Retirees bombarding our beautiful rural seaside area

I’ve always moved around the U.K., so I can’t really say I’ve come from anywhere. Born and bred in Ealing, I’ve lived in Surrey, Teesside, Troon, Lanark and Nottinghamshire. I lived in Nottinghamshire for 20 years in a rural hamlet and absolutely hated it. We had no shop, no public transport to speak of and the nearest town was 10 miles away. When I retired 18 months ago, I was determined to move again and moved toEdinburgh. I must say it’s the best move I’ve done and absolutely love it. I really can’t understand anyone wanting to live in the middle of nowhere when they retire.

I sympathise. My immediate area is made up of mixed housing and is close to a Russell Group university. It is overwhelmed by HMOs (houses of multiple occupancy) which has completely changed our community. DH and are fortunate, we have owner occupiers close to us and behind us but others are not so fortunate. Student parties, taxis coming and going through the night with banging of taxi doors, many of the students bring cars so a house with several cars causes considerable parking problems with degraded grass verges from parked cars, staff and students coming to university on a daily basis treat our area as a free car park in spite of the student bus being subsidised, wheelie bins and recycling boxes in the front gardens many of which are untidy or paved over for parking, litter, a transient population, builders busy in the summer vacation so noise and dirt. We all used to know each other and looked out for each other, now it's changed for the worse. The students have no interest in or concern for the area which used to be so well cared for. It's sad. And of course in the vacations the houses are empty, such a waste of good housing stock.

In the past there were massive movements of people and resettlement of areas far away from their birthplaces.

People left their villages where they worked the land as they were starving and faced the workhouse or relocation to areas where they could find employment, e.g. in the mines of the NE, the cotton mills of Lancashire or emigrated to where they could build new lives for themselves and their families.

Their descendants may now consider their rural/seaside idylls their rightfully inherited place in this land. Their families may be critical of others wanting to relocate to somewhere to enjoy and treasure in their later years. If I returned to the pretty village my family left to avoid starvation in Norfolk, would I be made welcome or treated as a retiree intruder?

I have only read the first couple of pages or so of this thread so hope my comments aren't too similar to those of other posters.

I do understand why people get upset when they see their younger relatives and friends being unable to live in the area in which they grew up because prices have risen. However, prices rise anywhere where people see they will be more able to afford to move out to and live in.

The same thing has happened where I live in London. We bought in this area because, moving back to the south east from the north west after my husband obtained a new job in central London, it was virtually the only place we could afford in the London area. We have eventually benefitted because we bought relatively cheaply for the area (though not for us) and our house is now quite valuable. That's good news for us and all the, mostly older, people who did the same and have paid off their mortgages. The cheapness of the area has, though, over the years attracted more and more people from areas nearer the centre of London like Hackney (which is now very trendy and expensive) and, consequently, has substantially pushed up prices here. It has also brought in more money for better local amenities - new sports centres, upmarket bars and shops, etc. That's good news for us and all the, mostly older, people who did the same and have paid off their mortgages. However, younger people on low or even average wages - unless they get significant family assistance - can't afford to buy here now, and can hardly afford to rent either. So they move to the outer edges of London or even to a completely different area. Some friends of ours who work for charities, although in their 40's did not have a high enough income to buy in this area, although they'd saved a substantial deposit. They have since moved back to where they were brought up - in the Midlands. No doubt, others are moving out to similarly more reasonably priced areas, and are gradually pushing up the prices there too.

I do understand why second homes are frowned upon in small, sought after communities but surely actually living in an area is different. My Mum lives in a small village in East Anglia. We moved from outer London when I was in my teens - and we weren't particularly welcomed by the locals. But, despite a small estate and larger homes at the edges of the village being built some 30 or so years ago, many of the amenities are now disappearing. Only one pub, when there used to be three, a not very good bus service and no buses on Sunday, one very small village shop with only the very basics in stock, a butcher and a post office, the future of which is in doubt, and a comprehensive school in the next village which has in the past been reported to be near closure. Plans for another smallish estate at the other edge of the village were strongly opposed, some years ago, as was a proposal for a nearby country visitor centre, which would have provided some local jobs. Yet people complain about the lack of investment in the village, disappearing amenities, etc. They can't have it both ways.

When people talk about their "indigenous communities" or, like a taxi driver I spoke to who referred to "London rubbish" moving into the area he had moved to from London (the hypocrisy!), I agree with Anja that no wonder people from further afield are disliked when people from this country are also not welcomed when they move to a new area.

Iwonder if those people who are so opposed to properties being sold to "incomers" would put their money where their mouths are if they wanted to, or had to, move away. Would they turn down a quick sale and possibly an inflated price and only agree to sell to a local? If not, they are hypocrites.

Yes, there are good and bad "newbies" - but there are also good and bad "oldies". And whether they be old or new residents, they are all subject to market fluctuations caused by issues outside their control.

Sorry can't find this through all these pages, but has OP come back to the thread to reveal where she lives?

seconded

ickle that’s one of the nastiest comment I ve ever read on here

I understand your feelings about richer retirees buying properties at higher prices than local people can afford. It seems to be happening everywhere, even here in London!
However here it’s in reverse, a lot of houses are being bought by well paid younger professionals 30’s to 40’s who have been left a fair amount by deceased (wait for it!) Grandparents.This generally only covers a deposit.
Local younger people are unable unable to buy or rent in London are moving out great distances & travelling in.
The whole housing system in Britain is a nightmare
.

It takes two to tango, surely. Incomers have to respect the local communities and try and understand how it ticks and know when to butt out.

Must say I have always been made to feel welcome- anywhere we have lived, despite being even more obviously an 'outsider'- and OH has been welcomed with open arms in our rural community here. I think you own attitude will make a huge difference.

In answer to your question nonnie asking "Is it typical of Londoners to judge people they know nothing about?". Well of course it isn't. In fact I think that's a really offensive thing to say about Londoners . There is no such thing as a 'typical Londoner'.........we are all individuals and just because one person from London has upset you wish to lump us all together. I will not continue this post in case I say something I will regret ...............

I love going to the north of Scotland where I generally encounter a lot of folk from the south of England who have moved up and created small businesses eg in many different crafts, foodstuffs, tearooms. They are generally very pleasant, keen to chat. Of course many other nationalities move there too but not many retirees though I am sure they would be welcome. Think the distance from communities and health care may be the biggest issue for them.

Nonnie Leicester steel??. Hosiery manufacturers? yes.
Steel then look no further than Corby which if I am not mistaken is in Northamptonshire.

Nonnie typical of Londoners......... hmmm judgemental I'd say! I have lived in a flat, so don't make assumptions. You said he's lived in London all his life and NEVER met his neighbours. My point was why doesn't he knock next door and introduce himself. Does he never meet a neighbour in the lift, on the stairs? All it takes is a smile and hello. OK not everyone will respond but most people like to be pleasant. It's a two way thing, you can't blame others if you don't make the effort yourself. My last neighbours that moved said they wanted to take us with them as they had enjoyed our help and company, so we can't be that bad lol

I agree too, Maccyt1955. I'm with you Jane.

Paddyann. I am ashamed to be associated with Scotland having read your post. I am Scottish by birth my 3 children were born in England. Moved to Scotland when they were young and consider themselfs as Scottish but are still English. You are basically saying my children should not live in Scotland even though they contribute to the economy paying taxes. Hopefully you or your family never need neurological, Oncology or general surgical needs as you may well have to encounter on of those English immigrants. There is another world outside Scotland!

I agree with Janeainsworth. Tell me where you live so I will avoid going there.
I envy you your close community...I have never known that. But would I want to be part of it..no thanks.

The steel works were in Corby, Northants Nonnie. I live in Northants and years ago Corby was well known for Scots to be working and living there. I don't know what it's like there nowadays. Nonnie

Or Stoke - when we moved there in early 70s, it was like a Lowrie painting, but without the art ;) From Harthill where the hospital was, looking down on Shelton Steel Bar- on a rainy, cold February day- I thought I would die.

None when we moved to Leicester- although the textile industry was still booming then, mid 70s.

You are probably right J52. I just know a Scottish ex-steelworker who lives near Leicester. I think we both accept my point.

That's just what I was thinking Buffybee lol

Nonnie, I think you mean Corby. No steel works in Leicester

I actually find something quite distasteful about any sort of exclusivity

And this is the issue. Previously mixed/accesible communities becoming exclusive ex-londoner hubs!

Its not a trickle or some vibrant bohemian mix..

And no locals arent "happy to sell". Where I live it is the private rental stock which is being snapped up. They were LIVED IN but not necessarily owned by locals. So there is a sort of double displacement. Rental stock gone AND unable to buy. The people buying the rentals do not want the tennants to remain any more. A lot of the rental stock that is sold was never marketed, people are approaching letting agents asking them to pass their offers to landlords. And when landlords do try to sell "tennant insitu" people ignore that. I actually know of one fighting this and refusing to sell it without tennants insitu and people are trying all kinds of tricks and even just resorting to bullying and knocking on the property door and telling the tennants to leave so they can buy.

I was told by one of these london buyers that it "just makes sense" to brouse the lettings pages rather than the sales page when you look to buy because you get "better projects". "Better projects" = deliberately wanting to buy somewhere where PEOPLE will be evicted from??

IT IS NOT A CHARACTER FLAW to be sad when this happens to your neighbours in droves

Birmingham as 187 languages spoken! It also as the world's biggest Primary as of last week. We also used to be known as the city of a thousand trades but alas times change and Primark as put us back on the map along with Peaky Blinders(thugs) I will just leave this here.

Interesting that there have been some, not entirely welcoming, comments about the English living in Scotland. Seems to me there are a lot of Scots living in England, especially in places like Leicester where, I think, there used to be steel works. How is that different?

Janipar you couldn't be more wrong about my young friend. Saying "All I can say is what an insular unfriendly person!" is really nasty, especially as you know nothing about him. Is it typical of Londoners to judge people they know nothing about? So glad I am not one of your neighbours, mine don't judge people that they know let alone ones they don't. He is 37, very cosmopolitan and very friendly. He teaches in London and also travels the world. He doesn't have children or 'family' which are both ways of meeting people. Not his fault if his neighbours are not friendly. You live in a house, so clearly would not understand how it is to live in a flat with neighbours constantly changing but then you obviously don't understand other people.