The hanging baskets have gone up today. Two to every lamppost in Bennett Road, shouting this is summer in our neighbourhood.
Every year they make us smile because they say, okay, so we’re not the poshest part of town, but we’ve clubbed together to pay for these to make our community look as cherished as it is.
Every year we enter Brighton in Bloom. We haven’t won yet – but we keep on trying.
This year, though, smiles are a tad shaky as we worry that the days of hanging baskets might be numbered.
And with them the days where we allow extra minutes to get to the bus stop because we’ll likely get stopped for a chat, where we all know there’s a new baby on the block, or that there’s a neighbour’s funeral to go to.
Our lives are already changing as the student HMO developers who’ve gobbled up hundreds of homes across the city have lately turned their voracious appetites on us, converting our century old two-up-two-downs into 5 and 6-bed student lets.
And we don’t blame the students, or our cash-strapped council, but the developer friendly government that’s allowing this annihilation of traditional neighbourhoods to happen.
We feel guilty about complaining because this isn’t on the scale of homelessness or anywhere near the unspeakable tragedy of Grenfell.
But the underlying reason for what’s happening to us is the same – if you’re not rich enough to fight greed, you don’t matter.
As powerless as that’s intended to make us feel, we’ll go on fighting for our neighbourhood.
We haven’t won yet – but we’ll keep on trying.
Chris Curry-Cliff is an East Brighton resident who led a deputation to Brighton and Hove City Council to protest about family homes being turned into shared homes (HMOs).
You have my sympathy. I moved to Seafield Road in 1985, and love the area. In our modest one sided road we have endured decades of antisocial behaviour from various half way houses and hostels, all run for profit at the expense of our peace of mind. We cannot sell, as the reputation of the road is so bad, so we are stuck with noise and chaos, due to the road populated by those who do not care about the area and do not know how to behave in a civilised manor. Keep up the fight.
Why did you move to Seafield Road? Didn’t the cheap price make you concerned?
I moved to Brighton in 1985 also and Seafield Road was a dump then, with its shared housing and extremely antisocial residents – especially nearer the coast road; it was one of the first roads that I was warned about!
I understand what is being said here but it’s worth adding some thoughts and facts about HMOs. Firstly, HMOs often get a bad rap because some are overcrowded and that leads to noise or to a fast turnover of tenants. Properties let to students or young people can also be noisy at different times of day compared to family houses. But the reality of living in Brighton and Hove in 2018 is that property is expensive and many have to share with others to keep costs down. An HMO may in fact be shared by grown ups who are out at work all day. Students aren’t all noisy or messy. Some tenants will stay in the property for years, respecting their space and the neighbourhood – just like others who were maybe born there. If you have a house that has recently been converted to an HMO then planning permission will have been sought for this, and the owner will usually want quality tenants, and will not want to issue new contracts every six months. It’s the existing ‘slum landlords’ you have to watch out for. In fact it’s pot luck what any new neighbours turn out to be like.
I think the argument being posited is that not all HMOs are antisocial households, but all (or most) antisocial households are HMOs. Whether the second half of that argument is actually true is an issue which could probably be resolved with the help of a FOI request to the council’s Environment Protection Team.
But the 1700+ student accommodation they are building in Lewes road is going to help hmo to be a thing of the past as this accommodation will release homes for local families. We’ll that’s what the universities spokesperson says at residents meetings!!!!!!!!!!!!
You do realise that there are at least 40,000 students livong in the City.The Unis and other Education Centres are expanding also so do not expect Family homes to stop being converted.
Well hanover complained and guess what they dont issue HMO licences there anymore. You need to moan if it destroys not enhances your area. Ive been botg a student (most are ok) but they need there own area not family homes. There inst enough if those already which is why people in this city live in a one bed flat with two kids
“Local homes for local families! Who are all these people invading our city? Young people, foreign people, they’re different and shouldn’t be let in. They come here, learn stuff, then bu&&er off again. They’re not part of the Kermooonity. I don’t want to live next door to them…”
I can’t believe the Argus prints such blatant bigotry and I can’t believe the BHCC pursues a policy of punishing those at the bottom end of the housing ladder to appease such bigots.
If people want to share a house, whose business is it but theirs. This is supposed to be a liberal and tolerant city!
This is Brighton and Hove News where unlike the Argus you are allowed to comment on just about everything as long as you do not take advantage.
we need well priced luxurious houses in brighton/hove for commuters working in london – we should build more council houses in areas like portslade, mileoak etc where there is space and will blend in