Latest news with #Placefirst
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Liverpool Welsh Streets £300 rent hike plan scrapped
People living in a famous set of Liverpool streets have been spared a rent hike that would have cost them an extra £300 a month. Tenants in The Welsh Streets, where Beatle Ringo Starr was born, have agreed a deal with landlord Placefirst. Up to 300 residents were set to be affected by the change, but the rent rise will now be capped at £60. Placefirst said it was "pleased" to reach a resolution that "represents a balanced and sustainable outcome for all parties". The Welsh Streets are named after the Welsh workers who built them and lived there in the late 19th Century. Properties were derelict until regeneration plans by Placefirst were approved by Liverpool City Council in 2017. But residents - some of whom feared they would have to move - discovered they were in line for the now-shelved rent rises in March. Community union Acorn, which represented the residents said it has agreed a 6% cap on rent increases with Placefirst. The cap covers the period to 31 December and is back-dated to 1 said Placefirst had also agreed to address failings around disrepair, communication and treatment of tenants, and have agreed to formally recognise a new residents Brady, a Welsh Street resident who started the campaign, said the fight was "all about keeping people in their homes, supporting key workers, and preserving a vibrant Liverpool community".Acorn Liverpool branch secretary, Martin Mawdsley, said it was a "historic win" not just for the union or the Welsh Streets, but for all renters in the country, adding it showed "ordinary people can fight back and win". 'Listened carefully' Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said the outcome was a "victory for people power, adding: "[This is] a testament to what can be achieved when tenants stand together. "The unity shown by the Welsh Streets community, and the tireless campaigning of Acorn members, has forced Placefirst to the table and delivered a better deal for residents."Placefirst said it had "listened carefully" to concerns raised by residents and capped all rent increases for individual households at 6%, meaning an average rise of about £57 per month with no household seeing an increase of more than £80 per month."We fully understand the impact rent increases can have on residents and their communities and have apologised for our initial handling of this matter," it said."Since then, we have maintained ongoing and constructive dialogue with the affected residents to discuss their concerns, including through one-to-one, face-to-face meetings." It said it was "pleased" to reach a resolution that "represents a balanced and sustainable outcome for all parties".Placefirst added that the proposed rent increases were in line with average regional increases of 9% but there were "a small handful of cases", where residents were "paying well below market value" when the proposed increases were said it had also proposed a rent cap for 2026 of 8%. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Liverpool 'Welsh Street' dad relieved as eviction threat dropped
A family living on one of Liverpool's most famous streets have spoken of their relief after plans to evict them from their home were dropped. Andy Johnson was served with a no-fault eviction notice earlier this year which could have forced him, his wife and their six-year-old son out of their Voelas Road house in Toxteth's Welsh Streets within days."It's been a year of uncertainty and this result has come as a massive relief," said the 43-year-old. "We love living here and there's a real community that has been built." Housing management company Placefirst said it had "voluntarily settled" with Mr Johnson and had agreed to compensate them for "the mistake and the inconvenience" caused. Mr Johnson and his wife Ithalia, 46, moved into their terraced house six years months ago, the family received an email from Placefirst, notifying them that they were being given a "no-fault" eviction Johnson said that while they had fallen behind with their rent during the pandemic, they had paid their £2,500 arrears off in full earlier this Mr Johnson's pleas, however, the company refused to revoke the eviction a result, they faced a showdown in court last of the hearing, though, an agreement was reached between no-fault eviction notice was deemed invalid due to "an administrative error" that had been made in said: "Since serving notice, the resident has taken positive steps to clear the arrears, and has demonstrated a consistent commitment to meeting their rent obligations going forward." Beatles attraction Mr Johnson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the settlement was "really good news". "It shows what you can do when you stand up for yourself," he Welsh Streets in Toxteth are one of the few remaining "original" tourist attractions for Beatles fans in include the birthplace of Fab Four drummer Ringo Starr, who grew up in Madryn Street, which is three streets away from Voelas former home and hundreds of others in the area were built by Welsh workers in the late 19th properties were facing demolition eight years ago before members of the local community rallied to save late father Chris, a well-known journalist in Liverpool, was among their vocal supporters. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Welsh Streets: Sudden rent hike 'not what we signed up for'
People living on a famous set of Liverpool streets have said they will continue to fight against rent rises on their homes. Two months ago tenants in the city's Welsh Streets were told their annual rent would be going up in some cases by as much as 31%. Following a campaign, and the intervention of local MP Kim Johnson, private landlord Placefirst proposed an annual rent cap rise of 6%.Residents said they had signed agreements which would limit any increase to 1% above the cost of said the policy, which applied to a number of households in the first phase of the development, had been superseded and acknowledged the change "wasn't clearly communicated". The Welsh Streets, which include Madryn Street, where Beatle Ringo Starr was born, are named after the Welsh workers who built them and lived there in the late 19th were saved from demolition in 2017 and refurbished. In April some residents said they could no longer afford to live there due to the "disgusting" have so far rejected the proposed cap. They are calling for an improved cap equal to the consumer price Index plus 1%, which they said is "consistent with the policy initially promised" by Dan Jennings: "We see it as progress but it is not in line with what the majority of tenants signed up for."A Placefirst representative said the company acknowledged it "didn't get everything right" over the issue and said it "wholeheartedly apologised" for the impact caused."We are now committed to revising our approach, addressing any remaining concerns, and demonstrating our dedication to improving the way that we do things," the company said."The proposed rent increase cap of 6% will mean that Welsh Streets residents will see an average increase of £57 per month and no household will see an increase of more than £80 per month."While we can't yet confirm the likely cap for next year, we are committed to maintaining this open and honest dialogue moving forwards."The Acorn union, which is representing the residents, said Placefirst's refusal to commit to any cap in subsequent years meant residents had been left "in a perpetual state of uncertainty", adding: "The campaign certainly isn't over." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Families 'can't afford to live' on famous streets after being 'sold a dream'
Rising rents in a famous set of Liverpool streets risks 'eroding' a close-knit community as people can't afford to stay. That is the view of Liverpool MP Kim Johnson, who was speaking about the situation facing the residents of the Welsh Streets in Toxteth. The Welsh Streets are one of the few remaining 'original' tourist attractions for fans of The Beatles as they include the birthplace of drummer Ringo Starr, who grew up in Madryn Street in the area. Ringo's former home and hundreds of others in the area are known as the Welsh Streets having been built by Welsh workers in the 1870s in order to accommodate Liverpool's growing population of dockers and their families. Having become rundown and neglected in the 20th Century, the houses of the Welsh Streets were saved as the community rallied to save them before they were regenerated by developer Placefirst. READ MORE: Man in his 30s taken to hospital after police chase READ MORE: New venue 'saddened' over row just days after opening But despite being sold a vision of a dream community in which to build their lives and families, a number of Welsh Street residents now feel they are being driven out of the area by sudden and large rent increases. Some residents said they had seen their rent increase by more than 30% and will have to move out if this doesn't change. Placefirst told the ECHO this year's rent adjustments "represent fair market rates for homes with added services and amenities." Now the area's local MP, Kim Johnson, has waded into the row having met with a number of Welsh Streets residents this weekend. She is now set to meet with the boss of Placefirst to discuss the ongoing issues. Ms Johnson was withering about the developer and its actions when speaking to the ECHO. She said: "They have sold these people a certain type of community but things have become far more transient because the rents are going up and people are leaving. "People are very anxious and we have heard reports of bully boy tactics being used by the company. It feels like they want people to move out of these homes because then they can bring new tenants in paying increased rents from the start. "There is also a bizarre lack of consistency here too, I have spoken to people living next door to each other who are facing totally different rent increases." Speaking about the potential impact on the community, she added: "There is a massive risk to this community because of what is going on. There are people who have set up their lives here who now feel they have no choice but to move out. There is also a wider risk to the area as it could drive rents up elsewhere. "People were sold a vision of a real community but that sense of community is being eroded because people cannot afford to stay here. We want to know what the rationale is for these increases, is it just simply to make as much money as possible?" Responding to the MP's comments, a spokesperson for Placefirst said: 'We are aware of Kim Johnson MP's concerns and are in direct contact with her. We can update further on this once a conversation has taken place. We are also holding a series of one-to-one meetings with households at Welsh Streets on Tuesday to better understand their circumstances and where support might be needed. 'This year's rent adjustments came following careful assessment, and the figures represent fair market rates for homes with added services and amenities. The ONS reports that average rents in the North West increased by 9% in the year to April, which is very close to the average increase at Welsh Streets. 'There are individual circumstances – which we cannot discuss for privacy reasons – where rents required adjustment after sitting below market value for some time. Having listened to our residents' concerns, we have instituted a new policy whereby any market normalisation that results in an increase in rent above 10% can be spread over a two- or three-year period. 'We maintain an open dialogue with our residents and encourage them to speak to us directly if they have concerns or require support.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'My young family has to move after £300 rent hike'
People living in a some of Liverpool's most famous streets have said they can no longer afford to live there due to "disgusting" annual rent increases. The Welsh Streets, which include Madryn Street, where Beatle Ringo Starr was born, were derelict until regeneration plans by the development company Placefirst were approved by Liverpool City Council in 2017. But now the union ACORN, which represents tenants, said Placefirst has increased costs for some residents by an extra £300 a month. Placefirst said the increases reflect "fair market rates", and that it is "always happy to discuss any concerns on an individual basis". The properties are known as the Welsh Streets after the Welsh workers who built them and lived there in the late 19th century. Dan Jennings and his wife moved into the area just after the regeneration finished six years ago, and have since had two children who have grown up on the estate. He said they were expecting an increase but were "shocked" by the amount. "Since we first moved in, our rent will have gone up by 60 to 70 percent from our first tenancy agreement which was around £700 a month. Now it's going up to £1,295. "We were anticipating it would go up by £100 because Placefirst have always presented themselves as 'responsible landlords', but £307 (31%) is just unattainable for most people, especially with only a month's notice." When asked whether they would have to move out, Dan said they would have no choice. "We have a young family and there is very little chance of us just finding £307 a month extra.", he told BBC Radio Merseyside. "We will have to move. There is no means of us finding the money and guaranteeing that we can find it." "It's going to be a complete upheaval and we're really disappointed in Placefirst because it all feels so disingenuous." On Placefirst's website, it advertises that tenants can "stay as long as they enjoy living there", but Welsh Streets residents claim they are all forced onto 12-month contracts, which, they say, means that if they don't agree with the rent increases they can be served eviction notices. Jacob Goddard, who lives with his partner Katie, said: "I don't think we've ever experienced this empathy they talk about. "Even the smaller increases are pushing people to breaking point because there are consecutive ones, and now there's a lot of people who are seriously considering moving out." A petition opposing the rent increases is set to be handed to PlaceFirst's office in the Welsh Streets on Friday morning, and residents will be meeting a local MP later this month. Placefirst said it was "committed to providing high-quality, professionally managed homes, offering a higher standard than conventional rental properties." It added: "This year's rent increases have been carefully reviewed, and the figures communicated reflect fair market rates for professionally managed homes with enhanced services and amenities. "We maintain open lines of communication with all our residents and are always happy to discuss any concerns on an individual basis." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Welsh Streets 'masterplan' approved Council abandons Welsh Streets appeal
