Where will the refugees coming to the UK live?

[Meeklynamechanged]

In no way a goady thread, I fully support helping the people fleeing such horrid circumstances, but genuine question.. where will they live? Where do we put people?

Where I live we have people waiting 10 years for a council property. Most areas around the UK have a huge deficit in available housing that doesn't meet demand.

With so many families stuck in overcrowded hostels and B&B's, families of 5 in 1 bed flats, I can't see where all of the required the housing will come from?

[quote Sadiecow]@PalmsandCharms I'm not sure how!

I mean it's one thing you not wanting to help, but slagging off people that do is unbelievable.

I used to know a few "I'm all right Jack, I don't give a shit about anyone else", they soon got dropped from my life.

Deeply unpleasant people ... [/quote]
Indeed, indeed

@StoneofDestiny

Buckingham Palace, Sandringham, Windsor, Balmoral, Kensington Palace etc etc - loads of spare rooms that lie empty most of the year. A great use for them

And only a small chance of bumping into a sex offender.

Those coming from Hong Kong are mostly buying their own homes according to our development, who have expanded new builds to accommodate them

@User5827372728

Maybe the nightingale hospitals could be used initially.

Sadly they were never fit as hospitals let alone social housing. Most were converted from large arena type venues but had inadequate washing, lavatories and other basic facilities and were just empty halls with hospital beds, curtains and ventilators moved in.

@LemonRoses that's a shame!

Don't worry the UK will not be supporting them. Hopefully they will bring money into the UK

It doesn’t matter how rich people from Hong Kong. It doesn’t matter if they are buying outright/in cash or with a 500 year mortgage. More buyers = increased demand = more upwards pressure on house prices = more people with nowhere to live/young people spending even greater proportion of their money on rent.

AttaGirrrrl

Years ago when I lived in London, a local office block had been turned into temporary accommodation. There must be hundreds of offices sitting empty now that can be converted.”

This. Flats for British citizens, too.

My “spare” room is occupied by children who are at university. So it’s used in the university holidays and some weekends.

I can understand the reluctance to bring a stranger into your home though. I’m ashamed to say I’m not sure if I could do it. I have anxiety and ptsd and as a woman on her own (most of the time) I’d be wary. I suppose that makes me a hypocrite. But I do support (in practical ways) charities already (women’s aid and a local refuge).

@libertyfarmboots
England is extremely overpopulated, one of the most densely populated in Europe, and it’s where everyone ends up. It’s no use just saying - well let’s build/ create more job opportunity elsewhere - you need decent government for that and we’re a million miles away from achieving political accountability and competence. Besides, every country’s human population should be looking to lessen its impact on the rest of the natural world, not increase it. That means fewer people, not more.

Someone here took in a Syrian refugee, much posting about how good of a person they were for doing so, but ultimately it was miserable for the child. Yes, being safe is the most valuable thing, but also there weren't any others who spoke his language, knew what he'd been through, and no support network for him. Spare rooms great for short term, but I hope the government also has a plan to actually help integrate them long term, and to support beyond just dumping them here and assuming that's the only thing they need- a lot will be traumatised and its a real culture shock too, crashing in someone's spare room isn't the saviour move some people think, albeit better than nothing in the short term.

Time for the government to reintroduce proper council housing again. And not let them be sold off cheaply!!

Also I think it's horrible to judge those who would be hesitant to do so, I would have thought it's probably fairly evident why some people will have reservations. I wouldn't offer our spare room.

If the government had any sense they'd introduce a law against buying property as an investment and leaving it empty. half of central London - entire apartment blocks stand empty. A family member used to live in one - all the other flats were owned by investors and left to grow mouldy.

I'd second those and saw all dwelling must have someone living in them 80% of the year. Then the refugees get a home for free in return for being housekeepers.

@SingingInTheShithouse - I'm saddened by your dismissal of "dick fear".
Maybe some women on here have every right to fear male behaviour and violence.
Maybe, as you say, they're all decent men fleeing a regime who'll be lovely etc, but don't dismiss women's fears with statements like that.

I also volunteered my spare bedroom

@Noteshook

Someone here took in a Syrian refugee, much posting about how good of a person they were for doing so, but ultimately it was miserable for the child. Yes, being safe is the most valuable thing, but also there weren't any others who spoke his language, knew what he'd been through, and no support network for him. Spare rooms great for short term, but I hope the government also has a plan to actually help integrate them long term, and to support beyond just dumping them here and assuming that's the only thing they need- a lot will be traumatised and its a real culture shock too, crashing in someone's spare room isn't the saviour move some people think, albeit better than nothing in the short term.

Totally agree, it is really important that the refugees can settle and be in contact with fellow countrymen. But as a short term fix, I think it's great.

Those saying “I volunteer my spare room in Merthyr Tydfil” - do you honestly think refugees want to live there? Onward studies have shown that sadly nearly all “dispersed” refugees head straight back to overcrowded metropolises. Outside the UK refugees sent to Finland were not happy and left there asap. Even in Italy there were protests (including setting fire to their accommodation) because they wanted to be in Rome or Milan rather than the small towns they were sent to.

These threads always bring out the Lady Bountiful types- it’s easy to sit here and posture about letting out your spare room and basking in those good feelings about how wonderful you are, meanwhile slagging off and being spiteful about the people who live in very different circumstances to those who have all these lovely spare rooms to offer.

Have read the full thread and there's loads of conflicting, interesting and valid replies here. I suppose it all comes down to if we're any way civilised, we help. We'd hope/expect it if anything happened in our own country and it's sad your life is dictated just by where you're born. Could have been any of us

I returned to the UK a few years ago after living in the US for almost 50 years. I didn't recognize my own country. Good lord the UK is turning into a overcrowded shit-hole with vandalism, poverty, crime and even people attacking each other in the street for just looking at them the wrong way. Thank Lefty politics did that! It won't be too many more years before British people are fleeing the mess you are creating just so you can feel morally superior and not at all racist

Well pop off back to the USA. You are exactly the type of mindset we don’t want in the UK.

I’ve just seen that Meghan and Harry pledge their support (but not one of their bedrooms) …..

Second homes and Airbnbs should be used to accommodate refugees from Afghanistan. That should just about cover it!

These threads always bring out the Lady Bountiful types

I see a lot of comments from compassionate, welcoming and humanitarian people with practical solutions to help those in need. I also see some comments from those who choose to be offensive about these people fleeing for their lives. Fortunately the former are in the majority.

@TrifleCat

These threads always bring out the Lady Bountiful types- it’s easy to sit here and posture about letting out your spare room and basking in those good feelings about how wonderful you are, meanwhile slagging off and being spiteful about the people who live in very different circumstances to those who have all these lovely spare rooms to offer.

That's mumsnet for you.

And then there's the ritualised bullying of those who dare to have a different opinion

@StoneofDestiny

These threads always bring out the Lady Bountiful types

I see a lot of comments from compassionate, welcoming and humanitarian people with practical solutions to help those in need. I also see some comments from those who choose to be offensive about these people fleeing for their lives. Fortunately the former are in the majority.

👏 100%

Let's not forget, these are human lives.