Forum Topic

Panorama:  What's Gone Wrong With Our Housing

One estate in London showing some of the results of Right to Buy 40 years on together with the return of slum landlords.https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001kk0h/panorama-whats-gone-wrong-with-our-housinghttps://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/awaabs-law-must-be-extended-to-cover-private-rented-sector-urges-charity-80388https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/awaab-ishaks-death-shames-country-25514384

Philippa Bond ● 808d8 Comments

UK - gas fires.  Washeterias aka Laundrettes equally awful names

Philippa Bond ● 804d

Washeterias? Where did you pick that one up?And...I've never heard of anyone ever going back to bed after lighting a fire and allowing the room to warm up. Where was that happening?

Katrina Black ● 804d

A friend who rented out some flats had a problem with the tenants complaining about the condensation and mould.  He sorted out the problem by making sure that the building had a little heat on - rather than none at all - and that the ventilation in kitchen and bathrooms was kept on when being used - and windows opened in warm and good weather.This is often caused by trying to dry wet washing on radiators or in rooms without heating or ventilation.  It is also caused by not closing doors and opening windows to let steam out of bathrooms and kitchens.If there is no heating on and it is very cold then just your breath can condense on cold walls or windows.  In years gone by before central heating we would wake up to ice on the insides of bedroom windows.  We would have to light fires so would often rush out of bed to light them and then rush back to bed for a few minutes until the room had warmed up enough to get washed and dressed.With more flats more people need to dry clothes indoors or at washeterias.  Tumble dryers are very expensive to run.There's nothing quite liked line dried clothes but not everybody can use a garden or outside space easily for this.  I've seen better solutions in other countries eg Hong Kong with what look like masts poking out across the streets and the washing is reeled out on pulleys.  Here it can be rather snobbish with no facilities and 'no washing allowed on balconies' or in any part of a communal car park or garden whatever the day in rental agreements.We need better solutions - especially now that energy is so expensive.

Philippa Bond ● 804d

Right to Buy has had and definitely is still having some varied and long lasting consequences - both good and bad.  So many have the aspiration of owning their own home - and why not?  It works for some but has also caused a lot of difficulties with mixed ownership of buildings amongst other things.  Do watch the programme to underdtand more.

Philippa Bond ● 805d

It is what is known as "Long Thatcher". The country is still suffering. The state of our public transport and utilities is another symptom.

Michael Winstanley ● 806d

Gosh, yes...Rachman. Definitely full circle.

Maxine Campbell ● 806d

When I first came to London in the early 70s the talk was about Peter Rachman and the buildings he owned and rented out in Notting Hill and Paddington. We now seem to have gone full circle.

Philippa Bond ● 807d

Whats gone wrong - politics, that's what.

Clifford Cowell ● 807d