Property intelligence for
Brighton home buyers
Brighton's market is famous for Regency seafront properties and Victorian terraces in Hanover, where basement conversions and shared walls create their own set of buyer risks.
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Buying in Brighton? Here's what to know
Property stock
Regency stucco-fronted terraces and squares along the seafront and in Kemp Town are Grade II listed and built from the 1820s-1850s with render over brick. Hanover and Elm Grove have steep streets of compact Victorian terraces, many with cellars and narrow rear yards. Preston Park and Fiveways offer larger Edwardian semis. Hove has wider, grander Victorian and Edwardian streets with bay-fronted houses. The North Laine and New England Quarter have modern apartments and converted commercial buildings.
Buyer warnings
Brighton's chalk geology creates unique subsidence risks — cliff-edge properties in Black Rock and Roedean require specialist assessment, and chalk dissolution can cause sinkholes in the wider area. Basements in Regency properties are frequently damp due to the high water table near the seafront, and many have been converted without adequate tanking or ventilation. Conservation area restrictions cover much of central Brighton and Hove, limiting window replacements, satellite dishes and external modifications — planning enforcement is active.
Market context
Brighton commands a significant price premium over surrounding Sussex, driven by London commuter demand and the city's lifestyle appeal. The BN1 postcode covering central Brighton is consistently among the most expensive in the South East outside London. First-time buyers face intense competition and increasingly look to Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and Portslade for more affordable options. The Lewes Road corridor has gentrified substantially around the university area, and the Valley Gardens regeneration has improved the eastern city centre.
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How it works
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What's in your report
Construction era
When it was likely built — and the problems that tend to come with that era.
Annual running costs
The stuff the listing never mentions: heating, maintenance reserve and council tax, estimated for this property.
Top potential issues
3–5 specific things to watch for, based on the property type, age and description.
Viewing checklist
Walk in knowing exactly what to inspect, photograph and ask the agent — before they rush you out.
Risk rating
Low / Medium / High with a straight explanation of why, not just a colour.
Summary
A plain-English verdict you can forward to your solicitor or surveyor without needing to translate it.
Viewing assessment
Upload photos from your viewing — AI spots damp patches, roof issues and defects the estate agent didn't mention.
5-year maintenance plan
Upload your surveyor's report and get a year-by-year roadmap of what needs doing and what it'll cost.
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Covers all Rightmove and Zoopla listings in Brighton and surrounding areas