0:00:02 > 0:00:04The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07- You've actually seen rats, have you?- Yes, we have, yes.- Right.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10But, for thousands of people across Britain, the reality can be
0:00:10 > 0:00:12more hovel than home.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15We've got a nappy in the tree there.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I'm sure that that is pee.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20In the battle between tenants
0:00:20 > 0:00:24and landlords, it's local housing officers who are on the front line.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27- I can smell gas.- You are committing an offence under the Housing Act.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Are you having a laugh?
0:00:29 > 0:00:30'I'm Matt Allwright.'
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Damp, cold, dangerous.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34They're trying to make me look bad.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Have you only recently become aware of planning permission?
0:00:36 > 0:00:38'I'm back on the job once again,
0:00:38 > 0:00:40'joining the ranks of the housing enforcers.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42'They're tackling problem properties...'
0:00:42 > 0:00:45It's a right old mess in there, isn't it?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47..dealing with the consequences of nightmare neighbours...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49I've had two tyres cut.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53'..and doing their best to help those in need.'
0:00:53 > 0:00:57- This is the first time I've had a smile on my face.- Oh!
0:00:57 > 0:00:59We just heard a squeak.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Today, things get serious, as I take part in an evening police raid.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11- We're coming in.- No, no.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- Erm... From the police.- Excuse me. If you could just step aside.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19It's not very nice busting into people's lives
0:01:19 > 0:01:23and waking them up, but that's the last resort.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26And a homeless couple finally get a roof over their head.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29It's easy to miss something when you've got a better option there,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32and of course when we look back it's going to be nostalgia rather
0:01:32 > 0:01:36than the reality of the rats and the cold and strangers wandering in and out.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42They say an Englishman's home is his castle.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46But if that place is rented, it's the job of housing officers to
0:01:46 > 0:01:49make sure it's a decent place to live.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51They keep an eye on landlords
0:01:51 > 0:01:55to make sure the property is up to scratch, and on some tenants
0:01:55 > 0:01:58to make sure they're keeping their half of the bargain.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05If there's one thing I'm learning, it's that being a housing officer
0:02:05 > 0:02:08is definitely not a nine-to-five job.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11As most people are calling it a day, we're heading to a rental
0:02:11 > 0:02:13property in Oxford
0:02:13 > 0:02:16that HOs Iain Lingard and Clive Salisbury
0:02:16 > 0:02:18think may be dangerously overcrowded.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Any property with three or more people that are not related
0:02:22 > 0:02:27- requires a licence.- Right. Who else is coming along tonight?
0:02:27 > 0:02:30We've requested the police attend
0:02:30 > 0:02:33because we don't know what we'll find at the property.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37As your apprentice and trainee, what should I know about this?
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Just be careful. If there's any chance of any violence,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43then we'll get the police to go in first.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48With no idea what we're walking into, there is a real risk
0:02:48 > 0:02:51the situation could turn nasty, so it's important
0:02:51 > 0:02:54the police are here to stop things getting out of hand.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57KNOCK ON DOOR
0:02:59 > 0:03:02- Hello.- Hello. - From Oxford City Council.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06We're here to inspect the property. We've got a warrant to come in.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Is it OK if we come in?
0:03:08 > 0:03:10INDISTINCT
0:03:10 > 0:03:15- Sorry?- I now want to speak...- Have you got the warrant?- Yeah.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26- How many people here?- What's this? - How many people live here?
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- Just one family?- Yeah. - Can we come in, have a look?
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- We've got a warrant. Yes?- Just for a look?- Yeah.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40We'll wait here.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Yeah, OK.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Even though we've got a warrant, getting inside isn't
0:03:46 > 0:03:48proving any easier than last time.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51But Iain isn't giving up without a fight.
0:03:51 > 0:03:52No, no, no.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54No, no. No come in.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57- You come in through my landlord.- No, we're not, no, we're not.- Yes.- No.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01- No, we're not, we're coming in. - No, no.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02The police...
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Excuse me, if you could just step aside.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- If you could just step aside, please.- OK.- OK.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11'Things turn ugly, and the police are forced to intervene so that Iain
0:04:11 > 0:04:14'can find out whether the building is being used illegally
0:04:14 > 0:04:19'or if the woman's claim that only one family lives here is true.'
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- It's a bit gloomy.- Yeah.- Can we turn some lights on?- It's on.- That's it?
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- They've just got a blue light on in the hall...- Oh, that's it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- Hello.- Hello? - From Oxford City Council.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31We've got a warrant to enter the premises.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34How many people live in here?
0:04:34 > 0:04:38- In this room? - Two people.- Two people.- Yes.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44- And you are related to each other? - Boyfriend.- Boyfriend, OK.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- Can we have a quick look in here? - Yes, please.- Thank you.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50'While I follow Iain to find out how many people are living in
0:04:50 > 0:04:52'each room, Clive takes photos.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55'It could be crucial if they decide to prosecute.'
0:04:57 > 0:04:58Will you let us in your room?
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- You have a dog?- Yeah.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Is it a friendly dog?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Good.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09We like friendly dogs.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- Hello. Oh!- Oh!- Sorry!
0:05:12 > 0:05:16'The dog is friendly, it just doesn't want to stick around.'
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Very sorry. Hello. How many people?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21- Very friendly.- Where?- Here.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25- I wouldn't know. - Two? Two people?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28After her reluctance to let us into the house, the man who seems
0:05:28 > 0:05:33to be sharing her room is also being less than cooperative.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37He won't give us his name. HE LAUGHS
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Only two rooms down and already there seem to be at least
0:05:40 > 0:05:42four people living in the house.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46It's looking like Iain's fears of overcrowding could be right.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49All of these people's lives in very small rooms.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51It's packed full of stuff.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53I mean, there's just stuff everywhere.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55HE KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Can we come in, please?
0:05:59 > 0:06:01My boyfriend's asleep, he's got work.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06From Oxford City Council. We have a warrant to inspect these premises.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Inspect them? But he's asleep. And my room is a mess.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14We have a warrant. I'm not bothered about the... We'll be two minutes.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- Two, three minutes.- If you just let the man do his job, he has a warrant.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- Can I just let my boyfriend know? - Yes, please. Yes, OK.- OK?
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- But we won't disturb him, he can cover up.- All right.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27- If you just give me one minute.- OK.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Join us later when we'll find out why this overcrowded house
0:06:30 > 0:06:33is putting the squeeze on the people who live there.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- You shouldn't be able to put somebody in here to sleep.- No.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46The job of a housing officer isn't always about sorting out
0:06:46 > 0:06:49difficult tenants, confronting deadbeat landlords
0:06:49 > 0:06:52and inspecting dismal dwellings.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54In Salford, for Kingsley Ekolle,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56it's all about getting tenants into a property
0:06:56 > 0:06:59and then trying to make sure they stay there.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04It depends how much the individual is able to put in
0:07:04 > 0:07:08and how determined they are to make the tenancy successful,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11rather than what the local authority or our team can do for them.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Kingsley works for Salford Council's supported tenancy programme,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20helping vulnerable people get a roof over their head.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24The local authority's there to support them to be successful,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29and to move on to an even more successful life, in the sense
0:07:29 > 0:07:33that we want that they should come back to the community
0:07:33 > 0:07:35and lead a successful life.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Meet Andy and Jane. They look like any ordinary couple to me.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Every single one of us is a different person
0:07:48 > 0:07:51with a different story, we're not all the same.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53But where they live...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Yeah, we don't need to get everything, just get what we can.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59..is very far from ordinary.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00This is the mattress.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02This was here when we came here.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05All the bedding has been given to us by charity organisations.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08We have to put bodies in the bed so that
0:08:08 > 0:08:12when people do walk past and they look over, they'll think
0:08:12 > 0:08:17that's us and they won't go through our worldly possessions.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21There's the candles, the candles we keep on every night.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24It deters the rats a little bit and it makes us feel a little bit safer,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27that we're not sat completely in the dark, or lay asleep in the dark.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Because we never know who's walking up and down.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Our clocks, so that we can get up in time for appointments.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Cos, again, there's nothing in an arch. We had to buy them, obviously.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Hats and things, people coming out of clubs have given us.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Like...just cheery little things.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44As Andy says, it makes you forget you're in an arch
0:08:44 > 0:08:46if you've got something colourful to look at.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- It looks nice at night-time, doesn't it?- It does look nice.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53After problems with alcohol,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Andy's been sleeping rough for seven years,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57while Jane's been on the streets for four,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00having suffered with mental health issues.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01They fell in love 12 months ago
0:09:01 > 0:09:05and, like any couple, decided to set up home.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08But they did it in this arch, alongside its existing tenants.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13The food in the fish tank, to keep the rats away from it.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Andy made the shelf to keep the rats away from the food.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19It was an ongoing battle with the rats for a good few months, wasn't it?
0:09:19 > 0:09:23- This area here is ours. - Yeah, we ignore that bit.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26And that is the rat path. Like, we've come to kind of a truce.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- If we feed them at night-time... - Away from the arch.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Yeah, away from it, they'll leave us alone.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36While Andy and Jane were getting to know their new housemates,
0:09:36 > 0:09:40all around them, this part of Salford was being transformed.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42The way I look at it, of a night-time,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46we can stand here in the snow and the rain will be coming straight at us,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50but we can look up at really rich people in the Beetham Tower.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52And I think of it as like back in medieval times,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54you'd have the peasants and the lepers at the very
0:09:54 > 0:09:57bottom of the hill, and at the top, they must have looked up and saw
0:09:57 > 0:10:00the lords and ladies in the castle, and this is a modern-day equivalent.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04We can stand here and look at the very rich people looking back down.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08And I always think - well, I wonder - do they even know...
0:10:08 > 0:10:11about the homeless situation here in Manchester, in Salford?
0:10:11 > 0:10:14And if they just looked out, they'd be able to see the arch.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Next under the developer's sledgehammer is this railway arch
0:10:17 > 0:10:20which Andy and Jane have, in the absence of anything else,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22come to consider as their home.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25We were discussing this last night, I think we will.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28But it's easy to miss something when you've got a better option there.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Of course, when we look back, it's going to be nostalgia rather than the reality of the rats
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and the cold and strangers wandering in and out.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Andy and Jane face imminent eviction.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Which is, for once, not necessarily a bad thing in my book.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44And that's where Kingsley comes in.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47They're moving in here now.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49We're happy to support them,
0:10:49 > 0:10:54but the success of the tenancy depends on what they wish to
0:10:54 > 0:10:58achieve, and whether they're willing or not to achieve those things.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Kingsley has secured a temporary flat for the couple,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05but the big question is, will they be able to stick it after living
0:11:05 > 0:11:07such a tough, but free, existence?
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Some of the things that can happen include the fact that
0:11:10 > 0:11:15they might not be able to cope in the tenancy and that can fail.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Especially when people have been on the street for a very long time.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22We were actually nervous about coming here.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Just because it's such a massive change.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- We're really grateful, we're really happy...- But we're both scared.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Instead of being happy, we're scared.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33We'll find out how Andy and Jane settle into their new home later.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- Hot water! Can I give it a go? - Yeah, you can.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39SHE LAUGHS
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Back in Oxford, I'm joining a raid to try and establish
0:11:48 > 0:11:52whether a property's being used illegally as bedsits.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54And after some difficulty gaining entry...
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- The police...- Excuse me, if you could just step aside.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01..it definitely seems that the house is seriously overcrowded.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03He won't give us his name.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Well, a headcount so far - we've got two people downstairs,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10in this room we've got two, next door, we've got two.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13In this house, which is supposed to be for...
0:12:13 > 0:12:15A maximum of four, for the facilities.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19They have one bathroom, they can have four people to one bathroom,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- four people to one kitchen. - This is not licensed.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- So, over three, it would need a licence anyway.- It would, yes.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29And it seems like we've got a lot more than three.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Licensing was introduced for three or more people, was to try
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and control things like this.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Overcrowding, poor conditions.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41You can hardly stand up in this room
0:12:41 > 0:12:44because of all the things that are in here.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49And that's foodstuffs, cosmetics, clothes,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51everything is just jammed in here.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52You can see what happens
0:12:52 > 0:12:55when you're in a house that's not big enough to cope.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59'It's looking less and less likely that the woman at the front door's
0:12:59 > 0:13:02'claim that the house is occupied by one family is true.'
0:13:02 > 0:13:05So, we've got a couple in there with their dog.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- I've already established that he pays the rent.- On behalf of all of them?
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Yeah. He is the tenant. The landlord comes here,
0:13:11 > 0:13:15or his wife comes here, to collect the rent every month.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I've got six names, I haven't got the name of the person who lives in that one.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22It feels like we're finally getting to the bottom of what's going on.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24And it seems it isn't a straightforward case
0:13:24 > 0:13:28of a landlord with an unlicensed house in multiple occupation.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Iain's found out there's a good reason why the man sharing
0:13:32 > 0:13:38a room with the woman who opened the front door refused to give his name.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40It appears he's been renting the house from the landlord
0:13:40 > 0:13:44and then illegally subletting the rooms to the other tenants himself.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49What's happened is, they're paying £115 a week,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52and the rent's £1,000 per month for the whole house.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53So, he's living for free
0:13:53 > 0:13:55because he's piling these people into the same house.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- And making a profit. - And making a profit.- Yeah.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01When you see the economics of it, set out like that,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03you kind of understand why it happens.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07So, actually, there are two things to show here - one is there's that
0:14:07 > 0:14:11couple in the first place who are making free rent and money from it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13But then you have to demonstrate, or try and demonstrate,
0:14:13 > 0:14:17whether the landlord is complicit in that, and knows what's going on.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Because ultimately, the responsibility for this house,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23and licensing it and keeping it, managing it properly,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- still goes back to the landlord, regardless.- It does, yes.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32If the tenant has created the multi-occupancy here,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34then he is also liable.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- Really?- Yes. - So we can go back and hold that...
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Effectively, as you would a landlord, say, "Well, actually,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45"you've made yourself a landlord by subletting in this way,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48"so you have to take some of the responsibility as well."
0:14:48 > 0:14:52But in real terms, that tenant will just disappear.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55OK, so what can we do about this? What happens next?
0:14:55 > 0:15:01The owner and the tenant who we believe is subletting will be
0:15:01 > 0:15:03invited in for an interview under caution.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I don't know if we're anywhere near to a stage where we need to say,
0:15:06 > 0:15:10"This place needs to be radically changed, you need to move out."
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Can we avoid that? Can we avoid making people homeless, effectively?
0:15:13 > 0:15:18What we would do is serve an order on the owner to reduce the numbers.
0:15:18 > 0:15:24But that's done by natural wastage, rather than evicting people.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27So, it doesn't make the people homeless,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- it's just when they naturally move on to alternative accommodation.- OK.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36So there you have it. It's a house stuffed with people,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38stuffed with stuff as well.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41And, really, not protecting or serving
0:15:41 > 0:15:44the people that are in there.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47It's not very nice, busting into people's lives
0:15:47 > 0:15:52and waking them up to try and find out how they're living.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56But that's the last resort. So, uncomfortable, but job done.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06In Stevenage, I'm working with the emergency accommodation team...
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- Hi, Matt.- Hello. - You all right for a chat?
0:16:08 > 0:16:11..on a case led by housing officer Sarah Morley.
0:16:13 > 0:16:19Today, we're going to go and meet a lady who we are going to be
0:16:19 > 0:16:24putting from emergency accommodation into her own property.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Sandra's been living in single-room emergency accommodation
0:16:27 > 0:16:30for the last three months, after the death
0:16:30 > 0:16:33of her husband meant she couldn't afford the mortgage on her house.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39But multiple health issues have left Sandra reliant on family
0:16:39 > 0:16:42and carers to help her try to live a normal life.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47She's bedbound, she uses a lot of equipment.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49She's not going to get any better than she is.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51So we need to find somewhere that's going to be comfortable
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- and permanent for her to stay. - Good stuff.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57The good news is a bungalow's become available that should suit
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Sandra's needs. She's happy, and agreed to the move.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04So today Sarah and I are going to talk her through the paperwork.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Hello! This is Matt.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- I'm Matt, nice to meet you. - Hi, Matt.- Hi.- Hi.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12'Sandra's nephew Stephen is here to lend a supporting hand.'
0:17:12 > 0:17:14So, today,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17I've got about ten forms with me, sorry.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21I know you don't like forms. But I'm afraid they're unavoidable.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26'Having the stability of a permanent home is something most of us want.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30'But it's clearly especially important for someone like Sandra.'
0:17:30 > 0:17:33The plan for the next place, then, is that you've got somewhere you can
0:17:33 > 0:17:37be secure and safe and know you're going to be there for a while.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40And you can concentrate on getting the care that you need.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Yeah, it'd be nice to have a final place where I'm going to stay
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and not going to have to move again and worry about things.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50'One thing she won't have to worry about is the decorating,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53'cos that's going to be Stephen's job.'
0:17:53 > 0:17:56We've got a decorating voucher for £150.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Should be you having this, Stephen,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01seeing as you're going to be the one doing all the work, shouldn't it?
0:18:01 > 0:18:02Is this the wallpaper you've chosen?
0:18:02 > 0:18:06- Yes, that's going in the living room.- Oh, wow, that's nice.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09And that one behind you, that's going in the bedroom, that one.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- Here we go, there's the keys for your property. All yours.- All mine.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14- Is that it, then? - Right, that's it.- Fantastic.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Sandra's all signed up, it's her property.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20What's it like to have your keys in your hand, finally?
0:18:20 > 0:18:24It's great to finally have my own property again.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Between losing my husband
0:18:25 > 0:18:27and then not being able to keep the property on,
0:18:27 > 0:18:32and then to actually lose that home, it was very, very hard.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36And then being uncertain where I'm going to go, as well.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38To actually have the keys to... you know,
0:18:38 > 0:18:43and know I'm going to be there, it's fantastic. Absolutely great.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- How long were you in your property with your husband?- About 19 years.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- It's a long time. - Yeah, it was very hard.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52A lot of memories.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56- Now you've got a place where you can start making new memories.- Yeah.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58Yep. Fresh start.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02'It looks like Sandra now can finally say goodbye
0:19:02 > 0:19:04'to living in one cramped room.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:07It must be one of the more satisfying parts of your job there.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09- Yeah, it is.- Seeing that happen.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Yeah, cos I know how much it means to her to get somewhere that's hers.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- Yeah.- Cos she's a really anxious lady and she was worried
0:19:14 > 0:19:16when her bungalow went.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Hopefully, she'll be happier now and she'll start making plans
0:19:20 > 0:19:23for the future now cos she hasn't done many of them lately, so...
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Yeah, that'll be good.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- Anything for me to do? - Yes, there is.- I thought so!
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Stephen's going to go to the property, he hasn't seen it yet
0:19:31 > 0:19:35so he hasn't kind of made any plans of where anything's going.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37But if you can try and encourage him that the larger room
0:19:37 > 0:19:41would be a good room to be stationed in, that'd be really nice.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44We need to look at that property and just sort of plan out exactly
0:19:44 > 0:19:48how Sandra's life is going to work in there once she's move in.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- To suit her the best so she gets the best of both worlds.- OK.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Bed and the sofa and time in her chair.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'Well, it's good to be given some responsibility at last.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00'Find out if I succeed a bit later on.'
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Back in Salford, and home is where the heart is,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09or so the old saying goes.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11In the dark, if you kind of squint your eyes,
0:20:11 > 0:20:13and the candles are on, you can't see all that mess in the back -
0:20:13 > 0:20:18you can kind of fool yourself into thinking it's a little bedsit or something.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Maybe don't look too deeply.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I don't know how you can do that!
0:20:23 > 0:20:26OK, it may just be a railway arch in Salford,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28but this home has got a lot of heart.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31And it's got the roots of something very special.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35I really believe now, if I hadn't had met Jane, I'd be dead.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38They've lived here for the past year, but eviction's looming,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40so not for much longer.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- We've had some good times, though. - Yeah, I was just going to say, we've had some laughs here,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47but as soon as winter kicked in, the laughs just went away.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Today, housing officer Kingsley Ekolle is showing them
0:20:59 > 0:21:01around their new temporary home.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Feel the heat soon as you walk in, can't you?
0:21:05 > 0:21:09- This is your new living room, guys. - That's lovely, that.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- Chairs! You don't have to sit on the floor!- Oh, man.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- So, you've got a table, chairs there in the diner.- Yep.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Here's the settee. - Is it all right if I sit down?
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Oh, yeah, that's fine, you can sit down.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26We've lived the reality of the streets for so long, and now,
0:21:26 > 0:21:30to have what normal people can have, it's like, somehow, I feel...
0:21:30 > 0:21:31It's not normal, is it?
0:21:31 > 0:21:34..yeah, like I don't deserve it, or it's going to be taken away.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Like, I'm just going to be sent back onto the streets.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39It's home.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- There's your kitchen.- Yeah.- This is the cooker. This is a fridge-freezer.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46That's your sink, you've got hot water there.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Hot water! Can I give it a go?- Yeah, you can.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52SHE LAUGHS
0:21:52 > 0:21:57Jane looked extremely thrilled. She was smiling all along.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I could see Andy's face beaming with smiles as well.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04So, yeah, it was very successful.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06HE LAUGHS That's good to hear.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Normally, we have a bin bag full of clothes that we hide
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- towards the back of the arch. - Right, whole wardrobe now.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14They'll stay here for the next three months.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17And with the help of Kingsley and the supported tenancy team,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20it'll give them a chance to get back on their feet.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- This is to kick-start what we both need.- Yep.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Like I say, I'm not getting any younger.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28I need to do something now or never.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30What we're looking towards
0:22:30 > 0:22:33- is Andy wants to go to college in September, don't you?- Yeah, yeah.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36He says that'll make him feel loads better, to be able to go to college.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38And I want a job again.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Hopefully, Andy and Jane will now start building a new life.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Although some people in their position can struggle to
0:22:43 > 0:22:45adjust to a settled environment.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47We're so grateful to have the opportunity,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49just to be able to live a normal life.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52It actually feels like I'm a member of society again.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56The main challenge here is to make sure that you're able to
0:22:56 > 0:23:00- function as effectively and efficiently as possible.- Yep.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05- In your own words, to lead a normal life once more.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- Is that OK? - That'd be great, yeah.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11And we'll be with you all the way, to support you
0:23:11 > 0:23:14- until you've settled in.- Thank you. - Thank you very much.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Fingers crossed everything works out for them.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Back in Stevenage, bedbound Sandra spent three months
0:23:28 > 0:23:31living in cramped single-roomed emergency accommodation.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Between losing my husband, then not being able to keep the property on,
0:23:36 > 0:23:41and then to actually lose that home, it was very, very hard.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43But thanks to the council's housing team,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Sandra's now been offered a bungalow.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48- So, this is it.- Oh, right.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52'But before she moves in, I've come with nephew Stephen
0:23:52 > 0:23:55'to make sure her new home will be right for Sandra.'
0:23:55 > 0:23:56And a massive kitchen.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58This is big, isn't it?
0:23:58 > 0:24:01This is a nice-sized kitchen, it's bigger than my kitchen.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03There's plenty of room in here for the cooker, fridge,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05whatever she needs and more.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08We think of this as being a house for one person. In fact, it isn't,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11because you've got carers there for a big part of the day,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14so her house is very rarely just herself.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- STEPHEN LAUGHS - You can never get that lady by herself.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- There's always a carer there, district nurse there...- Family.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Family, you know, it's almost ongoing, it's constant.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24One stops, the other starts.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It's going to make their life a lot easier cos, you know,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29they're preparing meals, getting her meds ready
0:24:29 > 0:24:34- and this is a bright, clean, big, spacious kitchen.- It's ideal.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Absolutely ideal.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38'And things look promising in the bathroom, too.'
0:24:38 > 0:24:39It's a walk-in shower.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Yeah, they're going to put a special shower chair in here
0:24:42 > 0:24:44so she can be brought in here, sit down her chair
0:24:44 > 0:24:47and they can actually wash her in the shower rather than a bed bath,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50which isn't the nicest thing for anyone, let's face it.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54So, again, this is about giving back your aunt a fuller life.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58So, not everything revolving around the bed but actually semblance of...
0:24:58 > 0:25:02You know, a bit of dignity and a bit of establishing a normal routine.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Exactly. This is what she needs. And this will give her that.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- This is the main room.- Yeah.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12'Sandra's health issues mean she relies on carers
0:25:12 > 0:25:14'and has a lot of specialist equipment.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15'So, housing officer Sarah wants me
0:25:15 > 0:25:19'to suggest that the bed would be better off in the larger lounge.'
0:25:19 > 0:25:21- So, we've got the bed... - Got the bed.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- ..that your auntie's got to get in here.- The hoist.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28'But it sounds like a family decision's already been made.'
0:25:28 > 0:25:30She wants it separate, she wants to be...
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- HE SIGHS - That's all her day is.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35So, for her, getting out of bed and doing something with her day,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37even if it's just moving to the lounge to watch TV,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39for her, that's her day,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41that's achieved something in the day for her.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45The idea, then, of moving to another room is kind of quite liberating.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48It's a big deal for her. It's a very big thing.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49She wants her freedom back.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52It's still limited, she still needs carers to help her
0:25:52 > 0:25:54but at least she's not in the same room,
0:25:54 > 0:25:56same four walls day in, day out
0:25:56 > 0:25:59which I-I couldn't... I couldn't imagine doing myself.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01You've watched her over these last couple of years,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- what it's been like? - It's horrible.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Knowing that there's nothing I can do directly to make
0:26:06 > 0:26:09her life any better, is horrible.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12And if all I can do is help her move in to a new property...
0:26:12 > 0:26:13For me, it's a few days, fine.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16For her, it means the world to have that independence back.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- And the security of knowing that it's not going to go away.- Yeah.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21It's council stock, she's paying the rent to the council, it's not like
0:26:21 > 0:26:24a landlord is suddenly going to pull the rug out from under her feet.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Exactly.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27'It's clear that Stephen
0:26:27 > 0:26:30'really cares about his aunt's quality of life.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32'And he also cares about the decoration.'
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- What's the plan, do you know? - Bring it back to bare wall.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Strip it right back, paint and she's picked out the wallpaper already
0:26:39 > 0:26:41so we're going to do one wall as a feature wall for her
0:26:41 > 0:26:45and do the best we can to get her in and make it as homely as we can.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Well, I think I failed in my mission quite spectacularly then.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Sarah wanted me to try to persuade Stephen to get Sandra to live
0:26:58 > 0:27:01in the one big living area that there was,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04but family knows best.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07And he seemed to understand what it was that Sandra was really
0:27:07 > 0:27:09trying to get out of this.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12So many areas of her life are out of her control.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15She's been stuck in that bed for a long time now
0:27:15 > 0:27:17and he can see that what's really important
0:27:17 > 0:27:22is for her to have a semblance of a normal routine, a normal life.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26It's really hopeful and I think in that place
0:27:26 > 0:27:29she might be able to get some of that back.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35And not long after my visit, with a sterling effort made
0:27:35 > 0:27:38to decorate the house by Stephen and the family,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Sandra's new home was finally ready to move into.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45I can start to settle now cos I know I'm not just going to be here
0:27:45 > 0:27:46for a few months.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51I know this is it now, this is my home and it's where I'm staying now.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53It's great to see Sandra finally
0:27:53 > 0:27:57in her new home, and her quality of life improved.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02That's it for today's show.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Join me next time, when I'll be finding out more about
0:28:05 > 0:28:08what it takes to become a front-line housing officer.