What’s it like in Middlesbrough for southerners

[Leesark]

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are thinking of moving up North due to the incredibly good value property prices. I’ve worked for over 38 years on the railways and will be retiring. My partner who is from the Philippines may decide to work part time for the NHS if there are any hospital jobs available. Middlesbrough is on our shortlist but I’ve read that some people who are not from these areas up North can be made to feel unwelcome, and as my partner is Filippina I have concerns she may experience problems with racism etc. A nice house has become available in South Bank for an unbelievably low price. You wouldn’t get a broom cupboard in London for what the house is South Bank costs. We could do with relocating as to be honest we hate London now, it’s overcrowded, noisy, smelly and very expensive..... Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated.

You don't want to live in south bank, the houses are stupidly cheap there for a reason I'm afraid.

There are many, many reasonably priced areas in the North East, Middlesbrough would be well down the list of best locations...just 4 miles outside of Newcastle you can pick up a 3 bed semi for £150k in a decent area, or around £250k for a really good area. I would do some more research

I live in the north east and wouldn’t want to live in Middlesbrough I’m afraid.

Isn’t it very deprived? If somewhere is very cheap there’s usually a reason for it

I don't know Middlesbrough well but there are nicer areas in the NE. There are some nicer parts and you're near some lovely coastline.

If your partner want to still work in the NHS it might be worth thinking about Newcastle.

Just don't assume all housing is cheap, you still get what you pay for.

DO NOT MOVE TO SOUTHBANK.
There are bits of Middlesbrough, and the surrounding areas, that are nice. Southbank isnt one of them.
DH is (British born) Chinese. The kids are mixed white-Chinese. They are very much in the minority at school, but rarely have issues. We live in Teesside, about 5 miles from Boro.

I have family from the area. Southbank is horrific. It's one of the only areas that people refuse to move into council houses in the area. There is nothing in the surrounding areas, high proportion of unemployment, crime, anti social behaviour, gangs, mainly white people... the sort of place they won't taker kindly to outsiders visit and have a good walk around before you buy anything including at night time but be careful it is genuinely dangerous.

The other thing about buying in somewhere like South Bank, any property will almost certainly depreciate in value and probably be difficult if not impossible to sell or rent out. So you'd be stuck there. Amongst the crime and chaos and depressing life where the majority are in cycles of generations who live on benefits, your health would suffer too, you'd be surrounded by horrific air pollution, very poor transport links to anywhere... Don't do it!

Hi everyone thanks for your advice on South Bank, I guess I’ll have to give that place a wide berth. Is Eston ok I’m wondering.....

Parts of Eston are quite nice.

What are you looking to spend, and how many bedrooms?
Do you need anything other than fairly easy access to the hospital for work?

Yes what's your budget and look at the list of "best value housing" list that was published yesterday I think I read it on the BBC website yesterday.

You can get a 2 bed terrace in a good area in the town I live in for just over £100k walking distance to the hospital.

What’s your budget? Why Middlesbrough? Is near a hospital a must for your partner’s job? How about yours?

You can get property in Birmingham for the £100-150 mark

Avoid middlesbrough itself. Try stockton areas or hartlepool, there's some nice villages too.

If you're selecting areas simply by sorting houses on Right move by price from low to high you're on the verge of making a very big mistake.

What is your maximum budget? What are your non negotiables? Do you have a car? Let posters with local knowledge suggest some suitable areas, but more info is needed.

Once areas have been suggested and you have done further research e.g. into crime rates, book a few weeks in an air bnb and spend some time in these places. Go to local pubs see how they respond to you. Chat to locals. Ask - they are very chatty and will tell you stories all about these areas. Like in the 90s Lee Duffy was a "gangster" from Southbank and considered a local legend. Chat to taxi drivers about the areas they are great sources of local knowledge and where to avoid with a bargepole.

Get a feel of the social geographies, as well as the physical geographies - South Bank and Eston aren't actually part of Middlesbrough. They are essentially huge housing estates in no mans land between Middlesbrough and Redcar surrounded by wasteland and industry. Eston is preferable to South Bank which in all honesty is a no go zone, but it's still very white working class, remote, isolated and insular with pockets of nicer areas and pockets of anti social behaviour.

Once you've found a few nice areas you might consider, then RENT a house for six months. It won't be a waste of money it will be a potentially life saving decision. Moving to the North East blind especially on a low budget isn't a good idea you really need to put some time into researching it.

"South Bank and Eston aren't actually part of Middlesbrough. They are essentially huge housing estates in no mans land between Middlesbrough and Redcar surrounded by wasteland and industry." @icelolly12

I'd hardly say they are in no mans land, especially Eston, which is also not surrounded by wasteland. Yes they both fall under Redcar and Cleveland Council but are both still essentially classed as Middlesbrough geographically.

There are much nicer places in the North East than Southbank and with reasonable housing prices too.

As with anywhere there are areas you wouldn't want to live. Southbank is an example of that in the Middlesbrough area but there are nice areas.

Can you narrow down what you're looking for?

Hi op I live in Middlesbrough, Marton to be specific, it's lovely and quiet.

Yes South Bank is rough as is Winniebanks etc. There are other nice areas, the further away from the centre the nicer it is.

Nunthorpe and Marton are the nicest parts in the Middlesbrough area.

Avoid middlesbrough itself. Try stockton areas or hartlepool, there's some nice villages too.

I'm originally from Hartlepool and wouldn't suggest moving there.

@bubblebath62636 I feel the same about Stockton too, unless you mean Eaglescliffe or one of the other nicer districts???

Forgot to ask op what's your budget?

Here's a house not far from us, great value for money imo.

RandomMess There are some nice houses in Stockton as in Hartlepool I suppose.
I think growing up on a council estate all my life just made me want to escape the place (not that there's anything wrong with that I just felt very trapped).

I like it, great pubs and live music