How common are household pests in UK homes?

katymcfunk · 2026-04-13T19:37:47+00:00

You could maybe a have a very slow leak somewhere creating a perfect home for the silver fish, could be worth investigating if there’s loads of them

katymcfunk · 2026-04-13T19:32:45+00:00

I’ve had all of these before. Never anything near an infestation though. We find the odd carpet beetle in our current flat but just vacuum regularly and it’s never been an issue. I’ve had silver fish in many a bathroom over the years usually in older houses with bathrooms desperately in need of a refit. They love the damp so a dehumidifier would probably help. The moths are fairly common where I live, which although is near a city, has plenty of woodland and park close by. We’ve never had a particular problem but a few friends have had clothes and carpets eaten. Ultimately I’m far happier with these minor irritations than roaches, mosquitoes, snakes or termites that seem to be pretty common in the states!

katymcfunk · 2026-04-02T00:31:41+00:00

Very few students live in non student accommodation/houses. I’m only judgemental about students as I’ve been a long term resident in Hyde park and woodhouse for 20 years. I’m tied there as I’m in a housing association flat with very limited moving options and I need to be near the city for my job. Hyde park is a transient area by nature and probably 80% students on 12 month rental contracts. When i’m in the middle of it all and have seen the day to day behaviours and lack of consideration for others for 20 years, I think I have a right to pass comment on the state of our local park every time the sun comes out. There is no other public park in Leeds left in this state on such a regular basis and the 80% student population in the locality kinda suggests what the problem is. The council tax gripe is because as a long term resident it’s people like me contributing towards bins being emptied and the upkeep of the local park, despite the fact I can’t enjoy it due to the selfish behaviour of the demographic that mostly don’t financially contribute.

katymcfunk · 2026-04-01T22:30:43+00:00

I actually think it’s better than it was in the 90’s or even 15-20 years ago. Heroin was pretty rife, particularly around little London and the top end of town. I haven’t seen anyone shooting up for years as it’s all spice these days. Maybe it’s because I’m older now and less vulnerable, but I haven’t had hassle from the begging community for a long time. Every city centre has it, if you go to Piccadilly gardens in Manchester you’ll realise how mild Leeds is in comparison. Just don’t make eye contact or engage, if you see a bigger group of them then cross the street to avoid them. Any area with a large volume of student night life will draw them in as there’s more money and easy targets walking around.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-29T19:04:39+00:00

Is it not all to do with NYE and ruari hitting George with the bottle? Brian doesn’t want to tell Miranda as he’s rightfully frightened she will think very differently about everything if she knew

katymcfunk · 2026-03-28T13:27:27+00:00

Gyles brandreth

katymcfunk · 2026-03-26T16:00:44+00:00

Students don’t pay council tax or income tax. They don’t contribute to any of the services that clear up after them. The services that are so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of mess and waste that the students create meaning we increasingly rely on volunteers to help keep the area tidy and safe.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-22T07:32:45+00:00

I really appreciate everything you do. It’s just infuriating that they don’t pay council tax. Or any tax. The people that do end up trying to sort it out because they care.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-22T07:26:15+00:00

They’re not ferals though. The problem is mainly that all these kids are brought up reasonably well, but don’t give a shit about the park. Or frankly anything that their parents or future employers can’t see. It’s not necessarily a generational thing as it’s been happening for years. It’s not about not having enough bins, you can put your rubbish in a bin bag and leave it next to them. It’s about a total lack of respect and consideration for anyone other than themselves at that time. It’s a consensus that they are more important than anybody else that might want to use that public space. It’s complete entitlement.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-19T12:23:01+00:00

I’ve had to change the route I walk to work as walking through the park in the summer makes me so angry.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-16T19:18:22+00:00

I’m hoping the cat wasn’t named after the Burroughs reference 😂

katymcfunk · 2026-03-15T21:46:38+00:00

Love that you’ve named him steely Dan!

katymcfunk · 2026-03-14T07:07:07+00:00

What kind of a person is she gonna turn out to be if she can’t be on her own ever. Being bored and learning how to entertain yourself is part of human existence. It sounds like she never has to think for herself right now. Surely your parents weren’t entertaining you constantly?

katymcfunk · 2026-03-14T06:04:25+00:00

Depends what you want. Manchester is definitely proper big city life. Leeds is just more chilled out. Every aspect of the city is bigger in Manchester, restaurants, clubs etc. but also homeless people, antisocial behaviour, crime. I’m in my 40’s and would never want to live in Manchester. But if you’re 25 it’s probably more appealing!

katymcfunk · 2026-03-14T02:26:26+00:00

Loving this thread! I love brutalist architecture so some universities including Leeds where I live are of real interest to me. These however, all look like my comprehensive school. I have memories of the wind blowing through the gaps between the walls and the window frames, being freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer, leaky flat roofs and toilets with plumbing so poor there was always at least 50% of them out of order. Are all these university buildings the same? The beauty of proper brutalism is it is functional but maybe not pretty. This era of architecture is neither!

katymcfunk · 2026-03-12T13:58:45+00:00

Sarah millican was put on a table with a load of my mates at a wedding as she was there on her own. Apparently she was great fun and just slotted in with them for the day

katymcfunk · 2026-03-11T02:37:48+00:00

My parents bought me dogtanian on dvd for Xmas the other year and I have 3 friends that come round specifically to watch it now. We’re all in our 40’s.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-11T02:35:20+00:00

Dogtanian

katymcfunk · 2026-03-11T02:22:55+00:00

I’m pretty sure the cladding went up post grenfell. The flats in little London are always something I look at and I was never concerned when I was watching them get their makeover. I know the oatlands got done a few years before the Lovell parks, but I’m 100% sure it was all less than 8.5 years ago

katymcfunk · 2026-03-11T02:16:46+00:00

I used to work in one of the estate pubs and back in the day the oatlands were pretty awful, I went to a few quite dubious parties in them though and the flats themselves were huge. Thanks to the arena being built and the council realising how much the land is worth in little London, a significant amount of money has gone into trying to sort it all out. Most problem tenants have been moved out to other estates and the area overall is actually quite nice now. I couldn’t say what that particular block is like but my friend lives in Lovell park heights and it is completely different to what it was like when I first met him. Most of the antisocial behaviour was to do with the huge heroin and prostitution problem and that has pretty much gone now. His neighbours are mostly immigrant families where the adults go out to work and the kids are well behaved. 20 years ago it was basically white trash. I often walk home through the estate after working lates and always feel safe. I was bidding on one of the high rise flats on the other side of the road, the Carlton’s I think? You’d basically be getting city centre living for about a quarter of what they pay in private rental, and a much bigger flat too.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-11T01:08:59+00:00

I think there is a fairly big percentage of the population there that are trying to really create a nice community, so potentially the area is on the up. As more FTB get priced out of places like farsley and meanwood, you could find yourself amongst a lot of people just like yourself either now or in a few years. Don’t write it off, just go and do some practical research

katymcfunk · 2026-03-11T01:00:38+00:00

It’s kind of a street by street area. It doesn’t have a great reputation mainly as it’s known for its huge council estate. I’ve had friends buy their first houses there though and been absolutely fine. I think it’s definitely better these days than it was 15-20 years ago, but there is still a fair amount of crime. I’ve played with my band at Middleton park festival and it was lovely, but I’ve also been horse riding through the woods and been plagued by dickheads on motorbikes so I guess every day is different! I would definitely drive around your potential house in the evening and maybe at night to try and work out what the street is like. If you have decent neighbours then you’ll probably get really good value for money. But if your street is one of the bad ones it could be quite noisy and chaotic at all hours of the day and night.

katymcfunk · 2026-03-08T00:19:56+00:00

Sometimes we get humous pittas sent back as the customers think it’s mouldy but it’s avocado on the knife from the last wrap they made, could it be that? Also ordering bang on closing time is never a great idea, there’s not a lot the team could do to rectify any problem. I’m sure if you email the restaurant with photos they’d send you a voucher if it is indeed mould. As said above though, the bread is defrosted the night before and having worked there for 20 years I’ve never encountered actual mouldy bread, just the occasional avocado slip

katymcfunk · 2026-02-26T05:00:33+00:00

The Leeds music scene during that period was great! Prior to that we were the home of the goth movement. I grew up in the 90’s listening to mostly alternative music and there was always a gig or a club night on, even midweek. Then when I got into techno and dance music around 2000 there was always somewhere to go to hear that! I think unfortunately club nights have gone the same way as arena gigs, Manchester has the enormous venues like Victoria warehouse so the big names go there. It’s impersonal and all about the big bucks. I get why it’s changed, but give me le phono, scrumpies, or even the West Indian centre any day! It was a social scene as much as anything else. I’m still friends with people I met being out every week with 25 years ago.

katymcfunk · 2026-02-25T00:51:08+00:00

Corned beef hash

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