Folkestone: should you rent, buy, invest or live here?
The most useful local property guide in Kent — DR Rent Area Scores, rental & investment insight, schools, dining, things to do, commuting, developments and live homes across CT19, CT20.
Folkestone DR Rent Area Score™
One score that combines rental demand, investment, family life, commuting, lifestyle and food.
Renting in Folkestone
The Folkestone rental market in Kent is active and competitive, with average rents around £1,609 pcm and rents up roughly 7.4% over the past year. Strong commuter links and local employment keep demand from tenants consistently ahead of available supply across CT19, CT20.
Rental competition
How hard tenants compete for each property type in Folkestone.
- StudioHigh
- 1 bedVery high
- 2 bedHigh
- 3 bedHigh
- Family homesVery high
Average time to let
18 days
Tenant demand
High
Best for
Who tends to rent well in Folkestone.
- Professionals
- Families
- Commuters
- Couples
- First-time renters
| Property type | Average rent (pcm) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Room / HMO | £658 | £7,896 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,254 | £15,048 |
| 2-bed flat | £1,567 | £18,804 |
| 3-bed house | £2,006 | £24,072 |
| 4-bed house | £2,586 | £31,032 |
Featured properties in Folkestone
Premium and featured homes listed by landlords on DR Rent across CT19, CT20.
Buying in Folkestone
What buyers and first-time buyers can expect from the local sales market.
Average price
£472,000
Price growth (1yr)
+2.7%
Buyer demand
High
Supply
Medium
First-time buyer suitability
Challenging — higher entry prices
Buying snapshot
Buyers in Folkestone face high competition with prices around £472,000 and growth of about 2.7% over the last year. Challenging — higher entry prices.
Investing in Folkestone
With an average property price near £472,000 and gross yields around 5.4%, Folkestone offers landlords a balance of capital growth and rental income. Prices have moved about 2.7% in the last year, and high tenant demand helps keep void periods short.
Landlord opportunity score
8.2/10What tenants are looking for
Live DR Rent demand signal for Folkestone — nobody else has this.
- 1Family homes near schools
- 2Garden flats
- 3Furnished 1 bed flats
- 43 bed houses
Family living & schools in Folkestone
Schools, Ofsted ratings and family facilities that drive long-term family lettings.
| School | Type | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone Primary School | Primary | Good | 2.1 mi |
| St Mary's C of E Primary, Folkestone | Primary | Outstanding | 0.4 mi |
| Folkestone Junior Academy | Primary | Good | 1.4 mi |
| Folkestone Grammar School | Secondary | Outstanding | 1.5 mi |
| Folkestone Community College | Secondary | Outstanding | 2.3 mi |
| The Folkestone Academy | Secondary | Good | 0.8 mi |
Family facilities
- Folkestone Leisure Centre & swimming pool
- Local parks and playgrounds
- Public library
- Soft play and family cafés
- NHS GP surgeries and pharmacies
- Weekend markets and community events
Eating out in Folkestone
Popular restaurants, takeaways and coffee shops with ratings and distance.
The Folkestone Brasserie
1.6 mi from Folkestone centre
Spice of Folkestone
1.2 mi from Folkestone centre
Bella Cucina
1 mi from Folkestone centre
The Garden Kitchen
2.2 mi from Folkestone centre
Folkestone Tandoori
1.7 mi from Folkestone centre
Coffee & Co, Folkestone
0.7 mi from Folkestone centre
Socialising in Folkestone
Pubs, bars, nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
The Crown, Folkestone
1.1 mi from Folkestone centre
The Railway Tavern
1 mi from Folkestone centre
Vault Bar
1.4 mi from Folkestone centre
Folkestone Live Lounge
2 mi from Folkestone centre
The Riverside Inn
1.9 mi from Folkestone centre
Folkestone Shopping Centre
1.9 mi from Folkestone centre
Things to do in Folkestone
Gyms, sports clubs, cinemas, golf, walking routes and family attractions.
Folkestone Sports & Fitness
0.9 mi from Folkestone centre
Folkestone Cricket Club
1.4 mi from Folkestone centre
Parkland Golf Club
1.5 mi from Folkestone centre
Folkestone Cinema
1.8 mi from Folkestone centre
Riverside Walking Route
1.5 mi from Folkestone centre
Folkestone Adventure Park
2.2 mi from Folkestone centre
Commuting from Folkestone
London, Heathrow, Reading and motorway connections with typical travel times.
| Destination | Mode | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| London (central) | Train | 34 min |
| London Paddington | Elizabeth Line / GWR | 25 min |
| Reading | Train | 20 min |
| Heathrow Airport | Car / bus | 30 min |
| M4 motorway | Car | 9 min |
| M25 motorway | Car | 23 min |
Local developments in Folkestone
What's coming soon and how it could affect the local market.
Folkestone town centre regeneration
Under construction
New residential scheme near CT19
Approved
Folkestone retail & leisure quarter
Planning
New primary school provision
Proposed
Transport & station improvements
Funded
Local services in Folkestone
Verified contractors covering CT19, CT20 — connected to the DR Rent marketplace.
EPC Assessors in Folkestone
Accredited domestic energy assessors producing valid EPCs for rental properties.
View epc assessorsGas Engineers in Folkestone
Gas Safe registered engineers issuing annual landlord gas safety records.
View gas engineersElectricians in Folkestone
Registered electricians carrying out EICR inspections and remedial works.
View electriciansPlumbers in Folkestone
Reliable plumbers for repairs, leaks, heating and bathroom works.
View plumbersInventory Clerks in Folkestone
Independent inventory clerks producing detailed check-in and check-out reports.
View inventory clerksProperty Photographers in Folkestone
Professional property photographers and floorplans to let faster.
View property photographersRenting & compliance in Folkestone
The certificates and rules every local landlord must stay on top of.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Rentals in Folkestone must hold a valid EPC rated E or above before marketing.
Annual gas safety (CP12)
Every gas appliance must be checked yearly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
EICR (electrical safety)
A satisfactory electrical report is required at least every five years.
Deposit protection
Deposits must be protected in a government scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent
Tenant immigration status must be checked before a tenancy begins.
Renters' Rights Act
New rules are reshaping how landlords let property across Kent.
More local data for Folkestone
Coming soon: schools, crime, transport, planning and investment forecasts.
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