You and Yours

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Magazines & Reviews

Factual: Consumer

BBC Radio 4 FM

You and Yours: Off Market Homes, Outdoor Laundrettes and 40 years of Sloanes

24/01/2022

Off Market Homes, Outdoor Laundrettes and 40 years of Sloanes

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Off Market Homes, Outdoor Laundrettes and 40 years of Sloanes

Washing your dirty linen in public - the growth of the outdoor laundrette.

Washing dirty linen in  public; the growth of the outdoor laundrette and why more people are choosing to sell their homes without listing them publicly.

There's been a jump in the number of home transactions happening off market. That's homes that are bought and sold without ever being publicly listed. Why is it happening and who is using this method to move.

The traditional laundrette has been in decline for years. Every neighbourhood used to have one. Now there are less than 2000 but that hasn't put off an entrepreneur from opening up outdoor laundrettes. Why would you literally wash your dirty linen, or polyester, in public?

The cost of living is expected to soar this year which will make saving if you are on a low income difficult. But  if you are still determined to put a bit away,  what are the options?

It was 40 years ago that the words Sloane Rangers entered our lexicon. It was put there was two journalists from Harpers and Queens Magazine , Peter York and Ann Barr who then published the Sloane Rangers Handbook, which went on to be a million seller. It referred to a sub set of upper middle class country people who bought city pads and coalesced around Chelsea. The media became fascinated by them but did they really exist and if so what are they up to today?

We are all paying more for power but if you live off grid you not only have to contend with higher prices but also,  if you use liquid gas, supply problems. We'll hear from residents who rely on it and from suppliers on what they are doing to fix the  problem.

PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON

PRODUCER: KEVIN MOUSLEY

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

You and Yours

Off Market Homes, Outdoor Laundrettes and 40 years of Sloanes

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4