Brighton Buy-to-Let Guide

Brighton is one of the more expensive places to buy property in the UK.

HM Land Registry states the average property price is £433,142.

On average, detached homes cost £850,277. Semi-detached properties cost £547,053. Terraced houses cost £485,622, and flats cost £332,523. Buy-to-let property / apartments can make for lower initial costs when investing due to the cheaper price.

In comparison, the UK average property value is £289,824, making the typical Brighton property almost 40% more expensive than the national average—a Brighton flat costs more than the national average for semi-detached properties, which stands at £281,520.

Over the past year, Brighton has seen a price growth of -2.40%, meaning prices are lower than 12 months ago. Terraced homes saw the largest price decline, coming to -2.80%.

According to Rightmove, the majority of sales in the area during the last 12 months were flats.

Brighton has many areas that appeal to a wide demographic of potential tenants. If you’re a buy-to-let investor looking for the best area in Brighton, this list may help you focus your research.

Brighton City Centre

Brighton city centre is an area that commands premium property prices and rents. It is popular with young professionals who seek seaside living but still want London within easy travelling distance. Flats are the most popular property type in this part of town.

Average Property Prices in Brighton City Centre

The average property price in BN1 is £522,911.

Average Rental Yields in Brighton City Centre

The average yield in the centre of Brighton is 3.8%.

Fishersgate and Portslade offer some of the cheapest properties in Brighton. However, certain parts of these areas are in disrepair and in need of regeneration. Still, the area offers affordable rents compared to other BN postcodes.

Average Property Prices in Fishersgate and Portslade

The average property price in BN41 is £420,184.

Average Rental Yields in Fishersgate and Portslade

BN41’s average rental yield is 4.33%.

Brighton Attracts Businesses into the Area

Brighton is a city that attracts the business-minded. According to the 2023 Centre for Cities report, Brighton is the number two hotspot for business start-ups and businesses per capita. It’s important to note that businesses help make areas more desirable to renters, eventually boosting the housing market as more people relocate. An area with a thriving housing market attracts more businesses to take advantage of the increased footfall and talent pool.

And so the cycle continues.

Strong Student Population

Brighton has a substantial student population due to the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. Both institutions have roughly 18,000 students each. As such, student-centric buy-to-let landlords have a large demographic to which they can offer homes. Popular areas for students include Kempton and Lewes Road.

Holiday Destination

Thanks to its idyllic position on the south coast, Brighton is a popular holiday destination for many people and one of the top “staycation” locations in the country. Brighton attracts millions of visitors annually, making short-let holiday accommodation a potentially lucrative buy-to-let investment opportunity.

As these areas undergo further regeneration work, more private developers are expected to choose Brighton for their projects, giving more opportunities to invest in off-plan for property investors in the region.

As mentioned, there’s a significant demand for new builds from investors due to their advantages over older properties, including popularity with tenants. Although they are more expensive than second-hand properties, investors get good deals on new build properties by investing off-plan. This means investing when the property is still in the planning or construction stage.

Investing off-plan means that the property can be acquired for a below-market price, and there are options such as payment plans.

For these reasons, those looking at a pricey area like Brighton could benefit from exploring off-plan options for buy-to-let property investment.