I've got to move

Post Reply New Topic

There is something I cannot do well: interact with streetsmart people. I need to get out of Manchester in England, where I live.

It has a thriving economy, lots of students, an arts scene etc. - but the atmosphere is violent. I can't do anything here happily. Even buying an item of clothing or some fries to takeout could turn into a fist fight. It's a 7.9 on the grittiness scale.

I got beaten up three weeks ago because I bumped into someone. But then it is so easy to do in Manchester! The place is so overcrowded and I've never met people who are so willing to walk through you. The selfishness and lack of manners here is unbelievable.

I've been trying to get out for a year and still no exchange has become available. The apartment I'm in, which is rented from a social housing association, can be exchanged for other such apartments all over the country. Occasionally matches come up but they are often in even worse areas. Some are in better, but I rarely if ever hear back.

What do I do? Give up the apartment? I'm thinking about it. I might just look for a privately rented one instead. Where the stress comes in there is that many landlords ask for a month's rent in advance AND a deposit. That is a lot of money to hand over to someone you do not know and necessarily trust.

The last thing I want to do is move back in with my parents. They're nice but we have different tastes in food and television and who we like to associate with. It just doesn't work.

So do I go ahead and phone private landlords up? Even though I hate to do it and can't stand dealing with people. It would be so much easier done through an exchange, with government regulated housing associations. But you can't get everything you want! I know this much. I cannot stay in Manchester. The place feels like nothing but trouble. Unemployment is high, it's too miserable, I'll drink myself to death if I stay.

Most privately let housing goes through agencies. Some fees occur (usually about £200), but your deposit will be safe, your rent will be safe and you will have a standardized contract with obligations for both you and your landlord. We have let privately the last six years and it is wonderful to have control over our own living situation. You will likely be credit checked, however.

The price of privately let housing can be steep, however you may be entitled to housing benefits if your income does not leave you with enough left over for day-to-day life.

That is reassuring. Then I will start to search for private apartments in a week if I still can't find an exchange.

what part of manchester is it in? am from manchester/lived there in stretford up to twenty and then got moved around different areas and am living just outside it in cheshire now.

manchester doesnt suck as a town but it does have some crappy parts because of how councils tend to stick the scumbags in with the normal but poorer/unemployed people of society.

woud recommend urmston and flixton if can get a cheap place.
stretford; up near longford park is a great place to live they do have cheap places up there it looks like.
have never lived in a flat/house have only ever lived in an urmston/flixton based LD institution and residential homes but did end up so severely bullied and attacked with bricks on a regular basis in manchester with mum-directly due to the autism and LD that get flashbacks and panic attacks when am in the areas it happened and woud never live in manchester again,its unfortunate as the scumbags spoil what is a good town,but any area that has a high number of social housing tends to get these ASBO parasites flocking to them.

I'm in Salford which is probably the worst bit of Manchester. But in any case I find the whole city to be quite rough. I do like the number of shops, there's lots of choice and there's enough entertainment. But I grew up in a small village and find people here too confrontational. I've had lots of people try to sell me drugs, begging, dirty looks - it wears me down.

I'm not keen on villages anymore so I'm going to look for something more in between. Maybe Southport, since it's got enough there but isn't massive. Has a more laidback atmosphere too.