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Living next to asylum seeker HMO, ask me anything

388 replies

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 20:28

As the title says. I live in a Victorian mid-terrace, wall-to-wall, garden-to-garden with an asylum seeker dispersal HMO. They were moved in nearly two years ago, replacing a multi-generation family that were living there before.
There is another HMO directly opposite my house, where asylum seekers get rooms once they are approved to remain but don't have an income to support themselves.

Not AIBU but more like AMA. I'm wondering what people would ask me if they really could ask anything. Does anyone actually want to know what it is like? I hear a lot of political point scoring in the media regarding this topic but no one actually talks to people like me!

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NotPerfectlyAdverage · 24/09/2026 22:28

Terrace houses being turned into HMOs has destroyed my home town within a few short years. Every two / three terrace gets snapped up and turned into a minium 5 bed HMO. Changes everything about the town. The only good news OP that if you sold up, you have a developer bidding war

converseandjeans · 24/09/2026 22:26

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 22:10

They were telling their case workers that the bags and the bikes are mine! 😵‍💫
Yes to avoiding JustEat and Deliveroo! Those bags were stored on the ground, in an alley that I drag my bins through, where cats often do their business and the food smells attract rats. I was really quite disgusted by that alone!

@JapanesePotWeed I’m baffled as to why people order food on JustEat and Deliveroo. Honestly I’d prefer to cobble together a toastie or pasta & sauce. I wish people would stop ordering. I suppose it’s how some restaurants can keep going.

WaryCyanStork · 24/09/2026 22:26

Dollymylove · 24/09/2026 22:18

And not a woman or a child in sight!!

HMO-style accommodation is nearly always single sex. This applies whether it's for asylum seekers, homeless people, rehab, abuse victims, etc.

There being no women or children in a men's HMO is hardly surprising.

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 22:19

Rightsraptor · 24/09/2026 22:11

Is there a lock or bolt or similar on your loft access so it couldn't be opened from the attic? That's the stuff of nightmares.

It's outrageous that we are in this position and I'll never forgive the politicians who approved this.

I'm not one for having food delivered anyway but the more people who use these things, the more it encourages more of these men to come.

I've screwed the hatch shut for the time being but I'll have to go and build a stud wall up there.

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Dollymylove · 24/09/2026 22:18

And not a woman or a child in sight!!

Onlyyoucanknow · 24/09/2026 22:14

Thecows · 24/09/2026 21:41

Oh well that's just fine then isn't it ..

Yep. They're going on courses and not working and claiming benefits. Ffs....

Portugal1987 · 24/09/2026 22:13

I’m assuming they wouldn’t put families , women, and children in a house full of men, so that might be the reason for that. Not to say that the majority isn’t men, but one house doesn’t confirm that.

How long do you reckon they are there for at a time before they move somewhere else to another stage of the process or another flat?

Rightsraptor · 24/09/2026 22:11

Is there a lock or bolt or similar on your loft access so it couldn't be opened from the attic? That's the stuff of nightmares.

It's outrageous that we are in this position and I'll never forgive the politicians who approved this.

I'm not one for having food delivered anyway but the more people who use these things, the more it encourages more of these men to come.

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 22:10

converseandjeans · 24/09/2026 21:58

I’m sure there was a storyline on one of the soaps years ago about someone going across houses via shared attic space.

I think it’s terrible that the contractor is being so secretive. It’s your home & you’re entitled to know who is living next door.

I’d hate the e-bikes & food bags blocking my alley way. I think the only way to stop this sort of thing is for people to collect their own take away. It’s bad enough in most town centres now - I’m constantly on edge looking over my shoulder for blokes on bikes with food bags in pedestrian areas. I don’t think it’s safe.

They were telling their case workers that the bags and the bikes are mine! 😵‍💫
Yes to avoiding JustEat and Deliveroo! Those bags were stored on the ground, in an alley that I drag my bins through, where cats often do their business and the food smells attract rats. I was really quite disgusted by that alone!

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JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 22:04

therockingbird · 24/09/2026 21:53

If the contractor is Mears the client is the council surely?! Therefore the property is a council owned.

No, MEARS seek out private landlords and sign contracts with them directly. MEARS get financed by the Home Office.
The Council are often left completely outside the loop and wouldn't even know there was an asylum HMO there.
I complained to the Council about rubbish, rats and 6ft weeds in asylum garden and they helped to sort it by issuing an Environmental Health notice to MEARS. The Council were Not impressed at all about the state of things

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converseandjeans · 24/09/2026 21:58

I’m sure there was a storyline on one of the soaps years ago about someone going across houses via shared attic space.

I think it’s terrible that the contractor is being so secretive. It’s your home & you’re entitled to know who is living next door.

I’d hate the e-bikes & food bags blocking my alley way. I think the only way to stop this sort of thing is for people to collect their own take away. It’s bad enough in most town centres now - I’m constantly on edge looking over my shoulder for blokes on bikes with food bags in pedestrian areas. I don’t think it’s safe.

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 21:57

And obviously, no one is allowed to know that they've claimed asylum elsewhere before.
I once randomly asked a guy if he speaks German. His face sort of dropped in concern and he asked me panicked : How do you know me?!!
I don't know them but I know they like their Germany 😅

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JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 21:53

DownToTheGround · 24/09/2026 21:38

Some go to English lessons and of course barbering is popular…..All complain about the shared accommodation and hope to get a house/flat.

A positive that they are making good progress with their English and are communicating easily with their neighbours.

You'll be glad to hear that they are VERY proficient in languages! In fact English knowledge is the weak point.
I've spoken to some of the men from both houses and many of them speak languages from the countries they've been in before.
I've learned a lot about how they move around Europe. The favourite countries are Germany (many speak German and they even have German language set on their phones), Denmark and England. Denmark is falling out of favour due to political changes, so it's Germany and England left. They really dislike France and Paris (yeah, I get that one). 😅

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therockingbird · 24/09/2026 21:53

If the contractor is Mears the client is the council surely?! Therefore the property is a council owned.

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 21:45

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 24/09/2026 21:27

Do you own your house?

Do you know who owns the houses which are HMOs?

Were you told that the houses were going to be hmos?

I own my house. I bought it when there was a family next door.

The HMOs were converted for student use around 20 years ago, then housed families again but clearly those 5-7 year asylum contracts pay better.
The landlord lives in Spain and couldn't care less about anyone in England!

No, no one told me about the plans. In fact, even when the first group were moved in and I had spoken to case workers, the landlord and the contractor MEARS tried to lie and tell me that the tenants have nothing to do with the asylum system. They are very, very secretive and it makes me feel more unsafe, not less!

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Thecows · 24/09/2026 21:41

DownToTheGround · 24/09/2026 21:38

Some go to English lessons and of course barbering is popular…..All complain about the shared accommodation and hope to get a house/flat.

A positive that they are making good progress with their English and are communicating easily with their neighbours.

Oh well that's just fine then isn't it ..

DownToTheGround · 24/09/2026 21:38

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 20:45

The ones who stay go to courses. A lot of courses. Some go to English lessons and of course barbering is popular. Some do shifts in takeaways. All complain about the shared accommodation and hope to get a house/flat.

Some go to English lessons and of course barbering is popular…..All complain about the shared accommodation and hope to get a house/flat.

A positive that they are making good progress with their English and are communicating easily with their neighbours.

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 21:33

Wantmoredogsbutcant · 24/09/2026 21:29

What does this mean, they can get in?

Yes, they can get in!
Doesn't help that I know of a case where a woman was shot with a crossbow and her husband killed by a neighbour (not an asylum seeker) who came in via the loft.
There should be a full wall for fire safety if nothing else but... I'll have to build it.The asylum contractors really will not help in any way!

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JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 21:29

34567890A · 24/09/2026 21:08

How do you feel living next door to them? Do you feel just as safe as before there were asylum seekers there?

@OldWallpaper

I get scared when there is an issue, like the alley blocked with bikes or a 2am disposable barbecue "event" and I realise that I can't just tell a group of transient males to quit it.
Can't speak to them, not a police matter, the landlord lives in Spain and the contractors MEARS are so secretive they take a week just to confirm it's one of their houses.
The tenants (well the ones thus far!) have never made me scared directly. They don't harass me in any way. Though there have been some leading questions about my relationship status, whether I live alone and telling me they're looking for a wife just like me. I feel it like a nuisance more than fear.

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Wantmoredogsbutcant · 24/09/2026 21:29

Anendlessseriesofunfortunateevents · 24/09/2026 21:28

The not blocked off attic space is something I've never considered as a women that's lived as a single mum most of my adult life.

Why haven't I thought of that before from a security point of view?! 😱

What does this mean, they can get in?

Anendlessseriesofunfortunateevents · 24/09/2026 21:28

The not blocked off attic space is something I've never considered as a women that's lived as a single mum most of my adult life.

Why haven't I thought of that before from a security point of view?! 😱

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 24/09/2026 21:27

Do you own your house?

Do you know who owns the houses which are HMOs?

Were you told that the houses were going to be hmos?

PamelaShipman80 · 24/09/2026 21:24

The shared attic space is the stuff of nightmares!

I’m assuming you don’t own the property? do you plan to move?

Spicysenorita · 24/09/2026 21:22

what do your other neighbours think about this?

Wantmoredogsbutcant · 24/09/2026 21:18

I'd hate this, so sorry op, are the men friendly to you? Are they intimidating?