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For many people, living by the sea would be a dream come true. But it pays to be aware of the implications of coast living and understand one or two potential drawbacks. We look at some of the points to take into consideration before taking the plunge.

A seaside home can be wonderful, with peaceful views, beach and cliff-top walks and the option of water sports for the more active. However, it always pays to do some research before moving house and property by the sea, in particular warrants, some investigations.

Flood risk and erosion

While flood risk and erosion are not always as widespread as it may seem, it always pays to have the right searches carried out and make some local enquiries before you decide to go ahead. Your solicitor can also ask the buyer relevant questions.

You may also want to check and see what sea defences are in place and what history of flooding or erosion the area has.

Property maintenance

If your property is very exposed or close to the sea, then you can expect it to take more of a battering than an inland home. As well as high winds and rain, salt in the air can be corrosive and erode paintwork and metal more quickly than elsewhere. Damp is generally more of an issue, both generally with higher humidity in the air, and in the home if it is exposed to driving wind and rain.

A survey is always recommended and your surveyor will be able to point out areas of concern and suggest work that needs to be carried out to resolve any existing issues. You may need to budget more than usual for ongoing maintenance.

How many of the neighbouring properties are second homes?

If you choose a popular destination, you can expect many of the nearby properties to be holiday or second homes. While the area may be bustling during school holidays, it could be very quiet out of season and you need to be sure that this doesn’t worry you.

In addition, if you live next door to or near holiday homes, you may have noisy visitors nearby. People on holiday tend to be louder and spend more time outside, including drinking and staying up late. This can be frustrating for locals to have to deal with routinely.

The effect of tourism

If you are somewhere very popular, you need to spend some time assessing what the roads and local amenities are like at the height of the holiday season. The roads may be gridlocked, parking impossible and in the busiest places, pavements crowded and shops and cafés overwhelmed.

What is the area like out of season?

Similarly, you should visit out of season and check what is open and whether you still enjoy the atmosphere of the place. Some businesses close over winter and holiday homes are likely to be largely vacant.

Transport links may also disappear or reduce substantially out of season, making it difficult to get about without a car.

A good tip is to try your chosen area at different times of the year before you buy. It can be relatively inexpensive to stay in a holiday home out of season, so visit in the depths of winter to check that you still love it.

Benefits of seaside living

The benefits of a coastal home are easy to see. Spectacular scenery, great walks from you door, the opportunity to take up water sports or sailing and living somewhere that most people only get to visit for a week or two each year.

It can be a relaxed way of life and if you live in a popular spot, you can be sure that friends and family will be queuing up to visit you

Contact us

For further advice or information please contact one of our Residential Property experts.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.