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Number 4: Brighton
Average house price 2005: £201,039
Projected average house price 2010: £296,331
Total population: 256,128
Brighton and Hove covers the Brighton area, the Hove area and Portslade. Its granting of city status is a relatively recent event, so the once separate towns of Brighton, Hove, Rottingdean and Portslade are often referred to as separate towns. Brighton is the largest and most popular resort in south east England, and outside the London boroughs. Brighton trendies spend the second most on alcohol after Reading.
Property market
Brighton is well known for being a real “youngsters den”, characterised by social hotspots like The Lanes. Most of the rental income, around 75 per cent, according to local estate agents, comes from students. The rest is yielded from young professionals, many of whom commute to London. The Seven Dials area, a short walk from town, the seafront and train station, is particularly popular with young professionals.
An important demographic for property investors however, is the large gay community – gay men on average earn £34K a year, £10K more than the male national average. Think lots of DINKYs: double income no kids yet.
Clifton and Kemptown have always done well in the buy-to-let market, due to the steady supply of young professionals. Kemptown is a small, bohemian community running along the King's Cliff to Black Rock in the east of Brighton. Historically known as an actors’ and artists’ quarter, it has a sizeable gay community and a network of attractive streets with esoteric shops, small hotels, and good pubs.
Hove is the place to be for young professional couples and families looking for a quieter alternative to Brighton. Adelaide Crescent is the most prestigious young professional renting area but the majority of tenants like to rent on any of the roads that run off Church Road, as this is where all of the bars, restaurants and shops are. The atmosphere in these establishments is more subdued than Brighton, attracting a slightly older crowd. The main big draw to Hove is the parking: it’s much less problematic than in Brighton.
There are two universities in Brighton: Brighton University and Sussex University. 2001 census data records 16201 students living in Brighton and Hove. Students who study in Brighton are there for the nightlife, so proximity to North Laine, the seafront, and affordable accommodation is important. Lewis Road and London Road fit the student criteria well although they are slightly further out of town.
Facts
Nearly 3% of Brighton and Hove’s population described their religion as Jedi in the 2001 census, the highest in the country
Norman (Fatboy Slim) Cook and wife Zoe Ball famously live on “Millionaires Row” in Hove, but the area is also home to Steve Coogan, Gaz Coombes (from Supergrass) Noel Gallagher and Paul McCartney. Rudyard Kipling lived in Rottingdean for many years
The first ever “blue” movie was shot in a garden in Hove by film pioneer Esme Collings in 1896
For a helpful and local solicitor service, visit Dakers Seymour, 11-12 Queens Place, Brighton, BN1 4JY.
