Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: Sparrow on December 23, 2019, 02:15:16 PM
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Hello everyone,
I am lucky enough to have a flat that I rent out (unfortunately the blocks ground floor car park is flooded at the moment, but hay ho), and I have just received a Christmas Greetings email from my letting agent. I thought you might like to read it as it's sentiments are very relevant.
Will you have a merry Christmas?
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It might sound like a stupid question, because no doubt you have every intention of having a good one! However spare a thought for some people for whom Christmas may not bring much cheer.
An estimated 280,000 homeless people will be rough sleeping, or living in temporary housing and hostels in England on Christmas Day – about one in every 200 of the total population, according to housing charity Shelter.
That's pretty disgraceful in my opinion! The charity's figure, which is probably understating the true level of homelessness because it does not include people who are sofa-surfing or living in sheds or tents, is 3,600 higher than in 2018, and up 23,000 since 2017. John Handley, CEO of local homelessness charity the Bridge Trust, recently told me that the numbers never paint the true picture. They paint a pretty awful one, I thought! However, he reminded me that just because you can't see homeless people around, it doesn't mean they don't exist. A sofa in a mate's flat is not a home, nor is the back seat of a car or the garden shed of the local vicar.
Please particularly spare a thought for at least 135,000 children in the UK who will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation on Christmas Day – the highest number for 12 years. Hopefully they will get to open some presents..... although the best present of all, is too big to wrap up!
Merry Christmas to you all !
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I'm not sure how I would feel if that was sent to me :-\
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Homelessness exists all year round not just at Christmas which is why there are Food Banks and so many local small charities that work throughout the year. British sentiment of helping others never seems to waver,
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I don't understand the message the Lettings Agent is trying to get across. They're not offering anything to the homeless and they're not asking anybody else to either.
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Also: no one is 'homeless' when living in a Hotel. Homeless to me means Box City ------- under a blanket in a doorway with no access to shelter, safety, warmth or fresh water. Sadly not many shelters allow people to 'lodge' there on a regular basis. But it's catch 22: without an address 1 cannot get work, benefits etc. and if a migrant waiting for asylum to be agreed/not, not even access to the NHS! [Big Issue recently].
Each one of us can assist when able, like dropping that pebble into a puddle, at a local level. We can't solve the problem but we can assist those who are affected by it.
Even if Agents aren't able to assist by providing lodgings, it is good that we are reminded.
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I don't understand the message the Lettings Agent is trying to get across. They're not offering anything to the homeless and they're not asking anybody else to either.
It's pretty straightforward isn't it? "Spare a thought".... If it prompts some property owners at least to feel some guilt about owning more property than they need to live in, or compassion towards the homeless and so to donate to a homeless charity then at least that is a small step? I presume they are doing it like this so as not to promote one particular charity but just to raise awareness amongst a group of people that have demonstrably more property than they need?
Hurdity x
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However: these people with several properties have made the investment. Which benefits the Agents. Why should anyone feel guilt :-\ we have worked hard for our home as did my parents ........... grandparents were in long-term rental and did their own repairs, maintenance, decorating etc..
We have a 3 bed house for 2 of us but it's stuffed full of furniture; carpets; clothing: the loft is full of things that we might require. There has been a push by the Government for people like us to down-size to allow a family to live here: but a family would be unable to afford the Deposit ......... and we can't afford to move in2 this area. Can't afford to move North yet. Years ago we had visitors. Often. So the spare room was of use. Now those people are no longer alive .............
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It's not about guilt (why would our letting agent want us to feel guilty), it's about being socially aware.
The message was 'spare a thought'. Hopefully those that do that will also be charitable.
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Hello ladies.
Not enough is still not enough whichever way you slice it.
More homes are needed that people can afford to live in. Compassion and charity are important of course but we need action now and how we or our relatives managed in the past is irrelevant.
Take care ladies.
K.
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I don't understand the message the Lettings Agent is trying to get across. They're not offering anything to the homeless and they're not asking anybody else to either.
It's pretty straightforward isn't it? "Spare a thought".... If it prompts some property owners at least to feel some guilt about owning more property than they need to live in, or compassion towards the homeless and so to donate to a homeless charity then at least that is a small step? I presume they are doing it like this so as not to promote one particular charity but just to raise awareness amongst a group of people that have demonstrably more property than they need?
Hurdity x
Sorry, but it wasn't straightforward to me or I wouldn't have asked. :)
We own another house which we rent out and why should I feel guilt about that? We worked hard all our lives and we have now been renting it out to local people at a very fair rent for 8 years. i didn't put their rent up for 6 years and then realised we are well below the going rent so we put it up by small amounts for the next 2 years. We are still below the going rate but they are brilliant tenants.
believe me I could make a lot more money out of it if I rented it for holidays as we are in a popular tourist area.
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That's what happened to us when we lived in a tourist area when we were students. Had to be out of the rental in time for Easter until we found a long-let. The T&Cs then, were no increase in rent/rates for the whole time we were there, the owner was unable to raise it until new tenants went in. We were there 4 years paying £32.00 per month ;D
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What a very unprofessional letting agent. Whatever his political views he should keep them out of his business. LAs can set up in business without any qualifications and knowing nothing of the law but it is the landlord not the letting agent who will be taken to court if something isn't right. This would ring alarm bells for me. He may be perfectly competent but it might be wise to make sure.
Given your support for shelter and the homeless perhaps you should make it available to genuinely homeless people? Now that really would be an act of charity.
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It doesn't work like that. One could have problems with collecting rent/rates: property might be destroyed, that happened in the 1970s to an Uncle who let his 4 bed house in good area because he was posted abroad for 6 months. Came back to a mess which cost £Ks to put right. My sister had professional people in when she went abroad for 3 years, had to come back after 18 months because they had done a runner. Agent was as useful as a chocolate fire guard >:(. They still wanted their money so she told them that she would see them in Court.
Many people have homes but don't get on with the family dynamics. So it is often a case of a blow up in the house when the [usually] teen walks out and finds themselves too proud or too scared to return. The longer it is left B4 making that 'may I come home?' phone call, the harder apparently it is to make. One of the presenters of Repair Shop found himself homeless when his marriage broke up .......... fortunately he has skills and people in the business who helped him get back on his feet.
When we were kids a family of 14 in a Council house in the next village burned everything that could be taken off the walls including the bannisters. Nowt new there then. I was raised in a Council house until the age of 13 ............ we had tramps who regularly called for water.
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What a very unprofessional letting agent. Whatever his political views he should keep them out of his business. LAs can set up in business without any qualifications and knowing nothing of the law but it is the landlord not the letting agent who will be taken to court if something isn't right. This would ring alarm bells for me. He may be perfectly competent but it might be wise to make sure.
Given your support for shelter and the homeless perhaps you should make it available to genuinely homeless people? Now that really would be an act of charity.
Rubbish, he is a very good letting agent. You have totally missed the point. :o
Our flat is housing two teachers. What would be the point of kicking them out to house someone else. Nonsense.
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Sad.
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What a very unprofessional letting agent. Whatever his political views he should keep them out of his business. LAs can set up in business without any qualifications and knowing nothing of the law but it is the landlord not the letting agent who will be taken to court if something isn't right. This would ring alarm bells for me. He may be perfectly competent but it might be wise to make sure.
Given your support for shelter and the homeless perhaps you should make it available to genuinely homeless people? Now that really would be an act of charity.
Rubbish, he is a very good letting agent. You have totally missed the point. :o
Our flat is housing two teachers. What would be the point of kicking them out to house someone else. Nonsense.
I thought you'd react like that ;D You keep banging on about how we should support shelter and the homeless. Now we know you have a spare house but you choose to take money from people who could easily rent an alternative property. So I'm suggesting you put your money where your mouth is and really support the homeless. The point is that people currently living on the streets could have a home. Why is that 'nonsense'?
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Renting to others doesn't work as easily. See Teresa's response as well as reading how bad renters affected two members of our family. Why turn out good lodgers in order to take in someone that a) might not pay rent regularly; b) may leave the place a tip or worse; c) may cause upset among the local community with noise, drug dealers, large barking dogs .........
Some people on the streets can't cope with the routine of cleaning, paying rent, having to conform - impossible 4 them. They prefer to keep a low profile so that they don't have to interact with others. Others have never been brought up to keep a place clean etc.. Some are unable to feed themselves, it is easier to drop by a food kitchen.
When severely depressed I couldn't dress; feed myself; do laundry; talk to anyone: and I have a supportive GP and a loving husband. Without both I would be on the streets .......... I certainly could not have asked for assistance from others. So put this to many across the UK who simply don't have the energy to ask for help :-\.
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Again you miss the point. Supporting charities and being a charity are two different things. I give monthly to St. Mungos, and have done for about 30 years.
Why such bitterness, I don't understand. You make everything personal for no reason.
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Perhaps what Charities should be doing is pursuing absent landlords ............ someone did a programme about this a few years ago, it is disgusting that properties stand empty - if landlords can't be found after 18 months the Council should take over and refurb them ..........
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Again you miss the point. Supporting charities and being a charity are two different things. I give monthly to St. Mungos, and have done for about 30 years.
Why such bitterness, I don't understand. You make everything personal for no reason.
I dislike hypocracy.
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You are going to have to argue with yourself Sheila. I'm in too good a mood after a very nice day to be bothered.
Happy New Year. 🎊🎉
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I think I'm really lucky to have great tenants. It also helps that the house is just a 2 minute walk from our house so if they have any problems (which they seldom do) we deal with it the same day.
They are a retired couple and they love housework so the house is spotless. It was immaculate when they took it on with all new carpets except kitchen and conservatory which are laminate. We put them in all brand new white goods. They have cavity wall insulation, full double glazing and deep loft insulation so it's a cozy house.
I do a property inspection every 6 months and it takes about 5 mins as it is immaculate. The husband is now finding the stairs difficult and he hasn't been too well and they told me they have approached the local council for a sheltered bungalow. I have been so lucky to have them so will be sad if they move out.
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Hello ladies.
No one person can fix the many problems in society which is why we elect governments to do this for us.
Our taxes should be funding services like an effective police force, a properly resourced NHS and so on. Also included should be services to help people who have serious problems and provide them with the help they need to get back on their feet. Without safety nets everyone suffers, the individuals themselves and society in general.
Let's hope we'll see some actual improvements in how our country is run over the next five years. It is certainly about time.
Take care ladies.
K.
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New Houses are being bought. However, 1,000s stand empty across the UK waiting to be sold. Mum's included. We use it when we go to visit Mum but it's difficult to keep the garden tidy. Spring will show it in a better light.
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It was scary living with my parents who screamed at each other once we were in bed :-\. When I asked for help I was told "that can't be happening, your parents are X" .......... not a good atmosphere to be raised in! So carry that on into teen/adult-hood without being education that there are other ways to communicate: add drugs/drink into the mix :'(
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I think I've mentioned before, the flat next door to me..literally two steps away..was let through Purfleet Trust and as ckld says I believe, often people aren't equipped for all manner of reasons to just get on with what we would call a "normal life.I almost had a breakdown living next door to the buzzer ringing constantly at 2 am,mine included, with people begging to be let in, screaming and yelling all night, the front door being kicked in by people who were owed money and drug dealers constantly coming and going.I became scared to go home and was often approached for money. I can imagine if that's the only life you've lived, the "norm " of having to get up for work at 6 and not sleeping all day and roaming around all night wouldn't cross your mind.I was scared he would fall asleep with a cigarette or whatever and the building would go up.I really don't know the answer but it's terrifying to live with.
That must have been terrible for you but it's not just people in social housing who cause problems. There is a large private house near us where the local GP lived. When he lived there it had beautiful gardens, cream carpets and a grand piano in a huge sunlit room. It was just so beautiful. About 15 years ago the GP moved and a woman bought it for her adult hippy type daughter. You have never seen such a mess now. the garden is a wilderness, the windows are filthy, the parking area is full of old washing machines, broken bikes and bags of rubbish. She has two fierce dogs who are often out barking at people who walk past. She drives old minibuses and as she replaces them she just abandons the previous one in the garden.
My husband said the filthiest house he ever went in was a big, old private farmhouse where an elderly couple and their adult son lived. He said it was worse than any house featured on the Hoarders programme. Rotten plates of food, flies everywhere, cats mess etc etc.
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PF - contact the local environment office who will put a clearance order on the property. If non compliance they can evict the owners even if it's privately owned due to health dangers.
I went into a GP's house many years ago - had accepted cups of tea and biscuits for months until I went into the kitchen :o they had cats. Lots of. Everywhere :-X
A homeless person from our village went missing on in November and was found last week in a stream 15 miles away .......... not a good C>mas for his family :'(. He drifted from family to a bench ............. always cheerful though.
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We have had a lot of trouble with our immediate neighbours (particularly in the summer), with screaming, shouting and swearing, plus parties in the garden until the early hours. They are ex police officers ::)
Anti social behaviour is classless.
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:-X they think they are above the Law ?