001_LH860_cover_Layout 1 14/12/2017 15:48 Page 1
Are you home yet?
BRIGHTON
We stay open until 8pm every Thursday
Be moved by
the experienced
01273 243 561 www.surepropertysolutions.co.uk
FREE | the no.1 place to buy or rent a property 19 Dec 2017–1 Jan 2018 ★ Issue 860
PROJECT BRIGHTON Crowdsourcing to save The Greys pub LANDLADY Festive preparations in Landlady Towers
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Seasons greetings from everyone at Latest Homes
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
002_LH860_LizGoldAd_Layout 1 14/12/2017 15:50 Page 1
003_LH860_Contents LATESTHOMES_Layout 1 14/12/2017 13:27 Page 1
LH CONTENTS 4 | LANDLADY The Landlady prepares for her Christmas festivities with a parrot in a palm tree
5 | PROJECT BRIGHTON Phil Mellows serves up the lowdown on local crowdfunding to save The Greys pub
6 | HOMES ACROSS BRIGHTON & HOVE AND WORTHING
4
A wide range of homes to rent or buy from page 6
8 | STUDENT LANDLORDS The University Of Sussex recruits 2018’s student landlords
10 | LANDLORD ADVICE As rental growth slows what can landlords do? – asks Ahmed Khalil Cover image courtesy of Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove. For more about the Royal Pavilion Christmas event please visit brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/events/event/christmasattheroyalpavilion2/
5
HOT PROPERTY Hanover heaven Bag your own personal serving of Muesli Mountain with this beautiful two bedroom Victorian house, with pretty period features and ample space thanks to a well finished extension providing a charming kitchen and a bathroom worth getting nice towels for. Plus a lovely long garden for the summertime. Offers over £400,000 01273 677001 www.maslen.co.uk
LH
LATEST GROUP
To advertise call
01273 687171
Managing Director Bill Smith Business Director Angi Mariani Creative Director Andrew Kay
LATEST 7/HOMES
LATEST TV
Head of Sales & Marketing Lesley Lawrence CEO Bill Smith Editor Victoria Nangle TV Scheduling Dan Roberts Design/Production Kyle Moon Sales Manager Tracey Davidson TV Team Jamie Walker, Leon Gerigk, Matthew Enderby, Jodie Allan
LATEST HOMES, 14-17 MANCHESTER STREET, BRIGHTON, BN2 1TF Editorial: editorial@thelatest.co.uk
LATEST MUSICBAR Ali CluneyHickford Jeff Hemmings Lesley Lawrence Charly Stringer
Advertising: lesley@thelatest.co.uk
004_LH860_landlady_Layout 1 14/12/2017 13:27 Page 1
LANDLADY A Parrot in A Palm Tree
I
am writing this column in the throes of the Christmas party season in a rare moment when I'm not intoxicated, wrapping awkwardly shaped presents or dancing inappropriately in one of Brighton’s myriad nightclubs. Much more of that is yet to come with the embers of embarrassments already past glowing hot on my heels. Each year, I buy bargain champagne when it's on offer, then find
“ It'll be like Havana, only with added snow and ice ” that it no longer retains it's bargainlike qualities when you drink it all at least two weeks before Christmas Day. This lack of willpower has been further exacerbated by the presence of The Big Daughter, who can hear a cork popping from 50 yards away and unfortunately lives only 5 yards away upstairs, where she had resided for almost the whole of this year. She and The Big SonInLaw are due to move into their own place next year, when my usual state of
relative sobriety will be resumed. Or so I tell myself. The Small Daughter has, in the space of several months, honed her taste in alcohol to quality wines, especially Prosecco, which is a lot less economical than the cheap cider and paintstripping quality vodka with which she whet her adolescent appetite. At this rate, I'll be bankrupt before the end of the year, especially as I'm hosting Christmas at Landlady Towers this year. I am currently sitting on a plane on my way to Scandinavia in order to visit The Cuban Boyfriend. He is turning 40 this month and we're having a pre Christmas party for all his Scandinavian Cuban friends, which means it'll be like Havana, only with added snow and ice. Rather than pay Scandinavian prices for alcohol and further diminish my December finances, I have a suitcase full of champagne and pork pies in the hold. The fact that it's safely locked in the hold also explains why I'm not intoxicated. I'll certainly need a drink on the return flight as The Cuban Boyfriend is kindly saddling me with a 10man inflatable dinghy, which we're taking to Cuba with us after Christmas. This is a waste of time as he actively mistrusts most Cubans, let alone considers taking nine of them in a boat with him. He cannot fit the boat into his luggage because he is taking an outdoor lamp big enough to attract the entire mosquito population of the western
hemisphere. What an annoying man he is! At least the drink trolley's on it's way... Merry Christmas!!
www.southerntaxis.co.uk 4 | LATEST HOMES
LATEST TV | VIRGIN MEDIA 159 | FREEVIEW CHANNEL 7
005_LH860_projectbrighton_Layout 1 14/12/2017 13:28 Page 1
PROJECT BRIGHTON Phil Mellows serves up the lowdown on local crowdfunding to save The Greys pub
T
hey may not be the most famous words Roger Daltrey’s ever uttered – that’ll be “Hope I die before I get old”. But The Who frontman’s remark on a visit that The Greys is “a great little boozer” certainly captures the feelings of the Brighton pub’s regulars who have launched a crowdfunding campaign to save their local. It will also cue a chorus of agreement from the scores of fellow musicians from all over the world who have humped their amps and instruments up Southover Street for the last 30 years to enjoy this tiny venue’s intimate atmosphere, and an appreciative audience that’s known for shutting up and listening.
“ The Greys can survive commercially
not only as a live music venue but as a great local pub ”
Yet The Greys is under threat. Its owner, Britain’s largest pubco Enterprise Inns – now known as Ei Group – has put the freehold on the market after failing to find a tenant to run the business long term. The last few years have seen a succession of publicans try to make it work, but their profits have been squeezed between what they have to pay for rent and beer, and the physical limitations of the building that, after all, are part of The Greys’ appeal. Brighton & Hove Council has made the pub an Asset of Community Value, meaning it can’t be converted into anything else for five years. And now the Friends of The Greys, a group of local residents who want to make sure the pub they love can thrive into the future, have stepped up to try and buy it. LATEST TV | VIRGIN MEDIA 159 | FREEVIEW CHANNEL 7
The idea is that as a freehouse that has the support and engagement of the people of Hanover, The Greys can survive commercially not only as a live music venue but as a great local pub that’s owned and controlled by the community that uses it. A share issue aiming to raise £300,000 has been launched on the Crowdfunder website inviting members of the public to invest from £250 in the venture, with the prospect of not only earning interest should it prove a success but, subject to HMRC approval, up to 50 per cent tax relief. Most of all, though, investors will get a piece of their own pub. “And it’s not just any old pub,” as Keith Farmer, spokesman for the Save The Greys campaign points out. “The Greys will continue to build on its reputation for a great atmosphere, friendly welcome and live music. But we want to take it further by making the pub a real community resource. “In these days of social isolation we are also going to host a range of daytime activities that can bring the whole community together.” Even other Hanover pubs that want to make sure the area remains a vibrant and characterful part of the city have expressed their support, and the plan has the backing of constituency MP Caroline Lucas, who has blogged about it here www.carolinelucas.com/latest/savethegreys. The share issue got off to a lively start Saturday 2 December as musicians and poets, headlined by Attila the Stockbroker, performed free in front of a packed house on a night that demonstrated conclusively what the pub is about – and why it needs to be kept alive. If you want to help save The Greys, you can invest or donate at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savethegreys and support the campaign on Facebook at SaveTheGreysPub and on Twitter @Save_The_Greys.
LATEST HOMES | 5
006_LH860_PS&B_FP_PS&B 14/12/2017 13:35 Page 1
Merry Christmas from all at Parsons Son & Basley TIS’ THE SEASON TO BE SELLING WITH PS&B LD SO
LD SO
LD SO
KINGSWAY £18,000
LD SO
VERNON TERRACE £199,950
LD SO
STIRLING PLACE £285,000
• Beach Hut
• GF, one bedroom flat
• First and second floor
• On Hove promenade
• Open plan living room
• Two bed maisonette
• Good condition
• Fitted kitchen
• Newly refurbished
• Close to Bowling Green and Croquet Lawn
• Close to Brighton Mainline Station
• Close Hove station and seafront
COLLEGE TERR £300,000
LD SO
RUSHLAKE ROAD £335,000
LD SO
WARLEIGH ROAD £350,000
• GF, two bedroom flat
• Semi-detached house
• Lower & GF maisonette
• Rear patio garden
• Three bedrooms
• Two double bedrooms
• New 999 year lease
• 70ft lawned garden
• 37ft South facing garden
• Short walk to the seafront
• Shared drive and detached garage
• Close to Preston Circus
NORTHBOURNE CL £365,000
LD SO
EATON GARDENS £389,950
LD SO
MILL LANE £439,950
• Three bedroom house
• 6th floor, 2 bed apartment
• Extended S/D house
• 24ft Living/dining room
• Two double bedrooms
• Four bedrooms
• Southerly aspect garden
• South facing balcony
• Gardens and driveway
• Summerhouse/office
• Private garage and unallocated parking
• Out building/Office
AUCTIONEERS CHARTERED SURVEYORS ESTATE AGENTS PROPERTY MANAGERS
Call our office for a free market appraisal on:
01273 326171 www.psandb.co.uk
007_LH860_Sure-FP-17_FP Ad 14/12/2017 13:32 Page 1
IN N ST E RU W CT IO N
www.surepropertysolutions.co.uk 01273 243561
Windmill Street, Queen’s Park
£480,000 Freehold
Offered for sale with no onward chain, this three double bedroom bay fronted house must be viewed to be appreciated. Wellproportioned accommodation is over two floors and comprises; bay fronted sitting room with wood burning stove, a 14’9 x 14’5 kitchen/breakfast/dining room that opens out to the garden and is a great eating/entertaining space, three double bedrooms, bathroom and a low maintenance south westerly garden. Benefits include some upvc double glazing, gas central heating via a newly installed combination boiler and the wood burning stove.
3
FREE professional photos and floor
plans for all sales and lettings properties
31 Upper St James Street Brighton BN2 1JN 01273 243561
info@surepropertysolutions.co.uk
1
EPC: D
008_LH860_NEWUniofsussex_Layout 1 14/12/2017 13:30 Page 1
009_LH860_Massey_FP Ad 14/12/2017 13:30 Page 1
Record lets
Growing portfolio
#progression
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
Results
Wilbury Road, Hove ÂŁ1,400pcm Superb brand newly refurbished two bedroom apartment. Really light and bright. Fitted kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 2 doubles, online control system built in for heating and showers. Available immediately
010_011_LH860_Khalil_Layout 1 14/12/2017 13:28 Page 1
AS RENTAL
GROWTH
GRINDS TO A HALT WHAT CAN LANDLORDS DO? Exploring landlord options
S
ixty years ago, in 1957, Harold Macmillan was telling us that we have never had it so good. How times have changed! In 2017 the sad news for landlords is the opposite of Macmillan’s unbridled optimism. Many feel that the private rented sector has never had it so tough. And the latest analysis of the rental market suggests that things are about to get even tougher, especially for those trying to turn a profit in the south of England.
A tough rental market Two recent studies of the rental market confirm that the rental market has come to a grinding halt. In the first, conducted by Your Move, rental growth is revealed to be slowing across England, driven by a price drop in London and the south. London’s rents fell during November – and those in the south were, at best, stagnant. Martyn Alderton, national lettings director at Your Move, commented that: “as we approach winter, the heat has been taken out of the rental market and price growth has slowed”. This pessimistic assessment was confirmed by a new economic index created by academics. The new Deposit Protection Service rent index is based on the UK’s largest deposit protection provider’s database of millions of rental properties across the UK. Stretching back over ten years it can compare our situation in 2017 with the circumstances we faced over the last decade. The index reveals that the average UK rent has increased by just £11.55 or 1.51% over the last year. This represents its slowest rate of increase for five years. What’s more, when compared to the rate of inflation, it shows that the rate in which rents increased was the slowest it has been since the crash of 2008. It looks very much like it could be tough times ahead for landlords. Is there such a thing as guaranteed rent in tough times? Of course, on top of a stagnating rent landlords are also facing legislative and regulatory change, not to mention some seemingly punitive tax adjustments that will make things tougher still. In times like these guaranteed rent is a very welcome rock amid extremely turbulent seas. 10 | LATEST HOMES
advertising feature
And Khalil’s offers you exactly that. It’s not just the level of rent that is guaranteed by our Rent Guarantee Scheme. It’s also its frequency: there are no void periods. We pay you rent month in and month out, whether your property has tenants currently or not. We also take care of managing your tenants, handle the daily maintenance of your property and we’ll jump through any regulatory hoops that are unexpectedly thrown at the private rental sector. You protect yourself from falling rents, you are sheltered from the slings and arrows of policy changes and your property is maintained for you. In fact, you could say: “you’ve never had it so good”! Forget the bad news and start living the good life. Phone: 01273 573960 Mobile: 07984 015669 Email: ahmed@khalilproperties.co.uk Address: 124 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3LG www.khalilproperties.co.uk
LATEST TV | VIRGIN MEDIA 159 | FREEVIEW CHANNEL 7
010_011_LH860_Khalil_Layout 1 14/12/2017 13:29 Page 2
KHALIL IS COMING TO
HOVE We will Guarantee the rent for Hove landlords and offer Maintenance cover.
Call 01273 573960