Hi fellow landlords. We’ve advertised our one bed flat in Brighton many times over the years and after a week would have possibly more than 20 enquiries. We’ve had 3. We’ve even dropped the price. Perhaps it’s just a case of January being a particularly quiet month or there’s more to choose from in Brighton than usual. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
We’ve even thought that people are suddenly being a bit nervous about private landlords due to everything that’s been in the press.
Weather hasn’t been great with big storms and cold- not fun for going out doing viewings…
Get a friend to try searching on rightmove etc and see if your flat shows up? In case a website issue
I searched just now on your postcode and found 17 1beds below 1150 (some were studios I think) 1and that’s without expanding +1/2mile +1mile etc. Once you drop down list from being newly listed…..
Reports do say market has softened I think
Some LLs will have tried to sell up, not sold and had to rent again to pay mortgages
And one letting agent told me people are looking further afield she need 20 viewings to get an offer, used to need 10. Because cost of living people v price conscious and willing to look further afield
Not sure if affects you but intl student numbers have been falling a lot and Brighton uni cutting courses according to Google so maybe less demand
The advert is definitely there and I agree there might be a bit of a glut due to landlords trying to sell and failing. We’ll have to consider reducing the price some more. Hey ho. We’re certainly not going to lower our criteria. There’s more choice than usual and it does look like it’s not just when you look at Rightmove. We usually interview maybe 6 people from 20 or so enquiries and pick from them as they most want the flat. Onwards and upwards!
I live in Brighton, and know this area. I own a property now, but compared to when I was renting this flat seems to offer a degree of value for money, however it is further away from the seafront where people prefer to live and think rents have dropped slightly here. I rent out a flat in Southampton, only got enquiries between Christmas and the first week of January (I got no enquiries from mid December to the 27th), I got 40 enquiries in total which surprised me. I think people are looking away from the expensive areas. Is the minimum 12 month flat might be deterring people? Have you considered lowering this to 6 months and then seeing who you get through? And so many people around here have dogs, your no dogs policy may also be a problem.
Thanks for your response. I did originally have it at 6 months as usual and changed it to a year in case that was ruling people out. I’ve changed it back again. We’ve already reduced it from £1200 to £1125 and still no response since last evening. Dogs aren’t allowed due to it being a flat. We’ve had 8 people respond and 3 viewings. Only one would have been a choice, but she decided on something bigger. Tenants can definitely pick and choose, but it’s been like that for quite some time. We’ll just have to be patient and possibly lower the price again. I’m guessing going down to £1100 will bring in more people in the lower search bracket.
I’m sorry to hear you are having difficulties letting your place.
I missed the student market from end September 2024, for my 4 bedroom house in Hackney, with unsuitable chancers, reluctant to move away from mum and dad + liars, one from Brighton!, had it empty several months and a very over-estimated tax bill of £19K looming, on 31/07/25, so tried an Airbnb, for 3 or 4 months, during peak season. That was VERY popular and I got 15 x 5 stars. Very hard work for a 61 year old woman, cleaning, washing etc. You would do very well with a 1 bed, in Brighton and also not in the outskirts of London: I did a long let from October 2025.
Here is my two penceworth. 1. Call yourself “Hands on landlady” not professional etc., otherwise it makes you sound money grabbing and overly officious. 2. Get a professional photographer and make up the bed, to look very sassy and cosy and not like the place is empty and you are desperate. 3. Don’t give a date of the conversion - 2003 makes it look very dated. 4. After May this year, you cannot refuse pets, so just say they are welcome, but not in the body of your blurb. 5. Take it off the market, say 10 days, relaunch it, with professional photos, which you can charge up against tax. 6. Think about lowering the price to the £1,000 mark, as you have bandings on OpenRent and then you will catch both bands of tenants, looking below that price and above.
Thanks for your response Oriel. I appreciate the time you took. Unfortunately AirB&B is not allowed as it’s a flat and neither are dogs. I take your point about taking out the word professional and I’ll do that now. I’ll also consider dressing the bed and getting pictures done. We’ve been renting it for over 20 years without any issues and it’s been a bit of a surprise. We have lowered the price to the next bracket down and we’ve had 4 enquiries already this morning. I think it’s to do with the cost of living and the fact that tenants have more choice right now in Brighton. It’s a mystery considering so many landlords have sold. I suspect there’s an element of some failing to sell as that market is not good at all and they’re having to let out again.
@Dawn21 think lots have probably tried to sell and had to go back to renting to cover mortgage. And tenants looking more widely due to ‘cost of living’ - Brighton consistently reported as one of the most expensive places to live in uk as well. Plus intl student numbers massively down and brighton uni cutting lots of courses. Moving is also expensive and a hassle for anybody inc those renting so happens less when people feel insecure in t h eir jobs because economy is flatlining
Hi Dawn,
I find that inside pictures taken with a wide angle lens are more flattering and show more. I also found a short video attracts attention. Here’s one I did last summer for a flat near Bristol. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m4IdX7wNC9g
Great video Richard! Couple of questions. Was the video done using a wide angled lense too? I advertise on rightmove so I’ll have to check if I can have a link to YouTube. I’m getting more enquiries now I’ve lowered price to a bracket down.
The pictures look very dark as if there is not much light coming through. I’d recommend ordering professional photographs to be taken by an agent within Open Rent. Its not at all expensive and will be worth it. I’ve used an Open Rent photographer before and was amazed at how beautiful they made the place look. I’ll be using a photographer for all my properties coming onto the rental market from now on.
