Short-term letting in Brighton and Hove

Brighton and Hove attract a mix no other seaside city matches: London day-trippers turned weekenders, stag and hen groups, festival and Pride crowds in May and August, conference delegates, and families visiting the universities. Kemptown, the North Laine and the Hove seafront are the areas guests ask for. The downside of that popularity is pressure from residents, which has made the city one of the most vocal in England on short-let regulation.

Regulation: what exists and what is proposed

Today, no licence is required and there is no cap on nights outside London. The government has said its national register should be fully operational by March 2027. Brighton and Hove City Council has gone further in intent: it has been lobbying to pilot a licensing scheme once the government's platform is ready, and councillors examined the idea in March 2026. Nothing is in force yet, but owners should expect this city to be among the first to use any new powers.

Planning is the rule that bites now. Much of Brighton's housing is flats in converted Regency and Victorian houses. When a flat with shared stairs is let night after night to groups, the council can treat it as a material change of use, especially if neighbours complain. Leases in these buildings frequently ban short lets outright.

Costs to plan for

• A 100% council tax premium on second homes has applied since 1 April 2025.
• Business rates replace council tax only if the property is available for 140 nights and let for 70 in 12 months.
• Profits are taxed as ordinary property income since the furnished holiday lettings regime ended in April 2025.

Our position

We would avoid party bookings entirely, set clear house rules and quiet hours, and favour couples, families and professionals. That protects your neighbours, your lease and your standing if a licence arrives. Tell us about your Brighton or Hove property; we study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

From the Lanes to the Downs

Brighton's sights are compact enough for guests to explore on foot: the Royal Pavilion and its gardens, the Palace Pier, the i360 viewing tower on the West Pier site, and the narrow alleys of the Lanes. Seven Dials, near the station, is a quieter residential choice for couples who arrive by train. Further east, the Marina and the village of Rottingdean give families a calmer seaside.

A good share of bookings follows fixtures and institutions rather than the beach. Brighton & Hove Albion play at the Amex Stadium in Falmer, next to the campuses of the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton, so match days and graduation weeks overlap in that corridor. The Brighton Centre on the seafront hosts party political conferences and large gatherings. The marathon in April and the Brighton Festival with its Fringe in May start the season early.

The South Downs National Park begins on the city's edge. Devil's Dyke and the South Downs Way attract walkers and cyclists, who look for storage and a washing machine.

Practicalities worth stating: controlled parking zones cover most central streets, so guests with cars need a clear explanation of permits or car parks. Rubbish and recycling must go out on the right day; gulls tear open bags left on the pavement, a complaint neighbours raise quickly.