Across the UK, local councils have been encouraged to find more ways of finding more housing, increasing affordable housing, and developing more housing plots. As one of the nation’s top destinations on the south coast, and given its proximity to London, making housing more accessible for local people isn’t exactly easy for Brighton & Hove City to achieve. Still, we can see many different efforts in the works to improve the state of play.
Finding more rentals and cracking down on short-term lets
As of 1 April 2025, councils across the UK were permitted to increase the amount of council tax they can place on second homes. Brighton & Hove City Council acted upon this opportunity by doubling the standard tax, adding a 100 percent premium. They could have gone much further, but this alone should generate over £1.5 million annually for the council and free up some houses across the area.
Other opportunities for residents also look to be in the works. On 12 June, it was reported that the vacant offices built in Portslade ten years ago could be transformed into new flats if the council approves the £2 million project. Apache and Moda have also agreed to sell their build-to-rent development Hove Central to affordable housing provider Homes for Brighton & Hove, with the plot now in its final phase before opening up.
Earlier this year, the council also got to work on providing new council homes in Hollingbury. The project is now underway to bring in 12 new council homes as a part of the New Homes for Neighbourhoods programme and will cost the council around £4 million. Furthermore, the council has declared its intent to crack down on short-term lets, such as those enabled by Airbnb. They say that the Brighton area could have as many as 5,000 of these.
More opportunities in the housing market
More places opening up for long-term rent agreements will only help to get local people and others who want to work in the area to find suitable accommodation. Further, new affordable housing plots, second homes, and current Airbnb properties becoming available will give better opportunities to local residents going forward. Given that the average house price has gone up 4.3 percent year-on-year to £428,000, it’s still expensive to live here.
Still, more opportunities to move and more vacant properties will help to infuse some extra movements in the area. People who already live locally and want to upgrade or even those who want to get out before the council tax and Airbnb clampdowns truly bite can be nimble in the modern market. After all, anyone who chooses to sell a house in Brighton can get a free cash offer, a guaranteed sale on any property, and get the cash in a week.
It’s a straightforward five-step process that helps sellers to circumvent the rigours of the usual property market and the dreaded chain. First, they get in touch to tell the platform about the property, then they get a cash offer and the chance to discuss and come to a final agreement. The fourth step is for the legal work to be sorted and then for the cash to reach the seller immediately upon completion.
Having a speedy and hassle-free option like this should help people looking for a better housing situation to change up and for those being clamped down on by the council to skip town swiftly. Overall, the local housing market looks to be moving in the right direction to help more people get into properties.
