Paul's note -
"First and foremost, let me introduce myself, as you won’t have seen my brand in BN3 — or anywhere else in Sussex, for that matter.
My name is Paul Cooney. I’m a born-and-bred Brighton lad — although technically raised in Hove (as we like to clarify!).
I purchased this mews house in September 2021 after (perhaps unwisely) telling my neighbour over a few drinks that if she ever decided to sell, I’d buy it. That confident declaration ended up costing me £440,000 — plus stamp duty (including the additional 3% surcharge) and solicitor’s fees.
The original plan was always to carry out a full refurbishment. I believe the works could be completed for around £50,000, with a worst-case scenario somewhere in the £60,000–£70,000 range depending on specification. Post-refurbishment, I genuinely feel you would be looking at a property worth in the region of £550,000–£600,000.
The property was last fully refurbished in 2007. Credit where it’s due — it has held up remarkably well. That said, I suspect most buyers would comfortably enjoy it as it stands for 12 months before feeling the urge to modernise and truly make it their own.
If you take a walk around the mews, you’ll see what’s possible. Several neighbours have done wonderful things with their homes, particularly to the exterior. The property at 1 Eaton Grove is a fine example of how special these houses can become with the right vision and investment.
Since Autumn 2021, we were fortunate to have the same tenant for over four years — which speaks volumes about the house. We’ve recently welcomed a new tenant who is incredibly house-proud, which certainly makes viewings a far more enjoyable experience for prospective buyers.
In terms of timing, we have a commitment to our current tenant through to the end of July, and our buy-to-let mortgage runs until 31st August. This means we are in a position to offer an immediate exchange of contracts, with completion set for 31st August — providing clarity and certainty for all parties.
This property is one of my investment homes, and I’m personally representing the sale. I run my own estate agency in London, which allows me to list on Rightmove and Zoopla directly. That said, I don’t have suitable buyers on my database for this particular home, which is why I’m marketing it more broadly.
Things to note:
• I commissioned a full building survey on 19th January 2026, which I am happy to share with you prior to viewing. I would respectfully ask that you take the time to read this before attending, so you are fully informed.
• As the property has been a rental, we also have very recent gas safety and electrical safety certificates available.
• There is also a property video available on request.
Life, however, has moved on. I’ve recently become a dad, and my wife understandably has little appetite for living through a full renovation with a newborn in tow.
So whilst I’m genuinely disappointed to pass this opportunity on, Mrs Cooney ultimately gets what she wants.
I very much look forward to discussing this opportunity with you — along with the history of this wonderful Hove Coach House Mews, originally built circa 1885."
*Architect illustrations done by SGA (Sophie Griffiths Architects)
Material Information:
Tenure – Freehold
EPC Rating – D
Council Tax Band – B