Pros and Cons of Living by the Seaside

LIVING BY THE SEASIDE 2022

I write this article as an owner of a property by the sea. Just a few minutes walk away are the golden beaches of the east coastline that graces Essex with its presence. Where we live the property are well spaced out so that though we are 700 metres from the sea front, we can still see the sea from our second and third floors of our home (we purchased one of those old guests houses that were all the rage in England back before the days of cheap package deals to sunny climates of Europe). I am typing this article out and gazing out towards the far distant wind turbines, I just wish we had that Mediterranean sunshine to enhance todays weather!

So living by the seaside certainly has many benefits though at the same time there are negatives also, rather much like wherever you choose to live, compromise is always required of you. Let us first take a look at all the wonderful benefits of living by the seaside.

If we take things as an average seaside location over any glamorous location, there are many luxury hot spots across the coastline that are well above the average house price index to include Sandbanks in Dorset and Salcombe in Devon. I am also focusing on mainland England over any of its islands.

Lifestyle is one of the biggest benefits especially if you are a person that enjoys seaside locations. The obvious is the beach & sea, throughout the year it is there for you to enjoy from walks during winter months to laying down your towel to sun bath in the summer months. Calming, relaxing, refreshing, healthy and more all accumulate when you’ve the seaside on your door step, that knowledge that at any moment you can close your front door and take a walk along beach.

Property prices in most locations are also quite favourable. Many seaside resorts were once thriving with visitors and their whole economy was reliant on these holiday makers – This all ended once the cheap flights and package tours to Europe took hold. Since the 1980’s many seaside towns have seen a gradual decline in business and where there once was a vibrant economy, there are now many businesses closed, unemployed residents and visible signs of a lack of spending by the local authorities. This sees many coastal towns priced very favourably, many larger property (which were once guest homes / hotels) will be for sale and if you are prepared to take on a big assignment at a very tempting listing price then these areas are well worth exploring. Though property prices remain relatively low, this will not be forever and eventually these towns will get investment and new life breathed in to them.

Many coastal towns will also have relatively superb travel routes to them from the major cities and London. From road to train, many will have ease of access that were in place to accommodate tourism from the working cities of England.

Splendid views are of course another lure especially when you have uninterrupted seas views .

So what about the negatives? Well there are a few and to start off with we will look at corrosion where the salty sea air / rain / wind will have an effect on common building materials including wood, cement and metal, shortening their lifespan if they aren’t used correctly.

living by the sea corrosion

Wood, mortar joints, paint, metal and more can be effected by the added salt in the air

 

Peak times of the year for visitors, most school holidays and whenever the weather man forecasts a baking hotel bank holiday weekend, can mean the area becomes a bit swamped with tourists. Depending on how close you are to the sea front you can look to see more footfall, traffic and parked vehicles. There will of course also be more noise pollution and most probably more litter, crime, accidents and more to add to the annual stats.

Seaside towns will likely have many larger property as we mentioned and though these are now usually converted over to residential there will also be an increased amount of care homes or also homes of multiple occupancy (HMO).

Some seaside location are also suffering from coastal erosion though many will have sufficient sea defences in place.

Seagulls! Love ’em or hate ’em the seaside will have its above average quota of sea gulls which are seen as a nuisance and especially on the following topics:

  • Droppings – seagull guano can cause damage to buildings and vehicles because of its acidic content. There is also a potential health hazard with large-scale seagull droppings.
  • Noise – seagulls can be incredibly noisy, particularly in the nesting season which takes place from March to September.
  • Nesting – seagull nests can block guttering and downpipes which then cause flood problems as well as attracting parasites and problem insects.
  • Aggression – it’s not uncommon for seagulls to swoop and attack people, especially during nesting season when they are protecting their nests*

* source total bird control

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Housing sales end 2024 on a high, but buyers more cautious about how much to pay for homes as mortgage rates drift higher

Buyers and sellers returned to the market over 2024 building a sales pipeline 30 per cent larger than a year ago with 283,000 homes worth £104bn progressing to a sale in 2025. This is the largest end of year total value for four years. House prices have returned to growth with the average house price…
Read More
Breaking News

£21 million to live on UK’s most expensive street

· Knightsbridge in London now the priciest UK street · The UK’s 10 most expensive streets all in the capital, with an average price tag of £16.5 million · East Road in Weybridge the most expensive address outside of London · Priciest UK properties are 60 times more than a typical home Lloyds has revealed…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 20/12/24

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Why estate and letting agents must embrace innovative technology in 2025   As we step into 2025, the UK property market continues to shift, and estate agents face mounting pressure to meet the evolving expectations of buyers and sellers. The days when static images sufficed…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 19/12/24

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   High street Auctions’ initiative launches to revive Britain’s town centres   This month the UK Government rolls out its highly anticipated ‘High Street Auctions’ scheme, a flagship measure of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. This initiative grants local authorities the power to take…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Moving Up In The World: Finding Your Dream Home

Finding your dream home is one of life’s most exciting and transformative experiences. Whether you’re looking to upsize, relocate, or finally purchase that ideal property you’ve always envisioned, the journey is both thrilling and filled with important decisions. As you embark on this path, it’s essential to plan carefully, consider your priorities, and approach the…
Read More
new build home fronts
Breaking News

These cities are the keenest to move house in 2025

Bournemouth is the keenest area in the UK to move home, with 38,132 average monthly searches for moving-related topics per 100,000 residents. Plymouth is second, with 35,198 average monthly searches for moving, and Birmingham is third, with 35,181. Derry is the least keen area to move house, with only 3,170 average monthly searches related to…
Read More