0:00:02 > 0:00:05The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07I worry about the fire risk here.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09But for thousands of people across Britain,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16How many months ago was it we had this place cleaned?
0:00:16 > 0:00:18The whole of that bit was black with mould.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Hello?
0:00:19 > 0:00:21In the battle between tenants and landlords...
0:00:21 > 0:00:24It's your fault, not the door's fault. I don't care!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27- It's local housing officers... - What's causing that smell?
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..who are on the front line.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32The son's come out with baseball bats and knives on occasions.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33'I'm Matt Allwright.'
0:00:33 > 0:00:36A lot of this problem is caused by the dogs.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38- That's YOUR responsibility.- Yeah.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40'I'm back on the job once again,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42'joining the ranks of the Housing Enforcers.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's got that mouse smell.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46'They are tackling problem properties...'
0:00:46 > 0:00:48This feels like an accident waiting to happen.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51'..dealing with the consequences of nightmare neighbours...'
0:00:51 > 0:00:55I need to tell you that you're committing an offence under the Housing Act.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58'..and doing their best to help those in need.'
0:00:58 > 0:00:59Good old boy.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08'Today, I'm faced with some of the worst housing conditions
0:01:08 > 0:01:09'I've ever come across.'
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Oh, my God!
0:01:11 > 0:01:14She does still cook for herself and obviously cold air that's
0:01:14 > 0:01:17going to come in from the door is going to freeze this.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18It's really bad...
0:01:18 > 0:01:21One young mum can't believe her good fortune.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24It will be my home and it will be Clara's home.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26She'll grow up here with her friends
0:01:26 > 0:01:31and I really am grateful for what I've been given.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34'And I find out why an ex-offender
0:01:34 > 0:01:37'relies on the help of a housing officer.'
0:01:37 > 0:01:38What are you trying to achieve?
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Somewhere stable for me to live so I can go back to social services
0:01:42 > 0:01:45and...see me kids.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50They say that an Englishman's home is his castle.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54But if it's a rented castle, then it's the job of housing officers
0:01:54 > 0:01:59to make sure that it is a safe and decent place to live.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05One of the hardest things any of us
0:02:05 > 0:02:09will face as we grow old is making the heartbreaking decision
0:02:09 > 0:02:14we are no longer able to look after ourselves and the home we've come to love.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18In Kent, Swale Council's Staying Put Manager, Susan Hughes, is there to
0:02:18 > 0:02:22help the elderly live independently for as long as they can.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26But sometimes people are just too proud to admit that
0:02:26 > 0:02:29staying put isn't in their best interests any more.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31And that's when the job gets really tough.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37So, Susan, I'm carrying a great big fire, radiator thing.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40- What's going on?- Erm, this is a scheme that we're doing.
0:02:40 > 0:02:41It's called the Winter Warmth.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43We are able to give out fires
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and all different things to help people keep warm.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47We've got blankets and that.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Keeping this house warm is just part of a much bigger problem.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53We've been called in by a neighbour,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58who is concerned its elderly owner is living in squalid conditions.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01This particular client is one I called a few weeks ago
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and we are looking at doing a grant for various issues
0:03:04 > 0:03:06because her house is in quite a big disrepair.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Because this scheme is set up, I thought I would pop in and see
0:03:09 > 0:03:11if there's anything we can do to keep her warm.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Even though her house is in disrepair, this is still the best place for her, do you think?
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It's her own property and she's lived in it all her life,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20so she doesn't want to move. She's also got a little dog,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22who is the sort of life of her life,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25so she won't move unless the dog can go with her.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28'Up to now, the woman, who doesn't want to be identified,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30'has refused to admit she needs help
0:03:30 > 0:03:34'and Susan's had to work hard to convince her to accept the heater,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38'even though her only form of heating is a dangerous electric fire.'
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Hello!
0:03:43 > 0:03:44- We come bearing gifts. - WOMAN:- Ooh!
0:03:44 > 0:03:47It's the radiator I spoke to you about.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50- Oh!- OK? So, we'll put it down.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53- Thank you. It's quite heavy! - LAUGHTER
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- And that hopefully should be safer for you to use, OK? - Thank you very much.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00And then there's your blanket that we said that you can put over yourself.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- Oh, lovely. Thank you very much. Put them down there... - And some gloves.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- OK?- Yeah.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12So, all of this is provided using this scheme.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Yeah, the Winter Warmth scheme. Yes.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Just to make sure you're keeping warm.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Before we can get this house warm, there is a major problem that
0:04:18 > 0:04:22needs sorting, or no number of heaters are going to help.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Right, this is her back door, which as you can see,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26has got big gaps in it.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28And with the winter and the frosty nights,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31I am really concerned about that.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Even making urgent repairs isn't straightforward
0:04:34 > 0:04:36because we are not dealing with the welfare of a tenant
0:04:36 > 0:04:39and a landlord, who can be forced to make things better.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41This is a homeowner
0:04:41 > 0:04:44and she's determined to maintain her independence.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47She owns her property and is very proud of it
0:04:47 > 0:04:48and wants to continue living here.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51We're actually called Staying Put,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54so, we're here trying to help people stay in their own home.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Sometimes you can see that it's not the best ideal situation,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59but all we can do is advise.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02It's obvious this place has seen better days, but nothing
0:05:02 > 0:05:07prepares me for the sights and smells waiting for us in the kitchen.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08As you can see, round here,
0:05:08 > 0:05:13there has been a leak under the kitchen sink.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Erm, and this is what I'm really worried about.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21She does still cook for herself and obviously do some work in here.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24So, you've only got that cold air that's going to come in from
0:05:24 > 0:05:27the door and it's going to freeze this and make it a real big hazard.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33'Water leaking onto the filthy floor has created a serious hazard.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37'Amazingly, the NHS spends on average £4.6 million a day
0:05:37 > 0:05:41'as a result of the over-65s suffering a fall.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43'So, if the council can help prevent the fall in the first place,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45'it will keep that cost down.'
0:05:45 > 0:05:46I mean, I don't...
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- What is this we are standing...? Is this a mat?- Yeah, that is a mat.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51I think, put down to stop her slipping.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55'I'm genuinely shocked that someone would CHOOSE to live in conditions like this
0:05:55 > 0:06:01'but it's got me wondering - at what point does the council have the right to step in?'
0:06:01 > 0:06:04This kind of goes beyond the remit of the housing officer, doesn't it?
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Because this is a private home. This is someone's own home.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11And yet, we can... I can see things in here
0:06:11 > 0:06:15- which really seem to be dangerous for the occupant.- Yeah.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18And, you know, at that point where you take that responsibility away
0:06:18 > 0:06:22from that person and say that where you're living is putting your life at risk.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28- Yeah, yeah. - That's beyond our remit and yet we're standing here, witnessing it.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Yeah, yeah. I mean, we do... I try and explain things
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and once I've gained a bit more trust,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35I will come out with the environmental health officer as well
0:06:35 > 0:06:37and we'll talk again about what we can do.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41- But again, when it's the person's own home... - You've got to take it so slowly.- Mm.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- Because it's a matter of pride. - Yeah.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47'Later, I'll be catching up with the worried neighbour,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50'who is also trying to help convince our homeowner to accept
0:06:50 > 0:06:52'the fact she isn't coping.'
0:06:52 > 0:06:55I thought, "God..." I just burst into tears, you know?
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Next, we head over to the beautiful Cotswolds...
0:07:04 > 0:07:06One of the most quintessentially English
0:07:06 > 0:07:08and unspoiled regions of the UK...
0:07:10 > 0:07:13..to join up with the Stroud District Council housing team.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Currently, Stroud has almost 50,000 homes,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22just over 10% of which are owned by the local authority.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Making sure this limited supply is used to the best
0:07:24 > 0:07:29of their ability is down to housing officers like Sara-Jane Weaver.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35We are off to carry out a five-month introductory
0:07:35 > 0:07:37tenancy home visit.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38If they are new to the council,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41they are put on an introductory tenancy,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44which lasts for the first 12 months,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47and we carry out three visits,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49just to keep a check on them, basically,
0:07:49 > 0:07:50find out how they're doing,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53making sure they've got no problems, concerns...
0:07:53 > 0:07:58It makes it easier for us to pick up on any rent issues.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01For some, moving into a new property can be a daunting prospect,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04with new responsibilities to tackle.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08For others, it's a welcome fresh start to an independent future.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13What have you got? She's got a poorly cold, haven't you?
0:08:13 > 0:08:16One new tenant is single mother Karen Appleton,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19who recently moved to this two-bedroom house.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Until now she's always worked and supported herself.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26This is her first experience of a council-owned property.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29When I first saw the house, it was still a building site.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32No carpet, all sort of just wooden floors.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Yeah. It was just empty. So it was quite daunting.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40I've never had a council related property, I've always
0:08:40 > 0:08:45sort of worked and been able to afford my own properties and things.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Moving to this house couldn't have come at a better time.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54Always having lived independently, the last few years have dealt her several blows.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58I spent my 20s trying to have a baby.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Um... I had five miscarriages...
0:09:02 > 0:09:04through that time.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Depression was the first...
0:09:08 > 0:09:10First sort of symptoms I was getting.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14They diagnosed me with bipolar, um,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17and psychosis.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19I was fairly low.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Well, sort of...at the end of my tether, really.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25With support from her family and her GP,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Karen got on the road to recovery.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Over the last three years, since that diagnosis, I've basically been working
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and doing therapy groups and things,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37and then Clara came along.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Here she is. I have a future now, I've got something to look forward to.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44With her life back on track,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Karen was delighted to be offered this property by the council, who
0:09:47 > 0:09:51felt the space and secluded garden would be perfect for her and Clara.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Hello.- Hi. Come on in.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- A bit early.- That's OK.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01By inspecting the properties on a regular basis,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04housing officers can gauge whether the tenants are coping
0:10:04 > 0:10:07on their own or whether they need extra support.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08- Right. OK.- You can see it.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11It is actually turning mouldy now at the top.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12Sometimes it can be one of two things.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16It can be the guttering or it could be the insulation in the roof.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Inside, apart from the small patch of mould,
0:10:18 > 0:10:23it looks as though Karen has really begun to turn this house into her home.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It is a homely house, it makes me...
0:10:26 > 0:10:27It has made me happy.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I notice you have been doing some stuff out in the garden.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33We have started the garden now.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- The mattress. Whose is that? - That was hidden.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41Do you know what we found? We found a chainsaw, a grinder,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45some sort of axe, I don't know. All in the hedge, hidden.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Like a lot of council-owned properties, this house comes
0:10:48 > 0:10:52with a decent size garden, but as budgets are tight across the board,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56the garden is often the last thing to see any real investment, leaving
0:10:56 > 0:11:00it up to the tenant to either tackle it or let nature take its course.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05You know, we have to point out that it is actually a tenancy condition
0:11:05 > 0:11:07that they maintain their garden.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Some of them do struggle.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13A lot of our properties have got big gardens.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16For Karen, though, far from being a struggle, getting stuck into the
0:11:16 > 0:11:20garden is turning out to be another big help on her road to recovery.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26- All that at the back will be burned. - So are you doing a patio out there?
0:11:26 > 0:11:28- Yeah...- The slabs are already there.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31- They were all hidden under here. - Excellent.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Because they are quite expensive.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35'When the garden is finished, it will be really nice.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39'I think there is a lot of benefits to being outside.'
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I find the council a lot more easy-going.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45I think they try and make the property yours.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Um, they are still the owners, but they want it to be yours
0:11:49 > 0:11:53and for you to make it into a family home and look after it.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57She wants a bigger garden, she can see the potential there.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00She is clearing it, and I think she will do a really good job.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02But we'll see... when I come back at ten months.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05I'm hoping it is going to be very nice.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07I've been really lucky...
0:12:07 > 0:12:11I really am grateful for what I've been given, I am.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- 'In Swale, Staying Put scheme manager Susan Hughes...'- Hello!
0:12:22 > 0:12:26'..has been dealing with a case of an elderly woman who refuses to move
0:12:26 > 0:12:29'out of the dilapidated home she owns,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32'despite living in some of the worst conditions I've ever seen.'
0:12:32 > 0:12:34It's really bad, isn't it?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37'It's a difficult situation that needs delicate handling,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39'because the owner is too proud to admit
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'she can no longer look after the house or herself.'
0:12:42 > 0:12:46- I'd take it so slowly because it is a matter of pride.- Yeah.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51'I want to try and find out how things have become so bad,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54'so I tracked down Eve, the neighbour who raised the alarm after
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'being shocked by the condition of the house.'
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Came round one day, I thought, "God!"
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I knocked on the door and I went in.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I just burst into tears, you know?
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Do you think she is coping in there?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Um... I'm not too sure at the moment.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15Since her partner's died, she just can't...
0:13:15 > 0:13:16cope on her own.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19We'll all get to that stage at one point, where you just need a bit of help.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Oh, yeah, that's what I said.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25I will help her as much as I possibly can
0:13:25 > 0:13:26because she was a good friend to me
0:13:26 > 0:13:30when I needed one, and I don't forget things like that, you know?
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Although the owner hasn't accepted that she needs to move out, Susan
0:13:33 > 0:13:37has at least made some progress and convinced her to let the
0:13:37 > 0:13:41council help with repairs that will make the house safe for the time being.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45So, money from the Staying Put scheme will pay for a new back door,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and an emergency grant from the council will be used to
0:13:48 > 0:13:50renovate that filthy kitchen.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Are there many places like that? Because that feels to me,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57you know, close to the worst thing I've seen in terms of living
0:13:57 > 0:13:58conditions in this country.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Unfortunately, we do see quite a few a year.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- It's quite an eye-opener.- Yeah.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Very, very difficult job, Susan, I think,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- and, you know, the very best of luck.- Thank you.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21A few weeks later, it seems the gentle touch has definitely paid off.
0:14:21 > 0:14:22With the homeowner's agreement,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25the emergency repairs are well under way, and Susan's back
0:14:25 > 0:14:29to check on progress with building contractor Richard.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- Hi, Richard.- Hi, Susan.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Wow, look at that!
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- It's a bit different, isn't it? - God, that is really good.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39The leaky sink has been replaced,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41and the house is also being kitted out with one essential
0:14:41 > 0:14:45amenity that will dramatically improve life for its elderly owner.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- And what's that down there, that's the hot water?- Hot water heater.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- That's a new hot water heater. - She will so love that.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56She hasn't had hot water in years.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59It's a huge improvement, but it has come at a price.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02The bill for the work has been higher than the value of the grant,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05but builder Richard was so horrified by the state of the house,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08he's generously helped out with the extra cost.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13The particular house we have come into is probably one of the worst
0:15:13 > 0:15:16we've been into for some time.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Not pleasant for us to work in, not pleasant for the person to live in.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24It is still a million miles away from anyone's idea of a dream kitchen,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27but there's one person who is absolutely thrilled with it.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- Look what you've got.- Wow!
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- I say!- That's a nice sink there.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39We've got a bit of worktop here that you can work on, make it safer.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Thank you very much.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- Brilliant.- Absolutely lovely.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48It's a small change, but a big result.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49Once she's back in the office,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53the reality is she's only won the battle, not the war.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I'm happy I've left her better off than when I first met her.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Still not happy about the state she is living in,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03so I am rather concerned, so I will take out the environmental
0:16:03 > 0:16:05health officer, and social services, and we are going to
0:16:05 > 0:16:09discuss with her the situation and the risks that are at the house.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13It's good to know that housing officers like Susan Hughes
0:16:13 > 0:16:17are prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty to help
0:16:17 > 0:16:19people like the lady I met.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Since we last visited her, Susan's arranged for Age Concern to pay her a visit.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Hopefully that will become a regular thing.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29The next step is to get her out of the house
0:16:29 > 0:16:33and off to the day centre now and then, and Susan is hopeful this
0:16:33 > 0:16:38will happen very soon, but it will of course be the lady's own choice.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Finding suitable accommodation for someone who is homeless can be
0:16:50 > 0:16:52challenging at the best of times.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56But what if that person has just been released from prison?
0:16:58 > 0:17:02In Salford, Greater Manchester, housing officer Lisa Fitton and I
0:17:02 > 0:17:07are heading to a local drop-in centre to meet ex-offender Alan.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11What do we know about Alan at this stage?
0:17:11 > 0:17:14From the paperwork that we've got, he had nowhere else to live,
0:17:14 > 0:17:19so he came to the local authority to ask for help regarding housing
0:17:19 > 0:17:21and homelessness. Following that, he was
0:17:21 > 0:17:23moved into temporary accommodation.
0:17:24 > 0:17:2933-year-old Alan has spent the last ten years in and out of prison.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Like many ex-offenders, when he was released, he had no job
0:17:33 > 0:17:35and no home to go to.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37But everyone has the right to somewhere to live,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40and as housing officers, we want to find Alan permanent
0:17:40 > 0:17:45accommodation that is right for him and for the wider community.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49What we want to do is make sure you are rehoused into a place that
0:17:49 > 0:17:51you will be able to manage and maintain,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55so we need to just try and make sure the tenancy you move into now
0:17:55 > 0:17:58is going to be sustainable for you and manageable for you.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- So, before Magnolia Court, where were you directly before that?- Jail.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06- You were in prison before. Which prison was it?- Strangeways.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- And how long were you in prison for? - Four months.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12So...that was between
0:18:12 > 0:18:15August and December last year.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18- Can I ask why you were there? - Robbery.- Right.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Obviously, you've been in prison before, twice.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26- Is that something that you feel you've addressed, is that something you...?- Yeah.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28'Alan's certainly no angel,'
0:18:28 > 0:18:31but research suggests that stable accommodation is a key factor
0:18:31 > 0:18:35in reducing the chances of someone's reoffending.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39So it's in everybody's interests that we can make this work.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42The idea of today is just to find out what we need to do now, where we
0:18:42 > 0:18:46need to look for accommodation and what we need to do to help you get moved into your own place,
0:18:46 > 0:18:51and what things you need in place, so furniture, benefits and things like that.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55So at the minute, the money you're getting, is that enabling you to top
0:18:55 > 0:18:59up your gas and electric and buy the food you need and things like that?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- OK.- I'm skint once it's done, like.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Aren't we all? SHE LAUGHS
0:19:03 > 0:19:08What about general support to make your tenancy successful? Is there anything you are worried about?
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Living in your own place, being responsible for your own stuff,
0:19:11 > 0:19:12- bills, anything like?- No.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15No. What about speaking to a housing officer or landlord,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17are you confident in reporting repairs
0:19:17 > 0:19:20- and going in and speaking to people and stuff?- Yeah.- OK.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Helping someone integrate into the community is one thing,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27but Alan faces another challenge.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30He suffers from schizophrenia,
0:19:30 > 0:19:34a debilitating mental illness which requires ongoing medication
0:19:34 > 0:19:37and monitoring through regular blood tests.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40So is that to monitor the levels or make sure you're taking it?
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- Monitor the levels, innit?- OK.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- They can give you heart problems. - Oh, right, OK.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- If you have the wrong dose? - Yeah, if I don't keep up with it.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53With one thing and another, with prison and hospital, you must
0:19:53 > 0:19:58- have been through a lot of systems, a lot of different processes.- Yeah.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- Do you get tired of it? - It gets tiresome, yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05I just want to be left alone sometimes. Do you know what I mean?
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'With the paperwork out of the way, I'm keen to find out a bit
0:20:08 > 0:20:12'more about what is motivating Alan to go straight.'
0:20:13 > 0:20:16What is it you want from this process, Alan? What are you trying to achieve?
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Somewhere stable for me to live so I can go back to social services
0:20:20 > 0:20:25- and...see me kids.- How long is it since you have seen your kids?
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- Two year ago now.- How is that?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29It's heart-wrenching.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- Yeah.- Because I was going off me head because
0:20:32 > 0:20:36of what I had been diagnosed with. A paranoid schizophrenic.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40I was not acting normal round me girlfriend,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42round me kids, round anyone.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I was doing weird things.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49Like sitting on a graveyard, sitting on me dad's grave for two, three days at a time.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Not moving, just talking to myself. Do you know what I mean?
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I think people thought I was off me nut.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Because of the things I was doing and that. Do you know what I mean?
0:20:58 > 0:21:00People did try and help me.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02But since I've been put on medication
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and been in hospital,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- it's like I've evened out a bit. - Yeah.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10At the bottom of all of this, what you are trying to achieve is just
0:21:10 > 0:21:14that degree of stability, where you'll be able to see your kids.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- How many kids have you got? - Two little boys.- Yeah.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22That's the main thing, do you know what I mean?
0:21:24 > 0:21:27I mean, it sounds like you've had a real roller-coaster ride.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Yeah, places like this help, though.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35- If it weren't for places like this, I would have ended up in jail not long ago.- Yeah.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Because I would have ended up doing something stupid,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- do you know what I mean?- You've spent a long time in prison already.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41How important is...
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- ..a stable place to live? Because it is only bricks...- Paramount.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Paramount.- Is it?- Yeah.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51If you haven't got somewhere to live,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54you end up doing things to get somewhere to stay.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57And then, in the wrong crowd, and end up back in mischief.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Yeah.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03So the main thing is somewhere to live, a stable accommodation
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and stable people around me.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09'It seems that Alan is really trying to turn his life around.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12'But it's not going to be easy.'
0:22:12 > 0:22:16If you put down on paper his history and his background, no-one's going to...
0:22:16 > 0:22:19That's not a reference, no-one is going to want to give him accommodation.
0:22:19 > 0:22:25Ten years in prison, Meadowbrook... Prison, violence, robbery.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28That's not a reference you would want to give to a landlord,
0:22:28 > 0:22:32and it is about trying to break that down, give him the support he needs, and challenge that.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36If he finds difficulties in securing accommodation, the idea is
0:22:36 > 0:22:37we are there to try and help him.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40People would look at him as being the worst possible neighbour you
0:22:40 > 0:22:43could imagine, if you look at it on paper. But actually...
0:22:43 > 0:22:45When you meet him...
0:22:45 > 0:22:48You meet him, and under medication, in the right circumstances,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51he is desperately trying to make things work for him,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54for his family, to re-establish those bonds.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57He's got to go somewhere. Alan has to be somewhere.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00The thing is, that people don't see how keenly aware
0:23:00 > 0:23:02he is of his own problems.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- He wants to address them and he wants to make them better.- Yeah.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11'After living in temporary accommodation,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13'Alan is on the verge of being accepted
0:23:13 > 0:23:15'into a permanent flat of his own...
0:23:15 > 0:23:19'But the next time I catch up with Lisa, something's happened.'
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Myself and a colleague went to visit Alan on Monday evening
0:23:21 > 0:23:24and we found out that he'd passed away on Sunday evening.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Right.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27I mean, that's terrible news
0:23:27 > 0:23:31because it really felt like Alan was making some progress.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33He knew that he'd got challenges ahead
0:23:33 > 0:23:36and he knew that it wasn't going to be straightforward,
0:23:36 > 0:23:41but he was using this new place as a platform to try and build
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and get a bit more stability in his life.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46It's just really sad that this is the outcome that he's got,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49cos I don't think anybody was prepared for that,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51and I think, certainly, he seemed to have a lot
0:23:51 > 0:23:54to look forward to in going forward
0:23:54 > 0:23:57and making things better for himself and giving him some stability.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59He had such a clear goal as well,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- which was to get back in contact with his kids.- Yeah.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05That was absolutely paramount to him
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- and it's sad that that wasn't able to happen.- No.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10He was looking forward to everything.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14He seemed to be at the point where everything was coming together for him.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Alan's family have given us permission to feature his story.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22I can't help regretting that we weren't able to see Alan rebuild
0:24:22 > 0:24:27his life and his relationship with his kids, for all of their sakes.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29But I do know that it's given me
0:24:29 > 0:24:33a whole new perspective on what it means to be a housing officer,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and a glimpse of the realities that they face every day.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46The post-war years saw a boom in the building of social housing
0:24:46 > 0:24:49and nowhere more so than in Stevenage...
0:24:51 > 0:24:53..the UK's first new town,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57built as a large council estate in the late 1940s.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00This means the majority of the homes were originally social
0:25:00 > 0:25:05housing, and even today, the borough council has a larger-than-average
0:25:05 > 0:25:07and ageing housing stock.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10What we've found in Stevenage is that some people moved in
0:25:10 > 0:25:15when the properties were built 50, 55 years ago, and they are now
0:25:15 > 0:25:18coming back to us and they haven't had any work done at all.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22They've still got a very old kitchen, very old bathroom.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27In 2006, central government introduced the Decent Homes initiative,
0:25:27 > 0:25:33with a fund of £1.6 billion for the period 2011 to 2015.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39At the helm in Stevenage is Steve Annetts.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Decent Homes is effectively a process whereby
0:25:41 > 0:25:44we are looking at our council housing
0:25:44 > 0:25:47and we're improving the various elements that are in those,
0:25:47 > 0:25:52such as kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, electrical systems...
0:25:55 > 0:25:58And in charge of putting the plan into action in Stevenage
0:25:58 > 0:26:00is clerk of works Gerry O'Keeffe.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01Work started last Monday.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03The electrics have been redone in the property.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06We're now in the middle of fitting the bathroom and the kitchen.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10In 2012 to '13, Stevenage Borough Council spent nearly
0:26:10 > 0:26:14£9 million on over 1,300 properties.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18That's an average of nearly £6,500 per home.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Council tenant Michelle Carson is having a boiler
0:26:21 > 0:26:23and a bathroom fitted, as well as a new kitchen.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26The bathroom really did need to be upgraded.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29That's why I was like, I was over the moon about that one.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31So, yeah, I've been very pleased with it.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34The Decent Homes initiative states that social housing should:
0:26:46 > 0:26:47It sounds...reasonable.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50But at the beginning of 2011, nationwide,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54there were 217,000 council houses that weren't up to scratch.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58No, you're doing a real good job today. You've done loads already.
0:26:58 > 0:26:59You haven't been here that long.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02My daughter says I'm OCD about my house,
0:27:02 > 0:27:07so I was, like, a little bit nervous, but they've been brilliant.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09It's nice to do a nice job for nice people,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13and walk out and think, "Yeah, I've done well there."
0:27:13 > 0:27:16'The blokes doing the work have all got good manners, you know?'
0:27:16 > 0:27:19They're not just builders on building sites,
0:27:19 > 0:27:24they're in people's homes, which is a completely different ball game.
0:27:25 > 0:27:26'It is a very satisfying job'
0:27:26 > 0:27:29because you are effectively improving not only our housing
0:27:29 > 0:27:33stock, but you are improving the lives of our residents.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36So it's a win for the tenant and a win for the council.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Two weeks later, the builders' dust has settled.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Is Michelle happy with the work?
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Oh, I'm really happy with it.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55They've done a really good job and they let me
0:27:55 > 0:28:00buy my own tiles for the kitchen, so I've put my own stamp on it.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03I'm ecstatic with the whole work that's been done.
0:28:03 > 0:28:04I'm so happy about it.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09That's it for today.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Join me next time, when I'll be finding out what it takes to become
0:28:12 > 0:28:14a front-line housing officer.