Moving to Brighton?

Question

I'm planning on moving to Brighton with either a friend or on my own. Does anyone know anything about rent prices there, chances of getting a job (barwork/anything...) and if there are anyone who are looking for flatmates.

Answer 1

Well, I lived in Brighton for a long time. I now live in Hastings.

Brighton is a great place to live in many ways, but its also an awful place to live in many others. I was there for nearly 10 years, first as a student, then while I was on my first job and I bought a flat just before the prices went stupid.

Ill tell you the good stuff first. Its a vibrant, young, eclectic fun city. There is nothing normal about the place. The Lanes are quite unique and there are some of the best restaurants and bars around. If you like clubbing, there is plenty for you to do. In the summer the beach is packed from mid morning until about 4am, with people enjoying the sunshine and the many beach front bars. Its like living on holiday in many ways. Its a very non-judgemental city as well. A sort of anything goes kind of attitude and when you tell people that its where you live - they always say something like "wow, that must be a great place to live" It is true that its a bit of a London by the Sea.

Now for the downside. People who live in Brighton seem to be blinded by it. They seem to ignore the fact that there are more homeless people on the streets than some parts of London. Its obvious that there is a serious crack problem but its sort of hidden, the tourists and visitors are shielded from it, but unfortunately a lot of the residents know about it because they have to live in the streets where it happens and next door to the people who do it (rent prices are sky high in the nicer areas).

Amongst young professionals there is a serious drugs culture about the place, but because its "cool" drugs like coke and ecstasy its not seen to be a problem. I never went to a single party the whole time I lived there where drugs were not being taken - openly and almost proudly. It reminded me of school children egging on their friends to smoke. Its only because I am so anti-drugs that I wasn't lured in because I was made to feel like the freak for not taking part - and in fairness that's how most of my friends ended up taking the stuff.

Rental prices are very high. As a student my entire loan was used on my annual rent (this was 12 years ago) I had to take 2 jobs to survive. Its expensive to own a house/flat and first time buyers are pretty much out priced. Much of the housing which in a normal town would be made into cheap 1 bed flats is owned by private landlords and is let out to the massive student population. That said, there are plenty of people who have taken on big mortgages who will be looking for a room mate - so pick up the local paper (the Argus) and Im sure you will find something.

Clubbing is big in Brighton and there is something for everyone, but again it can be expensive. Eating out also becomes something of a luxury.

Job wise, as its a seaside, holiday town and a busy student town, there is always work available in the service industry. In the summer its very busy, at the start of the university year its busy and at Xmas its also busy, so bar/restaurant jobs are very easy to come by, but unfortunately will in the main only pay the minimum wage which is tough to live on when the prices are so high. I worked in all these areas, but when I graduated had to work in London/Crawley and Portsmouth.

In summary, I loved my time in the city, but I'm so pleased i no longer live there. I would never go back. Granted, I am older, married and settled, but even so, there is something more "real"
about where I live now. It may be a bit rougher around the edges (I don't mean in a violent way) but Brighton just feels like its been invented rather than evolved.

If you are young and starting out like I was when I started uni then Brighton may suit you down to the ground. It did me as a 19 year old, but then by my mid 20s I had had enough of it, and thinking about it all my friends who have grown up have also moved out and moved on. (as opposed to my other friends who haven't grown up and are still doing the same old parties and clubbing even though they are in their 30s)

Answer 2

You're going to love it here, so don't let anyone put you off with "horror" stories of life in what is without a doubt my favourite place in the UK.

Rents here are somewhere between normal UK city rates and London prices. As a result, unless you can afford upwards of £600 a month for a small one-bed or studio, you'd be best off sharing. There are some really decent 2-bed flats near the seafront and shopping/bar areas for anywhere between £800 and £1,000 a month. Best thing is to look up websites like rightmove for flats and gumtree or outlet to find flat shares.

If you can't afford that much, looking just a little outside the town centre area will get you lower prices - the "Hanover" and Queens Park areas up on the hill, around London Road station, Preston Park, Woodingdean, Portslade and Shoreham are all a short hop on a bus away from the buzz of central Brighton and Kemptown. Avoid the Moulescomb and Whitehawk areas.

Jobs are pretty easy to find here, especially bar work, but you need to be prepared to do a lot of footwork as a lot of bars don't advertise in papers and don't go looking for work around the start of term time because you'll be up against thousands of students. I've seen a couple of bars on Brighton Marina advertising for bar staff recently.

Good luck and don't give up, it'll be worth it in the end!

Answer 3

i have lived in brighton all my life and im now 24.

i have never known any different so am unsure if the house prices are that much higher here.
go online to friday-ad and look at the brighton edition, there are lots of people renting out rooms and also lots of student homeshares availible.
getting somewhere to live will not be a problem if you dont mind sharing.
as for jobs there are so many oppertunities
not just bar work! there are lots of buisnesses that u can work your way up in.

the night life is fantastic and there is always something to do in the day.

everyone who visits brighton loves it, its a great city to live in.

good luck!!!!

Answer 4

I know that it's expensive to live there but the wages don't match it. I would consider getting a job in London and commuting from Brighton.

Answer 5

Brighton house rents are quite affordable.Since there is a pier there...there are lots of Bars/Hotels which u can easily get into.

Answer 6

Dont move there, its hard to get a job and if like me you get a job, they'll all be doing drugs and that will cost you more money, however we get tuaca for free.