as september looms ahead, the permanent working class residents of the holylands wait in fear

Sunday August 11, 2002 22:20

by althea and donna - strictlyroots

as september looms ahead, the working class permanent residents of the holylands, belfast wait in fear, as money grabbin slumlords cram as many as 10 students into each tiny 2up2down terrace house that they've converted into HMOs.

tiny 2up 2 down terrace houses in the holylands are being converted into 5 bedroom death traps, which are a health hazards to both students and noise hazards to the permanent working class residents of the holylands. culchi slum lord out of towners and big buisness property developers are making millions to the detriment of the health and sanity of both students and permanent holyland residents. the working class permanent holyland residents who live in low rent housing executive and housing association properties are at their wits end every year as private slum lords cram as many as 10 students into 2up2down terraces charging as much as £750 a month rent. the practises of private slumlords are identical to that of notorious jailed bristol estate agent multimillionaire Vanhoggstraten who intimidated low rent working class residents out of their properties by moving in noisy, antisocial neighbours into adjacent properties in order to force out low rent tenants and buy up their subsequently vacant properties at a low cost. the working class permanent holyland residents are unique, they are a long standing mixed religion community, who have lived side by side for many years and whose only politics is that of working class solidarity. we need people to champion our cause and campaign against the property speculators and slumlords who are only intent on making profits to the detriment and the destruction of the unique belfast holylands community, at the end of the day, students are also suffering due to their cramped and unhealthy living conditions.