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Re: uk holiday homes…the orthodoxy is to spend the fortnight that the kids are off from school, at some rural idyll.
So, off they go drive with bikes and tennis rackets, bolted to the wagon.
Problem is, by the time the parents reach the destination, they’re so shagged out, that they spend their holiday slouching around the rental cottage in a sherry soaked state.
The bikes, etc never leave the car.
Simpler if they spent the first week at home.
Get someone to come round and take care of the cooking, cleaning and childcare.
Then they can use the remainder of their hollydols more constructively ???
@dovebiker: hold on, did you just raise a genuine, viable solution to adding to the UK housing stock? Instead of moaning or picking holes in other's suggestions? That's a novelty on this thread! 😉
PS there might be a big floating accommodion unit that's back on the market pretty soon. Maybe our friends in Clacton in need to cheaper property would like to try living on that, considering how "luxurious" it was supposed to be.
Maybe our friends in Clacton in need to cheaper property would like to try living on that, considering how “luxurious” it was supposed to be.
tbf given a choice of that or parts of jaywick I think I would be voting for that.
I don't think it can be solved. Complete unsustainable clusterf.
Are you sure you weren’t watching Deadwood? Did Ian McShane point a six shooter at a cattle rustler at any point?
Sorry, never watched Deadwood, was it good?
The reality is a bit more dismal than you suggest. But if you are comfortable with forced labourers building your next Wimpey home…
I'm not. But these workers weren't forced; they had travelled abroad of their own volition, lack of work at home, demand for workers abroad that was paying far better, enough to live on and still send a little back to the wife. Like I say wasn't height of luxury but had sufficient home comforts for them to be living alright.
Bear in mind, the govt is going to release a lot of prisoners, early.
Expect more pressure on housing stock.
Realistically though, govts of all countries need to address the disparities in housing and employment.
We live in a knowledge economy. With a decent internet connection, it’s no longer necessary to live cheek by jowl with the coal face.
Rural Portugal, anyone???
All the levers of power are in Englands south east.
Id abandon the Houses of Parliament to the gods of tourism, and relocate govt to brum.
That, and the national galleries.
And there’s no point having any strategic infrastructure in London if it succumbs to a rise in sea levels.
Most recruitment is done online nowadays. There’s simply no need to tie a labour force in one particular area, on the premise that you’ve always got a pool of labour nearby, in case of shortages.
Maybe STW could relocate to Cumbernauld?
Cheaper everything, central location=lower production costs.
these workers weren’t forced
Yes, they are.
information gathered on the ground from interlocutors and workers in labour camps refer to increasing reports of exploitation of the low and semi-skilled foreign workers ... trafficking in persons for labour exploitation is widespread in the UAE and victims of such form of trafficking remain unidentified and cases underreported.
Migrant workers comprise the vast majority of the workforce in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait where they effectively fall under the control of employers due to the kafala (sponsorship) system and have few, if any, labour rights.
https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/findings/global-findings/
GLOBAL SLAVERY INDEX / COUNTRY STUDY
MODERN SLAVERY IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Overview
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the second highest prevalence in the Arab States region, and the seventh highest prevalence in the Global Slavery Index. Migrant workers in the UAE are particularly vulnerable under the kafala (sponsorship) system, a restrictive work permit system that ties migrant workers to their employer.1 The system embeds a steep power imbalance by granting employers control over their employees’ lives...
Prevalence
The 2023 Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2021, there were 132,000 individuals living in modern slavery in the UAE. This equates to a prevalence of 13.4 people in modern slavery for every thousand people in the country. The UAE has the second highest prevalence of people in modern slavery of 11 countries in the Arab States region, and the seventh highest prevalence out of 160 countries globally.
Forced labour
Forced labour exploitation
The kafala system is a set of laws and policies that delegate responsibility for migrant workers to employers, including control over their ability to reside in, work, and exit the country.4 Migrant workers cannot access legal protections or leave their employment without facing legal and financial consequences.5 The system exacerbates the employer-worker power imbalance and prevents migrant workers from reporting abuse or exploitation.6
Migrant workers face risks of forced labour particularly in the construction, domestic work, and service industries under the kafala system.7 Allegations of forced labour occurred in the construction of, and during, the Dubai Expo 2020, with indications that workers from Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nepal, and ****stan had their passports confiscated, wages withheld, were forced to work long hours, and lived in poor conditions.
https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/country-studies/united-arab-emirates/
You're presenting the use of migrant labour on construction projects in the Gulf like some sort of cross between Hi-De-Hi and Auf Wiedesehen Pet based on a documentary you remember seeing. The reality is very different. And it's not a viable or sensible solution for the UK.
The ones you're quoting are, but I might have mislead, in using the full original quote and you've focused on the bit about 'I hope we aren't going to mimic Dubai' - apologies. I was talking more generally about migrant workers and providing on site accommodation, etc., I absolutely hope we don't mimic Dubai. I'll be more careful about making sure i read and quote the posts properly to avoid misunderstanding.
The programmes i saw (it was part of a series) focused on the UK recession in the 80's and the effect on manual /construction trades at that time,. The workers weren't 'forced abroad into labour camps' in any sense other than economic, and seemed to be generally well treated. It wasn't luxury, by any means but good enough (to use your analogy, 80's holiday camp type levels) and in many ways was a good advert for FoM.
So I'm not averse to allowing migrant labour to get us out of this bind, I'm not averse to providing on site but suitable accommodation that will serve the purpose of both accommodation and also ensuring the migrant workers aren't fleeced by having to stay in expensive hotels, etc. As long as it's appropriate, safe, and a choice, etc.
“ Private landlords defend themselves by trying to make out that renting out their second properties to those that cant afford to buy is some kind of altruistic act, but by far the key beneficiary of that arrangement is the landlord who without much effort continues to make a huge profit on their investment whilst continuing to contribute to why folks can’t afford a place of their own in the first place”
Huge profit? Don’t think so, it’s probably far better to invest in low risk investments and not deal with tenants and property upkeep.
I’m an accidental landlord which will only be for 12-14 months. Am renting to a friend for below the market rate by removing the agent percentage. It’s nearly double the mortgage but by the time I factor in the hit on my personal allowance, the service charge, landlord insurance, consent to let fee, updating fire alarms I’ll be in a slight deficit especially if she manages to buy somewhere before I can sell and I’m left with a few months of paying 2 mortgages before it goes on the market.
I am actually helping her buy as she’s paying below market rate thus saving a little bit more each month.
The only people making a huge profit are those who have been in the game for decades or have inherited a property.
Only on STW.
Gulf state labour practices and landlords are mostly humble philanthropists doing it for a few quid here and there 😀