0:00:02 > 0:00:05The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06- See all those flies?- Yeah.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10But for thousands of people across Britain right now,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- It's just vermin, vermin and filth. - Oh!
0:00:17 > 0:00:19It was the landlord!
0:00:19 > 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 > 0:00:26We're coming in.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- No, no.- Police.- Excuse me.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30I'm Matt Allwright.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34I'm trying to understand how the property could be in this condition
0:00:34 > 0:00:37while rent is still coming in.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39And I'm back on the job once again,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41joining 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 are 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 the nightmare neighbours.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57- He called me a...- And doing their best to help those in need.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01We can stand there and look at the very rich people looking back down.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Today I join the rescue party for a derelict
0:01:10 > 0:01:12and dangerous seaside property.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15It's just water and time, that's all it takes, isn't it?
0:01:15 > 0:01:16To destroy a building.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19You can see where it's bowing and it looks like it's ready to collapse.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It's not safe for anyone to work in there.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25It's an open and shut case for one housing officer.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Have you spoken to your landlord about it?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30He saying, yeah, it will be done in the next couple of weeks,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34- but then it is still not done. - And will one homeless young man...
0:01:34 > 0:01:36The worst bit about it was the cold.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39..finally find somewhere to call his own?
0:01:39 > 0:01:44His worldly possessions fit into about seven plastic bags.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Right now, Britain is in the middle of a housing crisis.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54If you want to buy a property, chances are you will need to
0:01:54 > 0:01:58save almost three times your annual salary as a deposit
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and that'll get you a mortgage that'll make your eyes water.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05No wonder that there are now more people renting than at any
0:02:05 > 0:02:08time in the last 60 years
0:02:08 > 0:02:12and protecting those renters are the country's housing enforcers.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15In this programme, I'm training to become one of them.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22It's always nice to get out of the city with the trip to the seaside,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24but this is no ordinary day out.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32I'm on the road with Tendring Council housing officer Rob Goswell.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36The sightseeing we are doing today is anything but scenic.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39We're off to the seaside resort of Walton-on-the-Naze, where the view's
0:02:39 > 0:02:43being spoiled by a dilapidated seafront property.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46No-one's maintained the place since its owner moved out six years ago.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49And following complaints from neighbours,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53the council's decided to take the drastic step of serving a Compulsory Purchase Order.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56So tell me a bit about where we're going, Rob.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Right. We're going to see an empty property that we're currently dealing with.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Now, we had a gentleman living there and he couldn't live there
0:03:02 > 0:03:05any more because of his poor health, because it's a large property.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08It is in desperate need of maintenance and it went into disrepair.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Kids got in there and caused all sorts of trouble,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and so we've had to board it up
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and now we're looking to go through with a compulsory purchase.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21A Compulsory Purchase Order, or CPO, gives an authority the legal power to
0:03:21 > 0:03:24buy your home or land from you.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25It's a last resort,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29taken when the property's in a serious state of disrepair
0:03:29 > 0:03:33and the property owner can't or won't make the necessary improvements.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37In the past, the council's tried to compel the owner
0:03:37 > 0:03:39to carry out repairs,
0:03:39 > 0:03:40but things have become so bad now
0:03:40 > 0:03:43it's affecting the neighbouring properties.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45It's sad that it's got to this point.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47The older properties always require a lot of maintenance
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and when they haven't got it... It is a shame.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Even though the compulsory purchase hasn't gone through yet,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57the housing team still needs to make sure the property's safe -
0:03:57 > 0:03:58in itself, a risky job.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02It can be very dangerous viewing one of these properties.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I've got a full load of kit for you to wear.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I don't really feel you're doing a proper job
0:04:06 > 0:04:08unless you're wearing some kind of personal protection.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- It does make you feel the part, doesn't it?- Yes, yes.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Right, here we are. This is the one we're looking at today.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- Oh, my goodness. Yes, really stands out, doesn't it?- Yes, yes.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Look at that.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Even from a distance, we can see why we could be taking our lives
0:04:22 > 0:04:25in our hands going into this one
0:04:25 > 0:04:27and Ian Kavanagh seems to agree.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- Hello, there.- Hi.- How are you doing? Are you all right? Good to see you.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- I love what you've done with the place.- Looking good, isn't it?
0:04:35 > 0:04:39'Rob's really not taking any chances with our safety.'
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I've got you some over-shoes, you'll need them. Some gloves.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- You might need that if you want to touch anything.- OK.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48'Don't forget, I still have my rookie status.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51'Until I've served my time, I haven't even earned the right to wear
0:04:51 > 0:04:53'official council clobber.'
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Is that one yours?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57That's a nice, official one.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I'm not worthy of that.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01I'm not worthy of that yet.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03You've got to sort of work hard to get them kind of ones.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I'm afraid to say, standard for you.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08That's all right. You've got to start somewhere.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13- Wow. Those boots are too big for the protectors.- They are too big.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Maybe we should just get one of these big black bin bags.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20This is obviously, potentially, quite a dangerous property.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23And if you see anything untoward, let us know.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26And likewise, if we say we're leaving, we all go out.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31- We don't stay in. - Right.- OK?- Here we go.- Right.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34The structural issues aren't the only thing
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Rob and Ian have to deal with.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39The property's owner had a major hoarding problem and the council's
0:05:39 > 0:05:43already shifted tonnes of belongings that have built over the years.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44There's still some way to go, though.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46This is where our hoarder lived.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49I mean, you can actually see parts of cars.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51You've got the gearbox, the suspension.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- You've almost got the whole car... - Yeah.- ..just here, waiting.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Yeah, when it was occupied, it was just full.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02And, as you can see, it's degraded more and more and more over time.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04I mean, you can't even get into some rooms.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08'One room we can get into is the kitchen...just about.'
0:06:08 > 0:06:12I get a feeling it is not going to be the Mary Berry-type kitchen.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15There are stairs down, so mind yourself.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Indeed. It seems the occupant was more into breakers yards than Bake Offs.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- Look at that.- You can see the extent of the hoarding, now.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25When we actually first came to this property,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28you couldn't actually gain access to any part of the building.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32I think there's more than one car here.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I think there's several vehicles here, but it's just all piled up.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Look, you've got... It looks like a door panel there,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40and then that's an inspection ramp.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45I've never seen anything like it. The place is rammed to the rafters.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50I'm really struggling to get my head round how things can get this bad.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53You're trying to put yourself in the frame of mind of somebody
0:06:53 > 0:06:56that is living like this, but it's impossible, isn't it, really?
0:06:56 > 0:07:03- Because, you know, it kind of defies logic, living like this.- Yes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06It is certainly not the way most of us... Most of us would think.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Yeah, I mean, even from the outside it looks rundown.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12You wouldn't imagine this accumulation in here, would you at all?
0:07:12 > 0:07:15And you said half of it has been taken out already.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- A significant amount has been removed.- Really?- Yeah.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20'This place isn't just grotty, though.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23'Water pouring in through a hole in the roof
0:07:23 > 0:07:25'has left it in serious danger of collapse.'
0:07:25 > 0:07:27You can see the ceiling's come down.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29I don't think you need to be an expert
0:07:29 > 0:07:31to know what's going wrong there.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34And it looks like most of the plaster has come down
0:07:34 > 0:07:38and then the boards above it, which is the floor, of the first floor...
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Are probably going to be rotten. You know, it is not very safe at all.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44It has just leaked all the way through each level,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46so it's come through the attic, through to the third floor,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48second floor and then down to here.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51You know, you think, well, an Englishman's home is his castle,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54but it's now starting to affect other people, you know? And we can't have that, really.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57When you get these big, tall terraces like these, they are
0:07:57 > 0:07:59- so interdependent, aren't they? - Absolutely, yeah.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01You can live and let live to a point,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03but that point has long since gone, I think.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'Coming up, I venture upstairs to see just how urgently
0:08:08 > 0:08:10'repairs are needed.'
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Just watch yourself, right there. The floor is not in good condition, it's not safe there.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Most of us walk or drive past hundreds, possibly thousands,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24of front doors every day.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26They are a barrier against the elements,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30security for our families, a welcoming threshold.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32But for an experienced housing officer who has built up that
0:08:32 > 0:08:36housing sixth sense, a front door can say so much more.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42In Stafford, one particular house popped up on the housing
0:08:42 > 0:08:44officer radar of Chris Butcher.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54This house has been bugging me for a while.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57I drive past it every day and I can see the damage to the front door.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01I have spoken with the tenants before and I'm coming back now to see what we can do.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04The issue with this property wasn't reported to Chris.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Instead, he took it upon himself to investigate.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Tenant Dominic, who lives here with his young family,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13is pleased that he has.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16You can see from the road that it is still looking pretty terrible.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Have you spoken to your landlord about it?
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Yes, yes, I've already spoken with him, but then he just ignored.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25From the first time when we start reporting doors
0:09:25 > 0:09:30and most of the things in that house, he is just ignoring.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Or he's saying, "Yes, that will be done in next couple of weeks' time",
0:09:33 > 0:09:35but they're still not done.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Chris has the Housing Act of 2004 on his side.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Housing officers will assess privately rented properties under
0:09:42 > 0:09:45the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It states that...
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Classes of hazard include...
0:10:01 > 0:10:05And Dominic's dodgy door looks like a clear security hazard to me.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09And does it cause you any particular concerns about the security of your home?
0:10:09 > 0:10:12I mean, yeah, I'm actually scared of my family because of that.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Because it is a front door, everyone can see them,
0:10:14 > 0:10:16sometimes during the night-time.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20- We cannot lock them because we have no keys to them doors.- Right.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- So you don't have the key to your front door?- Exactly, yeah.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27And then when someone see them doors, they are open.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31- Going into our house.- I've spoken to your landlord already,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34who had assured me that a lot of work was taking place.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36And I will try and get the gauge
0:10:36 > 0:10:40about how long he thinks it will take, what is his timescales.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46If they seem excessive, I think I'll then look to see what
0:10:46 > 0:10:49enforcement action would be worthwhile to replace the door alone.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52So...if I can get them to push forward on that,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56especially if I start talking about, "Look, there are some cost implications here".
0:10:56 > 0:10:59If I'm going to have to serve a notice, I'm going to charge him for doing it,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01which will increase the cost.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Whereas if you just replaced the door - no harm, no foul.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Chris is hopeful that the landlord will cooperate
0:11:07 > 0:11:08and fix the rotten door.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13But if he doesn't, Chris has a range of enforcement options.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Local authorities have a duty to take enforcement action to secure
0:11:17 > 0:11:22necessary improvements where category one or serious hazards are present
0:11:22 > 0:11:25and they have discretion to intervene
0:11:25 > 0:11:27where category two hazards are present.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30The first option is to open a dialogue with the landlord.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34If that fails, the housing officer can issue an improvement notice
0:11:34 > 0:11:36to draw attention to the problem.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40If there is still no response, the council can take emergency action
0:11:40 > 0:11:45to fix the hazard or even ban the use of the property as a dwelling.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48To make matters worse, the front door isn't the only security
0:11:48 > 0:11:51problem that Dominic and his family had to deal with.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57All this property is not security locked.
0:11:57 > 0:12:03The back gate is all the time open, actually, he has got no lock on it.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06So we had a situation a few days ago...
0:12:06 > 0:12:09someone set up a fire in our shed...
0:12:09 > 0:12:11and my car is burned as well.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14OK, so this used to be the shed, I take it.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- Yes, that was the shed. - I can see the burnt tree.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21There must have been one heck of a fire that had taken place here
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and it doesn't surprise me at all that your car got damaged as a result.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Exactly, yeah. And the police officer said,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30because the property wasn't secured properly,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33everyone could come into our property.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- Because of security?- Yeah, yeah. I think that is the main reason.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Because there is so many sheds around, so why ours?
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Probably because of the gate, so...
0:12:42 > 0:12:46I can lock my gate, just like that, but you can see...
0:12:51 > 0:12:54I can see it's not very good. I can see it's not easy to shut.
0:12:54 > 0:13:00And even if you lock that, everyone can get into your property.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Obviously the landlord has done those bit, so we can have a chat
0:13:03 > 0:13:06and see whether he is willing to do the gate as well.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09I guess that, when you see one thing that's wrong, it is sometimes
0:13:09 > 0:13:11an indication that there are other things to go and have a look at.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14A bad front door can also mean that the landlord is not willing
0:13:14 > 0:13:17to undertake some other works. It could also mean, of course,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19that they don't necessarily have the money to do the repairs.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22So there can be many reasons why works don't get done,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25so a lot of the time it is about talking to people
0:13:25 > 0:13:26and seeing what we can do to help.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Hopefully, Chris's persuasive approach will do the job.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33And two weeks later...
0:13:34 > 0:13:39Look at that! A nice, shiny new front door for Dominic and his family.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43I mean, it is a pity they haven't taken the old one away with them,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46although I'm sure Chris was will spot that next time he's driving by.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55In Tendring, the council was forced to serve
0:13:55 > 0:13:59a Compulsory Purchase Order on the dilapidated seafront house
0:13:59 > 0:14:02abandoned since its elderly owner moved out six years ago.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06It's a situation made even more difficult
0:14:06 > 0:14:08by the former owner's hoarding habits.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11You've got the gearbox, the suspension.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15You've almost got the whole car, just here, waiting.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17We've taken a look at a ground floor.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Now it's time to assess the damage upstairs.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Just watch yourself right there.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23We're not going back here, as you can see.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- The floor's not in a good condition. It's not safe there.- Right.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29This room to the left here, it's a no-go as well.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- The one-room we can go in is on the right-hand side - that's fine.- OK.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Well, I say fine. Relatively speaking.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42- 'The house is rotting from the roof down.'- We're not going in this room.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43As you can see, obviously,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46the leak has extended over here and it's slightly collapsed.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49You can see sort of mould growth along here.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52There is some substantial growth in a sort of lovely number eight.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- That's impressive. - When I first came in here,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56the water ingress wasn't as bad.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00'I can now see why Rob was so concerned about our safety.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02'One false step and we could go right through
0:15:02 > 0:15:04'the soaking wet floor boards.'
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- This is a bit more solid here, is it? - Yes, this is OK.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11It is just water and time, that's all it takes, isn't it?
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- To destroy a building. - Not a lot of time either, really.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Five years, really.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20'The structural damage caused by the leaking roof is the big problem here,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22'but the former owner's reluctance to chuck anything out isn't
0:15:22 > 0:15:25'making the job of sorting it out any easier.'
0:15:25 > 0:15:27So how do you start to clear out a house like this?
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Because you can't really get into that room to do the work.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33This is why we've had a real major issue -
0:15:33 > 0:15:35doing it but doing it in a safe way.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38You can see where it is bowing, it looks like it's ready to collapse.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It's not safe for anyone to work in there.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44You've got half a tonne of junk. Televisions and cars...
0:15:44 > 0:15:47and all sorts of stuff that is just going to go through at some stage.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Beyond the decay in the dirt,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53you can see that the this used to be a beautiful Georgian house.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56While it's really sad that a property like this has ended
0:15:56 > 0:15:59up in such a terrible state, with a bit of time and a lot of hard work
0:15:59 > 0:16:03from the housing team, hopefully it can be restored to its former glory.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06If you look in that room,
0:16:06 > 0:16:11there are still the remnants of a life there underneath the rubble
0:16:11 > 0:16:14and the damp and the roof that's come down.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Then out of the windows is just the most spectacular view.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23They've got to clear what was somebody's life out first.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Unbelievable.
0:16:25 > 0:16:26'And even when the junk's gone,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30'there's still going to be a huge amount to do to put the house right.'
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Yeah, it is going to need a bit of work, that one.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36We're going to have to put scaffolding up over the roof.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Each floor is going to have to be supported and then
0:16:40 > 0:16:43we can look at what works need to be done.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45We're probably going to have to clear out to get a good idea
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- of what the structure of the building is like...- Yeah.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51..other than just a quick glance that we just had now,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53and then we can go on from there.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Then, realistically,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58how long before somebody else could be making this a home?
0:16:58 > 0:17:02You know, ballpark figure, I would say about three or four months.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04It won't be back to absolutely pristine,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07but you're coming to the point where it is then a blank canvas
0:17:07 > 0:17:11- and then we can move from there. - It's got floors, it's got clean walls...- Yeah.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- ..and we can have another go.- Yeah. - Let's get our kit off then.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20With inside falling down and the outside an eyesore, one person who
0:17:20 > 0:17:21is delighted the house
0:17:21 > 0:17:25will be getting a new owner is neighbour David Wilson.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28He has lived next door for 30 years
0:17:28 > 0:17:32and watched its dilapidation starting to affect his own home.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33Well, it's very good news.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35The property itself has become damp
0:17:35 > 0:17:38and that damp has seeped through into our place.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43Then, of course, there's the steady deterioration of the exterior.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45It is a bit of an eyesore.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49The place was just steadily allowed to fall into rack and ruin.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54Well, I mean, any kind of renovation would be better than as it stands.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Ideally, you would want the council to ensure that they sell it
0:17:58 > 0:18:03to somebody who is in a position to restore it properly.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Ian Kavanagh's back and it seemed like the council's decision to
0:18:06 > 0:18:07buy the house was the right one.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11At least nobody has managed to break down the boarding or anything,
0:18:11 > 0:18:12so nobody has broken in.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15With the Compulsory Purchase nearly complete,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19hopefully it won't be long before the house is brought back to its former glory.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23We should take possession of it in ten days and, when that happens,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25we've hopefully got a buyer lined up.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28But when it's finished, I'm sure it will be lovely
0:18:28 > 0:18:30and you can come and have a look and marvel at it.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32Unfortunately, the private buyer
0:18:32 > 0:18:35who previously expressed an interest has dropped out.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38The council's revalued the property and, once the building's been
0:18:38 > 0:18:42strengthened and cleaned, it will go to a sealed bid or an auction.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Hopefully, one day soon, this house will be a home again.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58In Salford, the housing team isn't just there to make sure
0:18:58 > 0:19:01the homes people rent come up to scratch.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04It's also their job to help some people find a home
0:19:04 > 0:19:06in the first place - people like 21-year-old Callum.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Callum, who has mental health issues, was excluded from school at 15,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14when he was arrested and cautioned
0:19:14 > 0:19:17for an assault after a row with a teacher.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20At 18, he ended up sleeping rough when his mum told him
0:19:20 > 0:19:21he had to leave home.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Tell me about what happened on the day she kicked you out.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27We always had the odd petty arguments, as families do,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and stuff that that. But she would always go, "I'm kicking you out
0:19:30 > 0:19:33"if you don't have a job tomorrow", or something like that.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36And then one day I came back and me bags were on the door.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Like, you know, just outside on the door. So that was it, really,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41and I had nowhere to go.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I was on the streets for three months or something like that.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47So when you say on the streets, where did you actually sleep?
0:19:47 > 0:19:49What were the practicalities of it?
0:19:49 > 0:19:52I mean, the worst bit about it was the cold.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56When you're walking down the street and it's freezing because of the icy wind,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59you quickly learn where places aren't as cold, for example, alleyways -
0:19:59 > 0:20:03get warm, or as warm as you can hope for.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06It sounds like you very quickly had to learn how to be homeless.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- Yeah.- How to survive, really.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13How to eat and drink and stuff like that...sort of.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14What I used to do is,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I'd grab something like a butty and a Mars Bar,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19or something, and I would walk around and eat it in the shop.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Then I'd walk out, you know, really fast.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Could you have gone back to your mum's place, to your family's home,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30and said, "Look, I'm really sorry, I'll try and make a new start"?
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Or was that totally off the cards at that point?
0:20:32 > 0:20:34That was totally off the cards.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Me and me mum fell out for a long time after this.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42I can understand why, now. Now that I've sort of grown up a bit, myself,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I can understand why she did it, like.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Would you broadly define this period that we've been
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- talking about, from 15 to what you are now, 21?- Yeah, 21.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56- So six years, basically growing up, that's what it is.- Yeah, basically.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Because I was just a stupid kid, until I was 18, like.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- It's difficult admitting that your mum's right.- Exactly.
0:21:04 > 0:21:10- Exactly, that's what it is.- It's all right, you can say it to me.- Yeah.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Nearly 111,000 people made applications to register
0:21:13 > 0:21:17as homeless across the UK last year -
0:21:17 > 0:21:19over half of them were under 25.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22One in five are affected by substance abuse
0:21:22 > 0:21:24and mental health issues.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27The most common reason young people end up homeless is
0:21:27 > 0:21:30because their family's no longer willing to house them.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Luckily for Callum, he's off the streets now.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35After living in a succession of hostels,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37he's in Salford Council's temporary accommodation,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41under the watchful eye of supported tenancies officer Vicky Fitton.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44My job is to support anybody, young or old,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46that gets placed in temporary accommodation.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Some can't read or write, some have mental health issues.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54And living rough hasn't helped Callum's own mental health problems.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Because he's been homeless, he hasn't had access to doctors,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01he hasn't had the medication that he is on now.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05So he has been known to self medicate with alcohol to get
0:22:05 > 0:22:08over his severe anxiety and depression.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Happily, he's now getting the help he needs.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Callum is a much, much calmer person.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Because his life was so chaotic,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19he was not getting the support from his psychiatrist,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23he wasn't working with Mind and the mental health team,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27whereas he's working with all professionals involved at the minute.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29After two months in temporary accommodation,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Vicky's found Callum a permanent home in a social housing scheme.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Callum is definitely one of the more fortunate ones.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37And seeing as it's moving day,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40I'm rolling up my sleeves to help him get settled in.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45'Having the stability of his own permanent home is a massive
0:22:45 > 0:22:47'step forward for Callum.'
0:22:47 > 0:22:51From not having nothing to being in my own place now,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53I'm moving up. I've stuck at it.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56I've gone to my appointments and spoke to Vicky.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59I've done everything she's asked me. I've not been lazy.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00I've been sort of up and about.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04So I'm glad to see that it has all paid off, in a sense, yeah.
0:23:04 > 0:23:11I hope it's the launch pad for something really, really enjoyable.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12Yeah, hopefully, yeah.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15'Now he's got his own place, Callum can look to the future.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18'He is hoping to continue his education.'
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I'm thinking, right, not that I'm trying to organise things,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23but that is the perfect place for a bookshelf, right there.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- It's where you can put all your books.- That would be all right, yeah.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- That is asking for a little desk. - In the corner.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Don't do what I said, do whatever you like. It's your place, mate.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36It only really strikes me what Callum has been through
0:23:36 > 0:23:40when I see his baggage - there just isn't enough.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42This is not a big flat by any means,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45but his worldly possessions fit into about...
0:23:47 > 0:23:49I don't know, seven plastic bags.
0:23:49 > 0:23:54He is missing some of the most important bits that you need
0:23:54 > 0:23:56to have a life by yourself -
0:23:56 > 0:23:58things like a bed, a fridge -
0:23:58 > 0:24:03but luckily a delivery has just arrived, thanks to Vicky.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06As well as finding him a place to live,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09it's also part of support worker Vicky's job
0:24:09 > 0:24:12to give him all the basics he needs to set up home,
0:24:12 > 0:24:13but it doesn't stop there.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- This is what they call a full service, Vicky.- It is.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Where you are actually making your client's beds for them.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24I am worried some people might accuse the council of being too soft
0:24:24 > 0:24:26and handing Callum everything on a plate.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30There are going to be people watching this who are going to look at it and go,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33"OK, so he's got the flat. He's been given, you know, the cooker
0:24:33 > 0:24:37and the other things that people have to work very hard for."
0:24:37 > 0:24:41And have you got results where you can say, "No, this works."
0:24:41 > 0:24:44By giving people the proper start, it prevents that problem later on.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Because that's what you need, isn't it?- Yeah.- Hard results.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53The amount of tenancies that fail reduce significantly
0:24:53 > 0:24:56if they have a support worker, just to set them up initially
0:24:56 > 0:24:58and make sure that everything is paid.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01With a lot of these guys, particularly if they are a little bit younger,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03it is a little bit easy...
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- Hold on, I've gone inside out. - No, that's right.- I've done it.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it.- All right, you do it.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10I've got it! I've got it!
0:25:10 > 0:25:12When they are a bit younger, it is quite easy for them to bury
0:25:12 > 0:25:16their heads in the sand and think, "Oh, it is all going to go away".
0:25:16 > 0:25:18And it doesn't. It just gets worse.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Not necessarily just young people... People that have got
0:25:22 > 0:25:26a poor education, people that have mental health issues.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30- It seems like Callum has been very lucky...- Yes.- ..from this point.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35What is it that, in his situation, that has triggered this place
0:25:35 > 0:25:38and this package that comes with it?
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Callum's quite fortunate to have a support worker
0:25:41 > 0:25:43that nominated him for this property.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48Everybody in temporary accommodation has to have a support worker,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50just so we can keep the process...
0:25:50 > 0:25:53You know, we make sure that we are we are receiving housing benefit
0:25:53 > 0:25:56for the temporary accommodation, we're bidding, we're looking...
0:25:56 > 0:26:00We're teaching them to budget while they're in that temporary accommodation as well.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02The more time I spend with Callum,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06the more I am realising how support like this really might help
0:26:06 > 0:26:08make sure he doesn't end up back on the streets.
0:26:10 > 0:26:17He's gone from homelessness to being part of "generation rent",
0:26:17 > 0:26:21being a renter with his own place, within a matter of weeks.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26It feels like it is quite a steep learning curve
0:26:26 > 0:26:28to pick up all the things you need to do,
0:26:28 > 0:26:29and the skills you need to get,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32to be able to run your own place properly.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35The flat is really coming together.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Now what Callum needs to learn is how to look after guests.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Yeah, it's his house now.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Got to get this on the go as quickly as possible, but it's not my job.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47It's the householder's job to get the kettle on.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Callum!
0:26:52 > 0:26:55'Without Vicky and Salford Supported Tenancies Service,
0:26:55 > 0:26:57'things could be very different for Callum,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00'but he needs to know she won't be there for him forever.'
0:27:00 > 0:27:05What do we do now with Callum, is that it? Do we just back off?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Support won't carry on for much longer.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Realistically, I'll probably be supporting
0:27:11 > 0:27:13and focusing my time on the next
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- person that moves into Callum's old flat.- Right.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19It seems positive and you just...
0:27:19 > 0:27:21At this moment, you want to kind of bottle it in a way
0:27:21 > 0:27:25- and just keep this hope. - This is the good part of the job.
0:27:25 > 0:27:31This is the results. This makes what coming to work is all about.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Since Callum moved in, he's been doing really well.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41It is proving to be the fresh start that Vicky really wanted for him
0:27:41 > 0:27:45and Callum's even considering volunteering for the charity
0:27:45 > 0:27:48that provided a lot of his furniture.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51So far, good news for everyone involved.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56That's it for today.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Join me next time, when I'll be learning more about what it
0:27:59 > 0:28:01takes to be a front-line housing officer.