Tenants deserting Birmingham as bin strike battle rages on

“We are seeing a definite upsurge in inquiries from those who work in Birmingham but want to be ‘just over the border’. 

“Areas like Shirley, Acocks Green and Chelmsley Wood come under Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council but are no further from employment areas than most other suburbs of Birmingham,” she pointed out. 

They said there was also increasing interest from tenants in areas like Alvechurch, Wythall, Hollywood and Earlswood which were outside the city boundaries but an easy daily commute. 

Ms Gemeli-Williams said: “We are picking up this message not only from prospective tenants contacting us but also landlords and investors who don’t want the hassle that Birmingham is currently experiencing.” 

The lettings department of DM & Co. Homes, which has offices in Dorridge and Shirley, Solihull, has recently been appointed to manage and let 14 properties in the area by a private investor. 

The news comes the day after police had to intervene as residents swarmed around a mobile waste lorry visiting Anderton Park Road in Moseley, desperate to have their rubbish removed. 

Police had to disperse crowds looking to leave their rubbish and issued a warning about potential fly-tipping by those who leave their rubbish out. 

West Midlands Police said: “We were called following reports of people dumping rubbish in the road. We continue to liaise with the local authority. We have a duty to keep people safe and ensure the road is clear and safe to use.” 

Ms Gemeli-Williams added: “While the current chaos continues in Birmingham it is likely to drive both tenants and investors to favour properties just outside the city boundary because they know there is more likelihood that services such as bin collection will be more regular.”