0:00:02 > 0:00:05The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07- Seen those flies?- Yeah.
0:00:07 > 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 > 0:00:15Just vermin, vermin, filth.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Whoa!
0:00:17 > 0:00:18It's not me, it's the landlord!
0:00:18 > 0:00:21In the battle between tenants and landlords,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25it's local housing officers who are on the front line.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27- No, we're not, we're coming in.- No, no.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29- The police...- Excuse me.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30I'm Matt Allwright...
0:00:30 > 0:00:33I'm trying to understand how the property could be
0:00:33 > 0:00:37in this condition, while rent is still coming in.
0:00:37 > 0:00:38I'm back on the job,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41once again joining the ranks of the housing enforcers.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42It smells like pee.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44This is somebody's playground.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47They're tackling problem properties...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49It just feels like a time bomb.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52..dealing with the consequences of nightmare neighbours...
0:00:52 > 0:00:54- And he called me a- BLEEP.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57..and doing their best to help those in need.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00We can stand here and look at the very rich people, looking back down.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Today, some uninvited guests turn up in an East London kitchen.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12We just heard a squeak. What did that sound like to you?
0:01:12 > 0:01:13It did sound like a mouse.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17In Suffolk, we go after some flagrant fly-tippers.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19I've cleared a huge amount of stuff.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21That's quite distinctive, isn't it?
0:01:21 > 0:01:24You'd surely noticed somebody bringing that out.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26We inspect the empire of a self-proclaimed
0:01:26 > 0:01:29- king of the Cumbrian landlords. - All that block's mine.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32That block there, that's all mine, as well. I own a substantial amount.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35You could call it Bobbington, rather than Workington, really.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Right now, Britain is in the middle of a housing crisis.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45If you want to buy a property, chances are you'll need
0:01:45 > 0:01:49to save almost three times your annual salary as a deposit.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52And that'll get you a mortgage that'll make your eyes water.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56No wonder that there are now more people renting
0:01:56 > 0:01:59than at any time in the last 60 years.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03And protecting those renters are the country's housing enforcers.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06In this programme, I'm training to become one of them.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Three years ago, Newham, in East London,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18was thrust into the spotlight as the home of the Olympics.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Yet it remains one of London's poorest areas,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25with a serious housing shortage.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28A lack of affordable homes in London has led to a boom
0:02:28 > 0:02:32in rented accommodation here - not all of which is regulated.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Today, I'm joining housing officer Paul Oatt,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38who's investigating what could be an illegally-rented property.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41The first thing we're going to do today is have a proper look
0:02:41 > 0:02:44at the property. We're going to inspect it from top to toe.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46We've been there, done a preliminary visit, to see what kind
0:02:46 > 0:02:50of set-up it was, what kind of tenancies we've got there.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52So, we've got a family on the ground floor
0:02:52 > 0:02:54and a separate family on the first floor.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57They're sharing kitchen and bathroom facilities.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- It's not licensed, so that's another issue.- OK.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03So, we're going into this place. Is there any chance at all...
0:03:03 > 0:03:08Have we met the landlord, do we know what he or she is going to say
0:03:08 > 0:03:09and what their approach will be?
0:03:09 > 0:03:15I have notified the landlord that we're coming to inspect
0:03:15 > 0:03:19the property. Their reaction was to go straight to the council
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- and make a complaint.- Right.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And also say that they were going to get an injunction, to prevent us
0:03:24 > 0:03:25from going to the property.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29OK, so, we're dealing with someone who is not necessarily
0:03:29 > 0:03:32receptive to the idea of positive change.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- Indeed.- Shall we go?- Let's go.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40If the landlord does appear, hopefully, we'll catch him
0:03:40 > 0:03:43in a good mood. Though Paul's not taking any chances.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46He's asked the police to show up, just in case there's any trouble.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48There we are. There's the police.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51We've come to look at this private house, which has been converted
0:03:51 > 0:03:53into a series of crowded bedsits.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00A single mum lives on the ground floor, with her three children.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04She's agreed to let us in, but doesn't want to be identified.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- Hello.- Hello there, how do you do?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10So, have you had any more contact from the landlord?
0:04:10 > 0:04:11She was here yesterday.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15- Yesterday, was that after I came?- Yeah.- Yeah, OK.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21- She came towards the evening, to fix the water.- To fix the water?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- So, do we have hot water at the moment?- No, I don't think so.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27OK, thanks. Right.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32The entire family lives in this through lounge.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35We go through from the bedroom in here.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39We've got a big bed there and then we've got sofas in there.
0:04:39 > 0:04:46And we've got mum and three kids living in this space here.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49It's really hot. It's very, very hot in here.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53They're using these plug-in heaters to keep warm. There's one here...
0:04:53 > 0:04:59Three fan heaters, we've got an oil-filled radiator there, as well.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01It's an accident waiting to happen.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Shockingly overcrowded conditions like this haven't been experienced
0:05:05 > 0:05:07by most families in the UK since the '30s.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Without your heaters in here, is it very cold?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- Yes.- Gets very cold. OK.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17What makes living here even more unpleasant
0:05:17 > 0:05:18is the lack of ventilation.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21But the windows don't appear to open.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24If you can't open the windows, you haven't got an escape route.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27If there was a fire in this living room, you'd be stuck here.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30There's no separation, no containment.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33And as we move through the house, the problems pile up.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Anything structural about the hallway?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Well, there's no light bulb there.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44And also, I'd want to see some kind of smoke and fire detection here.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Because you've got the kitchen there, that's where fires are likely
0:05:47 > 0:05:50to start, they could spread straight through here.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- So, you know, there's quite a few things.- Quite a few issues.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Quite a few issues, with this one.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59The kitchen here is in constant use by all the tenants at the property.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02What strikes you about this kitchen, Matt?
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- This is a cold kitchen and that's never a good thing.- Yeah.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08You know, that's not the right way to heat it.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10- I'm trying to think what else I've missed.- There's no fire door.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- That door there is just an ordinary door.- And it's wide open.- Yeah.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19And, it seems, this is a shared kitchen, in more ways than one.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21We just heard a squeak.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23What did that sound like to you?
0:06:23 > 0:06:24It did sound like a mouse.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I've not seen any signs of droppings,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28but we're going to start to have a look now.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- I think it came from down here. - It sounded like it was it this area.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33Let me just give it a little...
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- They've got four-way adaptors everywhere.- Yeah.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43That looks like it could be a dropping.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45- It's got that mouse smell.- Yeah.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Oh, yeah.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- OK, yeah. So that's lots of mouse droppings.- That's mouse, yeah.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Nothing else smells like it.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00My finely-tuned housing officer's nose tells me
0:07:00 > 0:07:01the mice have the run of the place.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Later on, we'll be finding out the fate of the tenant upstairs.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12Your landlord has tried to make you say that you are leaving
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- because of the council's actions.- Yeah.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- But that's not true, is it?- That's not true.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27The stunning fells and forests of the Lake District means Cumbria
0:07:27 > 0:07:30has some of the most beautiful landscape in the country.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34But not everywhere within the borders
0:07:34 > 0:07:38of Allerdale Borough Council is an idyllic tourist destination.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44The coastal town of Workington used to be a thriving industrial port,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48but the demise of its coal and iron industries in the '50s
0:07:48 > 0:07:49and then the '80s,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52led to widespread deprivation and unemployment.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Today, around a third of all the households claim housing benefit.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00As the need for social housing increases,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04historically-low house prices have allowed private landlords
0:08:04 > 0:08:07to build sizeable property portfolios,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10to meet this growing need for low-cost accommodation.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16I have got blocks. We own all that. That block there, that is all mine,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20as well. The car wash there, that's one of my tenants.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22This house here is one of mine.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Ex-market trader Bobby Sharmin got into the housing game
0:08:26 > 0:08:31over 30 years ago and now rents out 40 properties around the town.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33We have got some units down here.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37I've got a house down here. That property there.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39We are substantial now.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42You could call it Bobbington, rather than Workington, really!
0:08:42 > 0:08:45I don't think people would appreciate it being
0:08:45 > 0:08:47called Bobbington, so we will stick to Workington!
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Also out and about on the streets of Workington this morning
0:08:54 > 0:08:56is Housing Officer, Dean Hodgson.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59He is well-known to Bobby, as it's his job to make sure any of his
0:08:59 > 0:09:02rental accommodation comes up to scratch.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- Hi, Bobby, how are you doing? - You all right?- Yes, good thanks.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08And today is the latest of many check-ups, as Dean inspects
0:09:08 > 0:09:11one of Bobby's houses, with four self-contained flats.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Just having a look, making sure everything is OK.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18- Have you had a complaint against one of my properties?- No, we haven't.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23No. We practically inspect all known properties in the area.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25So, we are here just to do a routine inspection.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I feel as if you are just picking on my properties.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- Absolutely not the case.- Are you sure?- Yes. I can assure you of that.
0:09:31 > 0:09:32We will pop in and see.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36I will show you around. I have not been in here for some time, mind.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37But you've got to understand,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39I can't keep an eye on all my properties.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42As a housing officer, Dean's primary concern is to assess
0:09:42 > 0:09:45any potential hazards that could put the tenant's
0:09:45 > 0:09:46health or safety at risk.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50If you have any questions while we're going round, just let me know.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51Right.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54For Bobby, these visits can be a worrying time.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57If the flats don't comply with regulations,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59he could have some costly work to do.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04I notice there is no source of heating in here, Bobby.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06No radiator in here.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Right. It is only a small bathroom, mind. Do you need one for there?
0:10:09 > 0:10:14I mean, would you not be comfortable having a dump in there?
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- There does need to be some source of heating.- Right, OK.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23Bobby eventually concedes his chilly bathroom doesn't comply.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Adequate heating is essential, as temperatures below 16 Celsius
0:10:26 > 0:10:29can lead to serious health problems.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Next in the firing line is the bedroom,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36as Dean spots a potential safety issue.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39If a fire is going to start in a flat, what we need to make sure of
0:10:39 > 0:10:42is that there's an alternative means of escape from the bedroom.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47So, obviously the issue we have is it's going to be very difficult
0:10:47 > 0:10:49for someone to get out of there safely.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51So, we need to have a little think
0:10:51 > 0:10:55about how we make the means of escape a little bit better.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57At my expense, again.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58Naturally.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02It's likely Bobby will have to shell out for a new window,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06with a lower, more accessible opening, to keep his tenants safe.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Fire door with a self-closing device
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and smoke seals and strips around it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Two rooms down and two problems noted on Dean's clipboard.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19But can Bobby see his point of view?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22He is just doing his job, at the end of the day, which is fine.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25But sometimes I think there are a lot of petty things that I think,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27"I don't need that".
0:11:27 > 0:11:30But you just have to try and get on with it.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33He does work with me and I work with him, the best I can.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Dean turns his attention to what looks like damp in the basement.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42It looks like we have some water ingress there, as well, possibly.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Any reading over 200 on Dean's damp meter
0:11:46 > 0:11:48will spell more trouble for Bobby.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52The maximum value is actually 999, which is what we've got here.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55So it is actually indicating that the wall is really quite wet.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- Could your machine not be faulty?- No.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00It is calibrated quite regularly.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04So Bobby's soggy plaster has pushed Dean's meter to the limit.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08It looks pretty grim and could be putting his tenant at risk.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Is that a health problem? I mean...
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Absolutely.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15If you have a lot of moisture that enters into a dwelling,
0:12:15 > 0:12:22it actually increases the level of house dust mites in the air
0:12:22 > 0:12:24and that can actually make asthma worse.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Not to mention the potential for allergic reactions to the mould
0:12:27 > 0:12:30and sleeping in a bedroom with a horrible smell.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Do you supply them to the landlord,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34so they can keep an eye on the properties?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36- No, but they are available to purchase.- I don't think
0:12:36 > 0:12:38I can afford one of them.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Later on, Bobby's list of repairs grows longer,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44until he reaches breaking point.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- If you have issues with the benefits side...- There's no-one to talk to.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49They all just fob you off to each other.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Next, I'm heading back to Newham, to help housing officer
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Paul Oatt investigate a rented property, in which the tenants
0:13:02 > 0:13:05are being forced to exist in pre-War conditions.
0:13:05 > 0:13:11You've got mum and three kids living in this space here.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15That's just the ground floor. Upstairs, there are other problems.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I've got to use this, cos there is...
0:13:19 > 0:13:23no lightbulb in the socket on the landing.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25'There are three rooms up here.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29'It looks like two of them are unoccupied.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30And in here...
0:13:30 > 0:13:32'We found the broken hot water tank.'
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- Oh, man, look at that wiring!- Yeah.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39'This is where the danger facing both adults and children
0:13:39 > 0:13:41'living here really hits home.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43'Around 50 people die from electrical fires every year
0:13:43 > 0:13:45'in the UK.'
0:13:45 > 0:13:46Hello?
0:13:46 > 0:13:50'The third room up here is occupied by supermarket employee Jayanthi.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53'She's been living here for about 15 months,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57'but for reasons unknown, the landlady seems to want her out.'
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Jayanthi, your landlord has tried to make you sign this.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Yeah, yesterday. - And this says, "I..."
0:14:04 > 0:14:08on the date that it says here, "..would like to give
0:14:08 > 0:14:12"formal notice that my lodger tenancy will come to an end.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16"Recent visits by local council/immigration officers
0:14:16 > 0:14:21"are the prime cause to concerns for my action.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24"My notice period commences on..." -
0:14:24 > 0:14:27then the date - "and my vacation date is..."
0:14:30 > 0:14:34- ..three days ago.- Yeah. Yesterday, he gave it to me.- Yeah.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37I say, "How do I moving? I not look at house."
0:14:37 > 0:14:41'Jayanthi lives here with her partner and pays £500 a month
0:14:41 > 0:14:45'in rent, but she's just been given four weeks' notice to move out
0:14:45 > 0:14:47'and has no idea why.'
0:14:47 > 0:14:52So, if you pay a periodic rent and you have sole use of this
0:14:52 > 0:14:56- place here?- Yeah.- Yeah? Without your landlord living here?- No.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- You're a tenant.- Tenant. But only living this room.- Is that correct?
0:14:59 > 0:15:04- Yeah.- OK. And that means he can't evict you with this short notice.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07This is the bit I don't understand, Jayanthi. It says...
0:15:07 > 0:15:11- So, this is supposed to be you, making a statement...- Yeah.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15..that "recent visits by local council/immigration officers
0:15:15 > 0:15:16"are the prime cause of concern."
0:15:16 > 0:15:20They've prepared this for you to say that you are leaving because
0:15:20 > 0:15:25- of the council's actions.- Yeah. - But that's not true, is it?
0:15:25 > 0:15:26That's not true.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29'We know for certain that Jayanthi isn't being chased by immigration
0:15:29 > 0:15:33'officials, but it's clear her landlord doesn't want her here.'
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Just yesterday, this lady opened the door. I said, "Wait."
0:15:36 > 0:15:40"I'll give you the letter to sign. You must sign." Holding a pen.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42- "Must sign."- She was trying to force you to sign it?
0:15:42 > 0:15:45She forced me to sign it. I take it. "I give it to you to sign, take it."
0:15:45 > 0:15:47As Matt quite rightly told you,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51you've got to be served a proper notice to quit and given two months.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55The police are going to be made aware that, if anybody...
0:15:55 > 0:15:58If there are calls to assist for any eviction here,
0:15:58 > 0:16:02that there's been threats of intimidation,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06because it should only be a court-appointed bailiff that
0:16:06 > 0:16:09tells you that you've got to leave and tries to get you to leave.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12They should have a warrant and they should be from the court, yeah?
0:16:12 > 0:16:15'The tenants in this house are also subject to rules,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17'like this one put up by the landlady.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20'It states that shoes must be kept in their rooms
0:16:20 > 0:16:21'or they'll be removed,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24'but Jayanthi's refused to do this, for cultural reasons.'
0:16:24 > 0:16:27My culture - the prayer, no shoes.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29You leave your shoes outside the house.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- Are we all right with our shoes in here?- No problem.- Sorry.- No prob.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35My culture. I believe. You say, "Where you put it?"
0:16:35 > 0:16:41I say, "Only one room. One with two, three shoes, I usually take it out."
0:16:41 > 0:16:45"You put it here, you paid £1, £2."
0:16:45 > 0:16:49- Have you ever paid that money? - No. I am argument. Why I pay?
0:16:49 > 0:16:53You say, "You don't know the rules, regulations. This is British."
0:16:53 > 0:16:57I say, "I know British. I am also 13 years. I paid tax, everything.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59"I know everything."
0:16:59 > 0:17:03'Just to clarify, there definitely isn't a British law that states
0:17:03 > 0:17:06'you must pay a fine for leaving your shoes outside your room.'
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- Thank you very much. - Thank you.- Lovely to meet you.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10- Thank you very much. - Take care.- Bye.- Bye.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21The owner of the property has been served with a notice
0:17:21 > 0:17:24to get repairs carried out immediately.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25If she doesn't comply,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29the house could end up being the subject of a court order.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30As for Jayanthi,
0:17:30 > 0:17:35she's moved out and found herself somewhere more suitable to live,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37where the landlord won't charge her
0:17:37 > 0:17:39for leaving her shoes in the corridor.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Back in Workington, Allerdale Council's housing officer Dean
0:17:49 > 0:17:53is inspecting one of landlord Bobby's 40 rented houses.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55So far, he's found a string of problems.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58We need to have a little bit of a think about how we make
0:17:58 > 0:18:00the means of escape a little bit better.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02- OK?- At my expense again?
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Well, naturally.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07In order for Bobby's house to comply,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09he's clearly going to have to fork out.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13But his real concern is about how the money's coming in.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Many of his tenants are on housing benefit.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18The council used to pay their rent directly to the landlord,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20but that system has now changed.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Getting the rents now is so hard.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26You see, the rents are getting paid direct to the tenants now.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Some pen-pusher at the council or government have decided,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32"Let's give the tenants the money direct."
0:18:32 > 0:18:35But when they get a cheque for nearly £1,000 or £500-£600,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37they ain't going to give it to the landlord.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Because the council won't poke at the tenants, we're left with them,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43so it's just hard work for the landlords now.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46The council will now only consider paying housing benefit
0:18:46 > 0:18:50direct to the landlord under exceptional circumstances,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53such as when tenants are unable to handle their own finances.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57- I'm losing money all the time. - Mm-hmm.- The council do not help...
0:18:57 > 0:19:01And this is all related to payments being made direct to the tenants.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- I can't really say anything about that.- Mmm.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06The benefits side of things isn't...isn't my role.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- Right.- That's not why I'm here.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Really, if you have issues with the benefits side,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13- then you need to contact... - There's no-one to talk to, Dean.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16They all just fob you off to each other. I mean, I...
0:19:16 > 0:19:19There's another tenant there, she's been in the property
0:19:19 > 0:19:22since August, still no rent has been paid for this tenant,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25cos they keep losing the paperwork at the council.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27At the end of the day, it's the tenants' responsibility
0:19:27 > 0:19:29to pay their rent to you on time.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31It's not the council's, OK?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33With dozens of properties on his books,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36the good tenants are providing him with a good income,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39but it's the bad ones who are giving him a problem.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41I can tell you some stories.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44In January, I've had two doors kicked in...three doors kicked in.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47They're £400 a door and the tenants can't afford to pay for them.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51It is a stressful thing, but that's not the council's issue, that's...
0:19:51 > 0:19:53that's the clientele that we get,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57cos the council can't house them, so they come to us, saying...
0:19:57 > 0:20:00It's like Britain's Got Talent. When they come in my office,
0:20:00 > 0:20:01it is like Britain's Got Talent.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03They'll come in, do a song and dance,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07two weeks down the line, it's just all going wrong, so...
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Despite what Bobby may feel about the state of some of his tenants,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19this house certainly has one occupant who's trying
0:20:19 > 0:20:22to get his life back on track.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24How are you doing? I'm Dean, from the council.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Oh, you all right, man?
0:20:26 > 0:20:28We're just undertaking a routine inspection today.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31So, we're just going to have a quick look around your flat,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- if that's OK.- All right, nae bother.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Six years ago, John was working as a trawlerman,
0:20:36 > 0:20:37but he's now unemployed.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41He's been living in Bobby's bedsit for 15 months.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43But you come from a homeless place, didn't you?
0:20:43 > 0:20:45What was it, eh...?
0:20:45 > 0:20:47All right, OK.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Was that where Jackie brought you up, who was your carer or something?
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Aye, yeah, yeah, I'm still in contact with her.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- So, that was a mental health place? - Aye, yeah, yeah.- All right.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Never told me that. I wouldn't have had you!
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Aye, but there's all kinds of different men allowed...
0:21:01 > 0:21:03I'm only joking, John. I'm only joking.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05John, do your radiators get nice and hot, up here?
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- Aye, they do, aye, when they're on. - Fantastic, OK.- When I put them on.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Yeah...you never have any problems with the boiler going off
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- and you not being able to turn it back on or anything like that?- No.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- No, no, no.- OK, fantastic.- It's on.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Erm...probably needs sorted.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23In fact, in fact, Bobby's the only landlord I know that,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- when you ask him to do something, he does it.- Uh-huh, great.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29- Not like the rest of them. - How long are you here, John? Havoc.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- Well, it's the truth, isn't it?- Ah, thanks.- Ah...
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Bobby definitely seems to have one tenant on his side.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38I mean, a lot of them had drug abuse,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40mental issues or something like that.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41Everybody's entitled to a chance.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44I must say, a fraction - when I say a fraction,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48I mean, a small fraction of people who've wanted to go the straight way
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and wanted to get off and wanted to do everything
0:21:51 > 0:21:53and I've housed them. They've been excellent.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54They've been absolutely excellent.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- What's happened here?- Looks like the outside panel's cracked.- OK.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03As Dean completes his assessment of the house,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Bobby has a bit of a to-do list to tackle.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09But as the rent's rolling in, the safety and the wellbeing
0:22:09 > 0:22:11of his tenants has to be the absolute priority
0:22:11 > 0:22:14and he concedes that the upgrades are for the best.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Yeah, I'll get them done, obviously. They must think that
0:22:16 > 0:22:19I just sit on my backside doing nothing but, yeah, they'll get done.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23I mean, I've had this property for about over ten years.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27Touch wood, nothing's happened yet, but...there's always tomorrow.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Something could happen, so, I will get the jobs done.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Keep it right, keep the council happy and I'm...
0:22:32 > 0:22:35If they're happy, then it gives me a bit of a break, as well.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38All right, I'll catch you later, Bob, right?
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- Yeah, thanks very much, John. - All right, see you later.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Sometimes, it isn't just conditions inside properties
0:22:51 > 0:22:54that cause problems for the housing officers.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57And it is not always the landlord who is at fault.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58In rural Suffolk,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02community housing officer Ian Watson is responsible for overseeing
0:23:02 > 0:23:05more than 1,400 council-owned, rental properties.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11It is a huge job and it is not made any easier by the persistent
0:23:11 > 0:23:13fly-tipping by some of his tenants in Sudbury.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16'So, I have been roped in, to give Ian a hand.'
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I have been doing the job for the last two and a half years
0:23:19 > 0:23:23and, constantly, I have to go there and clear the communal areas.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Unfortunately, people will dump sofas, people will dump beds.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Nobody ever seems to know who is responsible.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34They would rather make do with a mattress than an angry neighbour.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'Ian's written a letter, outlining the seriousness
0:23:39 > 0:23:42'of the situation and invited the tenants to a public meeting,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45'where he hopes to encourage them to take more responsibility
0:23:45 > 0:23:47'for where they live.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50'So, we're going to be going door to door, delivering it by hand.'
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I prefer to speak to people, personally, because I think
0:23:53 > 0:23:56face-to-face, rather than a letter through the door,
0:23:56 > 0:24:00gives a better result. However, there comes a stage
0:24:00 > 0:24:04where nicey-nicey hasn't worked!
0:24:04 > 0:24:09'And with the pricey-pricey for the continuous clean-up spiralling,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12'if his letter does not work, Ian may have to consider
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- 'more drastic action.' - It does cost us and it's a nuisance.
0:24:14 > 0:24:19At what point, then, do you stop being nice and then say,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21"Some of this cost is coming back your way"?
0:24:21 > 0:24:25We are going to have to consider upping the rental charges,
0:24:25 > 0:24:29in order to get some response. I mean, a couple of prosecutions
0:24:29 > 0:24:30wouldn't go amiss.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33'I'm starting to feel that Ian is taking advantage
0:24:33 > 0:24:35'of my junior status.'
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Right, I have reached the end of my list. I have been a bit crafty,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43- because there is a few more... - I noticed that.- I thought, well,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- as you are my apprentice... - Make him work!- ..you could do
0:24:46 > 0:24:47a few more for me!
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Envelopes stuffed, we are hitting the mean streets of Sudbury.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53'They are not that mean.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55'It's a good job we are here from the Housing,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57'not the Highways Department.'
0:25:00 > 0:25:02(Look at that, there.)
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- This is an example of... - Bad car parking!
0:25:04 > 0:25:07He's lucky that somebody from the council wasn't coming along
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- and giving him a ticket for this. - That's even worse,
0:25:10 > 0:25:15- now I've come round this side! - Split them up, half and half.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17- Thank you.- Right, let's go and look and see what we've got.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20'We are barely through the door of the first block of flats
0:25:20 > 0:25:24'before it's clear the problem is getting worse, not better.'
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Oh, not again!
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Was that not there last time? This is more stuff?
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I have cleared a huge amount of stuff.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36That is quite distinctive, isn't it? You would surely notice
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- somebody bringing that out? - One would think so.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42There is some stuff at the top at the top of the fire escape there.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45'There is a whole load of new rubbish in an area that has
0:25:45 > 0:25:47'only just been cleared.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49'Ian is determined to pinpoint the culprits himself.'
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Let's go and knock on some doors.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53- Oh, we've got some more.- Yeah.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56See, we have cleaned all this.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58It's a constant battle, though.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02'He wasn't kidding about preferring to tackle things face to face.'
0:26:02 > 0:26:04KNOCKING
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- Hello, there, sir. Ian Watson, from the council.- Hello.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10- You don't know whose all this is, do you?- Yeah, it's mine.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12- I am going to get it removed.- Right.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15- Give you two weeks. - Yeah.- Is that fair enough?
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- All right.- All right. Then, if I come back and it is still here...
0:26:18 > 0:26:20All right. So, if you can sort that out.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23'Well, I think that tenant has got the message loud and clear.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29'But it is just one house. Postman Pat would have his work cut out
0:26:29 > 0:26:31'delivering the mountain of mail we have got to get through.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36'It's a frustrating situation. The actions of a small minority
0:26:36 > 0:26:39'are having a massive knock-on effect on the whole area.'
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It is a pain in the bum, isn't it?
0:26:42 > 0:26:45When you have got that sort of thing around, you just think,
0:26:45 > 0:26:49"Well, if it is like that, I am not going to look after it."
0:26:49 > 0:26:52And that tends to be what happens. No-one takes any pride...
0:26:52 > 0:26:54It's a downwards spiral.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57'If things are going to improve
0:26:57 > 0:26:59'without the council taking more drastic action,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01'Ian needs everyone behind him.'
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- I'm hoping I will get a response. I don't know.- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07It's the first time I have done a letter, but it is actually trying
0:27:07 > 0:27:10- to get the community spirit.- Yeah. - You are almost overstepping,
0:27:10 > 0:27:15a little bit, your job, really, to try and make a bit of difference?
0:27:15 > 0:27:20If I can do something, and people are willing to engage with us,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22I'm happy to put some of my time into it, you know?
0:27:22 > 0:27:26But I need that other response from the rest of the people,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29- in order to do it. - 'Whatever the outcome of the letter,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31'he is clear the situation has to change.'
0:27:31 > 0:27:33- I can't keep doing it. - No.- I can't just keep clearing it,
0:27:33 > 0:27:38for the sake of it, and spending the council's money.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41'We are done for the day. Well, almost. Cos it looks like some
0:27:41 > 0:27:45'of the tenants' dogs also leave things where they shouldn't.'
0:27:45 > 0:27:47You keep taking me across all of these...
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Yeah, but you have got to have eyes in your head.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52- You have got to be careful. - They aren't in my feet!
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- 'And that's a whole other problem.' - Seriously, it's a sticker!
0:27:59 > 0:28:00That's it for today.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Join me next time, when I'll be finding out
0:28:02 > 0:28:05what it takes to become a front-line housing officer.