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AIBU?

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Area gone to shit, feel forced to move 😪

209 replies

Runouttatown · 21/02/2026 11:38

I've lived in the same London suburb all my life. Until just a few short years ago it was a very nice area, and we thought we'd likely stay for ever, perhaps downsizing when the DC left home. We've spent a lot of time and money improving and extending our home over the years and it's perfect for us, just the way we want it, so would not wish to leave it for a few years yet.

However, the area has been going downhill at an alarming rate over the last 3 or 4 years to the point that we find we now absolutely hate it and want to get out - overcrowded, horrendous traffic, driving & road rage, unpleasant, rude people, lots of crime and antisocial behaviour. HMOs springing up all over, including one at the end of the street, most of which contain single, foreign men, not families. We're overrun with food delivery bike riders (many of whom live in the HMOS) who congregate in the high street, leering at women & young girls and spit disgusting red tobacco on the pavement. The area looks increasingly run down, fly tipping and a general lack of care. It has long been fairly multi cultural (no problem with that at all) but we're now finding that as white british people we are fast becoming a minority, and frequently encounter people who cannot speak any English. I'm sure some will accuse me of being racist but I absolutely am not, I'm just sad at what has happened to our once lovely area and, no, I'm not blaming immigration for all of it, although it's clearly a factor.

I know many areas are the same but there are plenty that are not - I only have to compare our Community Facebook page which is full of posts complaining of the above issues to that of the area we're thinking of going to which is completely different.

We've accepted we now need to move several years before we are ready but I feel so sad and angry about it. Several friends have already moved and others are considering it for the same reasons. The DC are happy for us to move as they hate it too - one at uni, the other working & considering buying their own place, not round here!

OP posts:
Horribleplaces · 21/02/2026 11:55

If there is loads of dog poo everywhere too then it sounds exactly like where I live ! (Harrow)

TeapotTitties · 21/02/2026 11:54

It sounds very similar to my area and to my dad's area OP.

I'm counting down the days to retirement so we can sell up and move to a lovely clean, multicultural, close-knit area by the sea, where the residents are mostly lovely and really look out for each other.

nomas · 21/02/2026 11:54

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FlyMeToTheSpoon · 21/02/2026 11:51

My childhood street went the same way. There's now 6 HMOs on a small residential street, all filled with transient, foreign men who work in the gig economy and hang around outside looking dodgy at all hours of the day and night. There are often fights in the street, there's been a couple of stabbings, fly tipping all over the place because one council bin isn't enough for 7 separate people.

It used to be a nice multicultural street with kids playing outside. Now it looks like something from a Ross Kemp on Gangs documentary.

HMOs completely change the vibe of the areas they are in, and never in a positive way.

Playingvideogames · 21/02/2026 11:50

Op, YANBU but you will absolutely be called racist for not wanting groups of men loitering and spitting everywhere. By people who live in leafy, middle class white villages and cities like Bath/York/Winchester. Good luck!

corlan · 21/02/2026 11:50

I feel the same about where I live. Grew up here and have lived here most of my life but planning to leave now. Feel like a stranger in my home town.

MunicipalDarwinism · 21/02/2026 11:46

Which London suburb is this @Runouttatown ?

UnhappyHobbit · 21/02/2026 11:44

YourGreenCat · 21/02/2026 11:42

If you are in the position to relocate, you are lucky. It's only a house.

Of course they can relocate. But I hate to imagine what things will be like for more suburban areas in years to come when this problem gets worse.

YourGreenCat · 21/02/2026 11:42

If you are in the position to relocate, you are lucky. It's only a house.