0:00:02 > 0:00:05'The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.'
0:00:05 > 0:00:07- Seen those flies?- Yeah.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10'But for thousands of people across Britain,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13'the reality can be more hovel than home.'
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Vermin, vermin, filth.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16- Ooh!- Oh!
0:00:16 > 0:00:18It's not me! Blame the landlord!
0:00:18 > 0:00:21'In the battle between tenants and landlords,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24'it's local housing officers who are on the front line.'
0:00:24 > 0:00:26- We're coming in.- No, no.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28- The police...- Excuse me.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30'I'm Matt Allwright.'
0:00:30 > 0:00:33I'm trying to understand how the property could be in this
0:00:33 > 0:00:37condition, while rent is still coming in.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39'I'm back on the job, once again joining
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'the ranks of the housing enforcers.' It smells like pee.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44This is somebody's playground.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47'They 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 nightmare neighbours...'
0:00:52 > 0:00:56- He called me a BLEEP.- '..and doing their best to help those in need.'
0:00:56 > 0:01:00We can stand here and look at the very rich people, looking back down.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06All of this stuff needed planning permission and you've never...
0:01:06 > 0:01:08They won't give it.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10'Today, I visit a landlord who knew the rules,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14'but still broke them.' It seems like you've just gone ahead anyway.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16- Is that right?- That's right, yeah.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20'A mum and her six kids are driven to despair by the state of their house.'
0:01:20 > 0:01:23This mould here... I mean, this is only a couple of days' worth.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25If I left it and didn't wipe it off, it would
0:01:25 > 0:01:29literally come all the way up the walls and it goes like fur.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32'And one council tenant hopes her dreams of a more practical
0:01:32 > 0:01:34'property can come true.'
0:01:34 > 0:01:37How important is it for you that you have your independence?
0:01:37 > 0:01:39It is very important to me.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43And I was given an illness that takes that independence away,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46but I still try to be as independent as I can.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Britain is in the middle of a housing crisis.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55The Government reckons, to meet demand,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58we need to be building nearly a quarter of a million homes
0:01:58 > 0:02:03every year, but the reality is we're only managing about half that.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06It's just one of the reasons why the number of people
0:02:06 > 0:02:11renting their homes right now is at its highest since the 1950s.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16At the front line of this crisis are the country's housing enforcers
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and in this programme, I'm training to become one.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23'Planning permission.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26'Whether you're a developer building a superstore or just wanting
0:02:26 > 0:02:28'to extend your home,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32'it's something you need to get before even laying the first brick.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'But what happens when you ignore the law and, well, you know,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37'do it yourself?
0:02:39 > 0:02:41'In Newham, East London,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45'a landlord hasn't obtained planning permission for an extension on his
0:02:45 > 0:02:50'property and has repeatedly ignored council notices to remove it.'
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Look at that. That's the building work that he's doing.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00He's constructing a vast castle on the back of his house,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03with which he can fill renters, presumably.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07People who are going to pay him money to live there. Look at it.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09It's huge!
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'Along with planning officer Tiffany Mallen and planning
0:03:12 > 0:03:15'enforcement and policy manager Christine Lyons, we've got
0:03:15 > 0:03:19'a warrant to enter the premises to see what's been going on.'
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- Is that all right? - You can have a look, mate.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I've got nothing to hide. They want to knock it down.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27'The landlord, who likes to be known as Mr Fox,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30'has converted the property into three flats.'
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Can I just clarify how many people you've got living through
0:03:33 > 0:03:37that front door at the moment? In these three dwellings. How many in total here?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41You've got about four here and you've got two upstairs and I live on the top one.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45- Right, OK. - The gentleman just told me there's six people living in this flat.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48The gentleman I spoke to in the corner there.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- He said to me there's six people living in this flat.- Yes.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53They pay £1,250 a month for being here.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57And that includes all their bills and their council tax,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00or their proportion of the property's council tax, because we haven't
0:04:00 > 0:04:02got the property banded as flats.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- It's banded as a single dwelling house.- That's right, yeah.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07'So, there are two things going on here.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10'Firstly, Mr Fox doesn't have the right planning permissions
0:04:10 > 0:04:14'in place, and secondly, he's not in the right council tax band.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:18They're trying to make me look bad, like I'm not paying the council tax, yeah? But I was willing to pay it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21But did you get the planning permission in the first place?
0:04:21 > 0:04:24- No, they won't give me the planning permission.- Right.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27'And, yet, he still went ahead and built the extension anyway.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29'It sounds like Mr Fox has been making up his own rules.'
0:04:29 > 0:04:31I'm so confused about this place.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36He's claiming that he applied for planning permission, but then didn't receive it and then...
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Then he's not going to be able to pay council tax cos he's not paying council tax on the right thing
0:04:40 > 0:04:44because it's not been given permission in the first place.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Yeah. He's obviously converted it into flats without permission.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51I think he's trying to claim that this is lawful, but obviously there was an enforcement notice on it
0:04:51 > 0:04:54and he's still not complied with the original enforcement notice.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58'Enforcement notices are documents served by the council which require
0:04:58 > 0:05:01'any buildings that don't have planning permission to be removed.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04'Clearly, that hasn't happened here.'
0:05:04 > 0:05:07We want these properties to be retained in their original
0:05:07 > 0:05:08format, as much as possible.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Extended aesthetically and extended properly,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14with the proper consents, building control and planning permission,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17if required, to make sure they are retained as family homes.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22- They shouldn't be making our properties into these mishmash of flats.- It's a breeze block hotel.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26What it appears to be from here is just a series of additions
0:05:26 > 0:05:30that have gone on as and when he's found he wants another room.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32He's a guy that seems to have avoided putting this
0:05:32 > 0:05:35right at several stages and when enforcements have gone in,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38he's just carried on building, building, building.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Everyone sees Planning as a bit of a soft touch.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44We don't quite get the grasp of what's going on.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49Actually, we do and our legislation is in place to protect the environment and protect land use.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Newham takes direct action. We will happily come in here and resolve this through
0:05:53 > 0:05:56bringing in contractors to remove unauthorised development.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00The enforcement you're talking about means men coming in with hammers...
0:06:00 > 0:06:02- Yeah.- ..really.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06'Without planning permission and proper building regulations,
0:06:06 > 0:06:11'this extension isn't just unlawful - it could be dangerous for anybody living here.'
0:06:11 > 0:06:15They do not meet the space set out by the London Plan for requirements
0:06:15 > 0:06:17for flats. They do not meet those standards.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- What do you mean? They build rabbit hutches, do they? - No, they're built to a standard.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- This would not meet those standards. - What's wrong with the standard?
0:06:24 > 0:06:29- The floor area isn't the correct floor area and...- Have you got a front room that's bigger than this?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- Are you having a laugh?- And also, the fact the stacking isn't correct.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- What's that?- The stacking of the properties isn't correct.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40- There's no means of escape. - There's windows. Fire regulations...
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Those windows open so firemen can get in.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46But you can't get round the back of the premises.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49'So the flats don't have the legal minimum floor space
0:06:49 > 0:06:54'of 39 square metres for a single person and 50 for a couple.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57'And the living spaces and bedrooms aren't
0:06:57 > 0:07:01'stacked above each other to reduce noise disturbance between the flats.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05'It seems this place is unlawful on all sorts of levels.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08'Mr Fox is convinced he's not to blame.'
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Have you only recently become aware of planning permission?
0:07:11 > 0:07:14All of this stuff needed planning permission and you've never...
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- They wouldn't give it. I applied. I submitted drawings...- Yeah.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20I had the planners round. They had a look at it.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Then if they don't grant it, doesn't that mean you don't do it?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Why do they ask you to submit drawings after the fact?
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Cos they need to look at what you're suggesting
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and then they make a decision whether that's acceptable or not.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- Yeah.- And if they say it's not acceptable...- Yeah.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38It seems like you've just gone ahead anyway. Is that right?
0:07:38 > 0:07:40That's right, yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Mr Fox is adamant that actually there's nothing going on here
0:07:44 > 0:07:45that's not acceptable.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Crucially, what he's saying is that all we will end up doing
0:07:49 > 0:07:53if we knock down the extensions that he's put up is put people
0:07:53 > 0:07:56out on the streets, people that could be living here.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- Thank you very much. - That's all right.- See you again.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05I'll apply for a certificate of law for this.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08I will take down the side building and the rest of it,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10I will not touch.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13'Our inspection complete, Mr Fox remains defiant.'
0:08:13 > 0:08:18- Nice to meet you, Mr Fox. - To take it down, they've got to take half the building down.- Right.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21- That will never happen.- Yeah.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26'We'll be back later to see what happens to that extension.'
0:08:26 > 0:08:30If someone comes in and takes your home away, how would you feel?
0:08:34 > 0:08:37It's not just packed inner city streets that
0:08:37 > 0:08:38suffer from overcrowding.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Down on the coast, tenants are as short of space as anywhere else.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Swale in Kent includes the Isle of Sheppey,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50nestled at the mouth of the Thames Estuary.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54At only nine miles from end to end, it has its own unique culture
0:08:54 > 0:08:55and character.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01Stay-at-home single mum Victoria has rented a house here with her
0:09:01 > 0:09:04six kids, the eldest of whom is autistic.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08They've been here for the past three years, but the house is damp
0:09:08 > 0:09:13and massively overcrowded and things have now reached crisis point.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16My landlord wants to sell the property cos he can't rectify
0:09:16 > 0:09:19the issues in the house, like the damp and other problems.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22So I'm being evicted anyway.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26So, either way, I need somewhere bigger and stable to live.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30I just want a bigger home, somewhere we can be settled.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Until then, Victoria and her kids,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36who range in age from eight to 18,
0:09:36 > 0:09:40have to live in a house riddled with rising damp, which occurs
0:09:40 > 0:09:44when moisture is absorbed from the ground up into the walls.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Yeah. See? This mould here - this is only a couple of days' worth.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51If I left it and didn't wipe it off, it would
0:09:51 > 0:09:56literally come all the way up the walls and it goes like fur.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57It's really not nice.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01And it's ruining more and more of their belongings as we go.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Damp and mould is a particular risk to babies and children and can
0:10:05 > 0:10:09lead to respiratory infections and affect the immune system.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Myself and my son and my daughter are all asthmatic and obviously,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17being in the damp's not good for any of our chests.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20So, that is causing health problems like that.
0:10:20 > 0:10:21And apart from that,
0:10:21 > 0:10:26it's not nice for the children to be around the mould.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27So, it's just not good.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29But it is rising damp
0:10:29 > 0:10:32so there is nothing I personally can do to stop it.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It is down to the landlord.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Victoria's right.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39It's her landlord's responsibility to treat the damp
0:10:39 > 0:10:41and stop it from coming back.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50But the work has yet to be done and in the meantime,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53her kids are suffering the consequences.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- How's your cough been today?- Bad.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- I coughed in assembly and it echoed everywhere.- Yeah.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02It's not good, is it?
0:11:02 > 0:11:06The damp's making your bad coughs and bad chests again, isn't it?
0:11:06 > 0:11:11And as if the damp isn't bad enough, the house is seriously overcrowded.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16For Victoria's girls, Kia and Abi, the situation is less than ideal.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19It's horrible because you go upstairs in the morning to
0:11:19 > 0:11:22get in the bathroom, wash your hair, and they're always in there.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25If you go in the front room, they're on the sofas,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28- you've got to sit on the floor. - I love living with my family,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31but it's too squidgy because like there's three boys in one
0:11:31 > 0:11:34bedroom, two girls in another and our brother's in the hallway upstairs.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37It's really overcrowded. We love living with them,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39but it would be nice to have a bigger house.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42With space so tight,
0:11:42 > 0:11:46eight-year-old Kieran doesn't have anywhere to call his own.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50There's no room to play. I usually go in the hallway.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55I'd like to live in a big house. I don't know where though.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01He should have a space in his room to be able to play.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04None of them have got no personal space.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Coming up, Victoria's bedroom leaves a lot to be desired.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15That's an actual hole, which leads direct to the tiles.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Is the landlord aware of that? - The landlord done it.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Back in Newham, and landlord Mr Fox has built a huge extension onto his
0:12:27 > 0:12:29house without planning permission
0:12:29 > 0:12:32and without meeting council building regulations.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35The floor area isn't the correct floor area and also...
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Have you got a front room that's bigger than this? Are you having a laugh?
0:12:40 > 0:12:43'Back at the office, it's time for a debrief with Christine and Tiffany.'
0:12:43 > 0:12:48We got in there, which was a result. I didn't know if that was going to happen.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53We got the information we needed, enough for our position to take things forward.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56I mean, the thing is, we're dealing with broad brushstrokes.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00We're not talking about fire prevention, or anything like that.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02We're talking about extra rooms being built.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07It seems to me fairly cut and dry that having been told not to
0:13:07 > 0:13:10build things, he's gone ahead and built things.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Was it me or was there a few flaws in his logic?
0:13:14 > 0:13:16As we were going through there, he was saying,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20"You can't enforce this because you told me to stop.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23"I didn't, but you didn't do anything about it afterwards."
0:13:23 > 0:13:26I was really struggling to understand, you know,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28his reasoning, his logic.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31The notice, once issued, stays on the land
0:13:31 > 0:13:33and it can stay on the land forever. But this case is clear.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35He's built something that doesn't comply with planning,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37or building regulations,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40hasn't been through the building regulations approach either.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41We don't know if it's even a safe structure.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45From our point of view, it shouldn't be there. It's an ugly structure.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49It's just breeze block. It's not very nice to look at.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53We'll be writing to him, telling him basically that he is to remove the unauthorised extensions,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55he's to remove the loft conversion as well,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58and setting him a timescale to do those works.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01If he doesn't, then the options are, either remove them or prosecution.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Well, it seems Mr Fox has decided to avoid prosecution.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Despite having to dismantle his unlawful extension,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13brick by brick, he is unrepentant.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15It's what you call a gamble.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18You take a chance with your money
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and you either get away with it or you get caught.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23As I say, they caught me for this up here,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26so I'm prepared to take it down.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30We've taken away the extension, coming round to the left.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33And the rest of it, which is continuing straight down,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35we'll be taking that down as well.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40That's more or less what it is.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43If you're an Englishman, your house is castle.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45You know, it's known for it.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I mean, mine did look like a castle at one stage.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Yeah, in other words, it's their prized possession.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I mean, if someone comes in and takes your home away,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56how would you feel?
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Luckily, this part of the extension wasn't being used,
0:15:00 > 0:15:04so his tenants still have somewhere to live, for now.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08And despite everything, Mr Fox is feeling philosophical.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09Not to worry.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14There's a lot worse things in life to be concerned about.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Maybe next time, he'll wait for planning
0:15:17 > 0:15:20permission before embarking on any more building work.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Back on the Isle of Sheppey, in Swale, single mum Victoria
0:15:33 > 0:15:37and her six kids have spent the last three years
0:15:37 > 0:15:39living in a cramped rented house,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42where she's also found herself fighting a serious
0:15:42 > 0:15:44case of rising damp.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48If I left it and didn't wipe it off, it would
0:15:48 > 0:15:52literally come all the way up the walls and it goes like fur.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55In order to carry out the extensive repairs that are quite
0:15:55 > 0:15:59clearly necessary here, the landlord claims the property has to be empty.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03So, he's issued Victoria with an eviction notice.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06But finding affordable accommodation with enough
0:16:06 > 0:16:09space for the whole family on the island is proving tough, so
0:16:09 > 0:16:14Victoria's called in housing officer Sue Davis to see if she can help.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17- Hiya.- Hello, is it all right if I come in?
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- Yeah.- Thank you.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23The last time we spoke about the situation was, if I'm right,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26I know you're privately renting and the landlord's selling,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- and you've been looking for private rent?- Yeah,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30but there's just nothing about, is there?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32If it's OK with you, we'll have a look round,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- so I can see who's sleeping where, and the make-up of the house.- Yeah.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Victoria's kids have really been struggling with
0:16:38 > 0:16:42the lack of space, but the damp is making matters even worse.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Right, so, whose room is this?
0:16:44 > 0:16:48It's Ciaran, the eight-year-old, Kyle, the 15-year-old,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52- and Jamie, who's nearly 17 this month.- OK.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- But you can obviously... You can smell the damp in here.- Yeah.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58And all that wall, I mean, that goes black quite regular,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01- but as I said...- We've had Environmental Health out, though,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- haven't we? - Yeah, he said it's rising damp.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06That's something I need to take to the Environmental Health again,
0:17:06 > 0:17:07- see if they can have another look. - Right.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- Cos that is an issue... - Yeah.- You've got three lads in here.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Well, Kyle was asthmatic as a baby,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17the doctor has recently said his asthma's back, his wheeze is bad.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21I said to him about the damp. He said he can't say that
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- that's obviously, the problem, is it?- No.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26But it ain't going to help his asthma in any way.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29It's clear this is no place for kids to spend time in,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32never mind having to sleep here,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34and things are no better in the next room.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36OK, so you've got the two girls in here.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39A lot of their furniture is actually in my bedroom, because it's...
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- We're losing so much through mould. - Everything's doubled up, isn't it?
0:17:42 > 0:17:46- OK.- You can feel the walls in here, I mean, if it rains, that's it.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49- They're soaking, absolutely, so... - Yeah, right.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Obviously, that's the only reason we keep that there,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53is so there's somewhere for it to be in the way.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- Who's up here?- Lee, the eldest, yeah.- He's your eldest.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- OK, this is like a landing. - Yeah, yeah.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Victoria's 18-year-old son Lee has autism, which affects how
0:18:06 > 0:18:10he communicates and relates to other people.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13He should have his own bedroom but the chronic shortage of space
0:18:13 > 0:18:17means he has to sleep at the top of the stairs.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21- Obviously, where he is, 18.- Yeah. - Even though he's mentally not 18.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23- No.- It still is...big boy.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25He's not in a position to really share with
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- any of his siblings at all, no? - He can't, no.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32It's like this... To me, that's an absolute mess, but to him,
0:18:32 > 0:18:33- that is how it's got to be.- Yeah.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- If I literally moved a boot or something...- He'd know.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- ..when he'd come in, he'd be, "Who touched my stuff?"- So,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41if he comes in and something's been moved,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- he won't be able to cope with that? - He'll... No, he will have a tantrum.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46And what does that entail, what does he do?
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Well, the same as a, like, three-year-old.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50When they have a tantrum, he can kick out,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52- scream, jump about on the floor... - Does he get physical?
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Hit things...yeah, yeah.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56You've been here for about three years,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58- has he always been here, then? - Yeah, because he...
0:18:58 > 0:19:01It's just not even worth trying to get him to share.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03- Doesn't want to, doesn't want to share.- No.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06As Lee's full-time carer, alongside running the home,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Victoria really does have her hands full.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Her room is crammed with clutter.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14That's all the kids' bits, that are not against...
0:19:14 > 0:19:17This was the only place in the house that wasn't actually mouldy.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And there's no escape from the damp, either.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23The whole of that bit goes black with mould.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27That's an actual hole, which leads direct to the tiles.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28And is the landlord aware of that?
0:19:28 > 0:19:30The landlord done it,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32- because he was trying to have a look...- Oh.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34..into the ceiling to see what was going on,
0:19:34 > 0:19:38- he cut the hole, said he'd be back, ain't been back since.- OK.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41He's took all these out, because they're all on separate fuses, but if
0:19:41 > 0:19:43you can see round the edges, they've all gone damp
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- and they kept blowing the whole of the electrics.- OK.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Right, I'm going to have to get Environmental Health out anyway,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51- just to do safety things, check everything over.- Right.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- Because you're still living here, at the end of the day.- Yeah, yeah.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58It's a situation which needs to be sorted as soon as possible,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01but finding a new place in the same area for Victoria
0:20:01 > 0:20:04and the kids won't be easy.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07So, all your kids are at school on the island.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- Apart from Lee...- Apart from Lee.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11..and Jamie's in college on the island, yeah.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- So, and you've got support here, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16So, that kind of restricts their area, as well, to a certain extent.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Yeah, well, that's the thing, I mean, obviously,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Jamie, at the minute, is feeling like he should move out
0:20:21 > 0:20:24to give us more space, but I don't want him to move out.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- No, we don't.- He's still a baby, I'd rather have him at home
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- and be able to guide him better in life.- Absolutely.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Yeah, and we want you as a family to stay together,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- and help you as a family.- Yeah, we don't want to split us all up, no.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36That's what we're here to do. We're here to help you move on
0:20:36 > 0:20:39to somewhere that is adequate for you.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- Yeah, and somewhere we can stay. - That is... Somewhere you can stay.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- A bit permanent, yeah. - Yeah, long-term housing for you.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47- Lovely, thanks for that, Victoria. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- See you later.- See you later.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54'I'm going back to the office. I'll speak to Environmental Health.'
0:20:54 > 0:20:57There are issues there and we need to get them sorted out.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59What we don't want, with this family,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01is for, like Victoria said, she's got one of her sons
0:21:01 > 0:21:04who's saying, "I don't want to do this any more.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05"I want to leave." Well,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07we don't want that, we want to keep the family together,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10so we've got to do everything we can to keep them together,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13to get them moved on into housing that's sustainable for them.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15And that's what we're aiming to do.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25It's not easy finding a property to suit such a large family,
0:21:25 > 0:21:27but, happily, the landlord has agreed to
0:21:27 > 0:21:31hold off repossession proceedings, while Sue and the team continue
0:21:31 > 0:21:35their search to find the right home for Victoria and her kids.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46'Councils around the country have different ideas and policies about
0:21:46 > 0:21:50'how their properties can be altered and changed to suit the tenant.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53'But you can't draw up a policy that covers everyone.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'If a tenant, for example, suffers with health problems,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00'the council has to deal with that on a case by case basis.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02'Today, I'm in Stevenage.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05'And I'm travelling with architect Andy Hills.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09'We've come to see Heather Dunlop, who has MS,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12'in the hope that we can find a way to make her house more
0:22:12 > 0:22:15'suitable for her complex health needs.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18'Multiple sclerosis attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21'causing symptoms that affect muscle movement,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23'balance and vision.'
0:22:23 > 0:22:26There you go. Do you want to take it from there?
0:22:26 > 0:22:28'Heather's lived in this house for the last 18 years
0:22:28 > 0:22:32'and has asked the council to extend the ground-floor living
0:22:32 > 0:22:35'accommodation to better suit her needs.'
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- Where do you want us, Heather?- By the table.- OK.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'While Andy takes some quick measurements outside,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45'I want to find out more about Heather's current situation.'
0:22:45 > 0:22:48So, Heather, even coming through the door, we could see
0:22:48 > 0:22:51some of the problems that you've got with the property right now.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56Can you talk me through what it is that is wrong with this house
0:22:56 > 0:22:58right now, for you?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It's wrong in the fact that I still live...
0:23:01 > 0:23:07I still sleep upstairs, so I need to be able to sleep downstairs,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09and also wash downstairs,
0:23:09 > 0:23:14so hence why I'm having...or would like to have the extension.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- I know you've lived in this property for some time.- 18 years.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20How have things changed since you've been in this home?
0:23:20 > 0:23:24I've got a rare form of MS, primary progressive,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26that every day I get worse.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28There's never any getting better.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32When was it clear that you needed this place to be changed?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34About five years ago.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Was it when you realised you were going to be
0:23:36 > 0:23:38dependent on a wheelchair?
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Yeah, in 2010, I became... into a wheelchair.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46And I physically can't stand to get on a stairlift to get up
0:23:46 > 0:23:49the stairs on my own, without somebody helping me.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52What are you doing at the moment, then? How are you dealing with it?
0:23:52 > 0:23:55My son, at the moment, or my daughter if she's here,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59they physically lift me on the stairlift,
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I go up the stairs on the stairlift, and then my son or my daughter
0:24:03 > 0:24:06will lift me off the stairlift to get into my bed.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11And in the mornings, my 24-year-old son has to see his mother naked,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13to get in that shower.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17How important is it for you that you have your independence?
0:24:17 > 0:24:18It's very important to me.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22I was given an illness that takes that independence away,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26but I still try to be as independent as I can.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29'Andy's still finalising the architectural drawings for
0:24:29 > 0:24:31'the planned extension, to make sure
0:24:31 > 0:24:33'they satisfy Heather's requirements.'
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Then, hopefully, you know, at the end of this, we'll have something
0:24:37 > 0:24:41that you, as far as this scheme's concerned, you're content with.
0:24:41 > 0:24:42OK.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46The first thing that we need to improve is the front access.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50And, then, this door, which we came through in front of the stairs,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53into the living area, we've got to widen as much as we can,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57so you've got lounge, dining, kitchen.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I need to have a ceiling hoist,
0:25:00 > 0:25:05- preferably that goes right from my bed to my washing facilities.- Yes.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08And that's all I want to do, is sleep and wash.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Everybody has a right to wash, don't they?
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Yup.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Once the architectural plans are finalised,
0:25:16 > 0:25:17it's up to the council to decide
0:25:17 > 0:25:21whether to fund the improvements or possibly search for an existing
0:25:21 > 0:25:26property that's already designed with wheelchair living in mind.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28For now, Heather will continue to rely on her son
0:25:28 > 0:25:32and daughter to enable her to stay in the family home,
0:25:32 > 0:25:36until a final decision is made on the proposed extension.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39That looks like a big bit of work for you, Andy.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- It's a big job, isn't it?- There are some real practical issues.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46It's not just simply putting an extension on the back a house.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50There are some major issues with drainage, to get the drainage out to the front.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54And, yeah, taking her out of her situation with the kitchen
0:25:54 > 0:25:58- going et cetera is very disruptive to Heather.- Presumably,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02there comes a point where the cost of work like that,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05you have to weigh it up against the possible benefits
0:26:05 > 0:26:08and it might not actually be, you know, a cost efficient thing to do.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Yeah.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14The housing folk who obviously have responsibility will take
0:26:14 > 0:26:15that on board.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19My job as the architect is to provide the design, get the costs
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and report back to them, so they can make an informed decision.
0:26:23 > 0:26:28For the Dunlop family, finding a solution can't come soon enough.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34While the council consider the extension to Heather's
0:26:34 > 0:26:37existing home, a few weeks later,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41a nearby three-bedroom bungalow has become available.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Housing officer Greta Gardiner hopes this could solve Heather's
0:26:44 > 0:26:46housing problems.
0:26:46 > 0:26:47Sometimes, it's very difficult
0:26:47 > 0:26:51when a tenant's in a property that is no longer suitable for them.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54So, every single case is treated individually
0:26:54 > 0:26:56and we assess their needs
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and what we have available at the time, to the best of our ability.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02The council hope that this property, when it's refurbished,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05will provide more accessible accommodation,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08without the need to build on additional rooms.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12This afternoon, we showed Miss Dunlop
0:27:12 > 0:27:14and her daughter this property.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17We were able to show her what we could do to the property to
0:27:17 > 0:27:21make it suitable for her, so she'd be able to live here comfortably.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22With some small alterations,
0:27:22 > 0:27:27this new home will allow Heather to live much more independently.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31I think Miss Dunlop has had a really difficult time in deciding
0:27:31 > 0:27:34what is best for her cos it's not just about Miss Dunlop,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38it's about her and her family and how it all works for them.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43It's not about bricks and mortar, it's about people being comfortable.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46We are doing our best and hopefully,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48this will be one of those success stories.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Since filming, we've been told that the high cost of building
0:27:51 > 0:27:54an extension to Heather's current home means that it's looking
0:27:54 > 0:27:57more likely she'll be moved into the bungalow
0:27:57 > 0:28:00which will be specially adapted to suit all her needs.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04That's it for today.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Join me next time on the front line with Britain's housing officers.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Subtitles by Ericsson