FIRST NEW RESIDENTS MOVE INTO CONDEMNED STREET RINGO ONCE CALLED HOME

Christopher Fontaine who is the last person living in Ringo Starr's former home street in Toxteth 

 

YOUNG people are moving into houses in condemned streets in order to avoid spiralling rents. Liverpool couple Christopher Fontaine and Leah Holt are currently living in the only occupied property in Madryn Street, Toxteth – where former Beatle Ringo Starr spent his early childhood.

And while every other house is empty and many are earmarked for demolition Christopher and Leah have signed up to a “Guardianship” scheme which allows people to live in otherwise empty properties for a peppercorn rent. The house, several doors up from Starr’s old home at number nine, has been partly refurbished by anti-demolition lobby Save Britain’s Heritage. The organisation recently won an award for its efforts to save the Victorian property from the wrecking ball. 

Christopher, 28, said being the only household in the street was at times unnerving but that the low rents – around £300 a month – meant the couple could save up for a future home. A history and politics graduate of the University of Liverpool he is planning to go into law while girlfriend Leah has just finished training to become a teacher. 

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