Its cheap for a reason. Hastings on the whole a very mixed bag Town centre has a lot of homeless, Old town expensive up near the fishing huts and on top of the hill, Hastings has loads to do in the summer ie Pirate Day, Jack in the Green, Food festival days. St Leonards which is the other way does have more than its fair share of DHSS and very little character looks run down and shabby. Though it has a very nice fish and chip shop. From my limited experience if Eastbournes out then St Leonards is a definite no no. Where is DRT when you need him or maybe that says it all (One for the old posters)

I ride a GS scooter with my hair cut neat
I wear my war time coat in the wind and sleet.

I think most seaside towns have their share of homeless/ dss claimants. From my limited knowledge I would say Hastings is better but possibly ST Leonard’s towards Bexhill may be ok. Hope he is successful in his property hunt. Look on the bright side my daughter had to property hunt in Guildford... ffs that is ridiculously expensive

Margate? Subject to a regeneration recently I think - looks like he'd get something with the budget.

At one time if you were unemployed you were not allowed to move to the coast and then claim and quite rightly. This was supposed to protect the seaside towns from the scroungers who fancied being on the dole during the summer. I don't know when this changed or why.

I know a family of criminals and they upped and left South London for Margate I feel sorry for the people of that town they will not add to the community.

One more point

Last time I looked, you could buy in Worthing for round that figure.
Hastings is further away than you than you think.

My sister lives there. They used to manage one of the pubs near Warrior square station. That is an area to avoid as it is full of druggies. Unfortunately as has been posted the nice parts come at a premium.