“If we had had 4 years of say 10% inflation, the 'real' value of property would be 50% less than it was originally. . That would be the 'market place working properly'.

Inflation is always portrayed as the absolute evil, but its capricious vagaries will never match the debilitating consequences of a deflating economy.”

“Karen if you really want a job that badly
Richard Haddock the farmer down in Kingswear is looking for staff
instead of moaning ,why not get on your bike and head for Kingswear ?”

“s.h.i.t.e.”

“I see it's the usual s.c.u.m. who've never had to claim benefits in their lives who have the most to say again, Bluber. As someone who is still trying to rectify the effects of long-term malnutrition while struggling as a student on benefits, it's about time someone offered a qualified response to all this hegemonic horse**** about the apparent failings of the feckless poor in Torbay.

There are people who spend their money on cigerettes and alcohol, admittedly. But in most cases it's the family allowance they're spending. Either that or they are eating badly or falling behind with their rent and utility bills owing to their addictions. Although, in Torquay, I often wonder if some of the worst actors are receiving cash in brown paper envelopes from somewhere in order to enable them to keep up such an unconvincing performance.

The majority of single jobless people have hardly enough to meet the costs of their utility and phone bills or bus fares. Most of their allowance is taken up in the futile and costly endeavour of travelling to look for work that no longer exists. If I didn't walk 6 miles to sign on at the Job Centre, I'd end up paying Stagecoach a fiver out of my measely allowance each and every time. Similarly, if I go for only two interviews in a week, that's invariably 20% of my dole money accounted for in bus fares alone. If I have to travel before 9.30am, it's substantially more.

Then, there's all the money they take off me when I do manage to find a week's temporary work, which always leaves me with a major financial crisis to overcome in addition to the inevitable slanders one lays oneself open to in such a snakepit of a workplace where all jobs are ten times over-subscribed now anyway. Meanwhile, my detailed accounts show that I never spend more than around £10 per week on groceries and I never ever go out socially. Similarly, I've spent less than £10 on clothes all year, despite going down two dress sizes. This is because I look for 50p bargains in charity shops and walk around with holes in my shoes.

No, folks, every penny goes on utilities and phone charges. It's a complete myth to suggest people are better off on benefits. As I said, those that are must be spending the family allowance or are in receipt of additional incapacity benefits. What's more, I'd challenge any of you to live as frugally as I do. Perhaps that's what's needed now - a mandatory year on benefits for everyone in the UK, just to cure them of these bigotted delusions once and for all.

And as for moving out of Torbay and going somewhere cheaper. Where would you suggest, katakabanova? Bialystok? Or Murska Sobota, perhaps? On yer bikes!”

“I wonder how many of these people still drink, go on holiday and smoke etc. Some people have a very distorted sense of priorities. It is true that the landlords are getting very greedy with hiking their rents as much as they can get away with but a lot of people seem to regard a lifestyle as essential - TV mobile phones cars etc.”

“There is no housing shortage. I could buy 100 houses tomorrow if I wished. What there is, is a massive over valuation caused by banks lending ridiculous amounts.

Now the BoE is keeping prices propped up with stupidly low interest rates meaning that whilst people can pay silly mortgages they can hang on to their dreams of high property values.

Once interest rates go up (and they'll have to eventually) then you'll see prices tumble, and rents with them as renters become buyers and demand no longer outstrips supply, meaning landlords have to get competitive.

This in turn will flush out all the amateur landlords as mortgage payments go up and rental income goes down.

But whilst interest rates stay on the floor house prices are able to stay silly, and the pain for many will continue.”

“There is no housing shortage. I could buy 100 houses tomorrow if I wished. What there is, is a massive over valuation caused by banks lending ridiculous amounts.

Now the BoE is keeping prices propped up with stupidly low interest rates meaning that whilst people can pay silly mortgages they can hang on to their dreams of high property values.

Once interest rates go up (and they'll have to eventually) then you'll see prices tumble, and rents with them as renters become buyers and demand no longer outstrips supply, meaning landlords have to get competitive.

This in turn will flush out all the amateur landlords as mortgage payments go up and rental income goes down.

But whilst interest rates stay on the floor house prices are able to stay silly, and the pain for many will continue.”

“It's about time people who can't afford it moved out of Torbay and it could return to something like the place it was. Too many drug users on benefits getting free housing here.”

“Wonder if the jobless s.c.u.m-bags "Sacrifice" there ciggies, alcohol and drugs..Doubt it!!”

“Carltonclub, ARE YOU FOR REAL?

You tried selling a house recently?

Both houses which i bought in the last five years were not mortgagable they were in such a bad state, the second of which had a ruination order on it and had been empty for 12 years, nobody wanted it. The people who owned it were local people and all they did in those twelve years was rip out anything that had any value and flog it. We took two uninhabital properties and put them back in use one of which i live in.

It seems that only bad landlords get any press, there are some excellent landlords out there too and being realistic does anyone set up in any kind of business in order to not make at least a comfortable living.

why is it in this country we are so anti success and wealth.”