The residents of Hastings & St Leonards are being priced out of the area due to huge hikes in rent and house prices.

A lot of properties are being bought as second homes, holiday homes, buy-to-airbnbs, or buy-to-lets by owners who do not class the area as their primary residence.

So many people who were born in Hastings or have families and jobs here can no longer find homes here that they can afford and are forced into moving elsewhere.

This is not right. 

In order to highlight how much public feeling there is surrounding this issue we would request the council holds a referendum for Hastings & St Leonards residents on the following:

1) Hastings Borough Council should take steps to ensure its residents are prioritised above buyers from outside the area in the local housing market.

2) Hastings Borough Council should put a cap on the number of airbnbs.

3) Hastings Borough Council should introduce rent caps in line with the local LHA.