We compare 14,000+ mortgage deals from over 99 UK lenders, matching your application to the lenders most likely to accept it.
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You pay us nothing for the advice, the mortgage application or any of the work in between.
The fact that the mortgage lender pays us has no bearing on the rate or deal we recommend. Our job is to find you the right mortgage. That’s what we’re paid to do.
No advice fee. No application fee. No fee on completion. We’re paid by the lender and we’re FCA regulated, so the advice is held to the highest professional standards.
Stevenage has enough variety in its property stock that where you buy and what you buy can change your mortgage options significantly.
Old Town attracts professional couples and equity-rich buyers relocating from London, drawn by Victorian and Edwardian terraces around the High Street and St Nicholas Church. Prices here sit at the top of the SG1 range, and any period property should be checked for listed status before lender selection.
Great Ashby is the go-to for families wanting modern detached and semi-detached homes with good road access to the A1(M). It avoids the mortgage complications of older New Town stock, though Help to Buy resales need careful handling with lenders.
Bedwell offers some of the most affordable entry prices in Stevenage, with ex-local authority terraces and flats close to the station. Lender choice here is narrower, and LTV limits apply on ex-LA stock.
Leasehold flats are the most significant mortgage complication in Stevenage. Around 97% of flats are leasehold, and lenders will scrutinise lease length, service charge levels and ground rent terms before offering. Ground rent escalation clauses on pre-2022 leases have made some flats unmortgageable with high street lenders entirely. EWS1 documentation adds another layer of complexity. Vista Tower, a 16-storey block in the town centre, is effectively unmortgageable with mainstream lenders until remediation is complete and a satisfactory EWS1 rating is achieved. Buyers of any flat in a building over 18 metres should confirm whether an EWS1 is in place before progressing an application.
Ex-local authority properties in Bedwell and Shephall are mortgageable, but many high street lenders cap LTV at 75 to 80% on ex-LA flats, and some older New Town blocks built using concrete panel or prefabricated construction require specialist lenders altogether. Checking the construction method before selecting a lender is essential, not optional.
Old Town period properties are generally standard construction and mortgageable without difficulty. If a property carries listed status, specialist buildings insurance is recommended and a fuller structural survey is often worth considering depending on the building’s condition and age.
A two-bedroom terraced house, the first-time buyer sweet spot in Stevenage, typically falls between £280,000 and £330,000. A three-bedroom semi-detached in Great Ashby or Chells runs from around £340,000 to £420,000. One-bedroom leasehold flats near the station start from approximately £175,000, making them the most accessible entry point for single buyers and investors.
The average first-time buyer paid around £281,000 in May 2025 (ONS). At that price, a household income of around £56,000 gets you to a standard 4.5x multiple. Some lenders extend to 5x income or higher for applicants in qualifying professions or with strong affordability profiles.
With a 10% deposit on a £300,000 purchase, your mortgage sits at £270,000. That is achievable for dual-income buyers, and Stevenage’s prices make it considerably more accessible than comparable commuter towns in Hertfordshire.
Our mortgage advisers know this market well and can match you to the right lender for the specific property you are buying, whether that is a leasehold flat near the station or a semi in Great Ashby.
★★★★★ 1,600+ verified reviews
We’re used by clients across Hertfordshire and the wider UK, with 1,600+ verified 5★ Trustpilot reviews. You can read our independent reviews from people we’ve arranged mortgages for, which gives a good sense of how we work.
We compare around 14,000 mortgage products from more than 99 mortgage lenders, including high street banks and specialist lenders. Hertfordshire has its own mix of property types — commuter-belt semis, new build estates, period cottages and listed buildings are all assessed differently by lenders.
It’s not just about finding a rate. It’s about placing your mortgage with the right lender first time.
We don’t favour any one lender. With access to over 99 lenders, we’re spoilt for choice. We match your mortgage application with the lenders whose criteria best fit your circumstances. From your first enquiry through to your mortgage offer, you’ll have a qualified mortgage adviser managing the entire process, not a faceless call centre.
| Feature | YesCanDo Money | Typical Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Broker fees | £0 | £300–£700 |
| Whole-of-market access | ✅ 99+ lenders | Not always — many use a limited panel |
| Mortgage products | ✅ 14,000+ | Restricted to their panel (Typically 10-60 lenders) |
| Dedicated adviser | ✅ Yes | Often passed between staff |
| Application handling | ✅ Fully managed | Varies by firm |
| Updates throughout | ✅ Proactive | Often only when chased |
| Communication | ✅ Phone, Email, Video & WhatsApp | Phone or email only |
| Trustpilot rating | ✅ 5/5 Stars - Rated Excellent | Industry Standard 4.1 out of 5 |
| Fee on completion | ✅ None | Some charge on top of lender commission |
Mortgage rates move regularly and the best deal for you depends on your deposit, the property and your circumstances. The rates below give a live snapshot of what’s available at 80% loan to value, but the headline rate is only ever part of the picture. We’ll compare the true cost across 99+ lenders and match your mortgage application to the one most likely to accept it.
THE SITUATION
A 28-year-old NHS administrator was buying her first home, a two-bedroom leasehold flat in the Broadwater area, priced at £248,000. She had a £25,000 deposit saved, around 10%, and needed to complete within three months to align with her tenancy end date.
THE CHALLENGE
The flat sat in a five-storey block, and the managing agent could not confirm whether an EWS1 assessment had been carried out. Two high street lenders she had already approached declined to proceed without a valid EWS1 certificate. The lease also had 81 years remaining, which ruled out several lenders whose criteria required a minimum of 85 years at the end of the mortgage term.
WHAT WE DID
Our mortgage advisers reviewed the block height, cladding type, and lease terms before approaching lenders. We identified a specialist lender willing to proceed with 81 years remaining and confirmed their EWS1 position for buildings in that height band. We packaged the application with a full lease summary to avoid delays at underwriting.
THE OUTCOME
A formal mortgage offer was issued within 18 days, keeping her completion timeline on track. She paid no broker fee throughout.
THE SITUATION
A self-employed graphic designer owned a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Great Ashby, purchased for £385,000 with a remaining balance of £241,000. Her fixed rate was expiring and her existing lender offered a product transfer with no new affordability assessment required.
THE CHALLENGE
Her income had grown significantly since the original mortgage, but it was drawn as a combination of salary and dividends across two tax years. Several high street lenders would only use the lower of the two years’ net profit figures. Her existing lender’s product transfer rate was 4.89%, but because they were not re-underwriting the case, they were also not offering the rate she could access elsewhere based on her true current earnings.
WHAT WE DID
We sourced lenders who assess self-employed applicants using the latest two years’ salary plus dividends rather than net profit, which materially increased the income figure used. That opened access to a lower rate tier than her existing lender was offering on the product transfer. We ran a full market comparison and confirmed there was no early repayment charge outstanding before recommending a full switch.
THE OUTCOME
She secured a rate of 4.31% with a different lender, saving approximately £112 per month against the product transfer offer. No broker fee was charged.
THE SITUATION
A family of four had outgrown their three-bedroom terraced house in Chells, purchased for £298,000 in 2021. They had found a four-bedroom detached in Great Ashby asking £530,000 and wanted to move before the school year started in September.
THE CHALLENGE
Their existing fix had 14 months left to run, carrying an early repayment charge of just over £4,800. Porting the mortgage to the new property was possible in principle, but the additional borrowing required sat on a separate rate with a different end date, creating two tranches to manage. A three-way chain added further timing pressure, with a first-time buyer at the bottom of the chain waiting on a mortgage offer.
WHAT WE DID
We modelled porting against a full remortgage to a new lender. Once we factored in the ERC, the new-lender rate available, and the blended cost of managing two tranches, porting came out marginally cheaper over the remaining fix period. We coordinated directly with the lender’s porting team to align offer validity with the chain timeline, keeping the first-time buyer’s solicitor updated on key milestones.
THE OUTCOME
The family completed on the Great Ashby property ahead of the September deadline, with the port processed without delay. No broker fee was charged.
THE SITUATION
A landlord approached us looking to purchase a two-bedroom flat in a mixed-use block close to Stevenage station, priced at £255,000 with a 25% deposit of £63,750. The SG1 location was the draw: strong commuter tenant demand, low void periods, and a gross yield comfortably above 5% based on an achievable rent of £1,300 per month (Rightmove, early 2026).
THE CHALLENGE
The block contained ground-floor commercial units, which a number of buy-to-let lenders will not accept without specific approval. At seven storeys, it also sat in a height bracket where some lenders requested EWS1 documentation before proceeding. On top of that, current BTL stress tests required the rental income to cover the mortgage at a notional rate of around 5.5% to 8.5% depending on the lender, which ruled out several otherwise suitable products at the loan size required.
WHAT WE DID
We identified a specialist buy-to-let lender with an explicit policy permitting mixed-use blocks where residential units account for the majority of the building. That lender’s stress test also worked in the client’s favour: at 75% LTV and the confirmed rental figure, the interest coverage ratio cleared comfortably. We confirmed with the managing agent that an EWS1 certificate was already in place and rated A2, removing the final obstacle before submission.
THE OUTCOME
The mortgage completed on a competitive two-year fixed rate, with no broker fee charged to the client. The landlord now holds a station-adjacent SG1 flat letting well above the break-even rental figure.
Every mortgage situation has its own quirks. We’ll find the lender that fits. Get Free Advice →
We work with high street banks as well as specialist lenders that only accept applications through brokers. Some deals simply aren’t available if you go directly to a bank.
We tell you upfront how a lender is likely to view your mortgage application and what’s genuinely achievable. No jargon, no vague answers and no surprises down the line.
We chase the mortgage lender, deal with queries and coordinate with the valuer and your solicitor so things keep moving without it landing back on you.
We identify where your case fits before submitting anything. Self-employed earnings, contractor rates, bonus income and commission can all affect which lenders say yes.
You’ll never be left wondering where things stand. We contact you when decisions are made and flag anything that needs your attention straight away.
Phone, online meeting or WhatsApp, whatever suits you best. Most clients never need to meet us in person and the advice is exactly the same either way.
With 1,600+ five-star reviews on Trustpilot, we’re ranked among the top 10 mortgage brokers in the UK. That comes from taking every case seriously and making sure every client feels looked after from the first conversation right through to completion.
Buying your first home in Hertfordshire means navigating new build estates, period properties and commuter-town flats. We handle the mortgage side from start to finish, including shared ownership and first home schemes.
If your deal is ending or you want to check you’re on the right rate, we search across 99+ lenders and handle everything. It costs nothing to find out if you can do better.
Moving home in Hertfordshire often means properties lenders assess very differently. Whether porting (transferring your current mortgage to your new home) or getting a new deal, we compare both options and manage everything through to offer.
Hertfordshire has a strong rental market, particularly in commuter towns with fast links into London. Rental income calculations and lender criteria need to be right from the start.
A mortgage is a long term commitment. We advise on life cover, critical illness cover and income protection so that if something unexpected happens, your home isn’t left exposed.
Stevenage has more going for it than its reputation suggests, and for buyers who understand the local market it offers genuine value within commuting distance of London. Here is what you need to know before you start your search.
Stevenage divides opinion, and it is worth being honest about that. The town centre is a product of post-war planning, with a pedestrianised shopping area, wide dual carriageways, and the cycleways and underpasses that define classic New Town design. It does not have the charm of a market town high street. What it does have is genuine practicality, good rail connections, and house prices that make serious financial sense for anyone priced out of the commuter belt further south.
The train is the biggest selling point. Stevenage station sits on the East Coast Main Line, and fast services reach London King’s Cross in as little as 19 minutes. St Pancras is under 30 minutes. There are also direct Thameslink services to Moorgate via Finsbury Park, Old Street, and Highbury and Islington. For buyers priced out of Islington or Hackney, average prices around £317,000 (ONS, January 2026) make the numbers genuinely compelling.
Old Town attracts equity-rich buyers relocating from London, partly for the period properties and partly for the school catchments. Great Ashby suits families who want newer stock, low crime statistics and easy A1(M) access. Chells is a more affordable family option with local schools and green space close at hand. Fairlands Valley Park, Knebworth House and the Hertfordshire countryside give families genuine weekend options without driving far.
If you care about architecture, independent retail and a place that feels like it grew organically, Stevenage will frustrate you. Old Town softens that, but it covers a small part of a large town. The commute is fast but it is still a commute, and season ticket costs add up. Stevenage suits buyers who want space, value and a direct line into London. It probably does not suit buyers who want urban energy without getting on a train to find it.
New Town terraces dominate, accounting for roughly 55.6% of all sales and averaging £341,337 (Rightmove). Many are solid 1950s and 1960s builds, though ex-local authority stock in Bedwell and Shephall can carry lender restrictions, particularly where construction is non-standard concrete panel or prefabricated. Semis in Great Ashby and Chells average £415,412 and are the most in-demand family type. Old Town Victorian and Edwardian stock commands the highest SG1 prices and holds value well due to limited supply. Leasehold flats near the station are plentiful but 97% are leasehold, making lease terms, ground rent and building safety checks essential before any purchase progresses.
Prices rose 6.6% year-on-year (ONS, January 2026), well ahead of the East of England average of 1.2%, and transaction volumes rose to 1,100 completions in 2025. New builds carry a significant premium — established properties average £356,000 against £514,000 for new builds. That gap of £158,000 is large enough to warrant serious thought before committing.
Average rents reached £1,412 per month in February 2026, up 5.0% year-on-year (Rightmove). SG1 offers the strongest gross yield at around 5.0%, driven by commuter and GSK employee demand, and is the only Stevenage postcode currently clearing the threshold most portfolio investors target.
Whether you are buying your first home in Chells, moving up to a semi in Great Ashby, or building a buy-to-let portfolio near the station, getting the right mortgage in place is where the detail really matters.
A short call to understand your situation and goals — income, deposit, the property and anything that might affect lender choice. From there we give you a clear picture of what’s realistic.
We search across the market, including lenders you can’t reach directly. Once you’re happy with the recommendation, we secure the rate, arrange an agreement in principle and submit the full application.
When the lender is satisfied, they issue the formal offer. We stay involved right through to completion, and if a better rate appears before then we’ll look at whether switching makes sense.
No charge for the initial discussion — we’ll explain the options before anything moves forward.
★★★★★ Rated Excellent · 1,600+ reviews
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Stevenage sits on the East Coast Main Line with trains into King’s Cross from 19 minutes, yet average house prices sit around £317,000 (ONS, January 2026), roughly half what you would pay for a comparable home in the London boroughs those trains serve. That gap is closing, though. Prices rose 6.6% year-on-year, well ahead of the East of England average of 1.2%, and transaction volumes are rising too, with 1,100 completions recorded in 2025. The town rewards buyers who move with some knowledge behind them. A flat near the station in SG1 looks attractive on paper, but 97% of Stevenage flats are leasehold, ground rent escalation clauses on older leases can make a property unmortgageable with high street lenders, and Vista Tower remains effectively off the table for mainstream mortgage finance until remediation work is complete and a satisfactory EWS1 rating is in place. Ex-local authority stock in Bedwell and Shephall can also trip up a straightforward application if the construction type has not been checked before a lender is approached.
We’re a family-run, FCA regulated mortgage broker, not a call centre. You deal with a real adviser throughout, someone who takes the time to understand your situation and works out the best route forward before any paperwork is started.
In Stevenage, lender selection matters before the rate does. Picking the wrong lender for a leasehold flat, an ex-LA terrace in Chells, or a period semi in Old Town with a listed building complication can cost weeks and the purchase itself. We check the details that derail applications before anything is submitted.
