I work on supporting communities in one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged but uniquely resilient neighbourhoods in Birmingham: Handsworth. In postwar Britain, Handsworth became a melting pot for communities looking to build their futures, from Irish to Punjabis and to those from the Caribbean. Now, Handsworth is still a place people first arrive and call home.
Residents I work with welcome the news that rogue landlords will face greater scrutiny under Angela Rayner’s plans (Report, 12 February). This is an issue that blights our community. With family housing turned into private rented housing, we have seen our neighbourhood torn apart by poor service providers.
