0:00:02 > 0:00:05The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08It's cold, it's damp and nothing's being done about it.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10But for thousands of people across Britain,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17A dog's got a better life than what's going on here.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19In the battle between tenants and landlords,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22it's local housing officers who are on the front line.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24You're the good cop, I'm the bad cop.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27The notice will be served and action will be taken.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30I'm Matt Allwright and I've been training hard,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33ready to join the ranks of these housing enforcers.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35It's coming through from two floors above.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37So there's worse than this. Yep.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Tackling problem properties...
0:00:39 > 0:00:40I'm going to come a cropper.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43It's not sorting the problem out, is it? It's just covering it up.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46..dealing with the consequences of nightmare neighbours...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49- This is supposed to be my last move. - Yeah.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50..and everything in between.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52It's not getting easier, it's getting worse.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57How are you enjoying being a landlord?
0:00:57 > 0:00:58It has its ups and downs.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Coming up, I get one of the biggest shocks of my housing officer career.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12This kitchen's been used by a lot of people.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Nobody in the UK in 2014 should be living like this.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20A tenant is at great risk of losing his dream home.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24I've got...everything I ever wanted is in this little building.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27I'm not happy that it's never moved forward.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29We're looking at trying to keep you safe.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32And, just as I thought I'd seen it all...
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Flipping heck!
0:01:33 > 0:01:36..I walk into the worst living conditions imaginable.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39If you were to draw a picture of a vulnerable person
0:01:39 > 0:01:42in a terrible situation, it feels like it would look like this.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49It's said that an Englishman's home is his castle,
0:01:49 > 0:01:54but if that castle is rented, then it's the job of housing officers
0:01:54 > 0:01:57to make sure that it's a decent place to live.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59They keep an eye on private landlords
0:01:59 > 0:02:02to make sure that the properties are up to scratch
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and provide somebody with a decent home.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08In Sandwell in the West Midlands,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11I'm working with housing officer Roy Nicholls.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Right.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15And it sounds like we've got a serious case of overcrowding.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- Four families?- Four families.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21- In one house?- In one house.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25And this is a house that is only supposed to be for one family,
0:02:25 > 0:02:26- is it?- Correct.- Right.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30My first job is to make sure that those people are safe. That's it.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33The landlord, again, has been written to, giving him
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- the opportunity to come and meet us. - And is that for today?
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- The landlord could be there when we turn up?- Yes.- Right, let's go.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Are we all in one car?
0:02:41 > 0:02:43As this is such a complex case,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Roy's brought colleague Nina Varma along for support.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Straightaway, it's clear there are too many people staying here.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Roy thinks maybe as many as 12 in a three-bedroomed house.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58We just need to come in...
0:02:58 > 0:03:02We're not sure if the landlord is aware the house is so overcrowded.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05But the living conditions are pretty shocking.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07The living room is shared,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11and then they have individual rooms that they have to themselves.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Is there anything through here that would concern you?
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Working on the basis that it's clear that there are children occupying
0:03:18 > 0:03:22this room, straightaway down here, we can see electrics hanging loose.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Correct. And a child may be able to get
0:03:25 > 0:03:27their fingers down the back of that.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31In fact, I can see exposed and potentially lethal
0:03:31 > 0:03:33electrical wires everywhere.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Not to mention the portable heaters.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42The radiator that's in here should be sufficient to heat this room
0:03:42 > 0:03:47quite adequately. So, I mean, it's broken, as well.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49You know, but it's there.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52You'll probably find that that's the tenant's.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55In the lounge there, there was an electric heater.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57And it's got radiators.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00So, straightaway, why are they using secondary heaters
0:04:00 > 0:04:03when they have the facility of central heating?
0:04:05 > 0:04:08It turns out that the gas is on a prepayment card
0:04:08 > 0:04:11which means, when money gets short for the families,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15they're understandably anxious about using gas for heating.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17It's not a good situation,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19particularly when there are kids involved.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23And things don't get any better in the kitchen.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28My instinct here is that this kitchen is being
0:04:28 > 0:04:30used by a lot of people.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32A lot of people, regularly.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34And I'm trying to work out why it is.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Then you come to something on the wall, like this.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41This doesn't happen in a family home. You've got a rota here.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45It feels like everything is coming in for really heavy use.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48It looks like there are accidents waiting to happen, too.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53So, if they are walking across this and they're carrying hot food
0:04:53 > 0:04:59or a hot pan so you're going to trip over that. You know what I mean?
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- You've also got children running about.- Does this light work?
0:05:04 > 0:05:08OK, so, added to the fact that we've got slips and trips
0:05:08 > 0:05:11on the floor, and carrying food back to whichever room
0:05:11 > 0:05:14you're dining in, is really inadequate lighting.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- And that's the reason that's there. - Yeah.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18There's no other reason for that light to be there.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20If this worked, you don't need that.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24So everything else here becomes into darkness and that, then,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27that becomes a real reality for tripping
0:05:27 > 0:05:30because it's going to be dark and it's going to be shadowed.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35As for the outside, it's a dump.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39I mean, we've got household rubbish.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Where do you start?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46This is just a breeding ground for rats.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50It's just, if there aren't rats or mice already, certainly flies.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54And we haven't even hit summer yet.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00It is literally, it's out of the house, out in the yard,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03we've got to basically bring this to the attention
0:06:03 > 0:06:06of the environmental health section.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I'll take a few photos so I can e-mail them when I get back.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13And they'll take this issue up with the landlord.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16But, yeah, this is going to have to be totally tidied up.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21- OK, shall we go back in?- Yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24OK, so whilst the tenants probably bear at least some responsibility
0:06:24 > 0:06:26for the mess outside,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30the conditions throughout the house are simply unacceptable.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39To be honest with you, this house is...
0:06:39 > 0:06:42And don't forget, we've got children here.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44You know, I know I've only been in the job for bit,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47but this is a shocker, isn't it?
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Erm, it's not good.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Coming up, the house has more horrors to reveal than even
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Roy can deal with.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57They really have excessive mould.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Don't forget, we have to walk away from here,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02knowing that they're still living in it.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15With over 7,000 rental properties in the north-west town of St Helens,
0:07:15 > 0:07:16complaints and disputes
0:07:16 > 0:07:20between landlord and tenant are all too common.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Pam Coppock and Chrissy Nevitt from St Helens housing department
0:07:25 > 0:07:29are turning their attentions towards a worrying property on their patch.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33We've received a couple of complaints today
0:07:33 > 0:07:36that we're going to go and visit, regarding
0:07:36 > 0:07:38problems in one particular flat.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43The flat has a first-floor separate unit to the ground floor unit.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Unfortunately, on our last visit, the toilet was blocked
0:07:46 > 0:07:48and there was no running water.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51So she smashed through the ground floor party wall
0:07:51 > 0:07:52and she was hopping over it
0:07:52 > 0:07:55to use the bathroom on the ground floor flat.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Smashing through a wall just to use the loo is pretty extreme behaviour,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02but it's part of the landlord's responsibility to make sure
0:08:02 > 0:08:05the properties they let out are in a safe, hygienic condition.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07The poor state of this terraced house
0:08:07 > 0:08:09has been on Pam and Chrissy's radar for quite a bit.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13It was horrendous, it was really bad,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and it was bad enough to apply to our homeless section
0:08:16 > 0:08:21and have the tenant rehoused because of the conditions she was living in.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24She didn't have hot water, there wasn't a gas fire,
0:08:24 > 0:08:25the electric wasn't working,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29so she was almost camping out and squatting in the flat.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33As a result, the St Helen's housing team managed
0:08:33 > 0:08:35to successfully prosecute the landlord.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Now, they're legally required to get the property back into a safe,
0:08:39 > 0:08:40habitable condition.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42We're going back because we now
0:08:42 > 0:08:46have news of a complaint that we have two other tenants in that
0:08:46 > 0:08:47property and, potentially,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51they could still be living in those conditions, so we need to know
0:08:51 > 0:08:55whether they've been repaired or it has been remedied, really.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- See you later.- See you later, bye.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01Over one third of private sector homes in Britain currently fail
0:09:01 > 0:09:03to meet the Decent Homes Standard,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05a minimum government requirement
0:09:05 > 0:09:09set to protect council tenants' living conditions.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11But this is a private rented home.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Pam and Chrissy need to make sure it's safe.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Having moved in just a few weeks ago,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Michael is the newest tenant in the problem property.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29And with the top floor flat,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33both he and his new home could benefit from a new start.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37I used to live around here originally, on the top end, there.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42For, yeah, it was bang on...
0:09:42 > 0:09:44With a background in building,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Mike's agreed with the landlord that he can work on the flat
0:09:47 > 0:09:50to get it into a decent condition while he's living there.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55I've never seen a flat, to start with, with the rooms that he has,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58each one, a nice size, that every room's got...
0:09:59 > 0:10:03..it's got...everything that you need, it's here.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07I like my own living space where I feel like I'm living in a proper...
0:10:07 > 0:10:14With stuff like these, I know it sounds daft, but the Gothic steps...
0:10:14 > 0:10:17I love this bathroom - a big, Gothic-style bathroom
0:10:17 > 0:10:20without it being over-the-top Gothic
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and loads of mad things hanging round.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It's a fantastic opportunity for me to have.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27Having had a rocky few years,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Michael can see great potential in his new home
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and hopes living there is going to give him a new start in life.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I get up every morning, whereas for seven years now it's,
0:10:36 > 0:10:37"Can I get back on my feet?"
0:10:37 > 0:10:40This is the only time I've had a smile on my face,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43is every morning I wake up and have a smile knowing that I've got
0:10:43 > 0:10:45everything I've ever wanted in this little building.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50For Pam and Chrissie, today's job is simple -
0:10:50 > 0:10:53they want to make sure this property's up to the standard
0:10:53 > 0:10:55the landlord promised it would be.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58But first of all, they've got to find a way in.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Hi, it's Pam Coppock from Private Sector Housing. Did you get my note?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- MICHAEL CALLS TO DOG - Come on, sweetheart.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12All I want to know is that you've got gas, electric, water,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14the hole in the wall's gone.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- Yeah?- You'll have to excuse...
0:11:16 > 0:11:17Don't worry about it.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19This is the hole, yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22It is screwed on.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24- Have you screwed this on, Michael?- Yeah.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28I've left it loosely fitted because I need to know everything's safe.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32It's not just you who's worried about concerns about safety.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35It's not exactly how you go about repairing a wall,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37but the hole is gone...for now, anyway.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Let me just sit down and show you the information I had before.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Everything in orange are the problems that exist here.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50You've got quite a lot, yeah.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54What I would like to do, because they're still outstanding,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58my duty as an environmental health officer
0:11:58 > 0:12:01is to send that list of works through to your landlord
0:12:01 > 0:12:03and say, "You must get them fixed,"
0:12:03 > 0:12:06because it's your health and wellbeing that's important.
0:12:06 > 0:12:07I understand.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10My health and wellbeing is about me getting my life back in order.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Pam checks the flat to find out
0:12:13 > 0:12:17which if any of the original problems have now been fixed.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Right, so you're turning this into a kind of dining room...
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- This is actually my... - ..living room.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Disappointingly for Pam,
0:12:25 > 0:12:30it's quickly clear that very little has changed since their last visit.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32I just want to make sure you've got water.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Nothing's changed. It's gone worse.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39It's exactly the same as it was before.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44And later, as the inspection continues,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46the situation gets heated as Pam and Chrissie
0:12:46 > 0:12:51try to make Michael understand he's not the one being accused.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54This isn't about you. This is to do with the building.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Back in Sandwell, housing officers Roy, Nina and I
0:13:02 > 0:13:06are investigating a privately-rented three-bedroom house
0:13:06 > 0:13:10in which four families are living in shocking conditions.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16They've got a rota here. This doesn't happen in a family home.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19It just feels like everything is coming in for really heavy use.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22'Upstairs, evidence of overcrowding is clear to see.'
0:13:24 > 0:13:25Have a look at this.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Have a look at these clothes that are drying on the banister.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35'The smallest room in the house is a box room eight feet square.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39'There seems to be a family living in here too.'
0:13:39 > 0:13:41There is an adult with two children in here.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- Adult with two children?- Yeah.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45- In this room?- Yeah.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50One child, as you can see, is a new-born.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52The other one is about three years of age.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55This is someone that's trying to make
0:13:55 > 0:13:58the best of a really bad circumstance,
0:13:58 > 0:14:03because clearly she's trying to get the right environment
0:14:03 > 0:14:05for her children and struggling.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08'We've already seen portable heaters elsewhere in the house,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11'but the one in here is potentially very dangerous
0:14:11 > 0:14:14'for whoever's living in this tiny room.'
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- This is only working on one bar. - And this is going to be red-hot.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19That's going to get absolutely red-hot.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22It's paramount we try and make this safe.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26The big problem here is,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28and it's kind of the elephant in the room,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32is that you can't make it safe with the number of people that are here.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- That's the problem.- The maximum that should be here is four.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39It's just...
0:14:39 > 0:14:43The alternative is homelessness of some sort, clearly.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47If they're not here, they might not have a home.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- That's why they're accepting it. - Yes.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53'Because the families are living on the breadline,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55'they're frightened to use the gas.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57'That means the house is freezing
0:14:57 > 0:15:00'and a magnet for mould and damp.'
0:15:00 > 0:15:02The health implications of this, you know...
0:15:02 > 0:15:05- You're sleeping right next to that. - Well, you're sleeping on top of it.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08And it's in the room and this is just going to get on your chest,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10it's going to cause ill health.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12This is what we're trying to stop.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15If you've got a healthy home,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17the occupants are healthy.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19You've got places like this, their health deteriorates,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21puts pressure on the health authority
0:15:21 > 0:15:24because they're going to keep coming down with colds,
0:15:24 > 0:15:25you know, keep visiting doctors.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30It's not a life, is it, really? As we understand it.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32'As a housing officer,
0:15:32 > 0:15:36'I have to try and emotionally detach myself from what I'm seeing.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37'But it's tough.'
0:15:37 > 0:15:39HE EXHALES
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Nobody in the UK in 2014
0:15:45 > 0:15:47should be living like this.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57But amongst the terrible living conditions,
0:15:57 > 0:15:58there are still signs of hope.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Do you know what the funny thing is?
0:16:01 > 0:16:03In all of these rooms that we've gone into so far,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07there's no lack of love for the kids.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- Oh!- They're doing their best, in the circumstances that they've got,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13to look after these kids and bring them up.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14You only have to look at the children
0:16:14 > 0:16:17so you can see they're loved and they're well kept.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18They're well kept.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21I mean, you've got loads of washing all about, it's...
0:16:21 > 0:16:23You're just fighting a losing battle.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26You're fighting a losing battle. You can't do it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28You can't do it in these rooms.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Don't forget, I have to walk away from here
0:16:31 > 0:16:33knowing that they're still there.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36I can go home at night, at the end of the day. They're still here.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38So it does affect us.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43Don't think we've hardened and that we don't think about it.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46As I said, my priority is to make sure that these families are safe,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and I'll do everything I can to make sure that happens.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Well, now it's down to Roy and the team
0:16:53 > 0:16:55to confront the landlord with their findings.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59We've tried.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00We've invited them out,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03we've tried to talk to them to come and meet us.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07So all this is photographed. It's not good viewing.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09'With Roy and Nina's help,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12'things could start to take a turn for the better,
0:17:12 > 0:17:14'and we'll get an update later on.'
0:17:18 > 0:17:20St Helens, Merseyside.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Pam Coppock and Chrissy Nevitt of the housing team
0:17:23 > 0:17:25are going back to a problem property
0:17:25 > 0:17:27to check if promised works have been carried out
0:17:27 > 0:17:30on two flats which were previously uninhabitable.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32It was horrendous, it was really bad,
0:17:32 > 0:17:33and it was bad enough
0:17:33 > 0:17:35to apply to our homeless section
0:17:35 > 0:17:37and have the tenant rehoused.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Once they arrive, though,
0:17:39 > 0:17:44despite the new tenant Michael's enthusiasm to do the jobs himself,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Pam's not impressed with the progress.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Nothing's changed. It's got worse.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51For Pam and Chrissy, their main priority today
0:17:51 > 0:17:55is to make sure the flat meets certain levels of living standards.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59And tenant Michael is all too aware of the work that needs doing.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Everything in orange
0:18:01 > 0:18:03are the problems that exist here.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05You've got quite a lot.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07The house has got tremendous things that need doing.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Stair rail, staircase - everything needs doing.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11But obviously it is and, to be honest with you,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13it's things that's getting done.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15That's the damp, damp wall on this side.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17The bathroom's got damp coming through.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19The front of the house on the roof has gone.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20It's got a leak in the roof,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23it's got all that that needs doing, which needs pointing up and fixing.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25But by agreeing to carry out the repairs himself,
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Pam and Chrissy are concerned Mike could be putting himself at risk.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31He's doing works which are ultimately
0:18:31 > 0:18:33the landlord's responsibility.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Fireplace, which is done.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37I've got me double bed and unit - everything in here.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40This is a dining table, an eight-foot dining table,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- which I'm rebuilding for this room.- OK.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- Which is a dining room.- Right.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47I can see you're keen.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Doing the cosmetic stuff, fixing the hole in the wall,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52doing stuff like that, yeah, I'm quite happy with you doing it.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Not roofing work,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56not getting up and sealing off roofs.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- If you're... - It was me requesting it,
0:18:59 > 0:19:00it was me that asked him... It was me...
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- That was the sales pitch for me getting this house.- I know.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06But we can't expect you to get scaffolding and get up on the roof.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08It's not... It's not that type of work that wants doing.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10He wants two tiles fixing in the corner
0:19:10 > 0:19:12and a bit of cement supporting the...
0:19:12 > 0:19:16It's still....work at heights.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18This is the reason we're concerned for you.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21It's not your fault, and it's not really...
0:19:21 > 0:19:23This building offers me...
0:19:23 > 0:19:27It offers me and a chance for the unemployment office
0:19:27 > 0:19:28to get me back on my feet.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- Yeah.- I'm doing everything I can,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32and have been doing, since the day I moved away from that bedsit.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Yeah. I understand that.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- But it doesn't mean you have to live unsafely.- It's not unsafe.
0:19:37 > 0:19:38You keep saying it's unsafe. This bed...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40This building to me is the most...
0:19:40 > 0:19:43I couldn't get a more perfect building for my situation.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Pam eventually decides to give Michael 28 days to complete
0:19:47 > 0:19:49the works he says he can do.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51My concern is I'm not happy about this property.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55I'm not happy that it's never moved forward.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57We're going to make an appointment for next month
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and I'm going to come back and see you. OK?
0:20:00 > 0:20:03This has got to improve an awful lot.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04If it doesn't,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07and it's not against you, it's not on you,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09it's on the landlord,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12the notice will be served and action will be taken.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15With the matter of building repairs settled,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Chrissy has one last concern to discuss.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Things to point out - the dog muck on the floor...
0:20:21 > 0:20:24It's not dog muck, as in dog splattered...
0:20:24 > 0:20:26It makes no difference.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28You need to clean it up - that's for your health.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- I've only just got up.- We're looking at trying to keep you safe.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33How are you keeping me safe by telling me this and that?
0:20:33 > 0:20:37- No, because they're the things... - So I've got to go live in a bedsit
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- and make everyone else's life uncomfortable?- No.
0:20:40 > 0:20:41We need to get this turned round
0:20:41 > 0:20:44so you have a place to be proud of and you're happy in here.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45We've just agreed 28 days,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47so can you, if you don't mind me saying,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49can you also tell me...?
0:20:49 > 0:20:51You tell me in 28 days what your problem is.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- Then we'll see whether or not we've got a problem.- That's great.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59And with that, Pam and Chrissy leave Michael to begin the repairs.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03The owner has promised to do all the works
0:21:03 > 0:21:05and bring it back up to standard.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08As we can see through this visit, it's not happened.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11So it's... How long do you keep giving him really?
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I know the tenant wants 28 days
0:21:13 > 0:21:17and I'll do that just cos the tenant has requested that.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20But within 28 days, if things haven't improved - and they're big jobs -
0:21:20 > 0:21:24then we're going to start taking formal action again.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Hey, come on.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28It is frustrating.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30He's not a bad chap.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33I think he would be an appreciative tenant.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36If that flat had have been repaired and renovated,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40he could have moved into a really nice property
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and had a really good step up, which is all he's asking for.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46So hopefully, in 28 days, he'll turn it round
0:21:46 > 0:21:50and we'll have a different conversation.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51But we'll see.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Coming up...
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Pam and Chrissy return to find that
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Michael's enthusiasm remains sky-high.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59I want a second-hand shop, which is like a charity.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Ensuring that we all have somewhere safe and decent to live is
0:22:07 > 0:22:10the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11You're overcrowded.
0:22:11 > 0:22:12So there's nowhere for your lads to go.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17I'm working alongside the men and women who do exactly that.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21You see this and you go, "Shut it down."
0:22:21 > 0:22:23I'm hitting the streets...
0:22:23 > 0:22:24Good to see you.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26..I'm learning on the job...
0:22:26 > 0:22:29This is just a breeding ground for rats.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32..and I'm finding out what it takes to make sure that a house
0:22:32 > 0:22:34is a fit place to call a home.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37This house is starting to send shivers down my spine.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40I turned up here and there was no house - just completely gone.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42We've got to look at it strategically
0:22:42 > 0:22:44and the best way to attack it.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Next, I'm heading to North Kesteven in Lincolnshire to hook up
0:22:51 > 0:22:54with housing officer Chris Gallimore.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59It's reckoned that there are 1.5 million people on the housing
0:22:59 > 0:23:00waiting list in Britain,
0:23:00 > 0:23:05so the pressure to find new council property is unrelenting.
0:23:05 > 0:23:06Today, Chris is planning to show me
0:23:06 > 0:23:11just one of the ways his department is attempting to tackle the problem.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Brand-new boots, these are box-fresh. Look at that!
0:23:18 > 0:23:21This three-bedroomed house had been derelict for several years,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24but now the council's busy doing it up,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26ready to be filled with a family in need.
0:23:31 > 0:23:32It's obviously good news,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36but I'm keen to understand from Chris how this has happened.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40We're doing this under an Empty Dwelling Management Order.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42So this is an EDMO.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44So long-term empties,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47potentially causing problems with antisocial behaviour,
0:23:47 > 0:23:49neighbour complaints,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53but we've got a high number of people on the waiting list for housing,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57so essentially, it becomes a council house for seven years.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58At the end of the seven-year period,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01the owner gets the property back in good shape.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05You could actually move in on somebody's property and say,
0:24:05 > 0:24:06"We're going to do this up."
0:24:06 > 0:24:09We've done some of these where we're actually enforcing,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13but projects such as this, we're doing with the owner's consent.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16You get families that split up and people separate
0:24:16 > 0:24:17and that's the situation.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19You also get properties in negative equity,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21where they've got a massive mortgage
0:24:21 > 0:24:24and the property's not worth what the mortgage is.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26A lot of these properties, it's up to us
0:24:26 > 0:24:30to step in and figure out a way to get them back into use.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34It may seem like a radical scheme, but it seems to be working,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37with empty property being put to good use and the owners
0:24:37 > 0:24:42benefitting from having their homes repaired without paying a penny.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I thought this was going to be a little bit of tarting up.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48This is gutting - completely.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Obviously there's different levels of disrepair in them -
0:24:52 > 0:24:56this one's a lot more extensive than some of the ones we're doing.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01This building is one of just 800,000 homes
0:25:01 > 0:25:03currently standing empty across the UK,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06the majority of which are privately owned.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09North Kesteven Council have already done up
0:25:09 > 0:25:11ten such properties on the EDMO scheme,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14with a further ten on their way to renovation.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19The windows will be replaced in here - brand-new windows.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22The roof space will be fully insulated up to current regulations.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26There's a little wasps' nest there. We'll have to deal with that.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28You can see some damage on the felt
0:25:28 > 0:25:30and that's something they'll have to rectify
0:25:30 > 0:25:32and that's where the water's been coming down the valley
0:25:32 > 0:25:35and some water has come in through there.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Once work here is completed, the refurbished property
0:25:38 > 0:25:41will become a council house for the next seven years,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43before being returned to its owner.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46Question I ask is,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48why would anybody let their property get into this state?
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Sometimes people have got mental health problems
0:25:51 > 0:25:53so they've got issues on that side,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56or sometimes they're away looking after relatives, things like that...
0:25:56 > 0:25:58What was the case in this one?
0:25:58 > 0:26:00The owner of the property was actually in the forces.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03To start off with, she was stationed away,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05so I think that's how the property became empty.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Neglected, not through her own fault,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10just the way it's gone with her situation.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13You can't be in two places at once, it was one of those, was it?
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Yeah, yeah.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18It's great to think that when it's completed,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21this property could happily be a home for a family of five.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24It's got the school right there.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26You could have a little family
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- starting out from scratch here, couldn't you?- Yeah.
0:26:29 > 0:26:30The other issue is there's quite
0:26:30 > 0:26:35- a lot of asbestos in this property as well.- Now you tell me.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38The asbestos has been removed by a licensed contractor.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43It's impressive, and after a quick chat to the camera-shy neighbours,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46it's clear I'm not the only one who's happy.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49She's said she's over the moon, so relieved that something's
0:26:49 > 0:26:54taking place with the other half of her semidetached,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56because she said it was cold.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59If you imagine living next to a house that's never heated,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01where there's water coming through the roof,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04eventually it's going to start affecting your property.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07She says she's been waiting for ten years for somebody to do
0:27:07 > 0:27:09something about it.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11And now...they are.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Just five weeks later, Chris has returned for his final
0:27:16 > 0:27:18inspection to see the house transformed.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30There's been over £40,000 spent on this property,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and as you can see, it's been finished to a high standard.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36The money that we've put into it is offset by the fact that
0:27:36 > 0:27:39it's another house that's brought back into use.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Some of these properties can be crime hot-spots
0:27:42 > 0:27:44and are a blight for the community,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47so it's a win-win situation all round really.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49It's reckoned a quarter of a million
0:27:49 > 0:27:51new houses need to be built every year,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54and with under a half that number being produced,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56bringing these abandoned homes back into use
0:27:56 > 0:27:59has to be a very good thing.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Margate in Kent, a seaside destination that's
0:28:08 > 0:28:11dwindled in popularity over the years.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Scores of once-thriving hotels
0:28:13 > 0:28:16and guest houses have been put out of action as a result.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20While many have been resurrected as flats and bedsits,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22others haven't been so fortunate.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26All right, fantastic. See you shortly.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Housing officer Sarah Kelly has spent the past 18 months
0:28:29 > 0:28:32dealing with an old guest house that's been left to rot.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36The fundamental problem with the property
0:28:36 > 0:28:38is a distinct lack of roof.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Went up and inspected the roof from next door
0:28:41 > 0:28:45and the lead had been stolen and all the tiles had slipped,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47so it was pretty much open to the elements
0:28:47 > 0:28:50and was drenching the partition wall.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53The trouble is that the owner of the property isn't really
0:28:53 > 0:28:56interested in getting the roof fixed.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58We tried to work informally with the landlord first of all,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00which is what we'd always do.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03He wasn't playing ball so we went down the formal route,
0:29:03 > 0:29:09served an abatement notice on him and here we are, 12 months later,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12doings works in default, cos the landlord still hasn't done anything.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16An abatement notice is served by the council where nuisance exists.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19It gives the landlord a specific time period to get
0:29:19 > 0:29:20the problem fixed,
0:29:20 > 0:29:22but as the landlord has failed to comply,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25the housing team will have to get the work done.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28The disrepair is having horrendous consequences
0:29:28 > 0:29:29for the flats next door.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32We're going to meet the landlord of the flats,
0:29:32 > 0:29:34so I can see for myself just what he's been putting up with.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Until recently,
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Jason had been making a living from renting these flats out.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Lost about £20,000 in rent,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45and the repair work is being quoted at between £39,000 and £41,000.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Bear in mind I've got a mortgage on the property, I've still got to
0:29:48 > 0:29:51cover that, without having an income to cover it.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53So that's obviously quite difficult.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55It's got so bad, basically,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58cos the guy next door hasn't done anything to the house.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00So it just carries on dripping and dripping and dripping
0:30:00 > 0:30:02and it's been dripping in for 18 months now.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07So that is very spotty and nasty.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09And that's all coming through from next door?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12From the roof next door and the partition walls, yeah.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Right. Cos these houses are kind of dependent upon each other,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18aren't they? If something's going on next door,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22- it's going to be happening here soon.- Exactly. Yeah.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24This place is in a terrible state.
0:30:24 > 0:30:25Obviously Jason's had no choice
0:30:25 > 0:30:29but to remove his tenants for the sake of their own health.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31That's still going to be...
0:30:31 > 0:30:34You can feel it - it's still wet there.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- That's going to need dried out for...- Yeah.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39..weeks and weeks.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Everything's got to come off and start again back to bare bricks.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44What's the status then with these?
0:30:44 > 0:30:46How many are occupied in this building? Any at all?
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Got two tenants left but they're not using this side,
0:30:48 > 0:30:52they're using those rooms there. So they're using it as a studio flat
0:30:52 > 0:30:54so I've had to reduce the rent for them, obviously.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56But they want to stay in the building,
0:30:56 > 0:30:57so when we do this flat,
0:30:57 > 0:30:59the people in the basement are going to move up,
0:30:59 > 0:31:01then we'll do the flat below
0:31:01 > 0:31:03and move everybody around till it's all done.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05This problem's reached crisis point,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08but it could actually have been avoided.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10It's a great shame cos this could all have been resolved
0:31:10 > 0:31:12when we first reported it to the council.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14I had a quote to replace the roof next door -
0:31:14 > 0:31:17it was only £7,000 to do the whole roof.
0:31:17 > 0:31:18What was only £7,000 next door
0:31:18 > 0:31:22and a lick of paint in here has now turned into £40,000-worth of
0:31:22 > 0:31:27work for all the flats to be gutted and started again.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31It is a great shame and easy to see how unresolved building works
0:31:31 > 0:31:34can quickly spiral out of control.
0:31:34 > 0:31:35While it looks like Jason's nightmare
0:31:35 > 0:31:37is finally coming to an end,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40he's still got one big problem on his hands.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43And we'll discover it later on.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46There's a thing down in the corner growing out of the skirting
0:31:46 > 0:31:49that looks like a sea sponge.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52I haven't seen anywhere like this. This just seems out of control.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Back in St Helens, housing officers Pam Coppock
0:32:00 > 0:32:03and Chrissy Nevitt are on the way back to check on the progress
0:32:03 > 0:32:06of a particularly difficult property.
0:32:06 > 0:32:12This is a property that has a notice on it, and we should really
0:32:12 > 0:32:16have been informed by the owner that he was going to tenant the property,
0:32:16 > 0:32:17so that we could come
0:32:17 > 0:32:22and make sure that every defect listed on the notice has been lifted.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25As the most recent tenant, DIY-enthusiast Michael was given
0:32:25 > 0:32:3028 days to carry out repairs to the flat on behalf of the landlord.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34But the housing officers are still concerned about the safety issues
0:32:34 > 0:32:37and have dropped by for a halfway visit to check up.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41Michael was so keen to do some of the works himself
0:32:41 > 0:32:43and get it into a good standard of repair.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45So we've given him that time
0:32:45 > 0:32:48so I'd just like to catch up with him and see how he's getting on.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50Hello?
0:32:50 > 0:32:51Hi. Michael, are you there?
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Come here, sunshine.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Michael has clearly made a start on the guttering
0:32:55 > 0:32:57and fascia boards outside,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59but it seems he's still got a long way to go.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03- You've got a couple of points there if you look at it.- Yeah.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Your gutter isn't up to the roof there,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07so it's going to drip behind it.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10That one's changing to a double clip.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Pam's satisfied that the repairs are under way,
0:33:13 > 0:33:17but inside, Michael reveals a much-grander plan for his home.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19To be honest with you, I want the full building,
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- not just the flat.- Yeah.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23I want a second-hand shop which is like a charity.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25So you want to turn the bottom...
0:33:25 > 0:33:28If I get the bottom and turn it into a charity shop.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31I think it was a shop, so it'd go well...
0:33:31 > 0:33:34I'm going to say something that's probably going to annoy,
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and I don't mean to. You seem to be a bit of a hoarder.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39It's not a hoarder...
0:33:39 > 0:33:41- See, what it is... - Go on.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43Because I want that as a second-hand shop,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46I can't afford to go and splash money out if he gives me the shop.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50I need already at least something I can start putting in.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Your thoughts are, collect it and when you get that as a shop,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57fit it out with the stuff you've got?
0:33:57 > 0:34:00The stuff that I've already got and then go on from there.
0:34:00 > 0:34:05- When would you like the shop going? - Me?- ASAP?
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Yeah. Yeah.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Michael, keen to prove to Pam his plans for a second-hand shop
0:34:12 > 0:34:18are well under way, gives her a tour of his eclectic private collection.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- I've rebuilt them.- What's that made of?
0:34:20 > 0:34:23- Skin. Leather.- Is it really?- Yeah.
0:34:29 > 0:34:30But while they're upstairs,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Chrissy's spotted something that leaves her with a difficult
0:34:33 > 0:34:34decision to make.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41It appears he has a small cannabis plant in his back yard.
0:34:41 > 0:34:47It's only very small, but I've rang for one of our local
0:34:47 > 0:34:50bobbies to come down and take a look at it.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52She is duty-bound to call the police,
0:34:52 > 0:34:57who are soon on the scene to read Michael the riot act.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00POLICEMAN: Was the property in a bad state when you come?
0:35:00 > 0:35:02Explaining he was unaware of what he'd planted,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05the police leave Michael with a caution for his small
0:35:05 > 0:35:07foray into horticulture.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14Michael?
0:35:16 > 0:35:17You all right?
0:35:17 > 0:35:1990 quid fine.
0:35:19 > 0:35:20Is that what it was?
0:35:25 > 0:35:26Two plants that big.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31It's not the news Michael wanted,
0:35:31 > 0:35:34but with progress on the repairs finally under way,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38and Michael's grand plans to turn part of the place into a shop,
0:35:38 > 0:35:40Pam and Chrissy leave,
0:35:40 > 0:35:41hoping that eventually,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44this is one property that'll be taken off their books.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47We'll see how you get on with it.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50I can understand you wanting to turn it into a single house,
0:35:50 > 0:35:52- just for yourself. - Yeah.- It makes more sense.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55See you later.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58And if Michael's enthusiasm is anything to go by,
0:35:58 > 0:36:00I'd say they'd be right.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07Back in Margate, housing officer Sarah Kelly
0:36:07 > 0:36:11and I have been seeing for ourselves the full impact an absent neighbour
0:36:11 > 0:36:14can have on the innocent person next door.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18This is full-on penetrating damp,
0:36:18 > 0:36:21which is through the party wall of the adjoining property.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24The owner of the adjoining property doesn't believe it's
0:36:24 > 0:36:28causing a problem. As you can see, clearly it is.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Landlord Jason was renting the flats in this building out to tenants,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35but a long-term damaged roof in the abandoned guest house next
0:36:35 > 0:36:39door has resulted in severe damp and he's had no choice
0:36:39 > 0:36:41but to get the tenants out.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Hopefully, it's the end of the line of this nightmare and we
0:36:44 > 0:36:46can get the whole block refurbished and make it nice flats again,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49and rent them out back to nice tenants.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52The council have used their powers to get the roof fixed
0:36:52 > 0:36:54so that Jason can start repair work,
0:36:54 > 0:36:56but while most of his tenants have moved out,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59one resident is very reluctant.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01He lives down in the basement.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03God almighty!
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Flipping heck!
0:37:07 > 0:37:09- This is terrible, isn't it? - Yeah, this is awful.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12My God, you couldn't keep anything in here at all.
0:37:12 > 0:37:20That corner over there, it's like a thick coat of black and white mould.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24It's like an inch thick. This has got to be a health hazard.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29This is when it starts turning like candyfloss.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31This is now growing. The spores are in the air,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35and they're starting to grow off the furniture.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41There's a thing down in the corner growing out the skirting that
0:37:41 > 0:37:44looks like a sea sponge.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46I haven't seen anywhere like this before.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49This just seems out of control.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53You're the landlord, this is your tenant,
0:37:53 > 0:37:55you've got responsibility towards him.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Your natural instinct is, "Get this chap out."
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Yes, but he doesn't want to move, that's the thing
0:38:01 > 0:38:03so he's moved into the front and had it as a studio
0:38:03 > 0:38:05and, you know, just blocked this off.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08I said to him before, you know, "I'll move you out."
0:38:08 > 0:38:10He said, "No, I want to stay with you."
0:38:10 > 0:38:13He said, "When you do the top flat up, move me up to the top flat,
0:38:13 > 0:38:15"refurbish this then I'll move back down."
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Which I'm happy to, he's a nice guy, it's his home at the end of the day.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21None of us expected this
0:38:21 > 0:38:26and Sarah's not comfortable with somebody living in these conditions.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Yeah, it's probably one of the worst cases of damp I've seen.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33So I'm not happy with this guy living here.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35I'm going to phone the office.
0:38:35 > 0:38:36Hello, you all right?
0:38:36 > 0:38:39If you were to draw a picture of a vulnerable person
0:38:39 > 0:38:43in a terrible situation, it feels like it would look like this.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45So, Sarah's stepping in to say,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48"Hold on, someone needs to come down here
0:38:48 > 0:38:52"and look and see the conditions this guy's living in."
0:38:52 > 0:38:54The most obvious thing to do here
0:38:54 > 0:38:56would be to serve a prohibition order
0:38:56 > 0:39:00but having a vulnerable tenant makes things more complicated.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02'I think we need some guidance from our boss Richard.'
0:39:02 > 0:39:04- Hiya.- How are you?
0:39:04 > 0:39:08- OK.- Very good.- Shall we see what the problems are, then?
0:39:11 > 0:39:14- Pretty horrendous, isn't it? - Look at it all.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16And this is the sponges and the cotton wool.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19With the amount of mould growth that you can see on the walls,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22clearly it's detrimental to health.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27Oh, yeah, the wall's pretty much saturated still
0:39:27 > 0:39:30and it's going to take some time to dry out.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32My instincts are very, very straightforward.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35- Probably the same as most people watching this.- Yeah.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38You see this room and you go, "Shut it down, move him out."
0:39:38 > 0:39:42Let's say in theory that we decided
0:39:42 > 0:39:45that we'd serve an emergency prohibition order.
0:39:45 > 0:39:50We'd serve it on the owner and the tenant but what happens
0:39:50 > 0:39:54when that vulnerable tenant doesn't want to move out, you know,
0:39:54 > 0:39:58then you've got to decide has that tenant committed an offence?
0:39:58 > 0:40:01The penalty for not compiling with an emergency prohibition order
0:40:01 > 0:40:04is prosecution. Now would we want to prosecute this tenant
0:40:04 > 0:40:06because he felt an attachment to this property?
0:40:06 > 0:40:09The prohibition order is actually on the property
0:40:09 > 0:40:11- and anybody that doesn't go with it...- Anybody.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Anybody doesn't go with it could find themselves in trouble
0:40:13 > 0:40:15and that includes the occupant here.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- Yes.- All right, OK.
0:40:17 > 0:40:18Hm.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21I can see why this presents a real dilemma for Jason
0:40:21 > 0:40:25and clearly it's not a simple case of quoting housing law.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27He knows the flat, he knows where he lives
0:40:27 > 0:40:29and he just doesn't want to move at all.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31That's the difficulty with us because if he did,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34it would make our lives a lot easier obviously but if there is an order
0:40:34 > 0:40:37and he has to move which is beneficial to, you know,
0:40:37 > 0:40:38the builders and to him as well,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41then we can get the builders in to do the whole lot in one go
0:40:41 > 0:40:43which will make everything a lot of easier
0:40:43 > 0:40:45because the building needs to dry out as sort of one flat.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49Landlord, council and tenant all need to cooperate from here
0:40:49 > 0:40:52in order to take the right course of action for everyone concerned.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54So, Richard, what's going to happen next?
0:40:54 > 0:40:56We're going to go back to the office now.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59We're going to explore the gentleman's housing options,
0:40:59 > 0:41:00we're going to call him
0:41:00 > 0:41:02and see if there's anything we can help him out with.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05I'm sure they'll be no problems in getting the property back to
0:41:05 > 0:41:09a state that would be, you know, much healthier to live in.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12This is a delicate situation that needs to be carefully handled.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15I'm just glad it's been brought to our attention.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19It's now up to the housing team to work with Jason in getting
0:41:19 > 0:41:22the flats fixed and putting the welfare of the tenant first.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26The good news is that since our inspection,
0:41:26 > 0:41:28landlord Jason has organised his building work
0:41:28 > 0:41:31around renovating the basement flat
0:41:31 > 0:41:34and the tenant has moved into another habitable flat
0:41:34 > 0:41:37in the building until the work's done.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41Thanks to teamwork, a great result has come from a terrible situation.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46And there's more news. Earlier in Sandwell,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Roy Nicholls and I visited a severely overcrowded home
0:41:49 > 0:41:52that was riddled with health and safety issues.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54Now Roy's got an update for me.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57There were obviously some long term issues in that house
0:41:57 > 0:42:01but there was also stuff that needed to be sorted straightaway and
0:42:01 > 0:42:04I'm thinking particularly about those electric fires, you know,
0:42:04 > 0:42:06where kids were staying.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10To be honest, that was the most dangerous item that was imminent,
0:42:10 > 0:42:12something was going to happen on that.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15All the residents have been told now to use the heating
0:42:15 > 0:42:21that's been provided and we'll be speaking to the landlord.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Roy served the landlord with a notice to upgrade the house,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28the work needed has to be even more comprehensive
0:42:28 > 0:42:31if he's planning to house more than five people.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34As the tenants paid their rent to an agent at their offices,
0:42:34 > 0:42:37he was unaware of how many people were living in the property.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40Meanwhile, the relevant services have been brought in to talk
0:42:40 > 0:42:43to all the families living there.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45The mum with two small children living in the box room
0:42:45 > 0:42:49has been given a support worker who's helping to rehouse her.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51The landlord sent us the following statement
0:42:51 > 0:42:54about the situation at the property.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09That's it for today's show.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13Join me next time on the front line with Britain's housing officers.