We live on one of Britain's cheapest streets – people say it's a hellhole but we love it… here's why | The Sun
RESIDENTS on one of Britain's cheapest streets say it's the UK's "best-kept secret", despite its notorious reputation.
Waterloo Walk, in Washington, Tyne and Wear, had an average house price of just £17,200 last year.
The properties, a mixture of privately owned and rented flats, are home to over 50 families and located on the upper deck of a large complex.
Delivery drivers were once warned not to enter the area due to safety concerns in years gone by but residents insist that is a thing of the past.
Richard Souter moved 300-miles north from his hometown of Brighton last February after becoming homeless.
The unemployed 55-year-old, who pays £380-a-month rent, told The Sun: "It did used to be really rough judging by what I've heard from a lot of people.
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"But it's been cleaned up a bit now. I'm getting back on my feet and this place is absolutely fantastic to live."
Ryan May, 22, and his partner Emily Mitchinson, 27, moved to Waterloo Walk from their home town of Middlesbrough, Teesside, less than a month ago.
He added: "It looks like something from a movie but the people seem really friendly and it looks very safe for the families with children.
While another resident, who originally lived in County Durham, bought his three-bed property for £26,000 to use as a storage facility for his antique dealing.
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Despite next door being a former cannabis farm, he loved it so much he decided to stay at Waterloo Walk permanently.
The anonymous resident said he prefers it to living in London, adding: "I wished I moved here earlier. It is definitely one of the cheapest in the country.
"I'm not sure if the prices will stay as they are now or not, it's difficult to say."
Residents in the block told of problematic families and noisy neighbours being responsible for Waterloo Walks' reputation.
But once they left, and following investment and a load of CCTV getting installed, the area has been rejuvenated.
'NO CRIME'
One resident said there is less crime in the complex than posh Jesmond in Newcastle, where flats cost an average £228,000.
Despite being just 8 miles away, Waterloo Walk properties can be snapped up for £210,000 less than in Jesmond.
As a result, Raz Razai, a qualified chef originally from Iran who was homeless for a time, says the plot is a "well-kept secret".
Paying just £385 a month to a private landlord for two years, the 49-year-old said: "Everyone is friendly."
One mum, originally from Belarus, has lived at her Waterloo Walk flat for 15 years with her daughter.
She told The Sun now the "bad families" have upped sticks it's a pleasant place to live and cheap to live.
She added: "A lot of people moving here are workers, whereas it used to be a lot of unemployed who lived here.
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"My friends told me this place wasn't for me but I don't regret it."
Another woman who has rented her flat for three years added: "The rates might go up at some point but so is everywhere."
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