Eric, whether we like it or not Ealing in particular, and London in general, are in desperate need of housing of all tenures, and for a long time now, as the supply does not meet the demand. If we had more accommodation available people whether legal or illegal immigrants, young or old, single or married would probably not be forced to live like animals in one of those ‘shacks’ at the end of people’s gardens and we would not have the high number of properties we have now as HMOs. You and I - as probably most people contributing to the various posts here - may be OK, we have our houses/flats but there are thousands who would like to live somewhere decent and are unable to do so because there aren’t enough properties to go around and what is available is out of their reach as they cannot afford them. How on earth can someone with a take home pay of around £1,000 per month be able to afford even a room in sheared accommodation when rent and bills are over half what he/she earns? How many adults children (sometimes with their own family) are unable to move out of the family home not just in Ealing but everywhere else? And how many parents with grown up children are now downgrading, perhaps moving out of London by taking advantage of the high selling prices from their property just so to help their children to get on the first step of the property ladder? This is reality too!Unfortunately, as long as there are people who seem to be stuck in a time warp, who refuse to accept any change whatsoever, even if it is for the better, then things are only going to get worse – just like our refuse and recycling collections and our dirty roads and unkempt parks – which you, too, pay for as well.
Rosa Popham ● 5185d