Hythe: a landlord’s guide

General information as at October 2026, not legal advice. Always check the council’s current scheme before letting.

Landlord licensing in Folkestone and Hythe

• Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
• Additional HMO licensing: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households.
• Fees: £1,130 for an HMO licence application and £960 to renew, as listed on the council site in October 2026

Separately, every large HMO (5 or more people forming 2 or more households) needs a mandatory HMO licence anywhere in England. Source: Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council: private renting and licensing

Safety certificates

• Gas Safety (CP12): every 12 months, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• EICR: at least every 5 years, by a qualified electrician.
• EPC: rated E or above, valid for 10 years.
• Alarms: a smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance (not gas cookers).

Book a Gas Safety certificate, EICR or EPC in Folkestone and Hythe at a fixed price, and keep track of expiry dates in the free landlord dashboard.

Deposits and the inventory

Protect the deposit in the DPS, TDS or mydeposits within 30 days. At the end, the scheme decides any dispute on the evidence, above all the check-in compared with the check-out, so the inventory is what protects you.

What to record in Folkestone and Hythe homes

• Seafront homes in Folkestone, Sandgate and Dymchurch: check window frames, door ironmongery and external metalwork for salt corrosion, and look for damp on exposed walls.
• Victorian villas split into flats on and near the Leas: photograph communal hallways, fire doors, meter cupboards and the condition of sash windows.
• Hillside homes in Sandgate and Folkestone: photograph steps, retaining walls and any cracking, as parts of the coast are prone to ground movement.
• Romney Marsh bungalows and chalets: note any signs of damp or past flooding, and record oil tanks, septic tanks or LPG where there is no mains gas or sewer.
• Modern estate houses in Hawkinge: photograph gardens, fences, drives and garages, and note any snagging in newer homes.
• Flint and brick cottages in the Elham Valley: check for damp in solid walls, low ceilings and beams, and record wood burners and chimney sweep certificates.

Start your inventory free

Homes sold in Folkestone and Hythe in the last 12 months

Type	Sales	Average price
Terraced	341	£284,884
Detached	289	£520,867
Semi-detached	275	£348,999
Flat or maisonette	261	£192,456
Other	49	£528,644

HM Land Registry Price Paid Data since 27 October 2025, updated monthly. Look up any address in the free property report.