Readers’ forum: Sussex by the sea

My clients are a husband and wife who have owned their home in Sussex for more than 20 years. In summer 2014 they decided to rent a flat in London because the husband works there and wanted to reduce the time spent on commuting. He would remain in London for three or four days each week while the rest of the family remained in the house in Sussex.

From summer 2015 the clients decided to spend more time in London. Two of the children were at university and the other works in the city. My clients advertised their home in Sussex for short-term letting. No letting is for more than seven days and most are for the weekends only. The clients let the property only when it suits them so they often turn down requests for a weekend let if they want to spend time there...