WEALTHY foreign landlords have bought hundreds of flats in the West End of Morecambe to rent out to tenants on benefits. The Citizen can reveal that the resort's most deprived neighbourhood has been targeted by rich landlords who live abroad and employ agents to collect the rent. Local residents claim that despite efforts to regenerate the district the area is being turned into a 'ghetto' by the actions of these wealthy landlords whose only concern is to make a fast buck.

A couple from the Middle East are reported to own more than 120 flats in the West End, buying up sub-standard houses at rock bottom prices and converting them into flats.

Morecambe's MP Geraldine Smith has described the development as "absolutely disgraceful" and a local businessman claims that a handful of people are making fortunes at the tax payers' expense.

"This blatant profiteering is extremely worrying," said Geraldine Smith.

"These properties will be turned into multiple occupancy houses which means people will live in poor, cramped housing. I have learnt from experience that landlords who have no desire to live in the area rarely care about their tenants. There is nothing illegal about this but it flies in the face of all the excellent work that has gone on in the West End."

A consortium from the Channel Islands is also reported to have bought run-down properties to convert into flats and a local businessman says the resort is inheriting inner city problems.

"The big players have moved in, rich and powerful landlords from overseas," said the businessman, who asked to be referred to as 'observer.'

"Many tenants have left crime-ridden inner city council estates and simply moved into these private properties and claimed benefit without having to go through the old, complicated council house waiting list system. There's no vetting and it's the staggering amount paid from housing benefit for each flat that makes the deal so lucrative. The drain on local finances and social services is crippling."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.