Stafford shops opening - Turning into a boom town?

[Mudgie]

I suspect that people are right about this particular HMO being aimed at the social housing market but not all HMOs are like that. Near universities they are often aimed at students, near hospitals nurses and junior doctors are the target and some are aimed at young business people. It all depends on the developer and the area

Noah,
Yes, very likely but there's just as much need for social housing as there is to house students, hospital nurses, junior doctors and young business people.
And having an address can be a prerequisite for getting a job and a future.

 

[Withnail]

I got shouted at this very day by a very pissed off potential renter.

The point at which we should be out on the streets demanding heads on sticks is WAY WAY passed.

 

[Wormella]

Wait, people here haven't lived in HMOs? I have, last two years as a student (one on Lovell Drive and one on Sandon Rd) and 6 months on one in Corporation St before we moved from Liverpool properly.

Sometimes contracts for jobs aren't permanent and you need to live somewhere for a bit. Sometimes they are quicker to move into so you can find your feet and look for somewhere else to live longer term, often they are less lonely then living alone and take all the stress out of different bills.

They aren't all great, but they add to the diversity of housing options, and the more of that, especially in the town centre the better.

 

[kyoto49]

Look at this logically, a 1 bed flat is about 400 to rent and then bills will be another 250 at least with council tax. 650 a month before you buy food, 150 a week. No way you'll pass the credit checks unless you clear near double that, so full time workers only, and anyone on a zero hour contract can forget it.

Many people can only afford to live in a HMO, that is the sad reality of the worlds 7th richest country.

Bill's that much? Wow. I have a 2 bed terrace and don't pay that. My food bill is about 50 quid a week and I buy nice things not cheap value things. I don't know how a single person could eat 150 quids worth a week.

 

[kyoto49]

Because a house is a HMO does not mean it shouldnt adhere to the highest builing standards. Why do people assume when creating or approving them that they should be sh*t done to the lowest standards. They shouldn't be and a good council will ensure high standards..... oh wait

Experience in the highly competitive and regulated hmo market in Liverpool shows high standards can become the norm

 

[Glam]

Wait, people here haven't lived in HMOs? I have, last two years as a student (one on Lovell Drive and one on Sandon Rd) and 6 months on one in Corporation St before we moved from Liverpool properly.

Sometimes contracts for jobs aren't permanent and you need to live somewhere for a bit. Sometimes they are quicker to move into so you can find your feet and look for somewhere else to live longer term, often they are less lonely then living alone and take all the stress out of different bills.

They aren't all great, but they add to the diversity of housing options, and the more of that, especially in the town centre the better.

After I left the now ex husband, I rented a room off a friend. Ultimately I had to find somewhere else temporarily. So I rented a room in a house down the Marston rd*. The house was lovely, other tenants not so. But it was somewhere to call mine till I got this place.


*It was the same house/room, where the alleged murder took place.

 

[tek-monkey]

Bill's that much? Wow. I have a 2 bed terrace and don't pay that. My food bill is about 50 quid a week and I buy nice things not cheap value things. I don't know how a single person could eat 150 quids worth a week.

Sorry, not worded great, I meant the bills excluding food are 650 so 150 per week. We likely spend about 50 too, now risen as baby milk powder is about 2 quid a day.

 

[Mudgie]

After I left the now ex husband, I rented a room off a friend. Ultimately I had to find somewhere else temporarily. So I rented a room in a house down the Marston rd*. The house was lovely, other tenants not so. But it was somewhere to call mine till I got this place

Many of us on here will have lived in houses in multiple occupation.
For me it was six years, three of them with the other occupants having mental health issues and one having done time for robbery but it offered a room of my own and was infinitely better than nothing.

 

[Glam]

Many of us on here will have lived in houses in multiple occupation.
For me it was six years, three of them with the other occupants having mental health issues and one having done time for robbery but it offered a room of my own and was infinitely better than nothing.

1 of the girls I shared the house with was a part-time prostitute, she worked for the council rest of the time. She'd regularly bring blokes home at 02.30am and kick them out at 06.30am. Complaining to the landlord did sod all.

 

[timmo]

I know loads of people who just haven't earned enough to live anywhere but a HMO, where in Stafford should they live?

I’m sure you do, though nobody I knows lives in one so go figure.

Council tax is 157, all in on the rest probably another £80-90 or so leaving your claim somewhat questionable. Daughter paid £71 ct a month on her one bed flat when renting (£420 a month) Rounding up the numbers or plucking them out of the air still doesn’t alter the fact HMOs are not the answer to the problem. They remain and always will remain the lowest common denominator.

 

[timmo]

So what would you do with the "unemployment and justice system wastelands" people if they weren't to have houses in multiple occupation ?

I’d refer you back to my original post of tackling the issues that lead to homelessness. Simply creating dumping grounds isn’t the answer, it benefits nobody other than the property owner.

 

[Mudgie]

I’d refer you back to my original post of tackling the issues that lead to homelessness. Simply creating dumping grounds isn’t the answer, it benefits nobody other than the property owner.

But given that we're not likely to have a government with the slightest interest in tackling the issues that lead to homelessness what would you do with the "unemployment and justice system wastelands" people if they weren't to have houses in multiple occupation ?
And what could I possibly have done other than houses in multiple occupation from 1973 to 1979 ?

 

[tek-monkey]

I’m sure you do, though nobody I knows lives in one so go figure.

Council tax is 157, all in on the rest probably another £80-90 or so leaving your claim somewhat questionable. Daughter paid £71 ct a month on her one bed flat when renting (£420 a month) Rounding up the numbers or plucking them out of the air still doesn’t alter the fact HMOs are not the answer to the problem. They remain and always will remain the lowest common denominator.

You pay 80-90 a month on gas, electric, water, insurance and I'm guessing broadband too?

The fact is wages are too low for anyone but a full time worker to get their own place, all part timers or those on zero hour contracts that can't promise a set wage can't rent. These are your waitresses, bar staff, hell anyone trying to get through education. Where in your eyes do they go?

Edit: plus anyone on benefits, obviously.

 

[kyoto49]

You pay 80-90 a month on gas, electric, water, insurance and I'm guessing broadband too?

The fact is wages are too low for anyone but a full time worker to get their own place, all part timers or those on zero hour contracts that can't promise a set wage can't rent. These are your waitresses, bar staff, hell anyone trying to get through education. Where in your eyes do they go?

Edit: plus anyone on benefits, obviously.

Part time wages have always been too low for people to rent. This is nothing new. I worked part time in the 80s so had to live at home until I got a full time job. Those in education get student loans and it covers off their housing costs assuming they get full loan and pay c£125 a week rent.

I can't comment on people on benefits. I don't know any

 

[Lucy]

Some of full-time wages will struggle too. Minimum wage isn't great.

 

[Gramaisc]

Some of full-time wages will struggle too. Minimum wage isn't great.

I have seen it alleged that, if you correct for the relevant values of money then and now, Bob Cratchit was on more than the current UK minimum wage.

 

[littleme]

Some of full-time wages will struggle too. Minimum wage isn't great.

The carer is a full time worker, I'm part time, but often work nearer to full time hours. We struggle. Every month is a struggle. Don't get me wrong, we don't go without food, but we have to be Conservative with things like heating and petrol. Unexpected bills are the worst, I've previously *walked to my place of work (local) for a few weeks, so that the carer can use my car (petrol) for his work (not local) when we've had an unexpected vets bill.

*this makes me sound like a lazy cow - not walking to work, but previous operations mean any amount of walking is extremely painful for me.... Pottering around all day is ok, but getting somewhere is completely different.

 

[Lucy]

Some people would think it beneath themselves to walk. Don't apologise for it.

 

[kyoto49]

Some people would think it beneath themselves to walk.

Everything wrong with English transport in one sentence. Advanced nations know that walking and cycling are the best modes of local transport

 

[littleme]

Everything wrong with English transport in one sentence. Advanced nations know that walking and cycling are the best modes of local transport

It's difficult to catch a bus before 6.30am though....


And I totally agree, but how much running cost would there be, as opposed to users at that sort of time....