Koto Financial Services

Koto Financial Services Koto is a whole of market mortgage and protection adviser based in Hertfordshire.

07/09/2026

With all insurance policies there’s a lot of questions, some more intrusive than others!

With personal protection policies, Life Cover and Critical Illness for example providers will want to build a picture of your medical history and if there are any conditions that may affect the premiums.

So, what are some lifestyle choices that will affect the price you pay, obvious one is smoking, and yes, this does include va**ng. This is quite heavily penalised, and you should expect a 50% loading applied to the premiums of your policy.
Drinking alcohol will again impact the price you pay, the insurers aren’t expecting you to be a saint, so in moderation, you should be fine.

They will also ask questions regarding your height and weights, as well as your dress size for women and trouser waist for men.

Other considerations they’ll have are your immediate family history, have any parents or siblings passed away before the age of 60, or been diagnosed with certain conditions – cancer, motor neurone, parkinsons etc

They’ll also want to know a bit about hobbies and jobs – do you enjoy extreme sports, base jumping, sky diving, deep sea scuba – does your job involve working at heights, lots of driving?

We are able to support a lot with this and have access to a number of tools that can help us understand how the policy will be underwritten and what level of loading could be applied before we commit to an application.

For ANY protection or insurance policies please do get in touch via a DM or booking a call.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Following your consultation, there may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and this will depend on your circumstances.

As with all insurance policies, exclusions may apply.

Check out our new BLOG!Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
04/09/2026

Check out our new BLOG!

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

02/09/2026

Do you make overpayments on your mortgage? No, well you’ll be like most homeowners that don’t either. After a recent coffee and catch up with Santander they estimate only 2% of homeowners make regular overpayments.

Most lenders have an overpayment allowance of 10% on fixed rate mortgages, although some are now offering a 20% tolerance. For mortgages on variable or tracker rates in most instances there is no limit on overpayments.

So, why would you overpay? We’ll the obvious answer is to pay off your mortgage quicker. Most lenders would use the overpayment to reduce your monthly cost as the additional payment would be deducted from the balance in the background, then having a slight knock-on effect to your monthly payment as the interest charge is recalculated. As well as reducing the term slightly too. You can call your lender and have the monthly payment amount left as it currently is and further reduce your term instead – this is up to the individual lender.

If you’d like to explore your overpayment options please do reach out and send us a DM, or book in a call.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

24/08/2026

Koto – Your One Stop Shop
Buying a property can feel overwhelming.

Mortgage advice. Solicitors. Surveys. Life cover. Buildings and contents insurance.

That's a lot to organise.
Recently, Koto Financial Services helped a client manage every stage of their home-buying journey.

We arranged expert mortgage advice, introduced a solicitor, organised a survey, discussed life cover options and helped arrange buildings and contents insurance.

One point of contact. One seamless process.

If you're looking for a Mortgage Broker in St Albans who can help simplify your property journey, get in touch today.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply.

21/08/2026

5 Things Nobody Told Me before I bought my first home

Your first mortgage payment will be higher – be prepared so that the first payment isn’t a shock. Budget ahead so that is doesn’t catch you out!

Change your locks ASAP – You have no idea who still has a key – Don’t take that risk!

Budget for maintenance – Things break! The boiler WILL choose the coldest day to stop working.

Redirect your post – Change your address everywhere, even for things you barely use, some clients have had reminder or late payment post going to the wrong address, resulting in unwanted defaults on their credit files!

Council Tax Bands can change. If the house has been extended you might get rebanded and owe or pay more than expected.

If you want to find out more drop us a DM or book a call with us.

You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Interest Only Mortgages – No Minimum Income?🏡 Think Interest Only Mortgages are only for high earners?Think again.A numb...
27/07/2026

Interest Only Mortgages – No Minimum Income?

🏡 Think Interest Only Mortgages are only for high earners?

Think again.

A number of lenders, including Leek Building Society and Santander, may consider Interest Only mortgage applications without imposing the high minimum income requirements often associated with this type of borrowing.
Leek also have NO minimum equity either, just that your equity is enough to buy a property in the UK outright.

Interest Only mortgages can be a useful solution for the right borrower, helping to reduce monthly payments and provide flexibility.

However, having a suitable repayment strategy is essential.

Every lender has different criteria, so expert guidance can help identify the most suitable options available.

At Koto Financial Services, we help clients across the UK navigate lender criteria and secure mortgage solutions tailored to their needs.

📞 Speak to a Mortgage Broker in St Albans today.

Risk Warning:
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Child shield - MetlifeDid you know there is protection designed specifically for children? ChildShield from MetLife can ...
24/07/2026

Child shield - MetlifeDid you know there is protection designed specifically for children?

ChildShield from MetLife can provide cover for children up to age 22, helping families manage the unexpected.

Plans start from £6 or £11 per month, and cover includes things like:

• Major and minor broken bones
• ICU admissions
• Hospital stays
• Accidents and illnesses

Depending on the level of cover selected, payouts can range from £50 up to £10,000.

At Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we help families across the UK review their protection so they know exactly what support is available if something unexpected happens.

As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply.

Should I Get a Survey?In short – Yes!Your lender will only carry out a Mortgage Valuation, which confirms the property's...
22/07/2026

Should I Get a Survey?
In short – Yes!

Your lender will only carry out a Mortgage Valuation, which confirms the property's value for lending purposes. It is not a survey and won't identify potential defects.

A house survey is a professional inspection of the property's condition, carried out by a qualified surveyor. It highlights issues that could affect your purchase and provides a detailed report. Before booking, ensure your surveyor is accredited by RICS or another recognised professional body.

RICS Home Survey Level 1
Suitable for modern homes in good condition. It uses a traffic light system to give a basic overview of the property's condition and highlight any obvious issues.

RICS Home Survey Level 2
The most popular choice for homes in reasonable condition. It identifies defects that could affect value, highlights issues such as damp, subsidence and building regulation concerns, and provides advice on repairs and maintenance. Available with or without a market valuation. The inspection is non-intrusive.

RICS Home Survey Level 3
The most comprehensive survey, recommended for properties over 50 years old, unusual homes, those in poor condition, or where major renovations are planned. The surveyor carries out a more detailed inspection, including accessible lofts and under-floor areas, and provides advice on defects, repairs, maintenance, and, if requested, estimated repair costs and timescales.

For help with surveys, quotes and information please do drop us a DM, or book a call to discuss.

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

20/07/2026

When you buy a property your solicitor will need to pay for searches, and they’ll expect you to pay for these upfront, but what are they and what are they for?

Searches are inquiries made by your solicitor to various authorities to uncover information about the property. These are crucial to identify potential issues that could affect your purchase, such as planning developments or environmental hazards.

The most common searches are:
Local Authority: reviews the local councils record about the property, including planning permissions, building regs & road adoption status. It can also reveal any planned developments, roadworks or railway schemes.
Drainage & Water: access to public sewers & water mains, and investigates potential drainage issues.
Environmental: identifies risks such as contaminated land, flooding risk, ground instability or radon gas.
Land Registry Search – ensuring your seller is the rightful owner.

Other potential searches could be:
Mining & Quarrying: relevant if there is a history in the area.
Chancel Repair: if the property is near to, or on old church land.

Why are they important?
They allow informed decision making, helping you understand the property’s history, condition and potential risks before buying.
Protection from future issues, they could reveal potential problems that might impact your enjoyment or the property – or its value!
Meeting mortgage lender requirements, lenders will often require certain searches to protect their investment.
Avoiding legal disputes, by identifying any potential issues early can prevent expensive legal costs down the line!

You should expect to pay roughly £300- £500 depending on location, and if you fast tracked the searches or not.

If you are looking for support with buying a property, or finding a solicitor to support with your new home please do reach out to booking a call.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Following your consultation, there may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and this will depend on your circumstances.

Address

Riverdale House, 19-21a High Street
Saint Albans
AL48BB

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441727293050

Website

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