0:00:02 > 0:00:05The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07I worry about the fire risk here.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09But for thousands of people across Britain,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15How many months ago was it we had this place cleaned?
0:00:15 > 0:00:19- The whole of that bit was black with mould.- Hello?
0:00:19 > 0:00:21In the battle between tenants and landlords...
0:00:21 > 0:00:24It's your fault, not the door's fault. I don't care!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27- It's local housing officers... - What's causing that smell?
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..who are on the front line.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33The son's come out with baseball bats and knives on occasions.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36'I'm Matt Allwright.' A 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 > 0:00:43'joining the ranks of the Housing Enforcers.'
0:00:43 > 0:00:44It's got that mouse smell.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46'They are 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 > 0:00:56I need to tell you that you're committing an offence under the Housing Act.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58'..and doing their best to help those in need.'
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Good old boy.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08'Today, I'm faced with some of the worst housing conditions
0:01:08 > 0:01:11'I've ever come across.' Oh, my God!
0:01:11 > 0:01:14She does still cook for herself and obviously cold air that's
0:01:14 > 0:01:17going to come in from the door is going to freeze this.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19It's really bad...
0:01:19 > 0:01:22'One housing officer discovers the grass isn't always greener.'
0:01:22 > 0:01:27I've probably gone about 10 foot into the garden, if that.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29We can't get any further.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32And one young mum can't believe her good fortune.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35It will be my home and it will be Clara's home.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37She'll grow up here with her friends
0:01:37 > 0:01:41and I really am grateful for what I've been given.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47They say that an Englishman's home is his castle.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51But if it's a rented castle, then it's the job of housing officers
0:01:51 > 0:01:55to make sure that it is a safe and decent place to live.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03One of the hardest things any of us
0:02:03 > 0:02:07will face as we grow old is making the heartbreaking decision
0:02:07 > 0:02:11we are no longer able to look after ourselves and the home we've come to love.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15In Kent, Swale Council's Staying Put Manager, Susan Hughes, is there to
0:02:15 > 0:02:19help the elderly live independently for as long as they can.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23But sometimes people are just too proud to admit that
0:02:23 > 0:02:26staying put isn't in their best interests any more.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28And that's when the job gets really tough.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34So, Susan, I'm carrying a great big fire, radiator thing.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37- What's going on?- Erm, this is a scheme that we're doing.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38It's called the Winter Warmth.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40We are able to give out fires
0:02:40 > 0:02:43and all different things to help people keep warm.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45We've got blankets and that.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Keeping this house warm is just part of a much bigger problem.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50We've been called in by a neighbour,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54who is concerned its elderly owner is living in squalid conditions.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57This particular client is one I called a few weeks ago
0:02:57 > 0:03:01and we are looking at doing a grant for various issues
0:03:01 > 0:03:03because her house is in quite a big disrepair.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Because this scheme is set up, I thought I would pop in and see
0:03:06 > 0:03:08if there's anything we continue to keep her warm.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Even though her house is in disrepair, this is still the best place for her, do you think?
0:03:12 > 0:03:14It's her own property and she's lived in it all her life,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18so she doesn't want to move. She's also got a little dog,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20who is the sort of life of her life,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22so she won't move unless the dog can go with her.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25'Up to now, the woman, who doesn't want to be identified,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27'has refused to admit she needs help
0:03:27 > 0:03:31'and Susan's had to work hard to convince her to accept the heater,
0:03:31 > 0:03:36'even though her only form of heating is a dangerous electric fire.'
0:03:37 > 0:03:42- Hello!- We come bearing gifts. - WOMAN:- Ooh!
0:03:42 > 0:03:44It's the radiator I spoke to you about.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49- Oh!- So, we'll put it down. - Thank you. It's quite heavy!
0:03:49 > 0:03:54- And that hopefully should be safer for you to use, OK? - Thank you very much.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57And then there's your blanket that we said you can put over yourself.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02- Oh, lovely. Thank you very much. Put them down there... - And some gloves.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- OK?- Yeah.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09So, all of this is provided using this scheme.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Yeah, the Winter Warmth scheme. Yes.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Just to make sure you're keeping warm.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16'It seems amazing to me that in this day and age, we are handing out
0:04:16 > 0:04:19'a hat and gloves to keep this woman warm in her own home.
0:04:19 > 0:04:20'But she's not alone.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24'Shockingly, according to some estimates, in the UK...'
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Before we can get this house warm, there is a major problem that
0:04:37 > 0:04:41needs sorting, or no number of heaters are going to help.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Right, this is her back door, which as you can see,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45has got big gaps in it.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47And with the winter and the frosty nights,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I am really concerned about that.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53'Even making urgent repairs isn't straightforward
0:04:53 > 0:04:56'because we are not dealing with the welfare of a tenant
0:04:56 > 0:04:59'and a landlord, who can be forced to make things better.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00'This is a home owner
0:05:00 > 0:05:03'and she's determined to maintain her independence.'
0:05:03 > 0:05:06The thing is, this house needs a great deal doing to it
0:05:06 > 0:05:10but you can't wade in and just decide on someone's behalf,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- what needs to happen to their home. - No. No, that's true.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15She owns her property and is very proud of it
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and wants to continue living here.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19We're actually called Staying Put,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22so, we're here trying to help people stay in their own home.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Sometimes you can see that it's not the best ideal situation
0:05:26 > 0:05:27but all we can do is advise.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29And if Susan wants to convince the woman
0:05:29 > 0:05:34to accept the council's help, taking it slowly is her only option.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39What I find is if I do a small job first, I gain the trust of them.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42So, if we can repair the door and then possibly, after Christmas,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44repair the sink, she'll begin to trust us.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46And then hopefully, we can look at the bigger picture.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- Because, yeah, certainly, there are lots of things in this house that is unsafe for her.- Mm.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55But we've got to gain her trust and get her to work with us.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58It's obvious this place has seen better days but nothing
0:05:58 > 0:06:02prepares me for the sights and smells waiting for us in the kitchen.
0:06:02 > 0:06:08As you can see, round here, there has been a leak under the kitchen sink.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Erm, and this is what I'm really worried about.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17She does still cook for herself and obviously do some work in here.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20So, you've only got that cold air that's going to come in from
0:06:20 > 0:06:23the door and it's going to freeze this and make it a real big hazard.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27This is really... It's really bad.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29You've got mud all over the lino,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- which just makes it incredibly slippy.- A slipping hazard, yeah.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37'Water leaking onto the filthy floor has created a serious hazard.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42'Amazingly, the NHS spends on average £4.6 million a day
0:06:42 > 0:06:45'as a result of the over-65s suffering a fall.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48'So, if the council can help prevent the fall in the first place,
0:06:48 > 0:06:49'it will keep that cost down.'
0:06:49 > 0:06:51I mean, I don't... What is it...
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- What is this we are standing on? Is this a mat?- Yeah, that is a mat.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56I think, put down to stop her slipping.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00'I'm genuinely shocked that someone would CHOOSE to live in conditions like this
0:07:00 > 0:07:05'but it got me wondering, at what point does the council have the right to step in?'
0:07:05 > 0:07:09This kind of goes beyond the remit of the housing officer, doesn't it?
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Because this is a private home. This is someone's own home.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15And yet, we can... I can see things in here
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- which really seem to be dangerous for the occupant.- Yeah.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23And, you know, that point where you take that responsibility away
0:07:23 > 0:07:27from that person and say that where you're living is putting your life at risk.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32- Yeah, yeah. - That's beyond our remit and yet we're standing here, witnessing it.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Yeah, yeah. I mean, we do, I try and explain things
0:07:35 > 0:07:37and once I've gained a bit more trust,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40I will come out with the environmental health officer as well and we'll
0:07:40 > 0:07:41talk again about what we can do.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46- But again, when it's the person's own home...- You've got to take it so slowly.- Mm.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48- Because it's a matter of pride. - Yeah.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51'Later, I'll be catching up with the worried neighbour,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54'who is also trying to help convince our homeowner to accept
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- 'the fact she isn't coping.' - I thought, "God..."
0:07:57 > 0:07:59I just burst into tears, you know.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02And even the builders are shocked by the state of the house.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Probably one of the worst that we've been into.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Next we head over to the beautiful Cotswolds...
0:08:14 > 0:08:15one of the most quintessentially English
0:08:15 > 0:08:17and unspoiled regions of the UK...
0:08:20 > 0:08:23..to join up with the Stroud District Council housing team.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Currently, Stroud has almost 50,000 homes,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32just over 10% of which are owned by the local authority.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Making sure this limited supply is used to the best
0:08:34 > 0:08:38of their ability is down to housing officers like Sarah-Jane Weaver.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45We are off to carry out a five-month introductory
0:08:45 > 0:08:46tenancy home visit.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48If they are new to the council,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51they are put on an introductory tenancy,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54which lasts for the first 12 months,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56and we carry out three visits,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58just to keep a check on them, basically,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01find out how they're doing, making sure they've got no problems,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03concerns.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07It makes it easier for us to pick up on any rent issues.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11For some, moving into a new property can be a daunting prospect,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13with new responsibilities to tackle.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17For others, it's a welcome fresh start to an independent future.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22What have you got? She's got a poorly cold, haven't you?
0:09:22 > 0:09:26One new tenant is single mother Karen Appleton,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29who recently moved to this two-bedroom house.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Until now she's always worked and supported herself.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36This is her first experience of a council-owned property.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39When I first saw the house, it was still a building site.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42No carpet, all sort of just wooden floors.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46Yeah. It was just empty. So it was quite daunting.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50I've never had a council related property, I've always
0:09:50 > 0:09:54sort of worked and been able to afford my own properties and things.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Moving to this house couldn't have come at a better time. Always
0:09:59 > 0:10:03having lived independently, the last few years have dealt her several blows.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08I spent my 20s trying to have a baby.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13I had five miscarriages...
0:10:13 > 0:10:16through that time. Depression was the first...
0:10:17 > 0:10:20..first sort of symptom I was getting.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24They diagnosed me with bipolar, um,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27and psychosis.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28I was fairly low.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Well, sort of...at the end of my tether, really.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34With support from her family and her GP,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Karen got on the road to recovery.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Over the last three years, since that diagnosis, I've basically been working
0:10:41 > 0:10:44and doing therapy groups and things,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46and then Clara came along.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Here she is. I have a future now, I've got something to look forward to.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Also supporting her is Karen's ex-partner and Clara's father,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57who is always on hand to help out.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00If I haven't got a support worker come in one day, or my family
0:11:00 > 0:11:05aren't around one day, he will come and check to make sure I've eaten,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09and he's been really good, actually, supporting me all the way through.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12With her life back on track,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Karen was delighted to be offered this property by the council, who
0:11:15 > 0:11:19felt the space and secluded garden would be perfect for her and Clara.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- Hello.- Hi. Come on in.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- A bit early.- That's OK.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I need to have a quick look around, all right. Do you
0:11:30 > 0:11:33want to come up with me and then you can bring her with you so she doesn't...
0:11:33 > 0:11:35She'll have a grumpy rumpy.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39By inspecting the properties on a regular basis,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42housing officers can gauge whether the tenants are coping
0:11:42 > 0:11:45on their own or whether they need extra support.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49I've broken the bathroom toilet seat but I'm going to get that fixed.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- We don't do toilet seats.- That is all my problem.- Yeah.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58OK, so everything is fine in there. Bedroom is all right.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Nice and warm in here. You've got no problems with damp and mould?- Not in this room,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04but there is a small problem in my bedroom.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- OK, do you want to show me?- I think it's where we've had so much rain.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- Right.- You can see it.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13It is actually turning mouldy now at the top.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Sometimes it can be one of two things.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18It can be the guttering or it could be the insulation in the roof.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22If you can keep clearing it, it might be worth just opening the window
0:12:22 > 0:12:25and getting a bit of ventilation going around, all right?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- Yeah, that's fine.- OK.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Inside, apart from the small patch of mould,
0:12:30 > 0:12:34it looks as though Karen has really begun to turn this house into her home.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37It is a homely house, it makes me...
0:12:37 > 0:12:39It has made me happy.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44Maybe it was my turn to have a bit of luck. A baby and a nice house.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I notice you have been doing some stuff out in the garden.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50We have started the garden now.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53- The mattress. Whose is that? - That was hidden.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Do you know what we found, we found a chainsaw, a grinder,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01some sort of axe, I don't know. All in the hedge, hidden.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Like a lot of council-owned properties, this house comes
0:13:05 > 0:13:09with a decent size garden, but as budgets are tight across the board,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12the garden is often the last thing to see any real investment, leaving
0:13:12 > 0:13:17it up to the tenant to either tackle it or let nature take its course.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21You know, we have to point out that it is actually a tenancy
0:13:21 > 0:13:23condition that they maintain their garden.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Some of them do struggle.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30A lot of our properties have got big gardens.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33For Karen, though, far from being a struggle, getting stuck into the
0:13:33 > 0:13:37garden is turning out to be another big help on her road to recovery.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- All that at the back will be burned. - So are you doing a patio out there?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- Yeah...- The slabs are already there.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47- They were all hidden under here. - Excellent.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- Because they are quite expensive. - Yeah. They're quite heavy as well.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52THEY LAUGH
0:13:52 > 0:13:56When the garden is finished, it will be really nice.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58It will be somewhere I can actually get outside.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01The doctors are all...
0:14:01 > 0:14:04upping... You know, you need vitamin B and vitamin D
0:14:04 > 0:14:07from the sun, which helps serotonin levels,
0:14:07 > 0:14:12and I think there is a lot of benefits to being outside.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15I find Sarah's inspections a lot easier than
0:14:15 > 0:14:18when previously I've private landlords.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21I find the council a lot more easy-going.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I think they try and make the property yours.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Um, they are still the owners, but they want it to be yours
0:14:28 > 0:14:33and for you to make it into a family home and look after it.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36We are going to want to put a fence down here.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40What I would suggest you do is, don't take this down.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45- No...- Any fence you put up, put up within that boundary. OK?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49She wants a bigger garden, she can see the potential there.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52She is clearing it, and I think she will do a really good job. But we'll see...
0:14:52 > 0:14:54when I come back at ten months.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58I'm hoping it is going to be very nice, something out of Gardener's World.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59SHE LAUGHS
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- Righty ho.- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07It's looking good. For Sarah, a tenant taking pride and ownership over the property
0:15:07 > 0:15:09they live in is the perfect outcome.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12For Karen, somewhere safe she can call home means
0:15:12 > 0:15:16she can now fully begin building a new life for her and for baby Clara.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20I've been really lucky,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23and I will do whatever I can to make sure
0:15:23 > 0:15:26that I keep it nice, look nice,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30and respect the council and,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34you know... I look at this house, that's my home.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37It's where I live. And when I go back to work, if and when,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40fingers crossed it's not too long,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44then I will be paying the rent and I'll, you know,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47it'll be my home and it will be Clara's home,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49she will grow up here...
0:15:49 > 0:15:51with her friends.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54I really am grateful for what I've been given.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55I am.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07In Swales, Staying Put scheme manager Susan Hughes has been
0:16:07 > 0:16:10dealing with a case of an elderly woman who refuses to move
0:16:10 > 0:16:13out of the dilapidated home she owns,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16despite living in some of the worst conditions I've ever seen.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18It's really bad, isn't it?
0:16:18 > 0:16:21It's a difficult situation that needs delicate handling,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23because the owner is too proud to admit
0:16:23 > 0:16:26she can no longer look after the house or herself.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30- I'd take it so slowly because it is a matter of pride.- Yeah.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35I want to try and find out how things have become so bad,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38so I tracked down Eve, the neighbour who raised the alarm after
0:16:38 > 0:16:41being shocked by the condition of the house.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Came around one day, I thought, God.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47I knocked on the door and I went in.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- I just burst into tears, you know. - Really?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Mmm. I said to her, "Oh, dear,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54"I didn't realise you were like this."
0:16:54 > 0:16:57She said, "Oh, no, I'm all right." I said, "No, you are not."
0:16:57 > 0:17:00She seems in good spirits but she's...
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Do you think she is coping in there?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Um... I'm not too sure at the moment.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08It seems Susan is not the only person having to use
0:17:08 > 0:17:10the softly, softly approach to get round
0:17:10 > 0:17:14the homeowner's refusal to accept the fact she needs help.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17I'm the first person she's ever let do anything like this,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19so I'm treading very carefully.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22So you yourself are trying to get, do it
0:17:22 > 0:17:24little bit by little bit, and just
0:17:24 > 0:17:28make her happy with somebody being involved on some level.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Yeah, let her know that I'm here for her.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34That means Eve has to give her access to her own home,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37just so that she has some of the basics.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43I have thought I will take her down my house and let her use my...
0:17:43 > 0:17:47shower and things, because she doesn't have anything like that, no hot water.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- There is no hot water in the house? - No.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Since her partner's died, she just can't...
0:17:53 > 0:17:54cope on her own.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57We'll all get to that stage at one point, where you just need a bit of help.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Oh, yes, that's what I said. I will help her
0:18:00 > 0:18:03as much as I possibly can.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04Because she was a good friend to me
0:18:04 > 0:18:08when I needed one, and I don't forget things like that, you know.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Although the owner hasn't accepted that she needs to move out, Susan
0:18:12 > 0:18:15has at least made some progress and convinced her to let the
0:18:15 > 0:18:20council help with repairs that will make the house safe for the time being.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24So money from the Staying Put scheme will pay for a new back door,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26and an emergency grant from the council will be used to
0:18:26 > 0:18:28renovate that filthy kitchen.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30I've been really shocked by the state of the house,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33but sadly this isn't an isolated case.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Are there many places like that, because that feels to me,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41you know, close to the worst thing I've seen in terms of living
0:18:41 > 0:18:43conditions in this country.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Unfortunately we do see quite a few a year.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48- It's quite an eye-opener.- Yeah.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Very, very difficult job, Susan, I think,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54and, you know, the very best of luck.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Thank you.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05A few weeks later it seems the gentle touch has definitely paid off.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07With the home owner's agreement,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10the emergency repairs are well underway, and Susan's back
0:19:10 > 0:19:14to check on progress with building contractor Richard.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- Hi, Richard.- Hi, Susan.- Wow, look at that!
0:19:17 > 0:19:21- It's a bit different, isn't it? - God, that is really good.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23The leaky sink has been replaced,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26and the house is also being kitted out with one essential
0:19:26 > 0:19:30amenity that will dramatically improve life for its elderly owner.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- And what's that down there, that's the hot water?- Hot water heater.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- That's a new hot water heater. - She will so love that.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41She hasn't had hot water in years.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42So that will be good.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46And you managed to get two cupboards, which is really good,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50so she can have a nice work surface to be able to do some bits on.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52That's really good, she'll be so pleased.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- You'll get it all done today, do you reckon?- Hopefully.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- If all goes according to plan, yes, hopefully.- Right, right.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02It's a huge improvement, but it has come at a price.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05The bill for the work has been higher than the value of the grant,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08but builder Richard was so horrified by the state of the house,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11he's generously helped out with the extra cost.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16The particular house we have come into is probably one of the worst
0:20:16 > 0:20:18we've been into for some time.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23Not pleasant for us to work in, not pleasant for the person to live in.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27This was a particularly bad... You know, there's no hot water.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34The plumbing and the waste pipes were leaking very, very badly.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38It must have been very hard to live in this...in this, should we say, state?
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It is still a million miles away from anyone's idea of a dream
0:20:41 > 0:20:45kitchen, but there's one person who is absolutely thrilled with it.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50- Look what you've got.- Wow!
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- I say.- That's a nice sink there.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58We've got a bit of worktop here that you can work on, make it safer.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- We've got a nice cupboard. - Oh, lovely.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03You can put some nice things on there.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06And what he is doing at the moment, that is going to be the hot water.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- Very nice.- OK?
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Thank you very much.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- Brilliant.- Absolutely lovely.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17It's a small change but a big result.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Despite her initial unwillingness to accept help,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Susan's delicate approach has made things better.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27- Oh, that was nice, seeing her reaction, she's really pleased.- Yeah.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31Once she's back in the office,
0:21:31 > 0:21:35the reality is she's only won the battle, not the war.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I'm happy I've left her better off than when I first met her.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Still not happy about the state she is living in,
0:21:41 > 0:21:45so I am rather concerned, so I will take out the environmental
0:21:45 > 0:21:48health officer, and social services, and we are going to
0:21:48 > 0:21:51discuss with her the situation and the risks that are at the house.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Now Susan has gained her trust, she needs to keep plugging away
0:21:55 > 0:21:58to convince her that moving out is the best thing.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00She just wants to stay in her own home.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04She's lived in it all her life, it was her pride and joy, it is,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08you know, very important for her to be able to look after herself,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11so I think we need to make her see now that as she's getting older
0:22:11 > 0:22:14and frailer, there are people that can help her.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21It's good to know that housing officers like Susan Hughes
0:22:21 > 0:22:25are prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty to help
0:22:25 > 0:22:27people like the lady I met.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Since we last visited her, Susan's arranged for Age Concern to pay her a visit.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Hopefully that will become a regular thing.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37The next step is to get her out of the house
0:22:37 > 0:22:41and off to the day centre now and then, and Susan is hopeful this
0:22:41 > 0:22:46will happen very soon, but it will of course be the lady's own choice.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Defending our right to a safe place to live is the job of housing
0:22:55 > 0:22:58officers right across the UK.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02We will continue with this, we're not going to stop, I promise you that.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05And in this series, I'll be working alongside those men
0:23:05 > 0:23:07and women that do just that.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Look at that, that is literally made just out of doors.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12People do die in properties like this.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15'I'm hitting the streets...
0:23:15 > 0:23:18'I'm learning on the job...' It has got that mouse smell.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19What the hell is that?
0:23:19 > 0:23:22'..I'll be finding out what it takes to make sure that everyone's'
0:23:22 > 0:23:24house is fit to be called a home.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27It is heartbreaking, there is no other word for it.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31Just a money-making machine, really. People preying on other people's vulnerabilities.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35If I get £1 million tomorrow, I'm surely going to buy my dream.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Finding suitable accommodation for someone who is homeless can be
0:23:44 > 0:23:46challenging at the best of times.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49But what if that person has just been released from prison?
0:23:51 > 0:23:56In Salford, Greater Manchester, housing officer Lisa Fitton
0:23:56 > 0:24:00and I are heading to a local drop-in centre to meet ex-offender Alan.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04What do we know about Alan at this stage?
0:24:04 > 0:24:07From the paperwork that we've got, he had nowhere else to live,
0:24:07 > 0:24:12so he came to the local authority to ask for help regarding housing
0:24:12 > 0:24:15and homelessness. Following that, he was
0:24:15 > 0:24:17moved into temporary accommodation.
0:24:17 > 0:24:2233-year-old Alan has spent the last ten years in and out of prison.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Like many ex-offenders, when he was released he had no job
0:24:26 > 0:24:28and no home to go to.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31But everyone has the right to somewhere to live,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34and as housing officers, we want to find Alan permanent
0:24:34 > 0:24:38accommodation that is right for him and for the wider community.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42What we want to do is make sure you are rehoused into a place that
0:24:42 > 0:24:44you will be able to manage and maintain,
0:24:44 > 0:24:49so we need to just try and make sure the tenancy you move into now is going
0:24:49 > 0:24:51to be sustainable for you and manageable for you.
0:24:51 > 0:24:56- So, before Magnolia Court, where we you directly before that?- Jail.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59- You were in prison before. Which prison was it?- Strangeways.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- And how long were you in prison for? - Four months.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05So...that was between
0:25:05 > 0:25:08August and December last year.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Can I ask why you were there? - Robbery.- Right.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Obviously you've been in prison before, twice.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19- Is that something that you feel you've addressed, is that something you...- Yeah.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21'Alan's certainly no angel,'
0:25:21 > 0:25:24but research suggests that stable accommodation is a key factor
0:25:24 > 0:25:28in reducing the chances of someone's reoffending.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33So it's in everybody's interest that we can make this work.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36The idea of today is just to find out what we need to do now, where we
0:25:36 > 0:25:40need to look for accommodation and what we need to do to help you get moved into your own place,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44and what things you need in place, so furniture, benefits and things like that.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49So at the minute, the money you're getting, is that enabling you to top
0:25:49 > 0:25:52up your gas and electric and buy the food you need and things like that?
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- OK.- I'm skint once it's done, like.
0:25:55 > 0:25:56Aren't we all? SHE LAUGHS
0:25:56 > 0:26:01What about general support to make your tenancy successful? Is there anything you are worried about?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Living in your own place, being responsible for your own stuff,
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- bills, anything like?- No.- No. What about speaking to a housing officer or landlord,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11are you confident in reporting repairs
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- and going in and speaking to people and stuff?- Yeah.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14OK.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Helping someone integrate into the community is one thing,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21but Alan faces another challenge.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23He suffers from schizophrenia,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27a debilitating mental illness which requires ongoing medication
0:26:27 > 0:26:30and monitoring through regular blood tests.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33So is that to monitor the levels or make sure you're taking it?
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Monitor the levels, innit?
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- They can give you heart problems. - Oh, right, OK.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- If you have the wrong dose?- Yeah, if I don't keep up with it.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47With one thing and another, with prison and hospital, you must
0:26:47 > 0:26:51have been through a lot of systems, a lot of different processes.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55- Do you get tired of it? - It gets tiresome, yeah.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58I just want to be left alone sometimes. Do you know what I mean?
0:26:58 > 0:27:02'With the paperwork out of the way, I'm keen to find out a bit
0:27:02 > 0:27:06'more about what is motivating Alan to go straight.'
0:27:06 > 0:27:10What is it you want from this process, Alan? What are you trying to achieve?
0:27:10 > 0:27:14Somewhere stable for me to live so I can go back to social services
0:27:14 > 0:27:18- and...see my kids.- How long is it since you have seen your kids?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- Two year ago now.- How is that?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23It's heart-wrenching.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- Yeah.- Because I was going off my head because
0:27:26 > 0:27:29of what I had been diagnosed with. A paranoid schizophrenic.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33I was not acting normal round my girlfriend,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36round my kids, round anyone.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38I was doing weird things.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42Like sitting on a graveyard, sitting on my dad's grave for two, three days at a time.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Not moving, just talking to myself. Do you know what I mean?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I think people thought I was off my nut.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Because of the things I was doing and that. Do you know what I mean?
0:27:51 > 0:27:53People did try and help me.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55But since I've been put on medication
0:27:55 > 0:27:57and been in hospital,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- it's like I've evened out a bit. - Yeah.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03At the bottom of all of this, what you are trying to achieve is just
0:28:03 > 0:28:06that degree of stability where
0:28:06 > 0:28:08you'll be able to see your kids.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- How many kids have you got? - Two little boys.- Yeah.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15That's the main thing, do you know what I mean?
0:28:17 > 0:28:21I mean, it sounds like you've had a real roller-coaster ride.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Yeah, places like this help, though.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28- If it weren't for places like this, I would have ended up in jail not long ago.- Yeah.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Because I would have ended up doing something stupid,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- do you know what mean?- You've spent a long time in prison already.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35How important is...
0:28:36 > 0:28:39- a stable place to live? Because it is only bricks...- Paramount.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42- Paramount.- Is it?- Yeah.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44If you haven't got somewhere to live,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47you end up doing things to get somewhere to stay.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51And then in the wrong crowd and end up back in mischief.
0:28:51 > 0:28:52Yeah.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56So the main thing is somewhere to live, a stable accommodation
0:28:56 > 0:28:59and stable people around me.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02'It seems that Alan is really trying to turn his life around.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05'But it's not going to be easy.'
0:29:05 > 0:29:09- How do you feel that went?- I thought that was...
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Well, it felt like we were scratching the surface there, and Alan's problems...
0:29:14 > 0:29:18- have been going for a long time and go very deep.- Yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22And obviously we are trying to provide accommodation and help him with housing, but
0:29:22 > 0:29:26- actually there are so many other things there.- Housing just seems to be,
0:29:26 > 0:29:29in the most part, a simple thing. Get a house, it's fine, the council
0:29:29 > 0:29:32gives houses to everybody, and that is what people's perceptions are. But
0:29:32 > 0:29:34the people we work with, like Alan,
0:29:34 > 0:29:38if you put down on paper his history and his background, no-one's going to...
0:29:38 > 0:29:41That's not a reference, no-one is going to want to give him accommodation.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Ten years in prison, Meadowbrook, prison,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48violence, robbery.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51That's not a reference you would want to give to a landlord,
0:29:51 > 0:29:55and it is about trying to break that down, give him the support he needs, and challenge that.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58If he finds difficulties in securing accommodation, the idea
0:29:58 > 0:30:01is we are there to try and help him and fight his battles with him.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04People would look at him as being the worst possible neighbour you
0:30:04 > 0:30:07could imagine, if you look at it on paper. But actually...
0:30:07 > 0:30:09When you meet him...
0:30:09 > 0:30:12You meet him, and under medication, in the right circumstances,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15he is desperately trying to make things work for him,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18for his family, to re-establish those bonds.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21He's got to go somewhere. Alan has to be somewhere.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24The thing is that people don't see how keenly aware
0:30:24 > 0:30:26he is of his own problems.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- He wants to address them and he wants to make them better.- Yeah.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33I'll be back in Salford later to catch up on Alan's story.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39TENSE MUSIC
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Sometimes, it can seem like it's a jungle out there
0:30:44 > 0:30:47for a hard-working housing officer.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49I mean, literally a jungle.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55At least, that's the case in Stafford,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58where a gruesome garden has caught the attention
0:30:58 > 0:31:00of empty homes officer Andre Fannell.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06Got about ten to 15 years' worth of overgrowth in the garden.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12You've got a real risk here of rats in particular.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15This could be ideal harbourage for them, really.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20There's plenty of places for them to hide and to live, really.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24The greenhouse here, it's just a bit creepy, really,
0:31:24 > 0:31:31how it's just been left and just engulfed by the bushes and trees.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39Probably gone about ten foot into the garden, if that.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41We can't get any further.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45The council's remit doesn't just cover bricks and mortar.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48If there's out-of-control flora and fauna on a property,
0:31:48 > 0:31:50then the local authority can step in.
0:31:53 > 0:31:59It's an empty property and the garden is extremely overgrown.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02The property itself has fallen into disrepair.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06The current owner, it belonged to their mum and dad.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Unfortunately, they passed away
0:32:08 > 0:32:11and it's been too emotional for them to deal with this property,
0:32:11 > 0:32:17to maintain it and the garden, and it's been left ever since, really.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23The neighbours have complained about the state of the rear garden
0:32:23 > 0:32:26and also the appearance of the front of the property.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29It does stand out in the street.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34We have had to explain to the owner of the impact of what the
0:32:34 > 0:32:37current state of the property is having on the community.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42Local authorities have a number of different powers
0:32:42 > 0:32:45they can call upon to deal with a problem garden.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49They could issue a notice under the Environmental Protection Act
0:32:49 > 0:32:52or they could take charge of the property under an
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Empty Dwelling Management Order.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57They could take action under the Town and Country Planning Act
0:32:57 > 0:33:01if the garden is "detrimental to the amenity of the neighbourhood."
0:33:04 > 0:33:08We had served a notice on who we believed to be the owner
0:33:08 > 0:33:12to clarify the exact ownership details, cos sometimes there's more
0:33:12 > 0:33:16than one owner, and unfortunately they didn't respond to that,
0:33:16 > 0:33:22so we had to take legal action to get them to respond to that,
0:33:22 > 0:33:27and, erm, unfortunately, the owner received a fine.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31But since then, we've had to serve the owner with
0:33:31 > 0:33:35a notice for the clearance of the front and rear gardens.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39And that's under the Town and Country Planning Act.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43Non-compliance can lead to prosecution or the council
0:33:43 > 0:33:47carrying out the works themselves, a process called works in default.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50The council can then bill the homeowner.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54If there's still no response, then the local authority can place a
0:33:54 > 0:33:57charge against the property and recoup their costs
0:33:57 > 0:34:00when the house is sold.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03The overall plan is to get the property back into use,
0:34:03 > 0:34:05one way or another.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09So, will it all turn out rosy in this garden or will the council
0:34:09 > 0:34:11have to take more drastic action?
0:34:20 > 0:34:22In Salford, housing officer Lisa Fitton and I
0:34:22 > 0:34:24have been working with Alan,
0:34:24 > 0:34:26an ex-offender just released from prison
0:34:26 > 0:34:30and desperate to find somewhere to live.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33When I last saw Alan, he was hopeful about the future.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35He wanted to rebuild his relationship
0:34:35 > 0:34:38with his two young sons.
0:34:38 > 0:34:39How long is it since you seen your kids?
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Two years ago, now.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43How is that?
0:34:43 > 0:34:44It's heart-wrenching.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48After living in temporary accommodation,
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Alan was on the verge of being accepted
0:34:50 > 0:34:52into a permanent flat of his own...
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Hi, Lisa.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56'..but something's happened.'
0:34:56 > 0:34:58Myself and a colleague went to visit Alan on Monday evening
0:34:58 > 0:35:01and we found out that he'd passed away on Sunday evening.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03Right.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05I mean, that's terrible news
0:35:05 > 0:35:08because it really felt like Alan was making some progress.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10He knew that he'd got challenges ahead
0:35:10 > 0:35:14and he knew that it wasn't going to be straightforward,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18but he was using this new place as a platform to try and build
0:35:18 > 0:35:20and get a bit more stability in his life.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23It's just really sad that this is the outcome that he's got,
0:35:23 > 0:35:26cos I don't think anybody was prepared for that,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28and I think, certainly, he seemed to have a lot
0:35:28 > 0:35:31to look forward to in going forward
0:35:31 > 0:35:34and making things better for himself and giving him some stability.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36He had such a clear goal as well,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39which was to get back in contact with his kids.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42That was absolutely paramount to him
0:35:42 > 0:35:45- and it's sad that that wasn't able to happen.- No.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47He was looking forward to everything.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49He seemed to be at the point where everything was coming
0:35:49 > 0:35:52together for him.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56Alan's family have given us permission to feature his story.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59I can't help regretting that we weren't able to see Alan rebuild
0:35:59 > 0:36:04his life and his relationship with his kids, for all of their sakes.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05But I do know that it's given me
0:36:05 > 0:36:09a whole new perspective on what it means to be a housing officer,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12and a glimpse of the realities that they face every day.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22The post-war years saw a boom in the building of social housing
0:36:22 > 0:36:25and nowhere more so than in Stevenage...
0:36:29 > 0:36:31..the UK's first new town,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34built as a large council estate in the late 1940s.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37This means the majority of the homes were originally social
0:36:37 > 0:36:41housing, and even today, the borough council has a larger-than-average
0:36:41 > 0:36:44and ageing housing stock.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46What we've found in Stevenage is that some people moved in
0:36:46 > 0:36:52when the properties were built 50, 55 years ago, and they are now
0:36:52 > 0:36:55coming back to us and they haven't had any work done at all.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59They've still got a very old kitchen, very old bathroom.
0:36:59 > 0:37:05In 2006, central government introduced the Decent Homes initiative,
0:37:05 > 0:37:12with a fund of £1.6 billion for the period 2011 to 2015.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16At the helm in Stevenage is Steve Annetts.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Decent Homes is effectively a process whereby we are
0:37:19 > 0:37:21looking at our council housing
0:37:21 > 0:37:24and we're improving the various elements that are in those,
0:37:24 > 0:37:29such as kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, electrical systems...
0:37:31 > 0:37:35And in charge of putting the plan into action in Stevenage
0:37:35 > 0:37:37is clerk of works Gerry O'Keeffe.
0:37:37 > 0:37:38Work started last Monday.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40The electrics have been redone in the property.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44We're now in the middle of fitting the bathroom and the kitchen.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50It's looking good. This one's all decorated. It's just waiting on the floor to be done.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54In 2012 to '13, Stevenage Borough Council spent nearly
0:37:54 > 0:37:57£9 million on over 1,300 properties.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01That's an average of nearly £6,500 per home.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04I was under the impression at first it was just going to be
0:38:04 > 0:38:08the kitchen, and I thought, "Oh, that'll be lovely."
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Council tenant Michelle Carson is having a boiler
0:38:11 > 0:38:14and a bathroom fitted, as well as a new kitchen.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16The bathroom really did need to be upgraded.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19That's why I was like, I was over the moon about that one.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22So, yeah, I've been very pleased with it.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25The Decent Homes initiative states that social housing should:
0:38:36 > 0:38:38It sounds...reasonable.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40But at the beginning of 2011, nationwide,
0:38:40 > 0:38:45there were 217,000 council houses that weren't up to scratch.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Hello, Martin.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49All right, Gerry?
0:38:49 > 0:38:52- How are we getting on here? - Not too bad.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54How much longer are we looking at before this is ready to get
0:38:54 > 0:38:56the tiler in here?
0:38:56 > 0:39:00Before the work started, I had heard quite a few horror stories,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02'so I was, like, a little bit nervous.'
0:39:02 > 0:39:05No, you're doing a real good job today. You've done loads already.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07You haven't been here that long.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10My daughter says I'm OCD about my house,
0:39:10 > 0:39:15so I was, like, a little bit nervous, but they've been brilliant.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17It's nice to do a nice job for nice people,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20and walk out and think, "Yeah, I've done well there."
0:39:20 > 0:39:24'The blokes doing the work have all got good manners, you know?'
0:39:24 > 0:39:26They're not just builders on building sites,
0:39:26 > 0:39:30they're in people's homes, which is a completely different ball game.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33'It is a very satisfying job'
0:39:33 > 0:39:36because you are effectively improving not only our housing
0:39:36 > 0:39:40stock, but you are improving the lives of our residents.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44So it's a win for the tenant and a win for the council.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Two weeks later, the builders' dust has settled.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Is Michelle happy with the work?
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Oh, I'm really happy with it.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02They've done a really good job and they let me
0:40:02 > 0:40:07buy my own tiles for the kitchen, so I've put my own stamp on it.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09I'm ecstatic with the whole work that's been done.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11I'm so happy about it.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21This might look like The Land That Time Forgot.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25It's actually a suburban back garden...
0:40:25 > 0:40:27in Stafford.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32And it's here that empty homes officer Andre Fannell has been
0:40:32 > 0:40:36dealing with a house that's stood empty for 15 years.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40The garden has been left to run riot.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44The neighbours have complained about the state of the rear garden
0:40:44 > 0:40:48and also the appearance of the front of the property.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53It does stand out in the street, so we have had to explain to the
0:40:53 > 0:40:58owner of the impact of what the current state of the property is
0:40:58 > 0:41:00having on the community.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04The local authority has a range of powers to deal with a property
0:41:04 > 0:41:06like this, but in this case,
0:41:06 > 0:41:09it might be just what the homeowner needs.
0:41:09 > 0:41:10The owner has got in touch with us
0:41:10 > 0:41:14and said that they're unable to carry out the works.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17He agreed about the state of the property,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19but he wasn't able to do the works himself, so he's asked
0:41:19 > 0:41:25if our contractors can do it, and for him to pick up the bill.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29With the homeowner happy to pick up the £3,000 bill,
0:41:29 > 0:41:33it's time to don the high-vis and crank up the chainsaws
0:41:33 > 0:41:37as the council's clean-up team battle the suburban jungle.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41MUSIC: Valerie by The Zutons
0:41:50 > 0:41:53If the owner hadn't come to us and asked us to do the works,
0:41:53 > 0:41:56we would have looked at doing the works in default
0:41:56 > 0:41:59and then sending the owner a bill anyway.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04Longer term, we could have gone down the legal route of doing
0:42:04 > 0:42:08a compulsory purchase for the property, which, again,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10would be costly for the owner,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13so it's always best if the owner works with us.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Five blokes on the job today, chipping,
0:42:20 > 0:42:24clearing and cutting down, and it will probably take at least another
0:42:24 > 0:42:27day, I would say, depending on what's further down the garden.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29If it's very similar to this,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32it will probably be another day to get through the trees and brambles.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35The brambles are the worst cos they're horrible to cut down
0:42:35 > 0:42:37and shred and chip.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41MUSIC: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
0:42:41 > 0:42:45The owner has indicated that they think that they wish to sell
0:42:45 > 0:42:49the property now, so it's going to be a matter of working with
0:42:49 > 0:42:52the owner to get them into a position where
0:42:52 > 0:42:56they can actually market the property and then hopefully an investor
0:42:56 > 0:43:01or a family may decide to buy this property and make it their home.
0:43:05 > 0:43:06That's it for today.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09Join me next time, when I'll be finding out what it takes to become
0:43:09 > 0:43:11a front-line housing officer.