Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

[kyoto49]

We do have a shortage of housing though and the Derrington trail, the walk up to the castle over the fields and Doxey marshes are all really close by.

We do? I'm constantly in wonderment as to where all the purchasers of the new houses come from. I mean, we didn't have 3000 middle income families homeless before all of them were built did we? Its not local people buying these, its commuters.

 

[Gramaisc]

In the last fifty years, the number of households to house the same number of occupants has gone up by around 50%.

 

[littleme]

We do? I'm constantly in wonderment as to where all the purchasers of the new houses come from. I mean, we didn't have 3000 middle income families homeless before all of them were built did we? Its not local people buying these, its commuters.

Middle-son & his other half have just purchaced a new build by the Crem, they are local people & commute to Cannock & B'ham for their jobs....

 

[kyoto49]

Middle-son & his other half have just purchaced a new build by the Crem, they are local people & commute to Cannock & B'ham for their jobs....

Thats good. I fear they are in the minority..

 

[Really?]

, they haven't replaced the broken window even.

.

Not just there. Mr Simms window has been broken for over a year with no sign of a repair. I assume no insurance was in place but even so, the prices they charge for a bit of suck, they should have saved enough by now.

 

[Jade-clothing]

We do? I'm constantly in wonderment as to where all the purchasers of the new houses come from. I mean, we didn't have 3000 middle income families homeless before all of them were built did we? Its not local people buying these, its commuters.

Yes we Do! Hence the hundreds of people bidding on properties on Stafford and Rural homes every week when each week only approx 10 properties are listed. Plus the rental market moves ridiculously fast. If you see something you like be sure to view that day or it will quickly be snapped up.

 

[Jade-clothing]

We do? I'm constantly in wonderment as to where all the purchasers of the new houses come from. I mean, we didn't have 3000 middle income families homeless before all of them were built did we? Its not local people buying these, its commuters.

Also I wasn't talking about a shortage of housing for middle income people who are able to purchase. More and more people aren't in that bracket these days and unable to get on the housing ladder. There's a drastic shortage of social housing and rental properties for lower income people.

 

[Sir BoD]

I remember two recent-ish builds - the one opposite the main sorting office on the Newport Road and the other, the much smaller build just as you enter the Stone Road, an area once occupied by J.H. Lines. As soon as these were built and up for sale, they pretty much sold straight away. However, a significant number of those very same houses then suddenly had To Let signs appear outside.

Now I knew the 'buy to let' market was / is buoyant, but this was the first time that I had noticed it was so obvious in Stafford.

 

[kyoto49]

Yes we Do! Hence the hundreds of people bidding on properties on Stafford and Rural homes every week when each week only approx 10 properties are listed. Plus the rental market moves ridiculously fast. If you see something you like be sure to view that day or it will quickly be snapped up.

I agree. But the house builders continue to get round the rules so few of these houses will be for social housing I fear.

Those in the know, do you still get extra points for being on the dole or have they finally woken up and seen that this is a disincentive to work?

 

[kyoto49]

Also I wasn't talking about a shortage of housing for middle income people who are able to purchase. More and more people aren't in that bracket these days and unable to get on the housing ladder. There's a drastic shortage of social housing and rental properties for lower income people.

But plenty for no income healthy work shy I reckon judging by what I see down my road. Low income people deserve the help, the lazy, not so much!!

 

[Perrier]

But plenty for no income healthy work shy I reckon judging by what I see down my road. Low income people deserve the help, the lazy, not so much!!

Fair comment as you included the word HEALTHY , however please take into consideration that just because someone may look healthy on the outside doesn't mean its the same on the inside.
Its that assumption that this government like to use to force those who CANT work into employment that may actually do them more harm than good.

 

[Jade-clothing]

I agree. But the house builders continue to get round the rules so few of these houses will be for social housing I fear.

Those in the know, do you still get extra points for being on the dole or have they finally woken up and seen that this is a disincentive to work?

When you apply to SARH everyone gets put in band G...general.
If you think you have priority needs you have to go in to see Housing options at the council yo plead your case. If they think you have priority you get put into a different band. To give you an idea of the shortage of housing. I expressed interest in 3 properties with SARH last week. Once the week has ended it shows you how many other people expressed an interest on the same property. For the three I bidded on it was 78, 48 and 43. Pretty much the same the week before. This week there is only one 1 bed property.... as a single person I can only bid on 1 bed. This is fine but really that means all of those people who bidded on those three houses last week will be competing for just one property this week. Hence me saying there is a shortage of properties.

 

[Thehooperman]

Fair comment as you included the word HEALTHY , however please take into consideration that just because someone may look healthy on the outside doesn't mean its the same on the inside.
Its that assumption that this government like to use to force those who CANT work into employment that may actually do them more harm than good.

Well said. I am able to work but since breaking my hip last year I need to use the arm support in the toilets provided for people with mobility problems.

No I am not classed as disabled in the old terminology or benefits sense but I do need this support at the moment and I do have a radar key issued by the hospital. There have been several occasions where ignorant ignoramuses have challenged me asking where my wheelchair is and as you say not all illnesses are visible which is my usual response these days.

 

[Gramaisc]

Well said. I am able to work but since breaking my hip last year I need to use the arm support in the toilets provided for people with mobility problems.

No I am not classed as disabled in the old terminology or benefits sense but I do need this support at the moment and I do have a radar key issued by the hospital. There have been several occasions where ignorant ignoramuses have challenged me asking where my wheelchair is and as you say not all illnesses are visible which is my usual response these days.

Ask them where their straitjacket is.

 

[kyoto49]

Fair comment as you included the word HEALTHY , however please take into consideration that just because someone may look healthy on the outside doesn't mean its the same on the inside.
Its that assumption that this government like to use to force those who CANT work into employment that may actually do them more harm than good.

Not going to argue with that. It's the lazy healthy people who think benefits is a lifestyle choice who piss me off! I'm fully aware that not all illness is visible but my point still stands.

 

[kyoto49]

Well said. I am able to work but since breaking my hip last year I need to use the arm support in the toilets provided for people with mobility problems.

No I am not classed as disabled in the old terminology or benefits sense but I do need this support at the moment and I do have a radar key issued by the hospital. There have been several occasions where ignorant ignoramuses have challenged me asking where my wheelchair is and as you say not all illnesses are visible which is my usual response these days.

As I just said, benefits as a lifestyle choice not as a safety net are the target of my ire!

 

[kyoto49]

When you apply to SARH everyone gets put in band G...general.
If you think you have priority needs you have to go in to see Housing options at the council yo plead your case. If they think you have priority you get put into a different band. To give you an idea of the shortage of housing. I expressed interest in 3 properties with SARH last week. Once the week has ended it shows you how many other people expressed an interest on the same property. For the three I bidded on it was 78, 48 and 43. Pretty much the same the week before. This week there is only one 1 bed property.... as a single person I can only bid on 1 bed. This is fine but really that means all of those people who bidded on those three houses last week will be competing for just one property this week. Hence me saying there is a shortage of properties.

Don't take this the wrong way as I'm unfamiliar with your circumstances, but not enough social housing for healthy single adults is not a housing shortage imo. It's not ideal, but a shortage is when the people applying for houses are otherwise homeless when in this situation the healthy could rent privately.

 

[Thehooperman]

Don't take this the wrong way as I'm unfamiliar with your circumstances, but not enough social housing for healthy single adults is not a housing shortage imo. It's not ideal, but a shortage is when the people applying for houses are otherwise homeless when in this situation the healthy could rent privately.

When supply doesn't meet demand it's a shortage, what else can it be?

 

[Gramaisc]

When supply doesn't meet demand it's a shortage, what else can it be?

Maintaining a shortage of owned and rented accommodation keeps the costs of both owned houses and rental income up. It may not really be in the interests of those with 'real money' if more accommodation became available suddenly - it would undermine the value of their assets and reduce their income.


A Tweet that I saw yesterday sums it up nicely.

My landlord just casually told me that he owns 70 flats & houses and now I feel a bit sick. That's 70 houses no-one can buy and turn into a permanent home; 70 households working so he can have a huge passive income. And he wants to put the rent up....

 

[Jade-clothing]

Don't take this the wrong way as I'm unfamiliar with your circumstances, but not enough social housing for healthy single adults is not a housing shortage imo. It's not ideal, but a shortage is when the people applying for houses are otherwise homeless when in this situation the healthy could rent privately.

I find that an extremely short sighted attitude. I'm guessing you have never been in the position where you've needed to apply for social housing? Never felt desperate? Had a run of bad luck? Why should affordable housing just be for the homeless?