Hastings areas to live

[Jenniffer]

Thank you Richard. I know, no place is entirely noise or stress-free. I don't want it to be like that, I like living somewhere urban rather than rural so it comes with that. I just don't want either extreme, i.e. noisy student-let having parties all the time next door, or living in a quiet little bungalow down a close with just retired people as neighbours. Just something in the middle I guess. And yes I'm sure Hastings as a whole isn't as noisy and full-on as Brighton! Thanks for your advice on areas too.

[Richard]

Hello Jennifer,
If you receive abuse or noise after first talking to the tenants you can easily contact a Community Police Officer (via talking to the ordinary Police first and outlining your problem) A CPO will, in the first instance, visit your address and is empowered to additionally visit and talk to the tenants and can enforce the tenancy agreement upon the Landlord.
This usually does the trick.
The CPO will leave a contact card with email/telephone, etcetera, to pursue any further troubles you may encounter.
Hopefully it won't be necessary to go that far in Hastings and most tenants will be reasonable if you talk to them first_ _ _






Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

[drwatson]

I live in St Leonards, moved from London 4 years ago - like it a lot, big Georgian houses, loads of really great places to eat, great pubs, I find the community to have been very welcoming. The beach in St Leonards is much quieter and in my opinion better, sandy at low tide.

GBP800 per month will get you something pretty decent size wise in this area.

[Richard]

I like coastal Hastings upto the Pier area and beyond into St. Leonards but prefer living more 'inland' where you need to explore to get an idea of the sort of community you might prefer.




Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

[Jenniffer]

Thanks everyone! Much food for thought. I will be better equipped to look at areas remotely and know what to expect or aim for.

[Richard]

I can understand if you are paying good money for renting a decent place to live (and work) then you don't want to make a big mistake.
I don't know if anyone can tell you which areas are less desirable, on account of high density of social housing, but it is a known fact that Hastings (like many areas on this stretch of the coast) provides a home for displaced people from the London area and has done so for some time.
The only way to feel happy about where you live is to take a walk around areas like Alexandra Park (in Hastings) and see whether you feel the atmosphere tempts you to take a chance.
St. Leonards has a lot to offer although ofcourse London Road running from the coast up to the Silverhill area past the DSS Job Centre, appears to be full of eccentric characters.
I don't especially like Silverhill or Bohemia village areas.
Around St. Leonards, Gensing, many of the houses are so large that they are chopped into apartments and like anywhere in the world you cannot guarantee who your neighbours will be.
If I were renting I would try to get a ground floor flat with my own front door and a bit of garden.
One thing I would say is that the pace of life is ten times slower than in Brighton and the density of people and traffic is also much reduced.
Look at all the space along the St Leo's coast and relax on a nearly empty beach.
It amazes me how busy it would be in Brighton in comparison and how claustraphobic that would make me feel !!

[jules]

Hi, we are looking to buy in the Hastings area, just to say we were down at the weekend having another look and in the Hastings Observer there was a nice little Victorian cottage to rent in the West Hill area for the sort of price you are looking at, so it is achievable. The only problem you might have is your animals. This is what put me off renting for a trial period.

Just wanted to say Good Luck too!

[Richard]

_ _ _and a last thought from me is to remember that many areas of this part of the coast are infested with seagulls.
While these are magnificent birds in their own natural habitat, they have spread out of control now and although it is unlikely you would be in an attic space as you have pets, it is worth bearing in mind the tremendous noise they make on the chimney areas from April - August especially, as they rear their young and fight off other marauding seagulls.

This may be much more of a disturbance than your immediate neighbours in certain areas.

8|



Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

[Jenniffer]

Thanks for the additional comments everyone! Yes the pets might be a problem, but I'm hoping that if I pay several months in advance that some landlords might be prepared to overlook that! Am really torn, I 'could' afford to buy but it would be a smallish 1-bed flat somewhere, whereas if I rented I could get something far nicer! I like the idea of not being tied down which comes with renting, but then I don't like how landlords will sometimes breathe down your neck and not allow you to hang even on picture! Pros and cons, pros and cons_ _ _.

And yes, seagulls! I'm completely used to seagulls living in Brighton. Their screaming has become just anonymous background noise to me know, I don't even notice it! Quite like it even! Just can't handle mega-loud drum and base emanating from a neighbouring property!

[Mymblesdaughter]

Yes it always surprises me when people move to the coast then moan about seagulls. Having lived by the sea for most of the last 30 years it's part of life. My friend lives in a top floor flat in Penzance and loves looking out at the seagulls and watching them bring up their young.

I don't think that can be compared with antisocial behaviour from neighbours which really can be a nightmare.