Kennet Equipment Leasing Reviews

Kennet Equipment Leasing specializes in flexible, customer-focused equipment financing solutions, providing tailored leasing options to support business growth efficiently.

Here are the Trustpilot Reviews from Kennet Equipment Leasing:

Here are the Reviews from Kennet Equipment Leasing:

We love dealing with Kennet leasing as they are so quick to reponse, great customer service, good rates and no messing about, they get stuff through and suppliers also like dealing with them. We would highly recommend them for equipment leasing and funding requirements!

CU Customer

We recently used Kennet Leasing to help finance the equipment for our new salon, and the entire experience has been seamless from start to finish. A special thanks to Amber Herrick, who looked after us throughout the process - her support was second to none. Amber took the time to understand our specific circumstances and provided a truly bespoke service that made a potentially stressful part of the setup feel incredibly smooth. She was responsive, professional, and genuinely invested in helping us get what we needed. We’d firmly recommend Kennet Leasing to anyone looking for a tailored and hassle-free financing solution. Thanks again to Amber, Lucy and the team!

Niall Williams

From our initial enquiry to delivery Fahmi at Kennet has helped us with each step. Quick to answer our questions and get the ball rolling so that the item was delivered quickly and in a way that is affordable for our business. We will definitely consider using again in the future. Highly recommended!

JO Jo

Stevie was great in helping up obtain a hire purchase vehicle very quickly for our business! Will absolutely be using them again.

Harriet Leggatt

Very pleased with the deal offered by Kennet. Everything done quickly and professionally (thanks Bev!). Would definitely recommend.

Lee Byatt

Been with this company a few times always been amazing at helping you Beverley green xx

Larney Littlewood

Explore Kennet Equipment Leasing's Finance Solutions:

Finance Lease

£5,000 – £2,000,000

Hire Purchase

£5,000 – £2,000,000

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Explore Kennet Equipment Leasing's Finance Solutions:

Loan Type:

Finance Lease

Loan Range:

£5,000 – £2,000,000

Loan Terms:

1 – 7 years

Minimum Turnover and Trading Age:

Typically 12 months+ trading (start-ups considered case-by-case)

Interest Rate / Factor Rate:

Information not publicly available (fixed rental profile agreed at outset)

Fees:

Documentation fee (£95–£195 typical); option-to-purchase or secondary period fees where applicable; early termination settlement cost

Loan Type:

Hire Purchase

Loan Range:

£5,000 – £2,000,000

Loan Terms:

1 – 7 years

Minimum Turnover and Trading Age:

Typically 12 months+ trading (start-ups considered)

Interest Rate / Factor Rate:

Information not publicly available (fixed or variable rate agreed)

Fees:

Documentation fee (£95–£195); option-to-purchase fee (£10–£50); early settlement figure if repaid early

Loan Type:

Operating Lease

Loan Range:

£10,000 – £1,000,000

Loan Terms:

2 – 5 years

Minimum Turnover and Trading Age:

2 years’ trading generally required

Interest Rate / Factor Rate:

Information not publicly available (rentals based on forecast residual value)

Fees:

Documentation fee (£95–£195); excess usage/condition charges at lease end

Loan Type:

Asset Refinance / Sale & Leaseback Loan

Loan Range:

£25,000 – £1,500,000 (up to 80% of asset’s forced-sale value)

Loan Terms:

1 – 5 years

Minimum Turnover and Trading Age:

Minimum 12 months trading preferred

Interest Rate / Factor Rate:

Information not publicly available (quoted case-by-case)

Fees:

Valuation fee where applicable; documentation fee; early settlement fee

Loan Type:

Vendor / Dealer Finance Facility

Loan Range:

£1,000 – £500,000 per transaction (no set programme cap)

Loan Terms:

12 – 60 months per end-customer agreement

Minimum Turnover and Trading Age:

Suppliers must be UK-registered; no specific age requirement

Interest Rate / Factor Rate:

Information not publicly available (rates quoted to end-customer)

Fees:

Programme set-up fee possible; documentation fee per contract

Loan Type:

Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) – Term Loan / Asset Finance

Loan Range:

£25,001 – £2,000,000 (per borrower limit under scheme rules)

Loan Terms:

Up to 6 years for term loans and asset finance

Minimum Turnover and Trading Age:

Businesses trading in the UK negatively affected by COVID-19; no minimum turnover stated by scheme

Interest Rate / Factor Rate:

Capped at 14.99% inclusive of all fees (per government rules) – exact rate quoted individually

Fees:

No arrangement fee charged to customer under scheme rules; early repayment allowed without penalties

More About the CEO

Stephen Jenkins

Managing Director

CEO since since 2017

Stephen Jenkins is the Managing Director at Kennet Equipment Leasing, bringing over 20 years of leadership and financial solutions experience to the company. He has been instrumental in the company's development and reputation in the asset finance industry.

Education

Information about Stephen Jenkins's education is not public.

Certifications

Information about Stephen Jenkins is not public.

Experience

Stephen Jenkins has a long-standing career in asset finance, with extensive experience at Kennet Equipment Leasing and prior roles in related finance companies. He has led the company through significant periods of growth and industry change.

Awards

Information about Stephen Jenkins is not public.

Kennet Equipment Leasing Limited — history timeline

Founding

Acquisition

Partnership

Financial

1990 2014 2020 2023 2025

20 December 1990 Kennet Equipment Leasing Limited is incorporated The company was incorporated in the UK, establishing the legal entity behind the Kennet equipment-finance business. Companies House records show it as an active private limited company.

Source → Founding

31 July 2014 STAR Capital acquires Kennet STAR Capital Partners acquired Kennet via STAR Finance Partnership LP, a vehicle created to consolidate the asset-finance broker market. STAR said initial funding for the investment exceeded £60 million, marking a major ownership change and growth platform.

Source → Acquisition

10 October 2014 Kennet acquires AH Corporate Finance Kennet acquired Aylesbury-based AH Corporate Finance and absorbed its portfolio into the business. Trade coverage said the deal broadened Kennet’s reach, including in low-carbon finance.

Source → Acquisition

15 May 2023 Kennet goes live with Leasepath across the enterprise Kennet implemented Leasepath’s cloud finance-origination and CRM platform across the business. The rollout was designed to simplify workflows, centralise data and improve processing speed and customer service.

Source → Partnership

2024 FY2023 filing shows substantial business volumes despite a small loss Kennet’s FY2023 accounts reported £76.9 million of new business volumes and £71.1 million of net investment in leases, loans and HP agreements, although the company recorded a small pre-tax loss after taking a £480k provision. The filing showed the business had reached substantial scale despite margin pressure.

Source → Financial

2025 FY2024 results mark a return to profit FY2024 accounts showed turnover rising to £13.6 million and profit before tax reaching £2.3 million, versus a loss in FY2023. The results indicate improved profitability even as own-book volumes and net investment were reduced to protect margin.

Source → Financial

More About Kennet Equipment Leasing

Kennet Equipment Leasing Limited, established in 1990 and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 676024), specialises in asset finance and equipment leasing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. The firm offers asset-backed finance including leasing, hire purchase, refinance, and business loans through both its own funds and a panel of partner lenders. Kennet is suitable for UK-registered businesses seeking quick and tailored equipment finance rather than unsecured working capital loans. For a broader understanding of asset finance options, see asset finance for small businesses and asset finance.

Key Features of Kennet Equipment Leasing Limited

Kennet offers a mix of practical features designed to accommodate the diverse needs of SMEs requiring asset-backed finance. These include fast credit decisions and flexible repayment options, supported by sector-specialist account management.

Credit decisions typically within 2–4 business hours, providing quick access to funds (quick business finance).
Flexible repayment structures such as seasonal and deferred profiles to match cash flow cycles (which financing is best for short-term business needs).
Dedicated account managers and specialist teams focusing on sectors including agriculture, construction, and IT (asset financing for IT support companies).

Funding Eligibility

To qualify for finance with Kennet, businesses generally need a minimum trading history of 12 months, although start-ups may be considered case-by-case. Applicants must be registered in the UK and demonstrate reasonable affordability. Certain high-risk sectors such as arms manufacture and gambling are typically excluded. Personal guarantees are usually required for directors or partners, reflecting industry standard risk controls. For more on eligibility requirements and personal guarantees, see how to qualify for a business loan in the UK, understanding personal guarantees in business loans, and guarantor.

Loan Options

Kennet Equipment Leasing offers a spectrum of loan types mainly focused on asset-backed finance, catering to different business asset needs and investment horizons.

Finance Lease: Loans from £5,000 to £2,000,000 with terms of 1 to 7 years. Fixed rental profiles agreed upfront. Features include 100% financing of asset costs and VAT spread across rentals. Personal guarantees and asset debentures typically required. Early termination fees apply. See asset finance.
Hire Purchase: Amounts between £5,000 and £2,000,000 repayable over 1 to 7 years. Ownership transfers to the customer at term end. Fixed or variable rates apply, with personal guarantees required. Early repayment may involve fees. See term loans.
Operating Lease: Available from £10,000 to £1,000,000 over 2 to 5 years, requiring generally 2 years’ trading history. Off-balance-sheet treatment is possible but less suited to start-ups. Personal guarantees often required. See asset finance.
Asset Refinance / Sale & Leaseback: Loans between £25,000 and £1,500,000, typically up to 80% of the asset’s forced-sale value for 1 to 5 years. This unlocks capital tied up in owned equipment. Personal guarantees and debentures are standard. See asset finance.
Vendor / Dealer Finance Facility: Per transaction amounts of £1,000 to £500,000, with terms of 12 to 60 months. Offers dealer finance programmes and joint marketing support. End-customer personal guarantees required. See asset finance for small businesses.
Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS): Loans from £25,001 to £2,000,000 under government-backed schemes for businesses affected by COVID-19. Interest rates capped at 14.99%. Personal guarantees waived below £250,000. See term loans.

How to Apply

The application process with Kennet involves a mix of online and human contact. Proposals under £100,000 often receive decisions in 2 to 4 hours, with funding typically within two days after documentation submission.

Submit an online enquiry form, email, or telephone call to start (online application form).
Provide required documents including proof of ID, recent bank statements, supplier quotations, and accounts where necessary (application documents needed).
Await review and credit checks, typically completed within a few hours for standard loans (loan approval timeline).
Sign agreements digitally and receive funds within 24 to 48 hours (digital document signing).

Funding Agent's view on Kennet Equipment Leasing Limited

Kennet is well-positioned for SMEs needing fast access to asset-backed finance in the UK, combining sector experience with multi-lender reach. It is less suited to those seeking unsecured working capital loans or fully digital onboarding. Businesses should review personal guarantee obligations and fees as part of their decision. For broader financing comparisons and eligibility tools, visit business loans, loan eligibility requirements, and use the asset finance calculator.