Hastings areas to live

[Jenniffer]

Hello! I have been reading through this forum a bit so have already had some great info! I'm moving from Brighton, for the same reasons that most people do, i.e. so expensive here! In fact I will most likely have to rent rather than buy, just can't get enough money together and mortgages are so tricky now, especially when you're freelance like me! I'm hoping to rent a house or really big flat with some sort of outside space for the dog and cat! I know it can be tricky renting with pets but when I sell my flat here I will have a good deposit so can pay a few months in advance to put the landlord's mind at rest. A bit weird, renting again, after years of home ownership, but hopefully it won't be as bad as my last experience of renting in London in the 1990's! I was made to feel like a paying guest and it never felt like my own home!

Anyway, what I really want to know is, can anyone tell me, quite specifically, the areas that would be good to look at? Like if I'm looking at a map, say, inbetween such-and-such street and another street, including St Leonard's of course. And then the areas to avoid! So I can use a magic marker on a map and have a clear idea in my head of what to try and aim for!

I can pay around GBP800 per month. I could afford a mortgage with that of course but it's just too hard to get one for me! I like old period buildings and neighbourhoods, and I realise the Old Town in Hastings is quite nice, but I'm hoping I can cast the net farther afield too and not be limited to that one little area. I have no children, just me, freelance artist, a bit Bohemian, and my little dog and cat.

I know Hastings isn't a "university town" like Brighton, and don't get me wrong I have nothing against students! But to be honest with a lot of the affordable rented accommodation in Brighton you end up next to houses that are student lets and they can be a bit noisy with lots of late night parties! I'm hoping that I can rent but be near nice people who aren't too noisy, just live and let live!

Anyway any area guidelines would be much appreciated, thanks so much! Especially as I'm going to have to do a lot of my searching remotely as I don't live there.

Thanks again!

Jenniffer

[Jenniffer]

By the way, upon re-reading my message I just wanted to clarify that price isn't the only reason I'm moving from Brighton to Hastings. It's not like I'd want to stay here otherwise. Tired of all the noise and chaos and mayhem, now that I'm a bit older and not out on the town every night anymore! So it's not a "concession" in any way. Thanks!

[Michael]

Clive Vale area is good_ _ _.east of Old London Road and West of the Country Park. Used to live in Brighton 2005-2008, loved it while we were there but much prefer it here_ _ _..your doing the right thing good luck.

[Jenniffer]

[quoted]
Michael wrote:
Clive Vale area is good_ _ _.east of Old London Road and West of the Country Park. Used to live in Brighton 2005-2008, loved it while we were there but much prefer it here_ _ _..your doing the right thing good luck.
[/quoted]

thanks very much, i will single out those areas! and it's nice to hear that another person from brighton has made the move and is happy! forgive all the lower case but my keyboard is buggered at the moment!

[Mymblesdaughter]

Definitely look in St Leonards don't be put off by negative comments. I really like it, there are lots of artists and creative types here.

When we moved we were told to look west of London Road, which is what we did. Not to say there aren't places east of London road that are good. Norman road and places very near the town centre are popular. We decided to be a little bit further away from the actually centre as were worried about noise. Markwick Terrace, Dane and Charles Road, top of Pevensey road are a really great area in my view, beautiful houses/flats, wide roads with trees and easy walk to town, seafront and station.

Someone I work with moved to St Leonards from Brighton 3 months ago, she lives on the sea front and is loving it. She can't believe she has a whole section of beach just to herself.

We used google maps street view to look at most of the properties before we came down for viewings. Saved us a lot of time.

[Jenniffer]

Thanks for the great advice. Would you say renting is really difficult generally instead of buying in the first instance? Do you know anyone who rents there? It's just that I haven't rented in over 20 years so I have no idea what to expect. I'd just like to do that for a while, before I buy anyway, maybe indefinitely.

Thanks!

[Mymblesdaughter]

We thought about renting but in the end we just really wanted to get our own place again. We had a house for 10 years then rented for about 3 because we were moving around. I really hated renting, it's just as bad as you remember if not worse. We weren't allowed to have pictures on the wall, no pets, 6 monthly check ups, landlords looking down their noses at you_ _ _ horrid. Although I'm sure there are some good ones out there.

We also found at the time the quality of the rented accommodation wasn't as good as the places for sale. Might have improved though as this was 3 years ago.

[Krine]

I would also love to buy in Hastings-St Leonards, but I have been renting first to be able to check peacefully the area. And also to be able to go and see the different options for buying - auctions, etc.
In St Leonards on the sea front, there are different types of flats. They are nearly all of them the Victorian type, but some are ill ill maitained (they look pretty when fresh painted before the potential tenant visits) but then ill isolated, humidity, ventilation problems, if the neighborhool smokes weed then you will smell it in your bath, etc. Others are spacious, with volumes and really nice. I suggest, if you rent, to choose a place where a lot of other people in the place own their flat. I moved a couple of weeks of the flat I had and would not recommend flats on the front sea around the 135 Marina. I moved to 76 Marina, and the quality of flats is just totally different.As you see, I like the front sea and even in the other place, I liked the surroundings. Not always quiet, but with something genuine about it!

[Jenniffer]

Thanks for all the advice! I might have to figure out a way to buy, it sounds as though renting is the same pain in the arse as it was last time I did 20 years ago. I just wish it was more normal to rent here, but it doesn't seem to be, at least certainly not long term. Thanks!

[Richard]

I would certainly Rent to begin with if you don't have too many possessions to put into storage and that way you can get a base to branch out from when you know the area better.
There is probably no accomodation, of any type, that is entirely noise or stress-free (some people are more sensitive than others)
I would look for a place with a large Park if you want a somewhere to relax and to excercise a dog.
The seafront would be ok as well and at least we don't have the ex-services types present in Brighton that have drugs and use knives on the beach/streets.



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