0:00:02 > 0:00:04'The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live...'
0:00:04 > 0:00:07I worry about the fire risk here.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10'..but for thousands of people across Britain,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13'the reality can be more hovel than home.'
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Only months ago it was that we had this place cleaned.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18The whole of that bit goes black with mould.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Hello?
0:00:19 > 0:00:21'In the battle between tenants and landlords...'
0:00:21 > 0:00:23It's your fault, not the dog's fault.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25This is what you get...
0:00:25 > 0:00:26'..it's local housing officers...'
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- What's causing that smell? - '..who are on the front line.'
0:00:29 > 0:00:31The son's come out with baseball bats
0:00:31 > 0:00:32and knives on occasions.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34'I'm Matt Allwright.'
0:00:34 > 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're tackling problem properties...'
0:00:46 > 0:00:49This feels like an accident waiting to happen.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52'..dealing with the consequences of nightmare neighbours...'
0:00:52 > 0:00:55So, I 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 > 0:00:59This good old boy.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Hello?
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Today, I'm checking in on a hotelier who's not playing by the book.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11There's a family of four in this bedroom here.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Hello there.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16The property is licensed for a MAXIMUM of one person per room.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18There's too many people living here.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22A housing officer has high hopes for one of her teenage tenants.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- I just want to get in college and get a job and that.- Absolutely.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26I'm sick of sitting at home.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29The last three months of me taking all these tiny little steps with him
0:01:29 > 0:01:32have paid off and we've turned a corner.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33And I couldn't be prouder of him.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37And someone's feeling fruity in the gardens of Suffolk.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38And he had white pants on...
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- HE LAUGHS - Was it cold that night?
0:01:41 > 0:01:42It was bitter.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Absolutely bitter!
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Right now, Britain is in the middle of a housing crisis.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53If you want to buy a property, typically,
0:01:53 > 0:01:58you'll need to have saved almost three years' 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 we've now got more people renting
0:02:05 > 0:02:08than at any time in the last 60 years.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Protecting those renters are the country's housing enforcers.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16And in this programme, that's what I'll be training to become.
0:02:18 > 0:02:24From 2013 to 2014, house prices in our capital leapt a whopping 25%,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27fuelling a dramatic rise in the rental sector.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33In the borough of Newham,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36this rise has meant a big demand for rented houses,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39and unscrupulous landlords are cashing in
0:02:39 > 0:02:43by squeezing as many tenants as possible into their properties.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46But more than half of these buildings are failing
0:02:46 > 0:02:48to meet acceptable standards.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53'As part of my training,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56'I'm joining planning officers Ellen Nicholson and Tiffany Mallen.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00'It's their job to check up on these dodgy landlords
0:03:00 > 0:03:03'who are breaking the law and make sure they start complying
0:03:03 > 0:03:06'with regulations that are put in place to protect tenants.'
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Interesting.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10What are we going to be up to today then, Ellen?
0:03:10 > 0:03:13OK, so, we've got a couple of compliance visits we need to do.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16We served notices at the end of last year.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18We've got a lot of new cases that have come in, so...
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Are these coming in faster than we can handle?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24There just seems to be a never-ending stream of these.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Yeah, there's a lot of cases, and we've just been given
0:03:27 > 0:03:31a batch of 100 cases each that we've got to deal with.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32- OK, shall we go?- Yep.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42We head out with a long list of landlords to track down.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45There's no point in just taking one or two addresses,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47because so many of them are out.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Last call of the morning is this property of 11 bedsits.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Previously, the council discovered it was being used as an overflow
0:04:01 > 0:04:05from the hotel next door without the appropriate permission.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08It served an enforcement notice which the landlord complied with.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12You can kind of see what's happened.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16At some point, it used to say Stratford Hotel
0:04:16 > 0:04:19across BOTH of those doorways.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21But then the enforcement notice came in
0:04:21 > 0:04:24and the owner was forced to just put it all over the one doorway,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26where they have the licence.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28'With the case still open...'
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Hello?
0:04:30 > 0:04:32'..Ellen and Tiffany want to check the owner is now sticking
0:04:32 > 0:04:37'to the licence and running it as a rented house rather than a hotel.'
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- There are lights on... - Oh, there's someone coming.
0:04:40 > 0:04:41- Is somebody coming?- Yeah.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Hi, we're from Newham Council planning department,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47and we've just got a case open on this property.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48We needed to check the use...
0:04:48 > 0:04:50The number of people living here?
0:04:50 > 0:04:51Yeah?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54'After a frustrating morning, finally, we're in.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58'If the building is being run as a rental property should,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01'tenants here will have signed a legal agreement with their landlord
0:05:01 > 0:05:03'and be paying rent weekly or monthly.'
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Sorry?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- £50 a day?!- Yeah, I think so.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10So, you're paying per day to live here?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- (How does that work?) - You think so. All right.- OK.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14- So, is this a hotel?- Yeah.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- It is a hotel.- Oh, OK.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18From what that gentleman was saying,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21this is operating as a sort of hostel/hotel?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Yeah, so it seems he's paying per night... £50 per night.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- £50 a night?!- For that room.- Yeah.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30It might be that he's just using the empty rooms
0:05:30 > 0:05:33and charging a fortune just to fill them for the night.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35If you're running a hotel,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38then a completely different set of rules apply, don't they?
0:05:38 > 0:05:41As I understand it. Renting out per night
0:05:41 > 0:05:43is different from having a long-term tenancy.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46'Is this a case of the landlord
0:05:46 > 0:05:48'not complying with the enforcement notice
0:05:48 > 0:05:52'or of a tenant doing some unauthorised subletting?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54'Heading upstairs, we find a different problem.'
0:05:54 > 0:05:56There's a family of four in this bedroom.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Hello there. How are you?
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- So, four?- Yeah.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Four of you in this room?
0:06:03 > 0:06:06A little girl, who's in bed at the moment,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and we've got a double bed
0:06:09 > 0:06:10next to a single bed.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Then, in here, we have a shower, toilet and a sink.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Thank you very much, thank you.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23I'll just close that door, let those people get on with their lives.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25HE SIGHS
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Four people in there.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32'The family and landlord have signed a tenancy agreement,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35'but according to the property's licence,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38'there should only be one person living in each room.'
0:06:38 > 0:06:41So, up here, we've got the property licence.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44The property is licensed for a MAXIMUM of 11 people...
0:06:44 > 0:06:49"living as 11 households, regardless of age."
0:06:49 > 0:06:50So, that means...
0:06:50 > 0:06:53one person per room.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Yeah. 11 individual tenancies.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58But we've already seen that there's...
0:06:58 > 0:07:00four people in some of the rooms,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04and apparently, there's a family living on the ground floor.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- OK.- So...
0:07:06 > 0:07:08So, that licence, then, it looks, from what we've seen,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11like there could have been a breach of that licence.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12There's too many people living here
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and they're not licensed for that many people.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18'Later on, we'll discover just how difficult life can be
0:07:18 > 0:07:20'for a family squeezed into one room.'
0:07:31 > 0:07:36With Britain's economy experiencing all-time-low mortgage rates,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38budding investors have never seen a better time to buy
0:07:38 > 0:07:42additional property in the hope of making some money.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44While some will capitalise on the housing demand
0:07:44 > 0:07:46by renting their property,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49others look to renovate and try to sell at a profit.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53We're in Cumbria, where one such house,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55bought potentially for investment,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57has been abandoned and become dilapidated.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00The derelict property has become a nuisance for its neighbours,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03so housing manager Emma Bundock
0:08:03 > 0:08:04has been called out to take a look.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10As you can see, it's in a state of disrepair...
0:08:10 > 0:08:13I believe the gentleman bought it without seeing the property,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15so obviously he wasn't aware of the conditions in there.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19You know, what he's bought, he's now left with this.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22As well as viewing the property before you buy,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24you should also have a survey carried out.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27This will expose any potential hidden problems
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and save you money down the line.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33This place was bought as a potential buy-to-let investment,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36but vital renovation work was never carried out
0:08:36 > 0:08:38and the building has slipped into decay.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42The difficulty with this now is that
0:08:42 > 0:08:45it's not worth the value that he paid for it.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49So, he's going to struggle to get any finance from a mortgage company.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52We have an empty property grant scheme that...
0:08:52 > 0:08:55We've been out and drawn up a schedule of work
0:08:55 > 0:08:56to enable him to access that.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59But he has to pay off any debt that he owes the council
0:08:59 > 0:09:02and also raise 25% of the work that needs to be done.
0:09:02 > 0:09:08So, financially, he's struggling and unable to do this work.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12This abandoned property has fallen into such a shocking state of repair
0:09:12 > 0:09:15that it's causing problems for the buildings on either side.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17There is a school next door, which...
0:09:17 > 0:09:20I believe they had concerns during the high winds
0:09:20 > 0:09:24and stopped using the access there for the children to come
0:09:24 > 0:09:27because they were concerned about their safety.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28The guttering was hanging off.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32There were also concerns that people were getting into the property,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34vandals were getting in, and the risk there.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36So, yeah, it needs addressing.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39In the rubbish-strewn yard at the back of the house,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42the true state of neglect is glaringly obvious.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45There has been attempts to break in before.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49We've actually got it boarded up now, so that's quite secure.
0:09:49 > 0:09:50There's no need to worry there.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Slightly hazardous and very untidy, obviously.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56For the neighbours next door, it's not particularly pleasant.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58And for the school, as well.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01We have been in and carried out an inspection internally
0:10:01 > 0:10:04to see whether or not there would be grant-eligible works there,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06which there is.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08The ball's in his court to get quotes for the work
0:10:08 > 0:10:10and then to come back to us with the relevant paperwork.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12If I don't hear back from him very soon,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14we'll be looking at the enforcement route,
0:10:14 > 0:10:19which could be service of a notice requiring him
0:10:19 > 0:10:21to renovate or demolish the property.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25A few weeks later, and there's been a development.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Emma hears that the deserted house has been sold,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30meaning that, after years of dereliction,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33some urgently needed action may finally be taken.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36So, I spoke to the owner today of the empty property
0:10:36 > 0:10:40and he's advised me that the ownership is due to transfer,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43and he will no longer be responsible for that property.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46What I will need to do is establish
0:10:46 > 0:10:50who the new owner is and meet them.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51Once Emma has made contact,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53she'll discuss possible ways forward,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56some of which are quite radical.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59So, the options for the property is that the new owner does it up
0:10:59 > 0:11:01and we get a new family moving in there.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04They may decide that it's gone beyond any kind of repair,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07and they would look to demolish it and then rebuild a new house
0:11:07 > 0:11:09which might be more financially viable
0:11:09 > 0:11:11than renovating the one that's there already.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13There's a lot of work that needs to be done,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15and that might be the better option.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Back in Newham, I'm at a rental property
0:11:22 > 0:11:25where at least one room is being hired out by the night
0:11:25 > 0:11:27without a hotel licence.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- So, we've got certainly more than 11 people living here.- Definitely, yeah.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32- We've got maybe 20 or 25.- Yeah.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Hard to tell without seeing the other side of some of these doors.- Yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40'And as we move around the building, we uncover more worrying signs
0:11:40 > 0:11:43'of overcrowding as the owner continues to break the rules.'
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- Would it be possible to come and have a look inside your room?- Yeah, sure.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48Thank you very much.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50'We won't reveal this tenant's face
0:11:50 > 0:11:52'but he was still keen for us to hear his story.'
0:11:53 > 0:11:55So, you're here with your family?
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- Yeah.- And how many of you live in this room?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03OK. How long have you been here?
0:12:07 > 0:12:11- That's a long time to be...- It's a long time.- ..in these circumstances.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14And how is your work situation at the moment? Is it difficult?
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Right. So this is coming from housing benefit?
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Oh, OK.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28So it's because of your child that
0:12:28 > 0:12:30they have to make sure you have somewhere to live like this?
0:12:32 > 0:12:35It turns out the family's awaiting a Home Office decision
0:12:35 > 0:12:38regarding their right to remain in the UK.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Because they have a six-year-old son,
0:12:40 > 0:12:45the council's obliged to house them and did so in the hotel next door,
0:12:45 > 0:12:47but they were then moved to this room
0:12:47 > 0:12:49by the hotel's management at a later date.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54How do you find it living in here, trying to bring your family up here?
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Yeah.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16What does the future hold? Have you got a way out of this situation?
0:13:20 > 0:13:21OK. Thank you so much...
0:13:21 > 0:13:23- No problem.- ..for talking to us.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26- I hope you get a better situation soon.- Nice talking to you.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32'There is a lot of form-filling and door-banging in this job,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35'but when you actually come face-to-face with the people
0:13:35 > 0:13:38'who the rules and regulations are trying to protect,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40'you recognise what all the legwork is for.'
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Since our visit, planning officer Ellen managed to track down
0:13:49 > 0:13:51the landlord to get some answers.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55He is adamant that it is just a house of multiple occupation,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59it's not a hotel, but I'm waiting on tenancy agreements from him
0:13:59 > 0:14:01to show that all the rooms are being rented out on an agreement
0:14:01 > 0:14:03and they're not being rented per night.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08Hello there. So, four of you in this room...
0:14:08 > 0:14:10'Next, it was the issue of overcrowding.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13'But since our visit, the landlord has insisted
0:14:13 > 0:14:17'his property doesn't have more than the 11 stated tenants.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20'So, this will be investigated further by the housing team.'
0:14:22 > 0:14:23The good news is, though,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27that the family we spoke to earlier have now been moved by the council
0:14:27 > 0:14:31into more suitable accommodation, a self-contained flat.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32The council has also decided
0:14:32 > 0:14:36it will no longer use this hotel to accommodate families.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Teenagers - well, we know they'll argue black is white
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and insist you're just there to make their lives miserable.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53Harry Enfield might have turned adolescence into a comedy,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56but for a lot of families it can be a time of genuine
0:14:56 > 0:14:59relationship-threatening stress that's anything but funny.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I'm with Swale Council's housing options officer,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Sue Davis, in Kent. We're off to the Isle of Sheppey to visit a teenager
0:15:08 > 0:15:10who's been kicked out of school
0:15:10 > 0:15:13and is now in danger of being kicked out of home, too.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18We're just off to see Rian. He's 16, lives with Mum.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20He left mainstream school, couldn't cope very well
0:15:20 > 0:15:23and went to what's called a "pupil referral unit".
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Did OK, and then, went off the rails a little bit.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31Mum is on benefit, so they're living on a very low income for two people,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34which is obviously a massive strain on the family.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- Is he getting any benefits himself? - No, no, because he lives at home.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- He doesn't want to leave home. - He doesn't want to leave home?
0:15:40 > 0:15:44He might not want to leave, but the strain of the situation
0:15:44 > 0:15:46is taking its toll on Rian's mum.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48There's a real danger he could end up homeless
0:15:48 > 0:15:51if their relationship gets any worse.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54One of the most common causes of youth homelessness
0:15:54 > 0:15:57is a breakdown in family relations.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Sue's been working with Rian as part of the Troubled Families scheme,
0:16:01 > 0:16:06which provides support to over 100,000 disadvantaged households across Britain,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10households that are defined by the Government as having...
0:16:21 > 0:16:24In Rian's case, Sue's there to provide any support she can now
0:16:24 > 0:16:27to help keep the family together.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30It will be better for them, but will also prevent things escalating
0:16:30 > 0:16:34into a more costly and difficult problem if he becomes homeless.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36I don't believe any child wakes up in the morning and thinks,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39"I'm going to do something today that's going to make me homeless
0:16:39 > 0:16:41"and I deliberately don't want to be happy."
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Sue's had to deal with plenty of negativity from Rian.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48He has been rude, he has been vile,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52and he has been an absolute pleasure, and then sometimes...
0:16:52 > 0:16:54he won't talk to me at all.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56'She's clearly very fond of Rian,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59'but I'm slightly nervous about which Rian we're going to get today.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02'I'm hoping it's not the stroppy one.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06'He is happy to talk to us. That's a good start, at least.'
0:17:08 > 0:17:10- How have you been getting on with Mum?- All right.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14- Cos she does your head in sometimes, doesn't she?- Yeah, she does.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- But it's been better?- Much better.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Why do you think it's been better, though?
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Cos we've just gone our own ways.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23She stays down here, I stay upstairs. Simple as.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Actually, that's not a bad answer. That's not a bad solution, that.- No.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30It's not the ideal situation, but at least they seem to have found
0:17:30 > 0:17:33a compromise that's allowing Rian to carry on living at home.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Because he isn't in full-time education,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38the family isn't entitled to child benefit
0:17:38 > 0:17:42and the financial burden on Mum isn't helping their relationship.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46But Sue's convinced Rian to do something that will really help.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47College, then.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50So, why have we got a change of heart? That's really fantastic.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Cos I just want to get in college and get a job and that.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- Absolutely. - I'm sick of sitting at home.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57- Yeah, boring, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Now, I've had a little look around
0:17:59 > 0:18:01- and MidKent do it, you know Gillingham?- Yeah.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04They do one, it starts in January.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Would you be able to get me in that?
0:18:07 > 0:18:09- Well, I have filled the form out already.- Sweet.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11You've made my day.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13You've made my day. Right...
0:18:13 > 0:18:16A place on the course is a win-win.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18It could help Rian get a job when he's older
0:18:18 > 0:18:22but will also ease the pressure on Mum, who could claim tax credits
0:18:22 > 0:18:24and child benefit while he studies.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27So, you need to sign for me there.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30But Rian's already been excluded from school.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32I want to have a talk to him,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34man-to-man, to find out what went wrong.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Part of the idea of school is that you can see that
0:18:37 > 0:18:40there's a bigger world out there, and there are opportunities,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42and things that you could do, but did that not really...
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- That's not the message you got from school?- No, when I was in school,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47I didn't click, like, my brain weren't clicking.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I was like the class clown.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52There's always one kid that's always making everyone laugh and that,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and I was that kid, and I ended up getting kicked out.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58And now she has, like, helped me out, so...
0:18:58 > 0:19:00I can't praise her enough.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03So, if Sue hadn't got involved when she did,
0:19:03 > 0:19:04where do you think you might be now?
0:19:06 > 0:19:09On the street. Probably be on drugs.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15- Does a little bit of you want to get it right for her?- Yeah.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18'Meeting Rian has reminded me that dealing with teenagers,'
0:19:18 > 0:19:21as they move from children to adults,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23takes really sensitive handling.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25That's not what I was expecting.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27I was really, really worried that he wouldn't engage,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29he wouldn't open the door.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32If he did open the door, he would just not be interested.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35And Sue is clearly moved by the progress that he's made.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39That was fantastic, and his response to you, to me, to everyone
0:19:39 > 0:19:41has shown that the last three months
0:19:41 > 0:19:44of me taking all these tiny little steps with him has paid off
0:19:44 > 0:19:48and we've turned a corner and I couldn't be prouder of him,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50and of his mum. They've really worked with me,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54the threat of homelessness has gone, he's seen the future for himself
0:19:54 > 0:19:56for the first time ever, which is fantastic.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- Presumably, this is something you're still going to have to monitor and manage.- Absolutely.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03This is going to be maybe even harder, to a certain extent,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05because now we're going to be looking at college,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07new relationships with friends.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10There's going to be dips, but you get through them
0:20:10 > 0:20:12and I'm hoping that with the support
0:20:12 > 0:20:16that I'm going to plan on giving the family, that we get there.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Coming up, Sue's left facing
0:20:19 > 0:20:22a teenage tantrum that could jeopardise all her hard work.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25I want to move out.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- You want to move out?- Yeah.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34In rural Suffolk, being a Babergh Council housing officer
0:20:34 > 0:20:39isn't always about tackling big problems and dodgy landlords.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Today, community housing officer Andrew Weavers is responding
0:20:43 > 0:20:45to a call-out about an unruly hedge
0:20:45 > 0:20:49that's causing problems for one of the council's own tenants.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52What we've got is a complaint about another neighbour's garden,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55it's a bit overgrown, and I'd promised to get some work done.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58I was under the impression it had been done, so I want to go
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and check that because I'm still getting complaints from Denise.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Denise Murray has lived at her council-owned bungalow at Hadleigh
0:21:06 > 0:21:10for ten years, and while an overgrown hedge might seem like a small thing,
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Denise has trouble with her mobility
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and the scruffy shrubbery outside her home is
0:21:15 > 0:21:17making it even harder to get around.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20It's difficult for me to get out to go to the shops
0:21:20 > 0:21:24because it's overgrown, over the footpath.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25I'm just going to walk the footpath
0:21:25 > 0:21:28to see what has and hasn't been done.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Once Andrew arrives it doesn't take Monty Don to spot
0:21:31 > 0:21:33that it still hasn't been sorted.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37This is a bit of overgrown stuff that needs cutting back.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41It looks a bit better than I last saw it
0:21:41 > 0:21:44but I can't see too much work that's been carried out.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46I'll, erm...
0:21:46 > 0:21:53I'll go and see my little lady and just give a little chat, I think.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56And Andrew's got a theory about what's happened.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59I want to touch base with you, because I think at the beginning
0:21:59 > 0:22:01of the footpath, there might have been some work done,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03but they haven't done anything I've asked them to do.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- It's getting quite bad now. - It is, I've just had a look.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- Especially when I go out on my scooter.- I'm a bit disappointed
0:22:09 > 0:22:11they've probably got the wrong end of the stick,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15and they haven't done the work where I wanted it to be done.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- I'm going to ask them to come out and have a look, as well.- Yes.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21It's a simple mix-up and it should be easy to resolve,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25but it seems the hedge isn't Denise's only problem.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Any movement on the old boiler house?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31A redundant outbuilding in the communal garden's become
0:22:31 > 0:22:33a magnet for fly-tippers.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36The first thing Andrew needs to do is check out how bad it is.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38There's just one small problem...
0:22:38 > 0:22:42- Do you want ladders?- I'll need ladders to have a look, will I?
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- Come, come. - I'm not good with heights.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48It's not... It's only a small...
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I don't think I've got the right safety equipment to go up a ladder.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54HE LAUGHS
0:22:54 > 0:22:57I tell you what, I'll give you a leg up and you can tell me
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- how much rubbish is in there! - HE LAUGHS
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Denise is having none of it.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06You get the feeling he's going to go up there one way or the another.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10If I fall over this is going to be...
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- I don't like heights. Oh, I see. - It's awful in there.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19What we've got is various bits of rubbish.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20It's a real mess.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24And it's only going to get worse if it isn't sorted out.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27It appears to me that people are going by the footpath
0:23:27 > 0:23:31with bits and pieces of rubbish and just throwing it over.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34What we're going to have to do is clean it out but we're going to need
0:23:34 > 0:23:37to do something else otherwise it's going to keep happening.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But the fly-tipping isn't the only antisocial behaviour
0:23:40 > 0:23:42going on in the garden.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Some nocturnal nature-lovers have also been using it to give a whole
0:23:45 > 0:23:48new meaning to neighbourhood watch.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53One Friday evening, there was a couple having sex under the tree
0:23:53 > 0:23:54out in the communal garden.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Was it cold that night? - It was bitter.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Absolutely bitter!
0:23:59 > 0:24:02How rude. People dropping their rubbish is one thing.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05When they start dropping their trousers, well,
0:24:05 > 0:24:06that's quite something else.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Did your neighbour speak to the police about people getting in?
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- They did.- OK. They wouldn't have forensics round for that!
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- HE LAUGHS - I don't think so.- OK.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16THEY LAUGH
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Nice to see you again.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21- Thanks very much. - OK, you're welcome.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23I'll call round again, give it a week or two,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- and then hopefully I'll see a difference.- Lovely.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- And I might have some answers for you.- Lovely.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30- Thanks very much, Andrew. - Cheers, dears. Bye.- Bye.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Fortunately, sorting the hedge and the rubbish is something he CAN do,
0:24:34 > 0:24:36and while it might seem like a small thing,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39it'll make a big difference to Denise.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41We're called "community housing officers" for a reason
0:24:41 > 0:24:43and so we have to be out there in the community.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46But if we can do just the little jobs to keep people happy,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50then I think that's the big picture, isn't it?
0:24:53 > 0:24:57In Kent, Swale Council's housing options officer, Sue Davis,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01has been working with a troubled teen whose strained relationship
0:25:01 > 0:25:04with his mum is putting him at risk of being homeless.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Having been excluded from school, Sue managed to convince
0:25:08 > 0:25:1116-year-old Rian to go back into full-time education.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14I just want to get into college and get a job and that.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18But after less than a week on his new course, he's been asked to leave,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21so Sue's on her way round to talk things through.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24- I made some phone calls... - SHE SIGHS
0:25:24 > 0:25:27..and they were really good at the college.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28They explained it completely.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Basically, a bit of an attitude and a lack of respect.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35Sue had hoped the financial support he would get while he was at college,
0:25:35 > 0:25:39would take some pressure off his mum and help their tricky relationship,
0:25:39 > 0:25:44so the news he's been kicked off the course already is a real bombshell.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46When we last met, we were going to go to college,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48all looking forward to it.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Went to college.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Lasted how long? Seven days?
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- I didn't do nothing wrong.- Didn't you?- No.- They said something about
0:25:56 > 0:25:59earphones in in the lessons or when the man was talking.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01- I heard everything he said. - You're better than that, aren't you?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03You know good manners.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Sue's worried his attitude could be the final straw for Mum
0:26:06 > 0:26:10and she might decide she can't have him living at home any more.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13But it seems Rian's come to a decision of his own.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14I want to move out.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16- You want to move out?- Yeah.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18But you're not moving out.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20No, it's not any problems between me and my mum,
0:26:20 > 0:26:21I just don't want to live here any more,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- I just want to get out.- Having spent months doing everything she can
0:26:24 > 0:26:26to help keep the family together,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Sue's hoping a reality check will change his mind.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31You have a home, you have a mum that loves you.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33You've got a really supportive family.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36You've got all the potential to do well.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39But we've got this little gap here, and I don't want you thinking
0:26:39 > 0:26:41the answer is moving out and getting your own place. It's not.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44We've got to build up to that. Everyone has to PLAN to leave home.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46- Yeah, I do better without plans. - Do you?
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Well, that might be the case, but Sue's sticking to her original plan
0:26:50 > 0:26:51and, luckily for Rian,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54the college have agreed to give him a second chance.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57The course starts again in April and I said, "OK, lovely.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00"How do you get your name down? When do you put your name down?"
0:27:00 > 0:27:02And she said, "I can do that for you now."
0:27:02 > 0:27:05So, she put your name down for the course in April again.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Sue's delicate handling has done the trick.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Rian's going back to college and, for the time being at least,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13he'll be living at home.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Yep, him and Mum are getting on better. He's not threatened
0:27:16 > 0:27:19with homelessness which was always the issue.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24It's a result. But Rian is a teenager, so Sue's under no illusions
0:27:24 > 0:27:27he might well change his mind again tomorrow.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29I think we're back on track, which is really good.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32We have had a blip, I can't deny that.
0:27:32 > 0:27:33I think he's learned from it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37But I'll keep in touch till I know he's settled in cos he needs that,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40and I don't want the six months to have been for nothing.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Well, with a bit of luck, they won't have been wasted,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46because Rian's all set to start back at college in April.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Let's hope he makes a go of it this time.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55That's it for today's show.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Join me next time when I'll be finding out more about what it takes
0:27:57 > 0:28:01to become a front-line housing officer.