Michelle Louise Taylor
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ashtonvoice.com
Michelle Louise Taylor
@ashtonvoice.com
310 followers 660 following 88 posts
Voice coach and actor. PhD researcher at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
(she/they)
Manchester, UK.
https://linktr.ee/ashtonvoice
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ashtonvoice.com
I've put a longer explanation on tiktok and Facebook for anyone remotely interested - but I'm dropping the stage name I've had for 18 years. I'm Michelle Louise Taylor going forwards.
September 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM
ashtonvoice.com
That's a waistcoat. This is a vest. I'm in North-West England.
A male model wearing a white vest. Vests are definitely underwear and not formal wear.
January 15, 2025 at 8:17 PM
ashtonvoice.com
And this is still true. I genuinely hope the renters reform bill improves the situation, but forgive me if I'm cynical about it.
The cost of moving is huge in time, money and emotions. The van hire, broadband installation, the time taken out of work to go to viewings, packing, unpacking, cleaning to get your deposit back. And in the case of #section21, none of that inconvenience is for your benefit.
December 6, 2024 at 8:37 PM
ashtonvoice.com
I remember pretending to my daughter that moving to a new house was exciting. I remember her confusion when I showed her their new bedroom, which was half the size of their old one. She wasn't even 3 and she knew something was off.
The cost of moving is huge in time, money and emotions. The van hire, broadband installation, the time taken out of work to go to viewings, packing, unpacking, cleaning to get your deposit back. And in the case of #section21, none of that inconvenience is for your benefit.
December 6, 2024 at 8:37 PM
ashtonvoice.com
We will manage. We have a healthy combined income - for the moment. But plenty don't.
I know this is very first world problems and we are coming at this from a place of privilege. We have to pay 6 months rent + deposit due to self employment. Thankfully, we can do that right now. How on Earth is a single parent on benefits supposed to cope with this situation?
December 6, 2024 at 8:37 PM
ashtonvoice.com
I begrudged paying that extra £50 a month. Rent is increasing again in a few days, so that's 35% increase in 3 years. I know people have had it a lot worse, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about somehow finding an extra £1200 next year.
We are leaving a place 5mins from pre-school with a loft conversion office, conservatory and massive garden for a 2 up 2 down with an OK size yard 18mins walk from pre-school. Our rent will be £50 a month higher and there is nowhere to plumb in the dishwasher.
December 6, 2024 at 8:37 PM
ashtonvoice.com
All was well and we did move in. It still feels temporary even though we've lived here longer than we lived in the home we were forced out of.
Thanks for all the support. It means a lot that so many people have shared our story. UPDATE: WE HAVE A HOUSE! Number 15 came through and all being well we get the keys on the 16th. It's a huge relief that we have somewhere to go, but I still wouldn't call this a happy ending...
December 6, 2024 at 8:37 PM
ashtonvoice.com
Actual footage of the Tooth Fairy coming to visit my house of disease tonight. I haven't been this ill in a while. 🤒
An AI generated image of the Tooth Fairy in full PPE
December 3, 2024 at 10:36 PM
ashtonvoice.com
I had promised that I was going to give myself a proper maternity leave second time around, but I spent the first four months of my son's life a stressed out nervous wreck. I hope the renter's reform bill has some impact, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we are going to see more of the same.
I just want to find a new house so that I can buy a Christmas tree and make things normal for my children. If you’ve actually read all this, well done and thank you.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
I don’t really know what the purpose of this is. I just wanted to vent really but it gives an insight as to what is going on right now. There are a bunch of families being evicted with no social housing to turn to and are scrambling to snap up the few private rentals available.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
Even when the section 21 ban comes into effect, we are still going to have this situation. Everyone I spoke to, the landlord was selling up. They will still be allowed to evict for this reason.
I don’t really know what the purpose of this is. I just wanted to vent really but it gives an insight as to what is going on right now. There are a bunch of families being evicted with no social housing to turn to and are scrambling to snap up the few private rentals available.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
Nobody has seen it and it hasn’t officially gone on the market yet. We say yes and he is going to pass us onto the landlord. I want to give a happy ending to this story, but ultimately they could just reject us too. I am totally drained and terrified we are going to be homeless
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
Finally, someone who does what they say they will do. 1.5 hours after leaving no14 he calls – I’m going to be at this house doing an appraisal. Can you be here in 20 minutes? Luckily, partner has a break so we jump in a taxi. No 15 is a few doors down from no6 with a nicer garden
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No 14. Teeny tiny, but we are running out of choices. It’s the same guy who showed me round no8, very confused as to why we are considering such a small house with 2 kids. BECAUSE WE HAVE 10 DAYS LEFT AND NOWHERE TO GO. He says he'll keep us in mind for stuff coming up next week.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
This house actually ended up being taken by other friends of mine. They were leaving the pub they had been running because the brewery wouldn't sort out the mould in the ceiling of the flat. A few other people tried to take it over, but issues with gangs started and it closed.
I ring the agent, they talk to landlord and ring me back. They said the landlord wants to try and get some more viewings and they’ll get back to us. WE CAN MOVE IN TOMMORROW. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? Again, I was very polite and managed to hold my tears in until after I’d hung up.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
This guy was so weird. My childhood friend worked for him (he knew this). Did he hate us or her? We'll never know.
No 7 pops back up with a letting agent. I ring landlord as he said he would let us know if the other tenant fell through (so wondering why he didn’t save himself some money and do that?) I didn’t say this of course, I was very polite. He told me I need to go through the agent.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No14 is 2 doors down from no2. Not as big, not as nice but perfect location so it will do. Partner rings, leaves message, no response. I ring, they take my details and say will be in touch when ready for viewings. I ring next day, no change, still waiting when to our surprise...
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No13 Pops up on open rent. 1 external photo and none of the inside. I take a punt anyway and message the landlord explaining the situation. They say they are looking for a short term let as they will probably sell the house in the next year. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHH!
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No12. Very far away and very expensive, but it’s big and we are running out of options. They send us a video of them walking through and that’s the viewing. Sorry, but I’m not going to pay £800 a month for a house I’ve not physically seen.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No11. Small. The smallest we’ve seen. I say we, but it’s just me on the viewings now as partner has been told he can’t take any more time off to come with me. It’s also one of the most expensive. It’s very nicely done but they want £725 for a tiny 2 bed. Absolute rip off.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
I got no response to my question – just another question about our circumstances. At 8am the morning of, landlord moves viewing to 10.30. I message saying I can’t be there (I had the health visitor coming – did I mention I’ve just had a baby?) No response. I didn’t go to that one
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No10. Everything was through a website called mashroom. Worst invention ever. You can only talk to the landlord through this platform. We chose a viewing time for Saturday. Landlord rescheduled to 11.00 Tuesday. I messaged asking if we could make it 11.30 or better yet 12.30
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
So many health and safety hazards that just seemed perfectly acceptable to the agents.
No9. Not great. Far away, old fashioned décor and the stairs were completely open. As in there was a handrail, but no bars making it completely unsafe for two tiny children.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
No8. Getting further away from pre-school, but still not too far from mum’s. Nice house, similar to no6. We apply and are rejected. At least I assume so. I rang to ask and they said they’d call back later in the day once the decision had been made. I didn’t hear from them again.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM
ashtonvoice.com
We get there and there’s no answer. I text to say we are here and they say I didn’t respond to the confirmation text. I rang apologising and they came to show us the house but said that when there was no confirmation from us they offered it to the people yesterday who said yes.
December 2, 2024 at 3:55 AM