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Rough sleeping bags a way out of debt

THE “impossible” task of finding somewhere affordable to live has led to this piano tuner sleeping in a string of unlikely places across Oxford.

Richard Roberts on the metal walkway at Oxford’s Osney Lock where he spent the night Richard Roberts on the metal walkway at Oxford’s Osney Lock where he spent the night

Richard Roberts, 29, has been sleeping outside for the past year to avoid paying what he calls over-the-odds rent.

He says it has helped him pay off his £16,000 student debts and save for his future as he works up to 30 hours a week as a piano tuner.

“I paid rent for about six years but I just didn’t have enough money,” he said.

“I haven’t been able to find affordable housing in Oxford.

Sleeping rough on Port Meadow Sleeping rough

“The price of housing needs to come down. It’s impossible for young people to find somewhere affordable to live and so many of them are stuck in a rut.”

Mr Roberts, who studied physiology at University College London, has slept in porches, in Port Meadow, on the roof of a garage and most recently on the moorings of Osney Lock.

He says he could afford to pay rent if he wanted to but would then be unable to save to get on the property ladder.

And over the past year – since he started sleeping outside – he has come to enjoy his lifestyle.

He said: “Now that I’m homeless, life is so much better. All of Great Britain is my real home. It’s an amazing and beautiful home that no one can take away from me.”

So he sleeps outdoors, shielding himself from the cold with up to four layers as well as a foam mat to insulate him from the ground.

He has not even been put off by recent overnight temperatures plunging to -7C.

During the summer he washes by jumping into a river, but during the winter he showers in sports centre changing rooms.

He has been able to pay off his debts of £16,000 and has no plans to stop sleeping rough in the immediate future.

Mr Roberts says his choice of lifestyle hasn’t been putting off his customers.

He said: “Most of my customers are amused by it, and nobody has turned me away.”

Some of them even let him air his sleeping bag out in their house, he added.

He told his parents about where he sleeps and it met with mixed reactions.

He said: “My father is quite amused and thinks I’m going through a stage, but my mum is quite worried.”

Despite sleeping rough, Mr Roberts does not use the city’s homeless hostels.

He said: “I feel it would be very selfish to ask charities and the government for help because I’m a healthy young man and I can work.”

Mr Roberts, originally from Portsmouth, charges £50 an hour for his services as a piano tuner and writes a blog called The Touring Piano Tuner about his life using the tablet computer he takes around with him.

He has posted a string of pictures showing the places he has slept.

Oxford City Council’s cabinet member for housing needs Joe McManners felt Mr Roberts’ situation was a symptom of the city’s housing crisis.

He said: “There is a massive affordability problem in Oxford but we don’t have enough houses full stop.

“The supply line has dried up recently and it’s important to get it flowing again.”

He added plans for a new development of up to 1,200 homes at Barton West would help ease housing pressure in the city.

PLACES HE HAS SLEPT

1 THE porch of a sports pavilion in Bury Knowle Park in Headington.

Mr Roberts described it as: “A west-facing shelter from cold easterly winds but some dogs might come and have a sniff in the morning.”

2 On the roof of a shed at the top of the South Parks.

He said: “It’s high up so nobody will disturb you, not even dogs.”

2 Behind the Westminster Sports Centre on Harcourt Hill.

Mr Roberts said: “There are only sporty students up there, and no dogs.”

4 Port Meadow.

He said: “You might need a tent in foul weather, but it’s worth it for the spectacular scenery. Just watch you don’t get trampled by cattle and horses in the night!”


Comments (15)

15/02/12

Darkforbid says...

Not near water in winter, plus i wouldn't zip up the sleeping bag, hope you don't find out why.

15/02/12

eatmygoal says...

So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site?

Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.

15/02/12

Lady Penelopee says...

eatmygoal wrote:
So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people.

Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.

15/02/12

Your_Kidding says...

Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote:
So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people.

Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.
No you wouldn't.

15/02/12

eatmygoal says...

Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote:
So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people.

Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.
What? You have never read a 'they're just a bunch of junkies/benefit scroungers, and should get a job' type post whenever there is a story about homelessness on here?

15/02/12

EMBOX1 says...

Brave man, but it does show how stupid housing in Oxford has become.

It's time the councils and Universities got together and sorted this out. If if means building on University land, then get a CPO and do it.

I think that students should be forced to live in halls for two-thirds of their course duration, which would free up housing for the local population.

15/02/12

Lady Penelopee says...

Your_Kidding wrote:
Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote: So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people. Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.
No you wouldn't.
Yes, in theory I would, BUT on the basis I'd need the property vacant in a few weeks, and given the rights squatters have (and tenants too), it's a risk I can't afford to take.

15/02/12

eatmygoal says...

Lady Penelopee wrote:
Your_Kidding wrote:
Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote: So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people. Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.
No you wouldn't.
Yes, in theory I would, BUT on the basis I'd need the property vacant in a few weeks, and given the rights squatters have (and tenants too), it's a risk I can't afford to take.
No you wouldn't

15/02/12

John Lamb says...

All this talk of housing shortages and problems paying affordable rent, makes the situation in Yarnton all the more sickening. Cherwell Housing Department have been giving free social housing to people who are already housed in their own, mortgaged properties. Thus, leaving them paying 60% less than the market rent AND being able to rent out their own house.
You couldn't make it up could you?
With over 3,500 on the waiting list in Cherwell it really is queue jumping at it's best.
They won't tell you who has done this or why they are allowed to do so, I already tried but it's going on right now.

15/02/12

Lady Penelopee says...

eatmygoal wrote:
Lady Penelopee wrote:
Your_Kidding wrote:
Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote: So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people. Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.
No you wouldn't.
Yes, in theory I would, BUT on the basis I'd need the property vacant in a few weeks, and given the rights squatters have (and tenants too), it's a risk I can't afford to take.
No you wouldn't
Well you obviously know me better than I know myself in that case.

You must be a VERY rich person if you have such a special skill.

15/02/12

eatmygoal says...

Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote:
Lady Penelopee wrote:
Your_Kidding wrote:
Lady Penelopee wrote:
eatmygoal wrote: So where are all the morons who tar all rough sleepers/homeless people with the same brush on this site? Quite an amazing bloke in my opinion. And a fine example that there are as many reasons and stories behind homelessness as there are homeless people.
I can't say I've noticed anyone having an issue with homeless people. Would give him a roof over his head free of charge for a few weeks, but due to squatters rights, I can't take the risk.
No you wouldn't.
Yes, in theory I would, BUT on the basis I'd need the property vacant in a few weeks, and given the rights squatters have (and tenants too), it's a risk I can't afford to take.
No you wouldn't
Well you obviously know me better than I know myself in that case.

You must be a VERY rich person if you have such a special skill.
I do and I am.

15/02/12

John Lamb says...

I think my very pertinent point is getting lost in the spat.
Ah well, if you can't bag a house in Cherwell, I did try and tell you why you might find it hard.

15/02/12

simplicissimus says...

John Lamb wrote:
I think my very pertinent point is getting lost in the spat.
Ah well, if you can't bag a house in Cherwell, I did try and tell you why you might find it hard.
Queue jumping sounds v unfair, JL. Why's it happening, then?

Richard's welcome to loiter within tent at mine for a bit, if he likes it fairly central. His blog's great and says he lives in SW1, so maybe Oxford's seasonal. (You have email, R.)

As you're working you'll find a more fixed pad if you want one soon enough. Best wishes!

16/02/12

John Lamb says...

simplicissimus wrote:
John Lamb wrote:
I think my very pertinent point is getting lost in the spat.
Ah well, if you can't bag a house in Cherwell, I did try and tell you why you might find it hard.
Queue jumping sounds v unfair, JL. Why's it happening, then?

Richard's welcome to loiter within tent at mine for a bit, if he likes it fairly central. His blog's great and says he lives in SW1, so maybe Oxford's seasonal. (You have email, R.)

As you're working you'll find a more fixed pad if you want one soon enough. Best wishes!
I'm glad you asked. It has something to do with this development being a Rural Exemption Site which means the parish council (in this case Yarnton) decide what percentage of the houses go to it's villagers (or those with a village connection). They chose 50%. So the other 50% should go to those most in need (overcrowding etc). What has happened here is that Yarnton is so small and most of the villagers took up the offer of an amazing new house that they started to run out, meaning that people with nil priority (Band 5) became eligible for a house. So they started asking those with NO need did they want a new house at 40% rent and guess what they all replied? A bit fat "YES!!" So now there are a few folk renting out there own houses and living there on the cheap. The poor people of Cherwell who are living in atrocious conditions will just have to wait I suppose.
Doesn't sound right or fair does it? I've asked several times for them to release information under the Freedom of Information Act but Cherwell Hosuing dept always refuse. Hardly the honesty and openness they have as their key policies is it?
If is amazing to think that if Richard Branson fancied another house in Yarnton, all he needed to do was to join the housing list and he'd have beaten a family of seven living in a two bedroom flat.
Maybe this is how so many people on more than £100,000pa manage to bag social housing.
I do hope someoen to put an end to this but my dealings with Cherwell lead me to believe that they answer to no-one.

16/02/12

John Lamb says...

simplicissimus wrote:
John Lamb wrote:
I think my very pertinent point is getting lost in the spat.
Ah well, if you can't bag a house in Cherwell, I did try and tell you why you might find it hard.
Queue jumping sounds v unfair, JL. Why's it happening, then?

Richard's welcome to loiter within tent at mine for a bit, if he likes it fairly central. His blog's great and says he lives in SW1, so maybe Oxford's seasonal. (You have email, R.)

As you're working you'll find a more fixed pad if you want one soon enough. Best wishes!
I'm glad you asked. It has something to do with this development being a Rural Exemption Site which means the parish council (in this case Yarnton) decide what percentage of the houses go to it's villagers (or those with a village connection). They chose 50%. So the other 50% should go to those most in need (overcrowding etc). What has happened here is that Yarnton is so small and most of the villagers took up the offer of an amazing new house that they started to run out, meaning that people with nil priority (Band 5) became eligible for a house. So they started asking those with NO need did they want a new house at 40% rent and guess what they all replied? A bit fat "YES!!" So now there are a few folk renting out there own houses and living there on the cheap. The poor people of Cherwell who are living in atrocious conditions will just have to wait I suppose.
Doesn't sound right or fair does it? I've asked several times for them to release information under the Freedom of Information Act but Cherwell Housing dept always refuse. Hardly the honesty and openness they have as their key policies is it?
If is amazing to think that if Richard Branson fancied another house in Yarnton, all he needed to do was to join the housing list and he'd have beaten a family of seven living in a two bedroom flat.
Maybe this is how so many people on more than £100,000pa manage to bag social housing.
I do hope someone can put an end to this but my dealings with Cherwell lead me to believe that they answer to no-one.

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