George Webb Finn LLP

George Webb Finn LLP We are chartered surveyors, estate & letting agents specialising in residential, commercial and rura

Most Homes Sell in the First Eight WeeksOne of the most important statistics for anyone thinking of selling their home i...
28/08/2026

Most Homes Sell in the First Eight Weeks

One of the most important statistics for anyone thinking of selling their home is this: 61.7% of homes that successfully sell find their buyer within the first eight weeks of coming onto the market.

That matters because the early weeks are when your property is freshest, when the greatest number of buyers are likely to notice it, and when you have the best opportunity to create competition. Get the asking price wrong at the beginning and you risk wasting the strongest part of your marketing campaign. The numbers then fall away quite sharply. Only around one in five successful sales happen between weeks 9 and 18, with the percentages becoming smaller still as a property spends longer on the market.

Next week, I will be looking specifically at Sittingbourne & Faversham, showing how these national figures compare with what is actually happening in our local property market. For now, this gives you a flavour of what we will be looking at and why the initial asking price matters so much. If your home is already on the market, or you are even thinking about moving, this is one article you really should read.

25/08/2026

NEW TO THE MARKET - TO LET
Jacinth Drive, Sititngbourne
£1,100 pcm

This delightful detached coach house apartment has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment, ensuring a modern and inviting living space. The apartment features one well-proportioned bedroom, perfect for a single occupant or a couple seeking a cosy retreat.

The newly fitted kitchen is equipped with contemporary appliances and stylish finishes. The bathroom has also been tastefully updated, providing a fresh and clean environment. The apartment also boasts new neutral flooring and decoration throughout.

Set back from the road, this property benefits from a sense of privacy, complemented by the convenience of private parking for one vehicle and a single garage. Additionally, the small enclosed garden provides a lovely outdoor area.

With its prime location on the outskirts of Sittingbourne, you will have easy access to local amenities and transport links, making it an ideal place to call home. Don't miss the opportunity to view this delightful property.

24/08/2026

NEW TO MARKET
Northwood Drive, Sittingbourne
£360,000 Guide Price

This attractive semi detached house presents a fantastic opportunity for families and buyers seeking a home in a highly sought after location within easy walking distance of several well regarded schools. The property features two spacious reception rooms and fitted kitchen with access to the side of the property. Upstairs you will find three well proportioned bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The house benefits from off street parking at the front with additional parking and garage/shed to the rear. The mature well maintained gardens add to the property’s appeal, offering a pleasant westerly outlook and a sense of privacy.

The property, which is sold with no chain, offers excellent potential for extension and modernisation (subject to relevant planning permissions), allowing new owners to create their perfect home.

For further details vist our website https://www.georgewebbfinn.com/property/property-details?id=34872489

Why Have Rents Risen So Much Faster in Some Parts of Sittingbourne?Two tenants living only a few streets apart could hav...
21/08/2026

Why Have Rents Risen So Much Faster in Some Parts of Sittingbourne?

Two tenants living only a few streets apart could have experienced very different levels of rent growth over the last decade.

This map shows the average change in rents over the past 10 years, broken down into small local areas. The darker red areas have seen the strongest increases, while the yellow areas sit towards the lower end of rent growth.

What makes it interesting is just how local the rental market can be. Demand for certain property types, proximity to employment, schools, transport links and the changing mix of homes available to rent can all influence what tenants are prepared to pay.

It also shows why quoting one single figure for the whole of Sittingbourne can sometimes hide more than it reveals. Two neighbouring areas can experience noticeably different rental markets, even though they share the same town name. For landlords, tenants and anyone interested in the local property market, the real story is often happening street by street.

How Energy Efficient Are Sittingbourne’s Homes?This map shows the percentage of homes across Sittingbourne with an Energ...
15/07/2026

How Energy Efficient Are Sittingbourne’s Homes?

This map shows the percentage of homes across Sittingbourne with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A, B or C.

The darker the area, the higher the proportion of homes achieving one of these stronger energy ratings. Lighter areas have a lower percentage of homes rated A to C.

An EPC works in a similar way to the energy label found on a fridge or washing machine. Every home is rated from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G the least. Ratings take account of factors such as insulation, heating systems, windows, lighting and the amount of energy a property is likely to use.

Generally, newer homes tend to achieve higher EPC ratings because they were built to more modern standards. Older properties can still perform well, particularly where improvements such as loft insulation, modern boilers, double glazing or solar panels have been added.

Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important to buyers and tenants. A better-rated home may be cheaper to heat, more comfortable to live in and less exposed to future increases in energy costs.

However, an EPC rating is only one part of a property’s overall appeal. Location, condition, size, character and price will always remain important.

How does your part of Sittingbourne compare?

29% More Rental Properties come to the Market in June 2026 than 2 years agoThe most striking feature of the rental marke...
14/07/2026

29% More Rental Properties come to the Market in June 2026 than 2 years ago

The most striking feature of the rental market in June compared to two years ago is not rents. It has been supply.

Across almost every region of the UK, the number of rental properties coming onto the market June 2026 was significantly higher than June 2024. (29% more in fact!). Excluding Northern Ireland, which is a relatively small and unique market, every region has seen a sizeable increase in rental stock. The East Midlands leads the way with a 46% rise, followed closely by Wales (+40.1%) and the West Midlands (+39.9%).

That is quite a surprise.

For several years, the narrative has been one of landlords leaving the sector and rental supply collapsing. Yet these figures suggest that, at least in terms of new rental listings, tenants now have considerably more choice than they did two years ago.

It also helps explain another important trend. Despite all the headlines surrounding rents, average rental growth over the last two years has actually been relatively modest in most regions. In London, rents are virtually unchanged, while many other areas have only seen low single-digit growth. We will be publishing those figures next week.

Part of this increase in supply may well be linked to the strength of the first-time buyer market. Many landlords have undoubtedly sold properties to first-time buyers, yet the fact that rental listings are rising suggests that other landlords are continuing to bring stock to market, perhaps attracted by still healthy rental yields and improving tenant demand.

The rental market therefore appears to be entering a new phase. Demand remains strong, but supply is improving. For tenants, that should mean greater choice. For landlords, it may mean that simply putting a property on the market is no longer enough as pricing and presentation are likely to become increasingly important in the months ahead.

If you are a Swale landlord, or thinking of becoming a buy-to-let landlord and want to discuss what this means for you and your portfolio, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone.

10/07/2026

Faversham’s 442 Large Garden Homes:

How Rare Are They and What Are They Worth?

For some homebuyers, the kitchen is the deal maker. For others, it is the number of bedrooms, the school catchment or the distance to the railway station. Yet for a sizeable group of buyers, the garden matters just as much as the house itself. Across Faversham and its surrounding villages, there are 442 homes with large gardens.

What is a large garden? Homes sitting on plots of between 0.25 and 0.5 acres.

That is the equivalent of roughly one quarter to one half of a football pitch, depending on the dimensions used. It is enough room for proper lawns, mature trees, vegetable beds, sheds, greenhouses, children’s play areas and entertaining space, without necessarily becoming a full-time land management project.

Once plots move much beyond half an acre, buyers often begin to think about paddocks, grazing, smallholdings or simply the amount of time and money required to maintain the land. A quarter to half an acre can therefore represent something of a sweet spot for people who genuinely enjoy outdoor space.

Not everyone wants a large garden in Faversham

It is important to say that large gardens are not right for everybody.

Plenty of Faversham buyers actively prefer a smaller, easier to maintain outside space. A modest patio or compact lawn might be ideal for a busy professional, an older homeowner or somebody who would rather spend their weekends doing anything other than cutting grass.

Modern housebuilders understand that. Many newer homes have been built on smaller plots, allowing more properties to be constructed within the same development. This can help keep homes more affordable and reduce the amount of garden maintenance required. The trade-off, of course, is that some modern gardens can feel closer to a postage stamp.

For those who want space for children, dogs, gardening, entertaining or simply a little distance from the neighbours, a genuinely large garden remains highly desirable.

The 442 homes with a large garden, spread across the postcode district of ME13, have an average value of £678,214.

That figure should not be treated as a valuation for every home with a large garden. The size, condition, location and style of property will still have a considerable effect on its value. A detached house with a modern kitchen, open views and half an acre will naturally sit in a very different price bracket to a smaller semi-detached or terraced home with a long thin plot. Nevertheless, the figure gives us a useful indication of the value associated with this section of the local property market.

Large gardens are not limited to detached houses in Faversham

One of the most interesting findings is that these plots are not found exclusively behind large, detached homes.

In ME13 alone, there are 123 semi-detached homes sitting on plots between 0.25 and 0.5 acres.

This challenges the assumption that a large garden automatically means buying a large country house. There are a handful of older terraced homes in Faversham that were constructed with exceptionally long gardens, particularly in areas where land values and development pressures were very different from today.

How often do these Faversham homes change hands?

Of Faversham’s 442 homes with these large gardens, 225 have a recorded sale history since 1995.

That means approximately 51% have changed hands at least once during that period, while just under half have no recorded transaction in the last 30 years.

This helps demonstrate why finding the right large garden home can take patience. Many of these properties remain with the same owners for long periods. People who have the outdoor space they want are often reluctant to give it up, particularly when comparable homes are difficult to find.

At the time of writing this article, only 8 of the 442 homes were being marketed for sale (which represents only 1.8% of the total large garden housing stock across ME13) … not much is it?

Of course, these figures will move as homes come to the market and sales are agreed, but they illustrate the relative scarcity.

A garden is worth more than its size

A garden cannot be judged purely by acreage though.

Its shape, privacy, orientation, landscaping and usability all matter.

A beautifully designed 50ft by 20ft garden can be far more appealing than a larger plot that is steep, overlooked or difficult to maintain. Equally, some buyers see an established garden and immediately think about the work involved (although those robot mowers are very good!). Others see mature trees, vegetable beds and flower borders and fall in love with the garden before they have properly viewed the house.

That emotional response is one reason why Faversham homes with exceptional gardens can attract strong interest when they are marketed and priced correctly. Faversham and its surrounding villages have a varied mixture of homes, from modern developments to period properties and substantial village houses.

For those buyers who dream of space to plant, play, entertain or simply breathe, the area’s 442 large garden homes represent an important, valuable and relatively scarce part of the local property market.

What Britain’s EPC Ratings Mean for Swale HomeownersEnergy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of the ...
29/06/2026

What Britain’s EPC Ratings Mean for Swale Homeowners

Energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of the housing market, not only because of environmental concerns, but because of the impact on household bills. An analysis of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) across the UK shows the percentage of homes in each region rated A, B or C, with A being the most energy efficient.

London leads the way, with 59% of homes achieving one of the three highest ratings, closely followed by Scotland at 58%. London’s position is partly explained by its large number of flats, apartments and more recently constructed developments. These homes are generally smaller, easier to heat and built to more modern energy-efficiency standards.

Scotland’s figure is particularly interesting. However, direct comparisons should be treated with some care, as the EPC assessment methods, housing policies and reporting systems used in Scotland are not always identical. At the other end of the table, Northern Ireland has just 36% of homes rated A to C. Its older housing stock, greater number of rural and detached properties, and continued reliance on oil-fired heating all contribute to the difference.

Across England and Wales, most regions sit within a relatively narrow range of 48% to 52%. That suggests the type and age of a property can often be more significant than its geographical location.
For buyers, an efficient home may mean lower running costs. For sellers and landlords, improvements such as insulation, modern heating systems and better glazing could make a property more appealing, particularly while energy costs remain high.

Here in Swale, an EPC should therefore be viewed as more than another document in the sales or lettings process. It can provide a useful indication of what a home may cost to run, as well as where future improvements could be made. This is important because while the EPC rating is not at the top of most buyer’s wish lists, as energy becomes more expensive, that could change in the future. If you would like to discuss anything to do with EPCs and the local property market, do not hesitate to pick up the phone.

What Does Sir Keir Starmer’s Resignation Mean for the UK Property Market?Keir Starmer’s resignation will not automatical...
22/06/2026

What Does Sir Keir Starmer’s Resignation Mean for the UK Property Market?

Keir Starmer’s resignation will not automatically cause house prices to fall or mortgage rates to rise, but it does inject another dose of uncertainty into the UK property market.

The biggest issue is not who occupies Number 10. It is how financial markets judge the economic policies of the next Prime Minister and Chancellor.

Mortgage lenders price many fixed rate deals using swap rates, which reflect expectations about future interest rates. If investors become concerned that a new government will borrow and spend significantly more, gilt yields and swap rates could rise. That would make it harder for lenders to reduce mortgage rates and could even push some deals upwards.

So far, the immediate market reaction has been relatively restrained. However, buyers and sellers dislike uncertainty, particularly when it involves taxation, borrowing and the cost of mortgages. Some households may pause until the leadership contest and future economic direction become clearer.

An Andy Burnham government could also bring longer term changes to property taxation. He has previously supported reforming council tax and stamp duty, potentially replacing them with an annual tax linked to property values.

Scrapping stamp duty could encourage more people to move and improve mobility within the property market. However, an annual property levy could increase costs for some homeowners, landlords and owners of more expensive homes.

For now, this wont stop the property market. Serious buyers will continue buying and motivated sellers will continue selling.

Yet the speed and confidence of the market will depend on one thing above all else: whether the new government can convince financial markets that its economic sums add up.

The percentage of first-time buyers’ household income going on mortgage paymentsWhat this really shows is not house pric...
07/04/2026

The percentage of first-time buyers’ household income going on mortgage payments

What this really shows is not house prices, but pressure.

Because affordability is not about what a home costs, it is about what it costs you each month. And when you look at it through that lens, a very clear pattern emerges across the UK.

In London, first time buyers are committing over half of their household income just to their mortgage. The South East and South West are not far behind. Yet as you move further north, that burden eases, with many regions sitting closer to a fifth to a third of income.

That gap tells a bigger story. It reflects demand, wages, supply, and the simple fact that there is no single UK property market, only a collection of local ones behaving very differently.

If you would like to chat about what is happening in the Swale property market, or how these trends affect you, feel free to get in touch.

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