Sevenoaks Real Estate: Kent Family Homes within Reach of London

Knole Park, the 15th-century house and deer park, sits beside the town, and parts of the district fall in the Kent Downs landscape. Trains from Sevenoaks station reach London Bridge or Charing Cross in around 30 to 35 minutes. Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells are the nearest sizeable towns, with Tunbridge Wells to the south. Beckenham is a south-east London suburb to the north-west, and London, Wimbledon and Putney are separate markets across the capital, so see them as price comparisons.

Foreigners can buy freehold property in England. Stamp Duty Land Tax adds a 2% surcharge for non-UK residents and a 5% higher-rates surcharge for additional dwellings, on top of the standard bands, which are revised periodically. Solicitors handle conveyancing, and mortgages for non-residents typically require 25% to 40% deposits. Green belt and conservation status can limit extension plans. See our UK buying guide, mortgage guide, and the UK overview.

Annual council tax is based on a banded valuation, and for homes in the highest band it is a real running cost. Solicitors also check for restrictive covenants, which are common on older estates.