Hastings Forum

Hi everyone,

I'm a bit stuck on what to really think about the crime thing_ _ _everyone seems to have very opposite takes on it! My husband and I are planning on moving to St Leonards or Hastings in December, but are still a little scared about the crime thing. Not enough to keep us from moving there, but enough to want our minds eased. I'm American and have never lived anywhere with a population over 30,000, so, I really have nothing to compare one town's crime rates against, especially not in a foreign country. I'm not sure how much crime is normal for the UK. So, anyway, now that I've rambled for long enough, my question is, how bad is it REALLY? I've gathered that Warrior Square is one of the worst places, but, the only problem is, it also seems to be one of the cheapest places to rent in, and since my husband and I are young and just starting out, cheap is good. Our maximum budget for rent will be about 370 pounds a month, and the only flats I've been able to find online for that price are either on Warrior Square or Church Road, and I think Anglessey(I'm sure that's spelled wrong) Terrace in Hastings. Maybe there are more flats in that price range that are just not advertised online? Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'm sure that you'll get something in a nice area Ashley. I would maybe see if you could up your budget a little though. Ive looked online for you and you can get something quite nice for GBP400 or slightly over.
Check the business directory on this site for Estate Agents. Otherwise you should come here and see some Estate Agents in person, as usually the good flats are so quickly taken that they aren't even advertised.
Good Luck

I moved to what is supposedly the "worst" part of St Leonards in 1992. I work at home and so I'm always around and about my house/street. I have in that time never been burgled (or even attempted) never been mugged and the only crime I have suffered is someone stole my house name plate (it wasn't even any good to them as it has my whole address on it).

I can honestly say that when I have been walking home from the station, theatre, cinema etc late at night I have never ONCE felt scared to walk the streets.

Yeah there are some right troggs and chavs about, but still it annoys me when people paint Hastings/St Leonards as some kind of no-go area. What town doesn't have its problems? Go on, name one similar town that is a paradise. You can't! Come and live here and you will be fine. Helena central St Leonards - near Warrior Square!

Thank you both for replying! That's interesting to know that some flats aren't even advertised since they go so fast_ _ _maybe when we're there we'll get lucky and something great will be available! Helena, I love your optimistic attitude! It's good to know that someone who has lived in the "bad" area for over 10 years has had no problems or complaints. Like I said, cheap will be good for us, so what will we have that anyone will want to steal anyway? lol At least people can't get guns as easily in the UK as in America, then the high crime rate would scare me alot more! So Helena, basically in your opinion, do you think that the high crime rate is just one of those things that sounds worse on paper than it really is? Like, maybe alot of the crime is between individuals and not just acted out on strangers and innocents? That's the theory I'm trying to go with lol.

Helena, if you walk the streets late at night without feeling a bit scared then you have a false expectation of safety.

Any area has bad people about just waiting for someone to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don't let it happen to you, no matter how 'safe' you feel.

Good attitude Rob. Not!

i may have a house share in nice part of hastings Elphinstone road, it is a walk into town a walk to alexndra park and many other facilities of Hastings.
The property has just been refurbished and would suit a big family of sharers, let me know if you are intrested

their crawling outta the nooks and crannys >:)

their crawling outta the nooks and crannys >:)