Living in a rough area

[ablisha]

Hi all

I wondered if any of you live in what you feel is a 'rougher area' and how you feel about it?

We moved into our house in January in a very nice town but naively thought it was nice throughout. I've found we actually like in a part that's not so nice, with lots of litter and an increased police presence. Although I don't feel in any danger as such, it's not ideal and looks rather messy.

I have really struggled to settle and although I can see potential in the house itself, I can't move on from the area.

Any advice would be greatly received! Thanks

Do it up and sell on for a profit?
Truthfully, I'm in middle of buying a house and am staying in a house I own in a not so nice area. You know, there are things to like about those areas? I tend to appreciate things if I can't change them.
Its more interesting than nicey nicey areas too
More going on good and bad. They tend IME to have a stronger community feel, is yours not like that?
There are anomalies about people and their habits and police presence even makes it safer than the next area. Do some nice things for the community? Be that change? What sorts of things in particular stop you feeling settled?

Plenty of people live in rough areas so I imagine many don’t mind. However, if your used to somewhere nicer, I can imagine it’s deprrssing seeing the littler and hearing sirens. Tbh, I’d make plans to move.

I live on the edge of a rough area. Couldn't afford to buy in the nice area. I've found people are snobs. The area is actually fine and most people who look down their noses haven't actually ever visited here.

I grew up in a rough area and my parents were really strict with me about who my friends were, curfew and where I went. So I didn’t mix with the really naughty kids (fighting, knives, drugs, promiscuity) but I was an outsider and did get a bit bullied at school for being a square.

That all being said I am no pushover and I don’t intimidate easily.

I would not have kids where I grew up and I left hone at 17 and never looked back.

If your going to have kids then maybe consider your longer term plans. We had the nicer house but in a shitty town...it wasn’t brilliant. I’d rather be in a smaller house in a better area growing up.

There were plenty of “salt of the earth” types but there was also a lot of problems with alcoholism, infertility and ensuing fights. Sometimes I couldn’t get my bus home as there was a massive fight in the town. I’d have to walk.

Infidelity! Not infertility!!

When I was on my own I lived in a rougher area. I downsized to move to a nicer area and it was worth every penny. But I did lose a bedroom, OK as I was single but not so easy if you have kids. Another option might be to buy a complete doer-upper and work on it gradually.

I live in one of the 'rougher' areas of my city and have had people raise eyebrows when I told them where I live. I've been here 15 years and never really had any problem that wouldn't have happened elsewhere. My road is on the periphery of where most of the 'trouble' happens (which is mild compared to the big city I grew up in anyway). My immediate neighbours are great, we've had a few dodgy people renting nearby over the years (noise, regular police attendance) but they've moved on quickly and not bothered us as we keep to ourselves.

I do think there is a stronger sense of community here than in some much 'nicer' areas nearby. People help each other out, the local shop knows everyone and will deliver/let you have credit if you're elderly or vulnerable (despite the sign saying otherwise). During lockdown the pub handed out free food boxes 3x a week from their back door.

I cried after I moved into my house and realised what the area was really like. Years on, I'm very happy here. But if you don't feel settled after you've done the house up a bit, maybe best to cut your losses and move elsewhere?

I agree with Atalune. We lived in a rough area when we had no kids and that was bad enough. We pretty much moved mountains to get out of there whilst I was pregnant. We even had trouble getting a man with a van as the area had such a bad reputation.

Is your house rented? I simply cannot imagine purchasing a home without doing a lot of research on the area first.

It’s all relative really. I live in a lovely town, with very few anti social problems. There are still areas that are considered the good bits and the bad bits. I would happily live in the worse bit of town here.
However, I wouldn’t live in the rough bit of our neighbour town... I would be terrified to.
When I lived in Nottingham there were bits I wouldn’t walk through even during the day.

Thanks all.

To put it in perspective, the town is in Hertfordshire and is a really small, sought after town. It's just this is probably the cheaper few roads we live around and the only way we could afford to live here being relatively young still (I'm hoping we are anyway 🤣)

Our immediate next door neighbours are lovely, and I've not had any issues myself since being here, it's just a marked difference to the rest of the town.

With the town being so small, the schools are not directly in the roads I live around and are very good in general.

The plan is that this won't be our final house by any means, but I still just find it unsettling to know we won't be moving anytime soon.