to be shocked at the property developer in this tv show

[MousyMouse]

bbc2 20 June 2012 The Secret History of Our Streets - 3. Caledonian Road

a property developer was shown who was bragging about bending planning laws.
he developed basements (without proper daylight and ventilation) to rent out cheap to (mainly foreign) labourers.

I was like [schock] at his attitude.

more like it.

hope he gets the book thrown at him.

If people are going to do it, which they do to get round min wage laws, as well.

Then i would rather that they were honest about it.

I know shocking, there have been a number of threads about people bending planning laws, I'm no good at linking, hope someone else will but search out the backyard bungalow threads. Poor lady leaves next door to someone who has done this and planning are pretty ineffectual about it.

A lot MN are planners and provide advice, the lady is really funny about an awful situation. Its lovely seeing MN help eachother out on this.

yes, I have seen lurked on the gymbalow threads.
shocking.
and shocking that this is done and tolerated so openly.

DH lived on Cally Road when I first moved in with him - it was a shithole and the landlords were proper scumbags!

Going to watch on iPlayer now...

this is about it in the guardian

"There are good characters in this episode, such as Andrew, a Cypriot who arrived in the 80s with 60 quid to his name. Now he owns the Prince, and just about everything else in the street. Including underground flats where young antipodeans live like rats in the dark. Andrew's way of doing things is to "build first, ask for permission later", and he's usually in trouble with the council. Does he feel misunderstood by them? "Well, wouldn't you misunderstand a person like me if you were in the council?" he says, with considerable self-awareness."

I recorded this last night - will watch and then post my thoughts.

I watched this last night and was also more than a little surprised that he seemed to be allowed to get away with it. £300 a week to live in a cellar?? No thanks - and come on planning committees, do your job!

Totally fascinating series though! I love social history.

Love this series - best thing that's on telly atm!

That landlord - what a smug twat! Bet he gets investigated, but saying that it sounds like what he was doing is legal the way he was talking about the rules on which rooms must have windows etc.

That is about right for the rent - London is full of flats that used to be cellars. Put that in a posh area and he'd be able to charge more!

Anyone can call themselves a property developer.

No education, qualifications or experience is necesary.

Unfortunately my experiences of these people have generally not been good with greedy, unreasonable, mean, aggressive and other equally charmng character traits frequently displayed.

He is a slum landlord! Did you see the mildew in the Australian guys bathroom? There was no window and no ventilation. He's ruthless and greedy and gets away with it.

I had not heard of this programme but really, really enjoyed it.

I thought the middle aged woman and her elderly mother who hooted with laughter when interviewed were wonderful.

That bloke is a bloody Rachmanite landlord. Awful.

Really interesting to see how that road has changed in such a short time - I may sound like the naive country girl that I am, but I was so shocked at the blatant prostiutuion in the streets like that.

I think Homes in Multiple Occupation (I'm not sure if basements count though ) are actually subject to stringent fire escape regulations so once the Fire Brigade are aware of Andrew's basements they should soon see them closed down valium.