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Band-by-band tax breakdown ▼
| Band | Taxable slice | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | £125,000 | 0.0% | £0 |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | £125,000 | 2.0% | £2,500 |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | £165,000 | 5.0% | £8,250 |
| Total | £415,000 | — | £10,750 |
Estimates only. Confirm with your conveyancer and official calculators. Sources.
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Cash you need — and when it's due
Deposit + costsAdd your deposit to the tax and fees above to see the cash you need and when each part is due.
Assumes a 10% exchange deposit. Your lender sets the minimum deposit. Estimates only.
East Sussex house prices, August 2026
The East Sussex figure covers the county council's five districts; Brighton and Hove is a separate council.
East Sussex's average home cost £315,247 in August 2026, -1% on a year earlier (England: £293,525).
East Sussex home movers pay £5,762 stamp duty at that average; East Sussex first-time buyers £0 at their own £248,560 average; a East Sussex buy-to-let £21,525.
| Average home | Price | SDLT: mover | SDLT: first-time buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Sussex flat | £172,507 | £950 | £0 |
| East Sussex terrace | £285,170 | £4,258 | £0 |
| East Sussex semi | £356,289 | £7,814 | £2,814 |
| East Sussex detached house | £559,998 | £18,000 | £18,000 |
HM Land Registry UK HPI, August 2026 (provisional). 2026/27 rates.
East Sussex house prices over ten years
Since August 2016 the East Sussex average has moved from £252,479 to £315,247 (+24.9%), slower than England's +34.5%.
At 2026/27 rates a East Sussex home mover pays £2,624 stamp duty on the August 2016 average and £5,762 on today's.
East Sussex first-time buyers: £199,554 then, £248,560 now, still £51,440 under the £300,000 relief line.
Rother rose most (+33%), Wealden least (+17.1%); the Brighton and Hove–Hastings gap went from £160,174 to £169,460.
| Area | August 2016 | August 2026 | Change | Tax change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealden | £325,061 | £380,679 | +17.1% | +£2,781 |
| Lewes | £309,173 | £374,305 | +21.1% | +£3,257 |
| Rother | £252,331 | £335,680 | +33% | +£4,167 |
| Eastbourne | £202,338 | £255,642 | +26.3% | +£1,235 |
| Hastings | £182,579 | £238,780 | +30.8% | +£1,124 |
| Brighton and Hove | £342,753 | £408,240 | +19.1% | +£3,274 |
HM Land Registry UK HPI. Tax change for a mover at 2026/27 rates.
What homes sold for in East Sussex: towns
East Sussex: 8,846 standard-price home sales in 2025, 4.6% new builds; most in Wealden (10.3%), fewest in Eastbourne (0.6%).
Top median: Tunbridge Wells, £594,153 (£19,708 stamp duty for a mover). Lowest: Eastbourne (Eastbourne), £275,000 (£3,750).
Median £250,001 to £300,000 (first-time buyers pay nothing): Eastbourne (Eastbourne), St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings (Hastings) and Newhaven. Median £300,001 to £500,000 (part relief): Bexhill-on-Sea, Hailsham, Lewes (Lewes), Crowborough, Seaford, Uckfield, Peacehaven, Heathfield, Rye, Pevensey, Polegate, Eastbourne (Wealden), Battle (Rother), Hastings (Rother), Etchingham, Forest Row, Robertsbridge, Brighton, Wadhurst (Rother), Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Battle (Wealden). Median over £500,000 (no first-time buyer relief): Wadhurst (Wealden), Lewes (Wealden), Tunbridge Wells and Mayfield.
| Town | Council | Sales | Median price | Stamp duty | First-time buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbourne | Eastbourne | 1,632 | £275,000 | £3,750 | £0 |
| Bexhill-on-Sea | Rother | 763 | £310,000 | £5,500 | £500 |
| St Leonards-on-Sea | Hastings | 739 | £275,000 | £3,750 | £0 |
| Hastings | Hastings | 616 | £290,000 | £4,500 | £0 |
| Hailsham | Wealden | 601 | £325,000 | £6,250 | £1,250 |
| Lewes | Lewes | 500 | £485,000 | £14,250 | £9,250 |
| Crowborough | Wealden | 488 | £450,000 | £12,500 | £7,500 |
| Seaford | Lewes | 461 | £370,000 | £8,500 | £3,500 |
| Uckfield | Wealden | 402 | £417,500 | £10,875 | £5,875 |
| Peacehaven | Lewes | 367 | £340,000 | £7,000 | £2,000 |
| Heathfield | Wealden | 284 | £390,000 | £9,500 | £4,500 |
| Rye | Rother | 237 | £390,000 | £9,500 | £4,500 |
| Pevensey | Wealden | 225 | £352,500 | £7,625 | £2,625 |
| Polegate | Wealden | 206 | £325,000 | £6,250 | £1,250 |
| Newhaven | Lewes | 201 | £295,000 | £4,750 | £0 |
| Eastbourne | Wealden | 186 | £345,873 | £7,294 | £2,294 |
| Battle | Rother | 127 | £419,000 | £10,950 | £5,950 |
| Hastings | Rother | 79 | £410,000 | £10,500 | £5,500 |
| Wadhurst | Wealden | 68 | £542,500 | £17,125 | £17,125 |
| Etchingham | Rother | 67 | £450,000 | £12,500 | £7,500 |
| Forest Row | Wealden | 64 | £456,250 | £12,812 | £7,812 |
| Robertsbridge | Rother | 63 | £485,000 | £14,250 | £9,250 |
| Brighton | Lewes | 62 | £415,500 | £10,775 | £5,775 |
| Lewes | Wealden | 55 | £550,000 | £17,500 | £17,500 |
| Tunbridge Wells | Wealden | 52 | £594,153 | £19,708 | £19,708 |
| Wadhurst | Rother | 41 | £430,000 | £11,500 | £6,500 |
| Mayfield | Wealden | 41 | £530,000 | £16,500 | £16,500 |
| Haywards Heath | Lewes | 36 | £492,500 | £14,625 | £9,625 |
| Burgess Hill | Lewes | 34 | £446,172 | £12,309 | £7,309 |
| Battle | Wealden | 30 | £463,750 | £13,188 | £8,188 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, 2025; 25+ standard-price sales; post towns can cross council lines. Tax at the median.
East Sussex: a flat or a detached house
A East Sussex flat at the average pays £950 stamp duty; a East Sussex detached house at the average pays £18,000.
Since August 2016: East Sussex detached houses +25.7%, East Sussex flats +15.4%.
Average detached house over £500,000, so no first-time buyer relief: Wealden, Lewes, Rother, Eastbourne and Brighton and Hove. Under £500,000: Hastings.
Cheapest flats: Hastings (£141,840). Dearest detached: Brighton and Hove (£855,390).
| Area | Average flat | Tax on it | Average detached | Tax on it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealden | £180,919 | £1,118 | £575,010 | £18,750 |
| Lewes | £201,106 | £1,522 | £601,470 | £20,074 |
| Rother | £181,563 | £1,131 | £562,175 | £18,109 |
| Eastbourne | £175,957 | £1,019 | £518,902 | £15,945 |
| Hastings | £141,840 | £337 | £476,848 | £13,842 |
| Brighton and Hove | £295,136 | £4,757 | £855,390 | £32,770 |
HM Land Registry UK HPI, August 2026. Home-mover tax by nation, 2026/27 rates.
East Sussex: first homes and moving up
Widest gap between first-time buyers and movers: Wealden (£160,703). Narrowest: Hastings (£84,929).
| Area | First-time buyer average | Stamp duty with relief | Mover average | Stamp duty for a mover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealden | £289,839 | £0 | £450,542 | £12,527 |
| Lewes | £300,807 | £40 | £453,479 | £12,674 |
| Rother | £257,185 | £0 | £408,095 | £10,405 |
| Eastbourne | £218,785 | £0 | £310,609 | £5,530 |
| Hastings | £203,153 | £0 | £288,082 | £4,404 |
| Brighton and Hove | £343,329 | £2,166 | £498,706 | £14,935 |
HM Land Registry UK HPI, August 2026. 2026/27 rates.
East Sussex sale prices by village and suburb, 2025
Top median: Ditchling, £717,500 (£25,875 stamp duty for a mover). Lowest: Camber, £292,500 (£4,625).
Median £250,001 to £300,000 (first-time buyers pay nothing): Camber. Median £300,001 to £500,000 (part relief): Hellingly, Stone Cross, Telscombe Cliffs, Westham, Ringmer, Saltdean, Pevensey Bay, Northiam, Horam, Ridgewood, East Hoathly, Herstmonceux, Fairlight, Rotherfield, South Chailey, Burwash and Willingdon. Median over £500,000 (no first-time buyer relief): Buxted, Newick, Wivelsfield Green and Ditchling.
| Village or suburb | Council | Sales | Median price | Stamp duty | First-time buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hellingly | Wealden | 122 | £370,000 | £8,500 | £3,500 |
| Stone Cross | Wealden | 80 | £359,750 | £7,988 | £2,988 |
| Telscombe Cliffs | Lewes | 72 | £320,000 | £6,000 | £1,000 |
| Westham | Wealden | 72 | £400,923 | £10,046 | £5,046 |
| Ringmer | Lewes | 62 | £459,975 | £12,999 | £7,999 |
| Saltdean | Lewes | 61 | £416,000 | £10,800 | £5,800 |
| Pevensey Bay | Wealden | 59 | £310,000 | £5,500 | £500 |
| Northiam | Rother | 54 | £399,000 | £9,950 | £4,950 |
| Horam | Wealden | 54 | £390,000 | £9,500 | £4,500 |
| Ridgewood | Wealden | 51 | £450,000 | £12,500 | £7,500 |
| Buxted | Wealden | 39 | £610,000 | £20,500 | £20,500 |
| Newick | Lewes | 38 | £597,500 | £19,875 | £19,875 |
| East Hoathly | Wealden | 38 | £464,750 | £13,238 | £8,238 |
| Herstmonceux | Wealden | 37 | £325,500 | £6,275 | £1,275 |
| Fairlight | Rother | 31 | £407,000 | £10,350 | £5,350 |
| Rotherfield | Wealden | 29 | £490,000 | £14,500 | £9,500 |
| South Chailey | Lewes | 28 | £389,000 | £9,450 | £4,450 |
| Wivelsfield Green | Lewes | 27 | £538,000 | £16,900 | £16,900 |
| Burwash | Rother | 27 | £430,000 | £11,500 | £6,500 |
| Ditchling | Lewes | 26 | £717,500 | £25,875 | £25,875 |
| Camber | Rother | 26 | £292,500 | £4,625 | £0 |
| Willingdon | Wealden | 25 | £325,000 | £6,250 | £1,250 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, 2025; 25+ standard-price sales. Tax at the median.
Prices across East Sussex's council areas
Brighton and Hove £408,240 (£10,412 tax for a mover) down to Hastings £238,780 (£2,276); Lewes rose most in the year (+1.5%).
| Area | Average | 1-year change | Mover tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wealden | £380,679 | -1.6% | £9,034 SDLT |
| Lewes | £374,305 | +1.5% | £8,715 SDLT |
| Rother | £335,680 | -1.9% | £6,784 SDLT |
| Eastbourne | £255,642 | -0.7% | £2,782 SDLT |
| Hastings | £238,780 | -2.5% | £2,276 SDLT |
| Brighton and Hove (separate council) | £408,240 | -2.1% | £10,412 SDLT |
| East Sussex (all) | £315,247 | -1% | £5,762 SDLT |
| England | £293,525 | +0.4% | £4,676 SDLT |
HM Land Registry UK HPI, August 2026. 2026/27 rates.
East Sussex homes by Council Tax band
East Sussex has 266,270 homes on the Council Tax list; the most common East Sussex band is C, and 32.5% of East Sussex homes are in bands A–B.
Most band A–B homes: Hastings (61.6%). Most band E–H homes: Wealden (37.7%).
Bands use 1 April 1991 values (A up to £40,000, H over £320,000); band H pays three times band A.
| Area | Bands A–B | Bands C–D | Bands E–H | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealden | 17.1% | 45.1% | 37.7% | C |
| Lewes | 23% | 51.1% | 25.9% | C |
| Rother | 26.5% | 42% | 31.6% | C |
| Eastbourne | 44.6% | 39.6% | 15.8% | B |
| Hastings | 61.6% | 30.6% | 7.8% | A |
| Brighton and Hove | 44.4% | 41.3% | 14.4% | C |
| England | 43.1% | 37.7% | 19.2% | A |
VOA table CTSOP1.0, homes at 31 March 2026.
What homes sold for in East Sussex: postcode districts
BN27 (Hailsham) had the most sales (601, median £325,000). Dearest postcode: BN7 (Lewes) at £490,000 (£14,500 stamp duty for a mover); cheapest: BN21 (Eastbourne) at £230,000 (£2,100).
| Postcode district | Council | Sales | Median price | Stamp duty | First-time buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN27 (Hailsham) | Wealden | 601 | £325,000 | £6,250 | £1,250 |
| BN21 (Eastbourne) | Eastbourne | 496 | £230,000 | £2,100 | £0 |
| BN23 (Eastbourne) | Eastbourne | 492 | £282,750 | £4,138 | £0 |
| TN6 (Crowborough) | Wealden | 488 | £450,000 | £12,500 | £7,500 |
| TN34 (Hastings) | Hastings | 474 | £290,000 | £4,500 | £0 |
| BN25 (Seaford) | Lewes | 461 | £370,000 | £8,500 | £3,500 |
| TN38 (St Leonards-on-Sea) | Hastings | 441 | £275,000 | £3,750 | £0 |
| TN39 (Bexhill-on-Sea) | Rother | 424 | £370,000 | £8,500 | £3,500 |
| TN22 (Uckfield) | Wealden | 402 | £417,500 | £10,875 | £5,875 |
| BN22 (Eastbourne) | Eastbourne | 393 | £270,000 | £3,500 | £0 |
| BN10 (Peacehaven) | Lewes | 367 | £340,000 | £7,000 | £2,000 |
| TN40 (Bexhill-on-Sea) | Rother | 339 | £265,000 | £3,250 | £0 |
| BN7 (Lewes) | Lewes | 328 | £490,000 | £14,500 | £9,500 |
| TN37 (St Leonards-on-Sea) | Hastings | 298 | £275,000 | £3,750 | £0 |
| TN21 (Heathfield) | Wealden | 284 | £390,000 | £9,500 | £4,500 |
| BN20 (Eastbourne) | Eastbourne | 251 | £350,000 | £7,500 | £2,500 |
| TN31 (Rye) | Rother | 237 | £390,000 | £9,500 | £4,500 |
| BN24 (Stone Cross) | Wealden | 225 | £352,500 | £7,625 | £2,625 |
| BN26 (Polegate) | Wealden | 206 | £325,000 | £6,250 | £1,250 |
| BN9 (Newhaven) | Lewes | 201 | £295,000 | £4,750 | £0 |
| BN8 (Ringmer) | Lewes | 171 | £480,000 | £14,000 | £9,000 |
| TN35 (Hastings) | Hastings | 142 | £290,000 | £4,500 | £0 |
| TN33 (Battle) | Rother | 127 | £419,000 | £10,950 | £5,950 |
| BN22 (Eastbourne) | Wealden | 104 | £332,496 | £6,625 | £1,625 |
| BN20 (Eastbourne) | Wealden | 75 | £399,000 | £9,950 | £4,950 |
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, 2025; 25+ standard-price sales; labelled with the place most often recorded. Tax at the median.
East Sussex homes by age and type
Hastings has the oldest homes (39.8% pre-1919) and Wealden the newest (20.1% since 2000); flats are the biggest share in Brighton and Hove (53.4%) and detached houses in Wealden (31.5%).
| Area | Built before 1919 | Built since 2000 | Flats | Detached houses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealden | 18.6% | 20.1% | 12% | 31.5% |
| Lewes | 15.4% | 14.2% | 20% | 19.5% |
| Rother | 25.5% | 13.5% | 22.8% | 25.2% |
| Eastbourne | 25.9% | 12.3% | 39.9% | 11.5% |
| Hastings | 39.8% | 9.9% | 39.1% | 12.4% |
| Brighton and Hove | 39.6% | 10.6% | 53.4% | 5.5% |
VOA tables CTSOP3.0 and CTSOP4.0, homes at 31 March 2026.
Fees and local admin in East Sussex
Conveyancing for a East Sussex purchase: Compare My Move's average quote for the South East is £1,680 (VAT and searches not stated), against £1,200 in this calculator.
Registering a £415,000 East Sussex purchase with HM Land Registry costs £150 online.
FAQ
What is the average house price in East Sussex?
East Sussex: £315,247 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry UK HPI), -1% on a year earlier.
Where in or near East Sussex have prices risen most in ten years?
Since August 2016: Rother +33%; Hastings +30.8%; Eastbourne +26.3%. Slowest: Wealden (+17.1%). HM Land Registry UK HPI.
Which parts of East Sussex had the highest sale prices in 2025?
By median price paid: Tunbridge Wells (Wealden) £594,153; Lewes (Wealden) £550,000; Wadhurst (Wealden) £542,500. HM Land Registry Price Paid Data.
Which part of East Sussex has the most homes in Council Tax bands A and B?
Hastings 61.6%; Eastbourne 44.6%; Brighton and Hove 44.4%. Fewest: Wealden (17.1%). Valuation Office Agency, 31 March 2026.
Sources & references
OfficialWhere the East Sussex figures on this page come from.
- GOV.UK: Stamp Duty Land Tax
- GOV.UK: SDLT residential property rates
- HM Land Registry: registration services fees
- HM Land Registry: UK House Price Index data downloads, August 2026
- HM Land Registry: Price Paid Data, 2025 Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Valuation Office Agency: Council Tax: stock of properties, 2026
- Valuation Office Agency: understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- Local Government Finance Act 1992, section 5
Verified against published UK government guidance. See also Methodology and Editorial standards.