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Are you home yet?
BRIGHTON FREE | the no.1 place to buy or rent a property
7 – 13 November 2017 ★ Issue 854
Helping save money with independent mortgage advice
Be moved by
the experienced
01273 243 561 www.surepropertysolutions.co.uk
CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER Andy Garth unearths more memorabilia PROJECT BRIGHTON Rev Peta Evans, Associate Pastor of The Village MCC
CELEBRATION TIME Princetons Property Services – from strength to strength, at home, away and abroad Page 5
The Specalist Agent for Brighton Marina SALES • LETTINGS HOLIDAY LETS
01273 626000 www.palmsproperties.co.uk
Brighton Looking for property? You'll find it here. latesthomes.co.uk Brighton’s best property website
01273 688448 www.h2ohomes.co.uk the agent for waterside homes
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003_LH854_Contents LATESTHOMES_Layout 1 03/11/2017 12:36 Page 1
LH CONTENTS 5 | CELEBRATION TIME
Princetons Property Services have gone from strength to strength, at home, away and abroad
6 | NOW & THEN
Andy Garth considers the last of this year’s auctions
7 | PROJECT BRIGHTON
Rev Peta Evans, Associate Pastor of The Village MCC in Brighton, reflects on the city they love – and their relationship with it
7
8 | A VIEW FROM THE ROSTRUM Lots of Lots for the Auction at Parson Son & Basley
9 | ECO LIVING IN STYLE Princetons Property Services present Hollingdean Road – What a transformation!
10 | HOMES ACROSS BRIGHTON & HOVE A wide range of homes to rent or buy from page 10
14 | ADDRESSING LANDLORD CONCERNS Khalil Properties asks what a compulsory redress scheme will mean
9
HOT PROPERTY Regency splendour Step out through the French doors from your bedroom to the courtyard garden and bask in the seaside sun. Then back in again through the second set of French doors into the second double bedroom. Hardwood flooring throughout, a modern kitchen and bathroom, and a stunning seafront location. £1,350pcm 01273 727278 www.masseyproperty.com
LH
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CELEBRATION TIME Princetons Property Services have gone from strength to strength, at home, away and abroad
W
hen Princetons opened their intention was to deliver a firstclass service and product, their aim was to give the best service without costing the earth. From the outset their standards were high, with their professional photography, floor plans and staging advice, all of which they offer free to all their customers. They also throw in a free EPC. Although Princetons’ main focus area is the Brighton & Hove market, they have found themselves selling properties from Bognor Regis to London. “We felt that the lettings market lacked a certain edge and was being left behind with poor marketing,” said John O’Neill, managing partner at Princetons. “This is one of the most improved areas of our business as we invest the same standards of service and marketing as sales. “Shortly after opening we decided to expand into the overseas market, concentrating mainly in the Costa Blanca region of Spain, this area is expanding rapidly and we are pleased to announce the opening of our overseas office in Calpe
this month. This year Princetons took the NEC at Birmingham by storm at ‘A Place in the Sun’ Exhibition. It was such a success we have already secured our spot at London Olympia 2018.” Princetons have a dedicated team with a combined 65 years’ experience in the property market. They appear on the three top property websites – Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location – achieving maximum exposure and capturing the London market. They also have access to Feature Property and Premier Listing to help you stand out from the crowd.
“ The Martlets Hospice in Hove is where they donate a proportion of their commission ”
Princetons hold charities close to their hearts and are proud sponsors of the Calpe Beacon, Costa Blanca, and the Martlets Hospice in Hove where they donate a proportion of their commission from each sale. This year Princetons have also helped in other charity events such as Darrick Wood School by donating £2,000 towards a new library. To celebrate their firstyear anniversary, they are offering new customers the chance to win free commission (for every 10 new sellers one will win). Offer valid until the end of November 2017. For a no obligation Free Market Appraisal please contact one of the team on 01273 606326 or email: sales@princetonsps.co.uk
Costa Blanca region of Spain
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LATEST HOMES | 5
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NOW & THEN Andy Garth: Last of this year’s auctions
I
cannot believe it’s the end of another year already, and this week is the first introduction to the Brighton and Hove Stuff and Step Back in Time’s last Auction of all things Brighton, Hove and Sussex of 2017. Now we do sell some odd stuff, as my regular reader(!) will know, but this week’s article will show some of the normal but interesting stuff, with next week’s doing the weird and outrageous (not sure I can justify that word but I’ll try). So three... yes, hopefully three photos. The first is a view of Hangleton Way from about 1960 with the distinctive greenroofed (I know it’s black and white but I paint the picture!) Downsman Pub in the background, ready and open to serve all the new residents. Now very topical as 50 years later it’s being knocked down for more housing! The second photo is a rare 1928 picture of Chapmans Tea Shop, in what is now Falmer Road in Woodingdean. It goes to show that sitting outside drinking tea and coffee during the day is not a modern phenomenon. The last photo is quite a famous shot of Ditchling Road, just down from the Fiveways, of telegraph poles having been
accidentally pulled down by a tram in approx 19051910. Can you imagine the chaos that would have caused today? Yet it looks a very nonpanic type of picture of the locals just wandering around without a care that the whole lot could fall on them. Now the Auction details are as follows: Tuesday 28th November, Glebe Villas Hall, Glebe Villas, Hove, BN3 5SN. Viewing from 6.30pm. Auction starts 8pm
“ A rare 1928 picture of Chapmans Tea Shop ”
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Catalogues can be emailed to you so contact me at brightonandhovestuff@gmail.com, or pick up a copy at my shop 28 Western Road Hove, or view the items and get a catalogue at Step Back in Time, 36 Queens Road, Brighton – Robert Jeeves (postcard man). More next week. I'm always on the lookout for more of these type so if you know of any email me at Brightonandhovestuff@gmail.com
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www.southerntaxis.co.uk 6 | LATEST HOMES
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PROJECT BRIGHTON Rev Peta Evans, Associate Pastor of The Village MCC in Brighton, reflects on the city they love – and they’re relationship with it
I
sn’t it strange, when you’ve lived somewhere a long time, you leave, then years later you return? It’s the same place, and yet it isn’t. I lived in Brighton from 2001 until 2010. I’ve been back for a over a year now, and the changes are still taking me by surprise – negative and positive ones both. Some are national changes, simply highlighted because I wasn’t here for the gradual change – such as the dramatic rise in homelessness, an issue in which MCCs, like many churches, are taking action. From volunteering with MCC North London’s cold weather night shelter, I saw there how the number of people without a safe place to live has grown in recent years, and Brighton it seems is no exception. Both the MCC churches in Brighton are working in different ways to help, and that’s something I’m really keen to get involved in.
“ When I first transitioned, I had the support of my local churches ” Some are local changes, such as the welcome proliferation of bike lanes and crossings, which makes being a ‘cycling vicar’ considerably less dangerous than it used to be. Quite besides the environmental concerns, when it’s unaffordable to run a car and frequently impossible to park one, my bicycle has often been my best friend! Another good change was finding a large, active trans community full of people of all ages. When I first transitioned, I had the support of my local churches, MCC and Anglican both, so I didn’t look hard for another support network. It was there, but it was quiet, and you had to work to find it. I don’t think we’d even begun to address nonbinary identities. Who could have imagined Trans Pride, back then? And now it not only exists, but it’s growing year on year – the first of its kind in the UK, I believe. I came back to find that in my absence we’d all come bouncing into the light, full of energy and ideas and a new confidence. There’s still a lot of hostility to us, but Brighton in particular has become a safer place. And then there’s the allotments. My allotment in 2003 was one of a few amidst a swathe of overgrown, untenanted plots. My LATEST TV | VIRGIN MEDIA 159 | FREEVIEW CHANNEL 7
partner and I even got two fullsize plots right next to each other, there were so many free. I carved them slowly out from the grass, nettles and brambles, until in summer I was carrying big boxes of vegetables into church most Sundays, for people to take home. Coming back as a minster, I had this optimistic notion that we could do the same, as a church community project. Therapeutic fresh air, exercise and stress relief; free, healthy food for those on low income; a communitybuilding project, and a chance to explain all those agricultural parables from the gospels by practical experience! Even a chance for different church communities to work together. What’s not to love? And I found that Brighton’s enthusiasm for allotment gardening had grown so much that even the waitinglists were closed in many places. I’m still intending to get that project off the ground (or into the ground, more appropriately) but it’s clearly going to be more complicated than I thought. As you can see, there’s a lot of work that I’m eager to get started on, as well as the weektoweek work of providing safe space, pastoral care, encouragement and practical support to our communities. If you want to know more about what’s going on at The Village MCC, you can visit thevillagemcc.org
LATEST HOMES | 7
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A VIEW FROM THE ROSTRUM Lots of Lots for the Auction
P
arsons Son & Basley have launched the catalogue for their next auction on Wednesday 6 December, their final auction of 2017, an event they anticipate will culminate in their department having its most successful year ever – and bearing in mind they have been auctioning property across Sussex since 1825 then this indeed will be quite an achievement! Auctioneer Simon Caplin says: “What has become apparent to me and pleases me no end is the far wider and differing audiences we are attracting to our auction rooms now on a very regular basis, many of whom I describe as 'first time auction buyers' who are looking to buy an investment property for the first time due to the fact they have perhaps come into some money and have quite rightly decided that to acquire a return on their savings is far more preferable than allowing funds to sit idly in their bank accounts earning next to no interest. At
the end of one of our recent auctions a gentleman who purchased a house in multiple occupation in Bognor Regis for just under £300,000 best summed this up when he explained he had purchased because he had inherited an amount of money and wanted to 'buy himself an income', which he certainly did. And at the rate of a 10 per cent return, whilst at the same time have the benefit of future capital growth.
“ To acquire a return on their savings is far more preferable ”
“Maybe it is due to the fact that as a team we fully understand that buying at
auction for the first time can be a little bit daunting and because of this we will take the time to explain the process to our buyers and guide them every step of the way. So much so that no less than 21 of our auction day sales this year have been to first time investors which to date equates to over 4 per auction and has been a huge catalyst for the success we have enjoyed. Our clients of course have been the main benefactors with not only their properties having been sold but at some very exacting prices indeed.” If you have any questions about any of the properties then please do not hesitate to contact the Parsons Son & Basley auctions teams on 01273 274010 / 01273 274014 or visit www.psandb.co.uk/latestauction.
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ECO LIVING IN STYLE
Hollingdean Road – What a transformation!
T
his house has gone through an incredible transformation! In just 14 weeks, an amazing team of builders and other professionals have turned what was an unliveable property into something that will be a beautiful home for someone who wants to live in an ecofriendly way with minimal heating bills! The property was bought at auction in April this year, completed on 30th June and in just 14 weeks has been taken back to its bare bones, been rebuilt in many places, had new rooms added and all with 'Eco' in mind. It's not been possible to do everything as 'Eco' as the developer would like as this is a first project and they need to go gently. The Eco therm insulation they have used throughout the house has cost nearly three times as much as regular insulation but it was worth it. This project is far more to the developer than just doing it up and selling it on. From the start, it's been so important to them that whoever lives in the house enjoys it on every level, from the recycled wood detail throughout to the insulation in every single wall and cavity. Hollingdean Road is an end of terrace property: The house next door was blown up in World War II. The Easterly wall of the house was rebuilt but the builders forgot to attach it to the rest of the house. They've had lots of structural issues with this property and can guarantee to everyone that it is now super strong. They've had the building regs inspector LATEST TV | VIRGIN MEDIA 159 | FREEVIEW CHANNEL 7
over almost every week to check that everything is perfect and the structural engineer was so impressed with the quality of the work that he called it 'excellent'. The developer can honestly say, hand on heart, that this house has been virtually rebuilt to the most exacting standards. No stone has been left unturned and no wall or ceiling has been left uninsulated! Although the house is quite close to a road, they have triple glazed all of the front windows, which makes a huge difference with noise pollution and helps with warmth too.
“ This house has
been virtually rebuilt to the most exacting standards ”
All in all, the developer has turned this house from something unliveable into something beautiful, comfortable and eco friendly which can be enjoyed for many more years... Here's to the next project, where they plan to take the Eco element much further. Affordable, beautiful, community housing is the plan. Let's see where it takes us! Price OIRO £400,000 to view this property call Princetons: 01273 606326 www.princetonsps.com advertising feature
LATEST HOMES | 9
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NEW in
NEW in
NEW in
Leybourne Road
Withdean Court
Downsway
£185,000 Leasehold • Ground floor one bedroom p/b garden flat • Gas heating, double glazed windows • Private entrance. Sun room • Available chain free. EPC C72 Call Lewes Road office 01273 677001
Guide price £325,000 Leasehold • Communal entrance hall, entrance hall • Lounge, kitchen, three bedrooms • Bathroom, separate W/C • Balcony. EPC D62 Call Fiveways office 01273 566777
Offers in excess of £375,000 Freehold • Immaculately Presented 3 Bedroom Bungalow • Near Shops & Bus Stops • Fantastic Kitchen/Dining Room • En-Suite to Master Bedroom. EPC D55 Call Woodingdean office on 01273 278866
NEW in
Quebec Street £400,000 Freehold • Beautifully presented 2 bed Victorian house • Sought-after Hanover, close to Queens Park • Modern style living accommodation • Stylish kitchen and bathroom. EPC E48 Call Lewes Road office 01273 677001
Downsview Avenue
Prestonville Road £230,000 Leasehold • One double bedroom • Good size accommodation • Own separate street entrance • EPC D60 Call Fiveways office 01273 566777
£465,000 Freehold SITUATED IN NORTH WOODINGDEAN, CLOSE TO DOWNLAND is this detached three bedroom bungalow. From the log burner in the lounge to the range cooker in the kitchen finishing with the shaded seating area in the garden, this all comes together to make you feel that you are in a country cottage. EPC D64 Call Woodingdean office on 01273 278866
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IN N ST E RU W CT IO N
www.surepropertysolutions.co.uk 01273 243561
Brougham Road, Worthing For Sale
£240,000 Leasehold
• Newly refurbished throughout • Two double bedrooms • Own street entrance • uPVC double glazing • Gas central heating • Garage • Large rear garden • Stunning kitchen • Minutes walk to beach • Residents parking • Viewing essential • Vendor suited • Long lease
1
EPC: TBC
IN
ST NE RU W CT IO N
2
Eaton Grove, Central Hove To Let
Wilbury Villas, Central Hove
£2,250 pcm
• Stunning mews house • Rear garden • Garage
To Let
• Two car parking spaces • Viewing essential
4
2
• Very good size studio flat • Kitchen with appliances • Separate bathroom
£750 pcm • Good storage • GCH, Double glazing • Own street entrance
EPC: E
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info@surepropertysolutions.co.uk
0
1
EPC: E
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013_LH854_PS&B_FP_PS&B 03/11/2017 10:28 Page 1
Tel: 32 Queen’s Road, Brighton BN1 3YE
01273 274040
Email: sales@psandb.co.uk 01273 274040
sales@psandb.co.uk Website: www.psandb.co.uk 32 Queenswww.psandb.co.uk Road Brighton BN1 3YE
W NE
W NE
GARDNER ROAD £135,000-£140,000
ALBERT ROAD £140,000
MEDINA VILLAS £165,000
• Ground floor
• Front patio garden
• Raised ground floor
• Share of freehold
• First floor apartment
• Distant sea views
• Studio apartment
• Allocated parking
• Studio apartment
• Conservation area
• Studio room
• Desirable location
• Kitchen area
• On A259 Coast Road
• Kitchen area
• Close to Seven Dials
• Separate fitted kitchen
• Great investment
• Bathroom
• EPC rating: B
• Bathroom and W.C
• EPC rating: F
• Shower room
• EPC rating: F
W NE
WILBURY ROAD £210,000
WILBURY ROAD £215,000
COLLEGE TERRACE £275,000
• One bed third floor
• GCH, double glazing
• One bed 2nd floor flat
• House manager
• First floor flat
• Comm lounge & gdn
• For the over 55s
• For the over 55s
• Lifts, entry phone
• Two double bedrooms
• Overlooking playing grounds
• House manager
• Lifts, entry phone
• Comm lounge & gdn
• Shops/restaurants
• Living room
• Close shops & cafes
• Shops/restaurants
• Communal library
• GCH, double glazing
• EPC rating: C
• Separate kitchen
• EPC rating: D
W NERICE P
W NE
HOLLINGDEAN TERRACE £280,000
KINGSBURY ROAD £300,000-£325,000
• Converted GF gdn flat
• Period features
• Terraced house
• Basement storage
• Det seafront house
• Living & dining room
• Two double bedrooms
• Garden with patio
• Two double bedrooms
• Roof terrace & patio
• 4 beds, one en-suite
• Kitchen/living room
• Close to Fiveways
• Three storeys
• Close Station
• Dressing room
• Rear garden with summerhouse
• Bathroom and W.C
• EPC rating: D
• In need of modernisation
• EPC rating: F
• Balcony with sea views
• EPC rating: E
MARINE CRESCENT £460,000+
W NERICE P
COBTON DRIVE £595,000
HOVE PARK £620,000
STORRINGTON OIEO £750,000
• S/D ext family house
• Garden with patio
• Semi-detached house
• Drive/off road parking
• Detached F/H property
• Barn conversion annexe
• Three double beds
• Private drive
• Three double beds
• Scope for extension
• Three double beds
• Garden and patio
• Modern kit/dining room
• Desirable location
• Sitting/dining room
• Desirable location
• Kitchen/dining room
• Private drive
• Spacious living room
• EPC rating: D
• 100ft Rear garden
• EPC rating: D
• Basement reception room
• EPC rating: B
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WHAT WILL A COMPULSORY
REDRESS SCHEME MEAN
FOR LANDLORDS? Addressing landlord concerns
A
t the recent Conservative Party Conference plans were unveiled for a compulsory ombudsman scheme for the private rented sector. The aims of the scheme are laudable: to allow tenants to feel that they have somewhere to turn to redress anything that has gone wrong. But it’s the possible sideeffects that may worry landlords. The scheme will, of course, need funding, and landlords fear that responsibility for this may fall on them. Funds could be raised through compulsory membership fees, or through the levying of heavy fines. It may, indeed, be that funds are actually generated through both. Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, was clear his sights were set squarely on rogue landlords, but that the scheme would require every landlord to join.
He commented: "For too long, tenants have felt unable to resolve the issues they've faced, be it insecure tenure, unfair letting agents' fees or poor treatment by their landlord with little to no means of redress. We're going to change that. We will insist that all landlords are part of a redress scheme and we will regulate letting agents who want to operate. Everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their own homes and we will make sure they do." Fines and fees on the rise The private rented sector is increasingly strictly regulated, and the rules governing it seem to change often. The prospect of fines for not complying with these everchanging regulations is already a very real fear for many small landlords. The talk of an ombudsman seems to raise the bar even higher. And it could well set the penalties for not complying higher still. With some councils now introducing landlord licensing schemes – which landlords must pay to join – many fear that the ombudsman scheme will introduce an additional fee that landlords have to factor in. This will come on top of the extra fees expected to fall on landlords as a consequence of the proposed letting fees ban. The government is pressing on with its plans to ban letting agents 14 | LATEST HOMES
advertising feature
charging fees to tenants in England. This means landlords are likely to have to pay for the likes of referencing, credit and right to rent checks themselves. Details of the ombudsman scheme are still sketchy. They may be fleshed out in November’s budget but, until then, landlords will watch for more announcements with a certain sense of foreboding. Landlords are struggling to keep up Landlords currently provide a fifth of all homes in the UK. The majority of these landlords are not fulltime landlords and probably own just one property. For landlords like these keeping up with the increasingly rigorous rules that govern property letting is incredibly time consuming. But there is an easier way. Khalil’s Rent Guarantee Scheme Khalil’s can guarantee your rent day in and day out, regardless of whether your property is occupied or not. But, more than this, we also take care of handling all your tenant relationships, and we look after the daily maintenance of your property. By leasing your property to us, we take on the risks of compliance and the stress of letting. You just have to accept your rent each month. In times when the odds are increasingly stacked against landlords, we can reduce the worries and the risks of letting property. Phone: 01273 573960 Mobile: 07984 015669 Email: ahmed@khalilproperties.co.uk Address: 124 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3LG www.khalilproperties.co.uk
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KHALIL IS COMING TO
HOVE We will Guarantee the rent for Hove landlords and offer Maintenance cover.
Call 01273 573960