Episode 11 The Housing Enforcers


Episode 11

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Transcript


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The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.

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-Seen those flies?

-Yeah.

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But for thousands of people across Britain,

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the reality can be more hovel than home.

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Just vermin, vermin, filth.

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Whoa!

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It's not me, it's the landlord!

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In the battle between tenants and landlords,

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it's local housing officers who are on the front line.

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-No, we're not, we're coming in.

-No, no.

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-The police...

-Excuse me.

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I'm Matt Allwright...

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I'm trying to understand how the property could be

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in this condition, while rent is still coming in.

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I'm back on the job,

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once again joining the ranks of the housing enforcers.

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It smells like pee.

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This is somebody's playground.

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They're tackling problem properties...

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It just feels like a time bomb.

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..dealing with the consequences of nightmare neighbours...

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-And he called me a

-BLEEP.

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..and doing their best to help those in need.

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We can stand here and look at the very rich people, looking back down.

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Today, some uninvited guests turn up in an East London kitchen.

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We just heard a squeak. What did that sound like to you?

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It did sound like a mouse.

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In Suffolk, we go after some flagrant fly-tippers.

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I've cleared a huge amount of stuff.

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That's quite distinctive, isn't it?

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You'd surely noticed somebody bringing that out.

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We inspect the empire of a self-proclaimed

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-king of the Cumbrian landlords.

-All that block's mine.

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That block there, that's all mine, as well. I own a substantial amount.

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You could call it Bobbington, rather than Workington, really.

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Right now, Britain is in the middle of a housing crisis.

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If you want to buy a property, chances are you'll need

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to save almost three times your annual salary as a deposit.

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And that'll get you a mortgage that'll make your eyes water.

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No wonder that there are now more people renting

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than at any time in the last 60 years.

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And protecting those renters are the country's housing enforcers.

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In this programme, I'm training to become one of them.

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Three years ago, Newham, in East London,

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was thrust into the spotlight as the home of the Olympics.

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Yet it remains one of London's poorest areas,

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with a serious housing shortage.

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A lack of affordable homes in London has led to a boom

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in rented accommodation here - not all of which is regulated.

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Today, I'm joining housing officer Paul Oatt,

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who's investigating what could be an illegally-rented property.

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The first thing we're going to do today is have a proper look

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at the property. We're going to inspect it from top to toe.

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We've been there, done a preliminary visit, to see what kind

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of set-up it was, what kind of tenancies we've got there.

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So, we've got a family on the ground floor

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and a separate family on the first floor.

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They're sharing kitchen and bathroom facilities.

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-It's not licensed, so that's another issue.

-OK.

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So, we're going into this place. Is there any chance at all...

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Have we met the landlord, do we know what he or she is going to say

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and what their approach will be?

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I have notified the landlord that we're coming to inspect

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the property. Their reaction was to go straight to the council

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-and make a complaint.

-Right.

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And also say that they were going to get an injunction, to prevent us

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from going to the property.

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OK, so, we're dealing with someone who is not necessarily

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receptive to the idea of positive change.

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-Indeed.

-Shall we go?

-Let's go.

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If the landlord does appear, hopefully, we'll catch him

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in a good mood. Though Paul's not taking any chances.

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He's asked the police to show up, just in case there's any trouble.

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There we are. There's the police.

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We've come to look at this private house, which has been converted

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into a series of crowded bedsits.

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A single mum lives on the ground floor, with her three children.

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She's agreed to let us in, but doesn't want to be identified.

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-Hello.

-Hello there, how do you do?

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So, have you had any more contact from the landlord?

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She was here yesterday.

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-Yesterday, was that after I came?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, OK.

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-She came towards the evening, to fix the water.

-To fix the water?

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-So, do we have hot water at the moment?

-No, I don't think so.

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OK, thanks. Right.

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The entire family lives in this through lounge.

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We go through from the bedroom in here.

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We've got a big bed there and then we've got sofas in there.

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And we've got mum and three kids living in this space here.

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It's really hot. It's very, very hot in here.

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They're using these plug-in heaters to keep warm. There's one here...

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Three fan heaters, we've got an oil-filled radiator there, as well.

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It's an accident waiting to happen.

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Shockingly overcrowded conditions like this haven't been experienced

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by most families in the UK since the '30s.

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Without your heaters in here, is it very cold?

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-Yes.

-Gets very cold. OK.

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What makes living here even more unpleasant

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is the lack of ventilation.

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But the windows don't appear to open.

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If you can't open the windows, you haven't got an escape route.

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If there was a fire in this living room, you'd be stuck here.

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There's no separation, no containment.

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And as we move through the house, the problems pile up.

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Anything structural about the hallway?

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Well, there's no light bulb there.

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And also, I'd want to see some kind of smoke and fire detection here.

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Because you've got the kitchen there, that's where fires are likely

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to start, they could spread straight through here.

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-So, you know, there's quite a few things.

-Quite a few issues.

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Quite a few issues, with this one.

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The kitchen here is in constant use by all the tenants at the property.

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What strikes you about this kitchen, Matt?

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-This is a cold kitchen and that's never a good thing.

-Yeah.

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You know, that's not the right way to heat it.

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-I'm trying to think what else I've missed.

-There's no fire door.

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-That door there is just an ordinary door.

-And it's wide open.

-Yeah.

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And, it seems, this is a shared kitchen, in more ways than one.

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We just heard a squeak.

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What did that sound like to you?

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It did sound like a mouse.

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I've not seen any signs of droppings,

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but we're going to start to have a look now.

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-I think it came from down here.

-It sounded like it was it this area.

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Let me just give it a little...

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-They've got four-way adaptors everywhere.

-Yeah.

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That looks like it could be a dropping.

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-It's got that mouse smell.

-Yeah.

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Oh, yeah.

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-OK, yeah. So that's lots of mouse droppings.

-That's mouse, yeah.

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Nothing else smells like it.

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My finely-tuned housing officer's nose tells me

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the mice have the run of the place.

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Later on, we'll be finding out the fate of the tenant upstairs.

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Your landlord has tried to make you say that you are leaving

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-because of the council's actions.

-Yeah.

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-But that's not true, is it?

-That's not true.

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The stunning fells and forests of the Lake District means Cumbria

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has some of the most beautiful landscape in the country.

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But not everywhere within the borders

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of Allerdale Borough Council is an idyllic tourist destination.

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The coastal town of Workington used to be a thriving industrial port,

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but the demise of its coal and iron industries in the '50s

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and then the '80s,

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led to widespread deprivation and unemployment.

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Today, around a third of all the households claim housing benefit.

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As the need for social housing increases,

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historically-low house prices have allowed private landlords

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to build sizeable property portfolios,

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to meet this growing need for low-cost accommodation.

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I have got blocks. We own all that. That block there, that is all mine,

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as well. The car wash there, that's one of my tenants.

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This house here is one of mine.

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Ex-market trader Bobby Sharmin got into the housing game

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over 30 years ago and now rents out 40 properties around the town.

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We have got some units down here.

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I've got a house down here. That property there.

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We are substantial now.

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You could call it Bobbington, rather than Workington, really!

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I don't think people would appreciate it being

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called Bobbington, so we will stick to Workington!

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Also out and about on the streets of Workington this morning

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is Housing Officer, Dean Hodgson.

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He is well-known to Bobby, as it's his job to make sure any of his

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rental accommodation comes up to scratch.

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-Hi, Bobby, how are you doing?

-You all right?

-Yes, good thanks.

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And today is the latest of many check-ups, as Dean inspects

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one of Bobby's houses, with four self-contained flats.

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Just having a look, making sure everything is OK.

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-Have you had a complaint against one of my properties?

-No, we haven't.

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No. We practically inspect all known properties in the area.

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So, we are here just to do a routine inspection.

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I feel as if you are just picking on my properties.

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-Absolutely not the case.

-Are you sure?

-Yes. I can assure you of that.

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We will pop in and see.

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I will show you around. I have not been in here for some time, mind.

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But you've got to understand,

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I can't keep an eye on all my properties.

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As a housing officer, Dean's primary concern is to assess

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any potential hazards that could put the tenant's

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health or safety at risk.

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If you have any questions while we're going round, just let me know.

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Right.

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For Bobby, these visits can be a worrying time.

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If the flats don't comply with regulations,

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he could have some costly work to do.

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I notice there is no source of heating in here, Bobby.

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No radiator in here.

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Right. It is only a small bathroom, mind. Do you need one for there?

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I mean, would you not be comfortable having a dump in there?

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-There does need to be some source of heating.

-Right, OK.

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Bobby eventually concedes his chilly bathroom doesn't comply.

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Adequate heating is essential, as temperatures below 16 Celsius

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can lead to serious health problems.

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Next in the firing line is the bedroom,

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as Dean spots a potential safety issue.

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If a fire is going to start in a flat, what we need to make sure of

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is that there's an alternative means of escape from the bedroom.

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So, obviously the issue we have is it's going to be very difficult

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for someone to get out of there safely.

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So, we need to have a little think

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about how we make the means of escape a little bit better.

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At my expense, again.

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Naturally.

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It's likely Bobby will have to shell out for a new window,

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with a lower, more accessible opening, to keep his tenants safe.

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Fire door with a self-closing device

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and smoke seals and strips around it.

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Two rooms down and two problems noted on Dean's clipboard.

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But can Bobby see his point of view?

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He is just doing his job, at the end of the day, which is fine.

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But sometimes I think there are a lot of petty things that I think,

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"I don't need that".

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But you just have to try and get on with it.

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He does work with me and I work with him, the best I can.

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Dean turns his attention to what looks like damp in the basement.

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It looks like we have some water ingress there, as well, possibly.

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Any reading over 200 on Dean's damp meter

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will spell more trouble for Bobby.

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The maximum value is actually 999, which is what we've got here.

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So it is actually indicating that the wall is really quite wet.

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-Could your machine not be faulty?

-No.

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It is calibrated quite regularly.

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So Bobby's soggy plaster has pushed Dean's meter to the limit.

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It looks pretty grim and could be putting his tenant at risk.

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Is that a health problem? I mean...

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Absolutely.

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If you have a lot of moisture that enters into a dwelling,

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it actually increases the level of house dust mites in the air

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and that can actually make asthma worse.

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Not to mention the potential for allergic reactions to the mould

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and sleeping in a bedroom with a horrible smell.

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Do you supply them to the landlord,

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so they can keep an eye on the properties?

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-No, but they are available to purchase.

-I don't think

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I can afford one of them.

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Later on, Bobby's list of repairs grows longer,

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until he reaches breaking point.

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-If you have issues with the benefits side...

-There's no-one to talk to.

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They all just fob you off to each other.

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Next, I'm heading back to Newham, to help housing officer

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Paul Oatt investigate a rented property, in which the tenants

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are being forced to exist in pre-War conditions.

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You've got mum and three kids living in this space here.

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That's just the ground floor. Upstairs, there are other problems.

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I've got to use this, cos there is...

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no lightbulb in the socket on the landing.

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'There are three rooms up here.

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'It looks like two of them are unoccupied.

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And in here...

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'We found the broken hot water tank.'

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-Oh, man, look at that wiring!

-Yeah.

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'This is where the danger facing both adults and children

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'living here really hits home.

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'Around 50 people die from electrical fires every year

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'in the UK.'

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Hello?

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'The third room up here is occupied by supermarket employee Jayanthi.

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'She's been living here for about 15 months,

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'but for reasons unknown, the landlady seems to want her out.'

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Jayanthi, your landlord has tried to make you sign this.

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-Yeah, yesterday.

-And this says, "I..."

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on the date that it says here, "..would like to give

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"formal notice that my lodger tenancy will come to an end.

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"Recent visits by local council/immigration officers

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"are the prime cause to concerns for my action.

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"My notice period commences on..." -

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then the date - "and my vacation date is..."

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-..three days ago.

-Yeah. Yesterday, he gave it to me.

-Yeah.

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I say, "How do I moving? I not look at house."

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'Jayanthi lives here with her partner and pays £500 a month

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'in rent, but she's just been given four weeks' notice to move out

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'and has no idea why.'

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So, if you pay a periodic rent and you have sole use of this

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-place here?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? Without your landlord living here?

-No.

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-You're a tenant.

-Tenant. But only living this room.

-Is that correct?

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-Yeah.

-OK. And that means he can't evict you with this short notice.

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This is the bit I don't understand, Jayanthi. It says...

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-So, this is supposed to be you, making a statement...

-Yeah.

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..that "recent visits by local council/immigration officers

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"are the prime cause of concern."

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They've prepared this for you to say that you are leaving because

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-of the council's actions.

-Yeah.

-But that's not true, is it?

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That's not true.

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'We know for certain that Jayanthi isn't being chased by immigration

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'officials, but it's clear her landlord doesn't want her here.'

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Just yesterday, this lady opened the door. I said, "Wait."

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"I'll give you the letter to sign. You must sign." Holding a pen.

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-"Must sign."

-She was trying to force you to sign it?

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She forced me to sign it. I take it. "I give it to you to sign, take it."

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As Matt quite rightly told you,

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you've got to be served a proper notice to quit and given two months.

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The police are going to be made aware that, if anybody...

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If there are calls to assist for any eviction here,

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that there's been threats of intimidation,

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because it should only be a court-appointed bailiff that

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tells you that you've got to leave and tries to get you to leave.

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They should have a warrant and they should be from the court, yeah?

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'The tenants in this house are also subject to rules,

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'like this one put up by the landlady.

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'It states that shoes must be kept in their rooms

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'or they'll be removed,

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'but Jayanthi's refused to do this, for cultural reasons.'

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My culture - the prayer, no shoes.

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You leave your shoes outside the house.

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-Are we all right with our shoes in here?

-No problem.

-Sorry.

-No prob.

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My culture. I believe. You say, "Where you put it?"

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I say, "Only one room. One with two, three shoes, I usually take it out."

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"You put it here, you paid £1, £2."

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-Have you ever paid that money?

-No. I am argument. Why I pay?

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You say, "You don't know the rules, regulations. This is British."

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I say, "I know British. I am also 13 years. I paid tax, everything.

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"I know everything."

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'Just to clarify, there definitely isn't a British law that states

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'you must pay a fine for leaving your shoes outside your room.'

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-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Lovely to meet you.

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-Thank you very much.

-Take care.

-Bye.

-Bye.

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The owner of the property has been served with a notice

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to get repairs carried out immediately.

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If she doesn't comply,

0:17:240:17:25

the house could end up being the subject of a court order.

0:17:250:17:29

As for Jayanthi,

0:17:290:17:30

she's moved out and found herself somewhere more suitable to live,

0:17:300:17:35

where the landlord won't charge her

0:17:350:17:37

for leaving her shoes in the corridor.

0:17:370:17:39

Back in Workington, Allerdale Council's housing officer Dean

0:17:450:17:49

is inspecting one of landlord Bobby's 40 rented houses.

0:17:490:17:53

So far, he's found a string of problems.

0:17:530:17:55

We need to have a little bit of a think about how we make

0:17:550:17:58

the means of escape a little bit better.

0:17:580:18:00

-OK?

-At my expense again?

0:18:000:18:02

Well, naturally.

0:18:020:18:04

In order for Bobby's house to comply,

0:18:040:18:07

he's clearly going to have to fork out.

0:18:070:18:09

But his real concern is about how the money's coming in.

0:18:090:18:13

Many of his tenants are on housing benefit.

0:18:130:18:15

The council used to pay their rent directly to the landlord,

0:18:150:18:18

but that system has now changed.

0:18:180:18:20

Getting the rents now is so hard.

0:18:210:18:23

You see, the rents are getting paid direct to the tenants now.

0:18:230:18:26

Some pen-pusher at the council or government have decided,

0:18:260:18:29

"Let's give the tenants the money direct."

0:18:290:18:32

But when they get a cheque for nearly £1,000 or £500-£600,

0:18:320:18:35

they ain't going to give it to the landlord.

0:18:350:18:37

Because the council won't poke at the tenants, we're left with them,

0:18:370:18:40

so it's just hard work for the landlords now.

0:18:400:18:43

The council will now only consider paying housing benefit

0:18:430:18:46

direct to the landlord under exceptional circumstances,

0:18:460:18:50

such as when tenants are unable to handle their own finances.

0:18:500:18:53

-I'm losing money all the time.

-Mm-hmm.

-The council do not help...

0:18:530:18:57

And this is all related to payments being made direct to the tenants.

0:18:570:19:01

-I can't really say anything about that.

-Mmm.

0:19:010:19:04

The benefits side of things isn't...isn't my role.

0:19:040:19:06

-Right.

-That's not why I'm here.

0:19:060:19:08

Really, if you have issues with the benefits side,

0:19:080:19:11

-then you need to contact...

-There's no-one to talk to, Dean.

0:19:110:19:13

They all just fob you off to each other. I mean, I...

0:19:130:19:16

There's another tenant there, she's been in the property

0:19:160:19:19

since August, still no rent has been paid for this tenant,

0:19:190:19:22

cos they keep losing the paperwork at the council.

0:19:220:19:25

At the end of the day, it's the tenants' responsibility

0:19:250:19:27

to pay their rent to you on time.

0:19:270:19:29

It's not the council's, OK?

0:19:290:19:31

With dozens of properties on his books,

0:19:310:19:33

the good tenants are providing him with a good income,

0:19:330:19:36

but it's the bad ones who are giving him a problem.

0:19:360:19:39

I can tell you some stories.

0:19:390:19:41

In January, I've had two doors kicked in...three doors kicked in.

0:19:410:19:44

They're £400 a door and the tenants can't afford to pay for them.

0:19:440:19:47

It is a stressful thing, but that's not the council's issue, that's...

0:19:470:19:51

that's the clientele that we get,

0:19:510:19:53

cos the council can't house them, so they come to us, saying...

0:19:530:19:57

It's like Britain's Got Talent. When they come in my office,

0:19:570:20:00

it is like Britain's Got Talent.

0:20:000:20:01

They'll come in, do a song and dance,

0:20:010:20:03

two weeks down the line, it's just all going wrong, so...

0:20:030:20:07

Despite what Bobby may feel about the state of some of his tenants,

0:20:130:20:17

this house certainly has one occupant who's trying

0:20:170:20:19

to get his life back on track.

0:20:190:20:22

How are you doing? I'm Dean, from the council.

0:20:220:20:24

Oh, you all right, man?

0:20:240:20:26

We're just undertaking a routine inspection today.

0:20:260:20:28

So, we're just going to have a quick look around your flat,

0:20:280:20:31

-if that's OK.

-All right, nae bother.

0:20:310:20:33

Six years ago, John was working as a trawlerman,

0:20:330:20:36

but he's now unemployed.

0:20:360:20:37

He's been living in Bobby's bedsit for 15 months.

0:20:370:20:41

But you come from a homeless place, didn't you?

0:20:410:20:43

What was it, eh...?

0:20:430:20:45

All right, OK.

0:20:450:20:47

Was that where Jackie brought you up, who was your carer or something?

0:20:470:20:50

Aye, yeah, yeah, I'm still in contact with her.

0:20:500:20:53

-So, that was a mental health place?

-Aye, yeah, yeah.

-All right.

0:20:530:20:56

Never told me that. I wouldn't have had you!

0:20:560:20:58

Aye, but there's all kinds of different men allowed...

0:20:580:21:01

I'm only joking, John. I'm only joking.

0:21:010:21:03

John, do your radiators get nice and hot, up here?

0:21:030:21:05

-Aye, they do, aye, when they're on.

-Fantastic, OK.

-When I put them on.

0:21:050:21:08

Yeah...you never have any problems with the boiler going off

0:21:080:21:11

-and you not being able to turn it back on or anything like that?

-No.

0:21:110:21:14

-No, no, no.

-OK, fantastic.

-It's on.

0:21:140:21:17

Erm...probably needs sorted.

0:21:170:21:20

In fact, in fact, Bobby's the only landlord I know that,

0:21:200:21:23

-when you ask him to do something, he does it.

-Uh-huh, great.

0:21:230:21:26

-Not like the rest of them.

-How long are you here, John? Havoc.

0:21:260:21:29

-Well, it's the truth, isn't it?

-Ah, thanks.

-Ah...

0:21:290:21:33

Bobby definitely seems to have one tenant on his side.

0:21:330:21:36

I mean, a lot of them had drug abuse,

0:21:360:21:38

mental issues or something like that.

0:21:380:21:40

Everybody's entitled to a chance.

0:21:400:21:41

I must say, a fraction - when I say a fraction,

0:21:410:21:44

I mean, a small fraction of people who've wanted to go the straight way

0:21:440:21:48

and wanted to get off and wanted to do everything

0:21:480:21:51

and I've housed them. They've been excellent.

0:21:510:21:53

They've been absolutely excellent.

0:21:530:21:54

-What's happened here?

-Looks like the outside panel's cracked.

-OK.

0:21:540:21:59

As Dean completes his assessment of the house,

0:22:010:22:03

Bobby has a bit of a to-do list to tackle.

0:22:030:22:06

But as the rent's rolling in, the safety and the wellbeing

0:22:060:22:09

of his tenants has to be the absolute priority

0:22:090:22:11

and he concedes that the upgrades are for the best.

0:22:110:22:14

Yeah, I'll get them done, obviously. They must think that

0:22:140:22:16

I just sit on my backside doing nothing but, yeah, they'll get done.

0:22:160:22:19

I mean, I've had this property for about over ten years.

0:22:190:22:23

Touch wood, nothing's happened yet, but...there's always tomorrow.

0:22:230:22:27

Something could happen, so, I will get the jobs done.

0:22:270:22:29

Keep it right, keep the council happy and I'm...

0:22:290:22:32

If they're happy, then it gives me a bit of a break, as well.

0:22:320:22:35

All right, I'll catch you later, Bob, right?

0:22:350:22:38

-Yeah, thanks very much, John.

-All right, see you later.

0:22:380:22:40

Sometimes, it isn't just conditions inside properties

0:22:480:22:51

that cause problems for the housing officers.

0:22:510:22:54

And it is not always the landlord who is at fault.

0:22:540:22:57

In rural Suffolk,

0:22:570:22:58

community housing officer Ian Watson is responsible for overseeing

0:22:580:23:02

more than 1,400 council-owned, rental properties.

0:23:020:23:05

It is a huge job and it is not made any easier by the persistent

0:23:070:23:11

fly-tipping by some of his tenants in Sudbury.

0:23:110:23:13

'So, I have been roped in, to give Ian a hand.'

0:23:130:23:16

I have been doing the job for the last two and a half years

0:23:160:23:19

and, constantly, I have to go there and clear the communal areas.

0:23:190:23:23

Unfortunately, people will dump sofas, people will dump beds.

0:23:230:23:27

Nobody ever seems to know who is responsible.

0:23:270:23:30

They would rather make do with a mattress than an angry neighbour.

0:23:300:23:34

'Ian's written a letter, outlining the seriousness

0:23:360:23:39

'of the situation and invited the tenants to a public meeting,

0:23:390:23:42

'where he hopes to encourage them to take more responsibility

0:23:420:23:45

'for where they live.

0:23:450:23:47

'So, we're going to be going door to door, delivering it by hand.'

0:23:470:23:50

I prefer to speak to people, personally, because I think

0:23:500:23:53

face-to-face, rather than a letter through the door,

0:23:530:23:56

gives a better result. However, there comes a stage

0:23:560:24:00

where nicey-nicey hasn't worked!

0:24:000:24:04

'And with the pricey-pricey for the continuous clean-up spiralling,

0:24:040:24:09

'if his letter does not work, Ian may have to consider

0:24:090:24:12

-'more drastic action.'

-It does cost us and it's a nuisance.

0:24:120:24:14

At what point, then, do you stop being nice and then say,

0:24:140:24:19

"Some of this cost is coming back your way"?

0:24:190:24:21

We are going to have to consider upping the rental charges,

0:24:210:24:25

in order to get some response. I mean, a couple of prosecutions

0:24:250:24:29

wouldn't go amiss.

0:24:290:24:30

'I'm starting to feel that Ian is taking advantage

0:24:300:24:33

'of my junior status.'

0:24:330:24:35

Right, I have reached the end of my list. I have been a bit crafty,

0:24:350:24:39

-because there is a few more...

-I noticed that.

-I thought, well,

0:24:390:24:43

-as you are my apprentice...

-Make him work!

-..you could do

0:24:430:24:46

a few more for me!

0:24:460:24:47

Envelopes stuffed, we are hitting the mean streets of Sudbury.

0:24:470:24:51

'They are not that mean.

0:24:510:24:53

'It's a good job we are here from the Housing,

0:24:530:24:55

'not the Highways Department.'

0:24:550:24:57

(Look at that, there.)

0:25:000:25:02

-This is an example of...

-Bad car parking!

0:25:020:25:04

He's lucky that somebody from the council wasn't coming along

0:25:040:25:07

-and giving him a ticket for this.

-That's even worse,

0:25:070:25:10

-now I've come round this side!

-Split them up, half and half.

0:25:100:25:15

-Thank you.

-Right, let's go and look and see what we've got.

0:25:150:25:17

'We are barely through the door of the first block of flats

0:25:170:25:20

'before it's clear the problem is getting worse, not better.'

0:25:200:25:24

Oh, not again!

0:25:240:25:27

Was that not there last time? This is more stuff?

0:25:270:25:29

I have cleared a huge amount of stuff.

0:25:290:25:31

That is quite distinctive, isn't it? You would surely notice

0:25:310:25:36

-somebody bringing that out?

-One would think so.

0:25:360:25:39

There is some stuff at the top at the top of the fire escape there.

0:25:390:25:42

'There is a whole load of new rubbish in an area that has

0:25:420:25:45

'only just been cleared.

0:25:450:25:47

'Ian is determined to pinpoint the culprits himself.'

0:25:470:25:49

Let's go and knock on some doors.

0:25:490:25:51

-Oh, we've got some more.

-Yeah.

0:25:510:25:53

See, we have cleaned all this.

0:25:530:25:56

It's a constant battle, though.

0:25:560:25:58

'He wasn't kidding about preferring to tackle things face to face.'

0:25:580:26:02

KNOCKING

0:26:020:26:04

-Hello, there, sir. Ian Watson, from the council.

-Hello.

0:26:040:26:06

-You don't know whose all this is, do you?

-Yeah, it's mine.

0:26:060:26:10

-I am going to get it removed.

-Right.

0:26:100:26:12

-Give you two weeks.

-Yeah.

-Is that fair enough?

0:26:120:26:15

-All right.

-All right. Then, if I come back and it is still here...

0:26:150:26:18

All right. So, if you can sort that out.

0:26:180:26:20

'Well, I think that tenant has got the message loud and clear.

0:26:200:26:23

'But it is just one house. Postman Pat would have his work cut out

0:26:250:26:29

'delivering the mountain of mail we have got to get through.

0:26:290:26:31

'It's a frustrating situation. The actions of a small minority

0:26:310:26:36

'are having a massive knock-on effect on the whole area.'

0:26:360:26:39

It is a pain in the bum, isn't it?

0:26:390:26:42

When you have got that sort of thing around, you just think,

0:26:420:26:45

"Well, if it is like that, I am not going to look after it."

0:26:450:26:49

And that tends to be what happens. No-one takes any pride...

0:26:490:26:52

It's a downwards spiral.

0:26:520:26:54

'If things are going to improve

0:26:550:26:57

'without the council taking more drastic action,

0:26:570:26:59

'Ian needs everyone behind him.'

0:26:590:27:01

-I'm hoping I will get a response. I don't know.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:27:010:27:04

It's the first time I have done a letter, but it is actually trying

0:27:040:27:07

-to get the community spirit.

-Yeah.

-You are almost overstepping,

0:27:070:27:10

a little bit, your job, really, to try and make a bit of difference?

0:27:100:27:15

If I can do something, and people are willing to engage with us,

0:27:150:27:20

I'm happy to put some of my time into it, you know?

0:27:200:27:22

But I need that other response from the rest of the people,

0:27:220:27:26

-in order to do it.

-'Whatever the outcome of the letter,

0:27:260:27:29

'he is clear the situation has to change.'

0:27:290:27:31

-I can't keep doing it.

-No.

-I can't just keep clearing it,

0:27:310:27:33

for the sake of it, and spending the council's money.

0:27:330:27:38

'We are done for the day. Well, almost. Cos it looks like some

0:27:380:27:41

'of the tenants' dogs also leave things where they shouldn't.'

0:27:410:27:45

You keep taking me across all of these...

0:27:450:27:47

Yeah, but you have got to have eyes in your head.

0:27:470:27:50

-You have got to be careful.

-They aren't in my feet!

0:27:500:27:52

-'And that's a whole other problem.'

-Seriously, it's a sticker!

0:27:520:27:56

That's it for today.

0:27:590:28:00

Join me next time, when I'll be finding out

0:28:000:28:02

what it takes to become a front-line housing officer.

0:28:020:28:05

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