To think people are getting scruffier?

I'd like to know why the assumption seems to be that people who rent don't keep their homes clean and tidy? It's the first I've heard of it.

We once viewed a house that had a dressing table in the bedroom and the carpet around it was caked in spilt make up, like it was an about half a centimetre thick of various dried in foundation like stuff. No attempt made to clean it up.
In another house the entire living room walls had been crayoned all over by their toddler! Somehow the pictures had missed it or been photoshopped.

I think it's multifactorial, but one of the factors seems to be impaired sense of smell with covid. I don't think people always realise their sense of smell is not as good as it was and assume that means they don't smell.

It took at least six months for my sense of smell to return to normal, but because I knew it wasn't as good I became more aware of washing regardless. I had to point out to my husband that just because he didn't think he needed a shower it didn't mean he didn't... My sense of smell was still good enough to recognise that, just his was worse!

They are poor. It shows

I agree with you about people smelling. My friend and I went away to a local city recently by train. On the return journey home, the train was quite busy and there were a number of smelly, rank people. I was grateful to get off the train. My friend and both remarked about this and we both came to the conclusion of COL. I think, COL, nobody has any time ( working too many hours to make ends meet). Plus pride, the country has been run into the ground from NHS, pot holes, everyone poorer, why does it matter if you smell a bit 🤷‍♀️.

Life is busier than it used to be in 'the good old days'. People are time poor, few homes these days have an adult who's only task is to clean and tidy, so it needs to be slotted in around long working hours. Weekends are now needed for 'family time' because parents are supposed to take the DC out to do enriching things rather than send them out to play or park them in front of the tv like in the old days.
In terms of house sales, you'd have to be pretty financially illiterate to imagine a crumby work surface had any impact of the value of a house worth several £100k, so I can see why people might not see it as hugely important in the scheme of things.

Many many years ago we worked full time. Did washing once a week (twin tub) but couldn't afford heating to dry our clothes so they ended up smelling musty. (No central heating just a coal fire)

It was mortifying, but had no solution.

What would you suggest Op?

Actually there is a value and a level of self respect and confidence that is both grown and shown in keeping your home and yourself to a certain standard - not perfect but enough to show that you give a damn. These ARE important things, not everything that's not life or death is unimportant. I know a SAHM who prides herself on saying 'I didn't become a SAHM to worry about housework' but to me keeping a basically clean home and having and demonstrating standards of cleanliness and self care are love in action. Precisely because they are tedious and not ways fun but also necessary.

Probably because lots of women now work full time when in the past they were homemakers.

Having said that, you'd definitely make an effort if selling your house!

I agree with this. I visited Bucharest relatively recently. Everyone I saw was well presented. Returned home to be greeted by the grey tracksuit wearing masses, the difference was stark.

I suspect it's not the cost of the soap that's the problem, it's the cost of heating the water for a bath or shower.

I don’t have the time or money to make my house look top notch and I wouldn’t bother if I was selling it, either. I’ve bought the houses I have lived in based on location and space. I don’t care if they have plants hanging outside or they’ve been cleaned from top to bottom.

No excuse for not making beds, wiping down surfaces etc (that’s just lazy), but I can’t keep a show home and if a buyer wants that, they’re looking at the wrong house.

But do you leave tatty ones out with dead plants in them?

It's fine to not have any, but clear out the ones you're not using

There have been several threads recently where people were talking about how often ( or infrequently more like) they bathed or showered their children, in those it came up that lots of adults think showering twice a week is acceptable, in between they don't have a full body wash at the sink, they just wash their face, no wonder people stink.

You can wash in the sink with cold water rather than stink!

You sound very unpleasant. Kicking asses to improve standards, because of some plates in sink and crumbs on worktops? Wtf?

There isn't any real value in being houseproud. Maybe some people just stopped bothering about unimportant things .

When I was a child we all bathed once a week (which was completely normal - we weren't poor) and houses smelled of smoke.

My house is definitely not as tidy as it should be. I struggle to find the time, I’m a single parent with 4 children and work full time. Barely making ends meet so can’t afford a cleaner.

My house was always tidy when I worked part-time and only had 1/2 children (and a husband).

I find it very stressful that I can’t give the house the attention it needs.

Don’t judge.

Those were the days when one salary did a family. Who has time scrub their front step every Sunday?

I don't think I've ever read that anyone goes more than 2 days without a shower on those threads. Has there been threads I've missed where people aren't washing for an unreasonable amount of time?

I think a lot of people are working so much they just don't have time/energy to bother.

Ah women these days

Not noticed that people smell but alot of people don't have pride in keeping their gardens and outdoor áreas clean and tidy.
Remember when women used to clean the step lol
You don't see that now.
Lots of rubbish and litter around too.

I haven’t noticed the people smelling thing but lots of people have mentioned it so I’m guessing it’s COL combined with everyone feeling down.

As for the houses, it sounds like these might be rental tenants.

@Lumiodes move heaven and earth to get a cleaner. You’ll never look back.