0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, will you just let me in?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06DOG BARKS 'The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.'
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I wouldn't keep my dog there is the honest truth.
0:00:10 > 0:00:15'But for thousands of people across the UK, the reality can be more hovel than home.'
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Yeah, this is falling to bits. There's nothing I can do.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20'In the battle for decent housing...'
0:00:20 > 0:00:22We've just got conditions that are just appalling.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I don't know how the people are coping, to be quite honest.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28'..it's local housing officers who are on the front line.'
0:00:28 > 0:00:29If somebody had have died here,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31you would have been standing in Coroner's Court.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37'I'm Matt Allwright, and I'm back with the housing enforcers.'
0:00:37 > 0:00:40- 15 people in this house? - 15 people in total living in here.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44'I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties and slum conditions.'
0:00:44 > 0:00:46It really does look shantytown.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Yeah, it's not up to standard.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52'As they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours
0:00:52 > 0:00:53'and everything in between.'
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Oh, my God, straightaway there's the smell of dog muck.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59You never know what you're going to find.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02'Doing their best to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.'
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Give me a hug. - THEY LAUGH
0:01:08 > 0:01:09That's the one...
0:01:09 > 0:01:12'Today we find what could be Britain's filthiest home.'
0:01:12 > 0:01:16The overwhelming smell here is disgusting.
0:01:16 > 0:01:23Here we are, standing on a house-high pile of faeces and cider cans.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26'And we provide a solution for the problems of this homeless family.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28- Give me a hug. - THEY LAUGH
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and every year, rents go up.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43For those of us choosing cheaper housing, that can mean
0:01:43 > 0:01:47enduring living conditions so bad that they break the law.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51I'm working alongside the men and women whose job it is
0:01:51 > 0:01:52to uphold those laws.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55They...are the housing enforcers.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02'In Kent, I'm spending the day with Swale Borough Council
0:02:02 > 0:02:04'housing officer Glyn Pritchard,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06'inspecting a private residence that's now empty
0:02:06 > 0:02:09'but has still being attracting complaints from the neighbours.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12'Glyn's got 25 years' experience under his belt,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16'so it's a pretty safe bet he's seen it all in his time...
0:02:16 > 0:02:18'Until today, that is.'
0:02:18 > 0:02:19That's the one.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Erm...you can see from the outside
0:02:22 > 0:02:25that normally when it looks worse than the rest, there's usually reasons for it.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28So, what's the scenario here? Why are we here?
0:02:28 > 0:02:31The neighbours complained last year.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35The police entered the property to try and find if he was in there,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39cos the resident hadn't been seen for a while.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40So, there was concerns over him.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44They then contacted us to say there was a problem with the condition
0:02:44 > 0:02:47of the property, so we then started to try and contact the owner.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49He wasn't living at the property.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53We couldn't get in, but we could see through the window.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Just so I'm clear again, it was in a state a year ago
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- and no-one's been in, we think, in that year?- No.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04We have served legal notice twice to try and resolve the issue
0:03:04 > 0:03:07and ultimately he still didn't do the work,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11so we've had to get a warrant to get in and now we're actually
0:03:11 > 0:03:14executing the warrant to get into the property.
0:03:15 > 0:03:16'OK, now I'm really worried.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21'Glyn wants us to enter a property that hasn't been touched in over a year with no idea
0:03:21 > 0:03:25'of what's inside and he's clearly taking it very seriously.'
0:03:25 > 0:03:26Protective mask, gloves...
0:03:28 > 0:03:30And what I will do is...
0:03:30 > 0:03:33We tend to spray ourselves just in case of any insects,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35bugs, fleas or anything like that.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Top to bottom with it.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41After doing it 25 years, I cover myself.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42THEY LAUGH
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- Insurance! - I've never taken anything home yet.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Right. These are nice, aren't they?
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- Here we go. Enter. - You lead the way.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I'll lead the way and see what we can find.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56'Despite the protective gear, I'm still feeling nervous,'
0:03:56 > 0:04:00'especially when I discover how Glyn's expecting us to get into the house.'
0:04:00 > 0:04:02They've got a window open at the moment, which is...
0:04:02 > 0:04:04- Is that the way in? - That's one way in.- Right.
0:04:05 > 0:04:11And the other way is the door, which is a very tight squeeze.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13That's not much of a choice, is it, really?
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Glyn, you know what I really like is amongst all this stuff,
0:04:18 > 0:04:23which is already humming, there are just...there are two air fresheners.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27'Glyn's decided that we're going to have to go through the window with this one.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29'I mean, what could possibly go wrong?'
0:04:30 > 0:04:31Oh, my God!
0:04:33 > 0:04:34Now you've seen it.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36That's just like...
0:04:36 > 0:04:38It's about four or five foot high.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Oh, my God!
0:04:41 > 0:04:43That's incredible.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48All I can see is cider cans, videos and tissues.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50How can one person drink so much cider?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54'And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...'
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Oh, no!
0:04:57 > 0:04:58We're not sure,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01but those could be full of other things
0:05:01 > 0:05:02other than food in Tupperware.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04That's not food in there. That's...
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Why put it in Tupperware? Why keep it?!
0:05:08 > 0:05:12That's the opposite of what you have to do with that!
0:05:12 > 0:05:15You're supposed to flush it away, not preserve it!
0:05:16 > 0:05:20'Faced with a cocktail of cider cans and human waste,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22'I'm not looking forward to going inside.'
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- Are you going in that way? - I'm going to go in...
0:05:34 > 0:05:39It is fairly high and we're looking at least five foot in here.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40Right.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43I'm going to have to... I'm going to have to go in.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47If Glyn... If Glyn can do this, I can do this.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51I'm going in.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Get in from the outside. Hold on to the top.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01'It's not the most graceful way to get in,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04'but it's nothing compared to what I'm about to face.'
0:06:07 > 0:06:12There's like... The only safe place to step here is on videos.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15If you're stepping on videos, DVDs,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18then you just about get away with it.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Everything else...
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Everything else is disgusting.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25The overwhelming smell here...
0:06:25 > 0:06:27is of fermenting apples and faeces.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33I've never been able to touch a ceiling standing on the rubbish before,
0:06:33 > 0:06:34so that's a new one on me.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36- It's difficult to avoid it.- Well...
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I mean, at that point there, that's got to be five foot.
0:06:39 > 0:06:46It's probably the one I've seen the highest with alcohol cans.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Faeces isn't an issue. I've, you know, that's...
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Faeces is an issue, Glyn!
0:06:50 > 0:06:55Where are you going to start with this? How can you begin to do this?
0:06:55 > 0:06:58'Glyn's experience is doing a good job of keeping him calm -
0:06:58 > 0:07:00'well, calmer than me anyway.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03'Personally I'm not sure I would ever be able to get used to
0:07:03 > 0:07:06'a scene like this, even after 25 years on the job.'
0:07:07 > 0:07:09You are kidding me!
0:07:09 > 0:07:10I mean, don't get me wrong,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13of a weekend, I enjoy watching a film, yeah?
0:07:13 > 0:07:17I even enjoy the odd can of cider from time to time.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19This is taking it too far!
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Do you know what I saw here down here mixed in amongst this?
0:07:23 > 0:07:27It's a set of those clippers for doing your nasal hair.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Yeah, I wouldn't want to use them now, though.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33No, but I would say that's fine tuning. When you've got a pile...
0:07:33 > 0:07:36A five foot pile in your living room of cider cans,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40faeces in Tupperware, don't worry about the nasal hair thing.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43'And things don't improve as we pick our way upstairs.'
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Oh, my God! There's, like, a whole thing of clothes.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53- Now, we're into... This is the wardrobe area.- Yeah.- Oh, my God.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57I think this is probably going to be it,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00because every room's the same.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02That room you can't get into.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07That room is exactly the same as downstairs.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10'And it appears the toilet arrangements are the same up here too.'
0:08:12 > 0:08:16- All the excrement, everything, is in bags.- Oh...- There's an old quilt.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19There's definitely evidence of mice, rats...
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Even the rats wouldn't live in this.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25This is like a combat zone.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It's like he's declared war on the house and himself.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36Here we are, standing on a, you know, a house-high pile of faeces
0:08:36 > 0:08:37and cider cans.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41What do we need to assess, realistically, looking at this job?
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Realistically now, this is a full house clearance.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47So, it's a contractor in and literally,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50they are going to have to strip the whole lot.
0:08:50 > 0:08:56There is probably nothing that is salvageable at all in here.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00'It might be because of the shock of the mess or
0:09:00 > 0:09:02'the smell of a year's worth of human waste,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05'but either way, it's really hard to get my head round what could have
0:09:05 > 0:09:10'happened to the owner that would make him treat his own home in this way.'
0:09:11 > 0:09:14You know, we've had hoarders before that we've seen, and we've seen,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18you know, people who clearly have, you know, illnesses that they're
0:09:18 > 0:09:21trying to get past which affect their behaviour and the rest of it.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- What's going on with somebody that lives like this?- We don't know.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26I mean, do you ever, I know this is not your job,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28your job is to come here, make it better,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31but you can't come in somewhere like this and not think to yourself,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34"What on earth is going on in this guy's head?"
0:09:34 > 0:09:36The thing is, without being able to talk to him,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38usually you can assess, you can find,
0:09:38 > 0:09:43but on this instance we just cannot even get that, you know,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46dialogue going with him, so we need to work from there.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50At what point does he lose the right to have this property?
0:09:50 > 0:09:53I mean, it's going to be affecting your next-door neighbours
0:09:53 > 0:09:57and if he comes back in and does the same thing again,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00at some point do you lose the right to own this property?
0:10:00 > 0:10:04If we can get a debt on the property under certain circumstances,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08we can go through an enforced sale-type procedure.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11We can work with him, being an empty property,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14to bring it up to standard and possibly get him to rent it out.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19And ultimately compulsory purchase is something that is there,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21but that is going to be a long, drawn-out process.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Have we done everything we need to do in this property?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27I can't go any further and I can't take you any further!
0:10:27 > 0:10:28THEY LAUGH
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Can we please go? Can we...?
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I can't see any more of this and I certainly can't smell any more.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38'It is a tragic situation, but the pressing problem now is how to
0:10:38 > 0:10:42'sort this place out so it's no longer affecting the neighbours.'
0:10:42 > 0:10:43Oh, God!
0:10:44 > 0:10:46MATT GASPS
0:10:47 > 0:10:49BOTH PANT
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I... I've never seen... I've never seen anything like that.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Tissues, Tupperware...
0:10:55 > 0:10:58..and just terrible, terrible filth.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00You know, if it was...
0:11:00 > 0:11:03If it was standing by itself, freestanding, detached...
0:11:03 > 0:11:05My honest...
0:11:05 > 0:11:09My honest reaction would just be, "Knock the whole thing down!
0:11:09 > 0:11:13"Just put everything into a skip and just get rid of it."
0:11:13 > 0:11:17'But fortunately, Glyn's 25 years of experience means
0:11:17 > 0:11:20'he's able to offer a more practical solution,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24'one that involves making the owner take responsibility for this mess.'
0:11:24 > 0:11:26We'll get it cleared.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28It will be reasonably expensive,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30but we will be recovering it off the owner.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32He's had the opportunity to clear it.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35We've given him two notices in the past, hasn't done it,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37and we're left with no alternative.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41That's going to be the next step, to get this place back into use is...
0:11:41 > 0:11:42That's our main aim.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46To satisfy and keep things from the neighbours so they are happier.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49I really appreciate it. And you can have your gloves back.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- We'll find some clean ones for you next time.- Thank you very much!
0:11:53 > 0:11:56'That's the other important thing about this disgusting tale.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59'It's one thing to destroy your own standard of living.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03'It's quite another to start affecting your neighbours too.'
0:12:03 > 0:12:07So, you've lived next door to all of that. How has that been for you?
0:12:07 > 0:12:12- It's just awful and it turned into a tourist attraction.- Really?
0:12:12 > 0:12:14- It really did.- What, you've got people coming here to see that?
0:12:14 > 0:12:18They were coming up, strolling up the garden path, looking through
0:12:18 > 0:12:22the window, because people could not believe what was in there.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26It is quite extraordinary, but just to be clear,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- you've had mice coming across?- Yeah.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- And...- Rats in the garden as big as cats.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34You knew it was bad when the postman, he said,
0:12:34 > 0:12:38"That's it, I'm not delivering any more, cos I cannot get up this garden path."
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I mean, the smell coming from there.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- I mean, I can smell it now.- Yeah.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48- You've got that all day every day. - Well, you get used to it.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50'Yeah, no-one should have to get used to it.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54'Catch up later to see how Glyn manages to get a grip on the grime.'
0:12:54 > 0:12:58It is something that we've got to do and we have got to...
0:12:58 > 0:13:01We've just found a dead rat.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03He's been dead a fair while by the looks of it.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Childhood is supposed to be the happiest time of your life.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18But for many of the nearly 100,000 kids living
0:13:18 > 0:13:21with their families in temporary accommodation in England alone,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25the lack of a safe, settled place to live can make it anything but.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31I'm on the Isle of Sheppey with Housing Officer Zana Owen
0:13:31 > 0:13:34who's been working with a father from Sittingbourne in desperate
0:13:34 > 0:13:37need of a secure home for his sons.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41OK, tell me about the family we're about to meet.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46Ian and the two boys were living in a family home.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49There was a relationship breakdown.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52So Ian had to move out of the property
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- and the boys have come with him. - Right.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Ian didn't want to take the boys out of school
0:13:58 > 0:14:00and damage their education.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02The boys have been living with their father
0:14:02 > 0:14:06since the irreparable breakdown of his relationship with their mother.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09But with a shortage of temporary accommodation,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11the council's had to put them up in Sheerness,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14over ten miles from home.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I mean, what's the pressure like on housing in this part of the world,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19in Sittingbourne, at the moment?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21The housing situation down here is dire.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23It's so hard to find somewhere.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Luckily, all that's about to change.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28So what is it that we're there to do today?
0:14:28 > 0:14:32We're there to let them know today that the temporary
0:14:32 > 0:14:35accommodation they're in at the moment, they're going to be
0:14:35 > 0:14:39moving out of, and they'll be moving into a three-bed property
0:14:39 > 0:14:42in Sittingbourne that's going to be more suitable for their needs.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45So this is... It's going to be really good news.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Yeah, the boys will have their own room, they won't all be cramped
0:14:48 > 0:14:49into a small space any more.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Hello, Ian. How are you doing? I'm Matt.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- Nice to meet you. Are you all right? - Yeah.- Are we all right to come in?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Yeah. Come in.- Thank you very much.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06'First, I want to know how Ian, who's hard of hearing,
0:15:06 > 0:15:10'and his boys have been coping with having to move to a completely
0:15:10 > 0:15:14'different town on top of the stress of the family breakdown.'
0:15:14 > 0:15:18It sounds, Ian, like you've got quite a full plate here.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20You've got a disability you're dealing with,
0:15:20 > 0:15:24you're outside your comfort zone, your normal neighbourhood.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27How long have you been in this place?
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- We've been in this place for five days now.- Five days?- Yeah.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32And how's it working out?
0:15:32 > 0:15:38It's nice, it's a nice property but it's a different area for the boys.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It's alien to them.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Ian and the boys have been sharing one bedroom
0:15:43 > 0:15:45and moving miles away from home
0:15:45 > 0:15:49has been especially hard for eldest son Chris, who's autistic.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Chris, how are you finding it here?
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Well, it's not good, actually.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57All my mates and friends and family are in Sittingbourne.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00We don't have anyone around in Sheerness
0:16:00 > 0:16:02so we're just tired,
0:16:02 > 0:16:05fed up and bored, getting depressed
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and it's just getting on our nerves, basically.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12'Ian's also worried about the distance to the boys' schools
0:16:12 > 0:16:17'once the new term starts, particularly as it's much further
0:16:17 > 0:16:19'for Chris to get the assisted transport he relies on.'
0:16:19 > 0:16:24'And it's clear he's also worried about the effect that sharing their accommodation with strangers
0:16:24 > 0:16:26'could be having on them.'
0:16:27 > 0:16:31You've got boys who are going through a really critical period
0:16:31 > 0:16:34of their growing up and you're trying to do it by yourself
0:16:34 > 0:16:39and then you're in these constantly changing environments.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43You've got drug people in there, you've got alcoholics.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46So it's not an ideal environment to take two boys to.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51I mean, you must be desperate for somewhere where you can just shut
0:16:51 > 0:16:56the front door and just say, "Right, at least they can do that bit
0:16:56 > 0:16:59"of their adolescence with a bit of...
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- "They're coming home to me and I can control home."- Yeah.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- Cos you can't control home at the moment.- I can't, no.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Ian's struggled, Chris has struggled.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11They've had their moments where they've got angry at the situation.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13And me as well, I've despaired as well.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16But, like you say, we've got to get on with it.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20There's nothing that anyone can do, the situation is what it is.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26Later, learning that someone can do something is too much for Ian.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29And for the boys.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32He's been under a lot of stress.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Too right, Chris.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Defending our right to a safe place to live is
0:17:46 > 0:17:50the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Do you think?
0:17:55 > 0:17:59'I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.'
0:17:59 > 0:18:00- Top marks.- Yes.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02I'm hitting the streets.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Hello, can you open up?
0:18:04 > 0:18:07There's definitely somebody inside because we've seen movement.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09'Finding out what's happening on the front line...'
0:18:09 > 0:18:11The cistern's in the bath.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13I don't know how they flush it.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15And learning what it takes
0:18:15 > 0:18:19to make sure a house is a fit place to call a home.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Earlier, I visited an abandoned house of filth,
0:18:33 > 0:18:38so disgusting it even left experienced housing officer, Glyn Pritchard, shocked.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40All the excrement, everything is in bags.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44I can't go any further and I can't take you any further.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Can we please go?
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Well, the good news is that Glyn is back and I'm not.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54And he's managed to convince some very brave souls
0:18:54 > 0:18:56to help him clear the house.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Today we've got the contractors in and they're busy doing all
0:18:59 > 0:19:03the clear-up. The owner still hasn't responded to us
0:19:03 > 0:19:05and, as you can see at the moment,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08they can't even get into the property still.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12We've been here about 45 minutes so far.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14How long do we think it's going to take?
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- A couple of days.- Two or three days? - Two or three days?
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And we haven't even made a dent to get in through the front door yet.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24But the task is proving a little easier said than done.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26I'm actually hitting the floor.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31One of the precautions they've got to take is we know there is mice
0:19:31 > 0:19:32and rats been in the property,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36so they will take that necessary precaution.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38They're not going to be eating their sandwiches straight after
0:19:38 > 0:19:41being in there without washing their hands, or anything,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44but it's something we've got to do
0:19:44 > 0:19:48and we have got a... We've just found a dead rat.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54He's been dead a fair while by the looks of it.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56Given the scale of the challenge,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59the team aren't taking any chances.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01You just don't know what's in there.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04It's all mould and things like that,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06and that's what's going to affect your health,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09so you do have to take precautions.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13It doesn't really bother me but it's the smell.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17The stink of it afterwards, you keep on smelling that smell.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20The incredible thing is
0:20:20 > 0:20:23that the telly is still on standby.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24Where's the remote?
0:20:28 > 0:20:32There we are, we've got a telly.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33I've got no signal.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40While Glyn takes a less hands-on approach,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43the guys inside find an interesting clue that tells them
0:20:43 > 0:20:47just how long it's been since the place enjoyed a spring clean.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50January 2007, eight-and-a-half years ago.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57With the contactors succeeding in clearing safe passage inside,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Glyn decides it's now time to brave going in.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I have to wipe my feet before I come in now, it's that clean so far.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10You've made a bit of progress in here.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I was going to say, can we tell what colour the carpet is?
0:21:12 > 0:21:16It's pink over here, green there and blue over there.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Nothing worth salvaging at all.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23I don't think they'll get a refund for that.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26It's clearly a thankless task for everyone involved
0:21:26 > 0:21:28and the progress is slow, but sure.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35That's the first skip gone, so hopefully, it gets easier.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Someone else who's clearly delighted to see the back of the rubbish
0:21:40 > 0:21:42is neighbour, Terry.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Incredible.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48I'm so glad the council have really got their act together
0:21:48 > 0:21:51on our behalf and have made a good job of it.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02One week later, and Glyn is back.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05The contractors have gone, but what about the rubbish?
0:22:05 > 0:22:08They've cleared up and they've done a pretty good job.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13There's a path, I didn't even know there was a path here.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16It's a good start, but let's see if Glyn can get into the house
0:22:16 > 0:22:18using the front door.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20He's got his nice jacket on.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22And that's what the door actually looks like,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25and I can actually open the door.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29As they say in all the best makeover shows,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31here comes the reveal.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33The difference is amazing.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38And the staircase, which I think had rubbish up to about here,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41you can actually see.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44You couldn't get to the kitchen the first time,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47because we had to walk down a pile.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50And we have a kitchen.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55They earned their money doing this job, that was for certain.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57No kidding!
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Upstairs, where it was, well, horrible...
0:23:00 > 0:23:02Just take a look.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08The bathroom is a bathroom again.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15It's amazing that a mess that took years to create
0:23:15 > 0:23:18has been removed in just under a week.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21If someone saw it now, they wouldn't realise what was in here or
0:23:21 > 0:23:22what had actually happened in here.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Which just leaves the small matter of what happens next.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30If the owner did turn up tomorrow, the first thing we'd be doing
0:23:30 > 0:23:31is giving him the bill.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36If he still chooses not to pay it or doesn't contact us
0:23:36 > 0:23:37or discuss it with us,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41we have the ability to put it as a charge on the property
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and/or take him to court.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Well, even if the owner never bothers to return,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49there are plenty of very happy neighbours who I'm sure
0:23:49 > 0:23:52would give you a pat on the back, Glyn.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54From our point of view, it's a good job well done.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06On the Isle of Sheppey, single dad Ian Foster
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and his two sons have been in temporary accommodation since
0:24:09 > 0:24:13the breakdown of his relationship with their mother left them homeless.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It is a struggle. I've despaired. But we've got to get on with it.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22There's nothing that anyone can do. The situation is what it is.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Well, you say that, but today I've come along with
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Swale Borough Council Housing Officer Zana Owen to give
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Ian and the boys some brilliant news that's going to change everything.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So we've come with a little bit of an update
0:24:37 > 0:24:40for where we are, going forwards today.
0:24:40 > 0:24:45The council, Swale, has found you a property in Sittingbourne.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52We're hopeful that next week, as soon as next week,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56you can be moving into a property with three bedrooms.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59So a bedroom for each of you,
0:24:59 > 0:25:04where you can start again in Sittingbourne, where you know,
0:25:04 > 0:25:07and it's in time for term to start as well.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11So you've got a week to get yourself sorted before school and college.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16'After months of worry,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19'finally being able to give his sons a safe, secure place to live
0:25:19 > 0:25:22'back in their home town of Sittingbourne
0:25:22 > 0:25:24'is all too much for Ian.'
0:25:24 > 0:25:25- OK?- (Yeah.)
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Give me a hug. You all right?
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- Lovely.- OK.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37'Clearly, Ian isn't the only member of the family
0:25:37 > 0:25:39'who's relieved to hear the good news.'
0:25:40 > 0:25:43What does this mean now, going forwards?
0:25:43 > 0:25:45It's going to be a lot better.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46- I'm happier.- Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50'Worrying about his dad has also clearly taken its toll
0:25:50 > 0:25:53'on eldest son Chris, who suffers with autism.'
0:25:55 > 0:25:58He's been under a lot of stress.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01You all right, Chris?
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Just surprised.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14I didn't think you'd be able to do it.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20'I'll be honest, I was expecting the family to be pleased
0:26:20 > 0:26:24'but realising just how relieved they are is heart-breaking to watch.'
0:26:26 > 0:26:28This is supposed to be a happy thing, you know.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Everyone's in tears - I don't know what I've done!
0:26:30 > 0:26:32LAUGHTER
0:26:35 > 0:26:36- Well, that was emotional.- Yeah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38I really didn't expect to have
0:26:38 > 0:26:41a room full of sobbing blokes on my hands there.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45But I suppose when you hear what Ian's been through with those boys...
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- Yeah.- ..actually you can understand the relief...
0:26:47 > 0:26:49- Yeah.- ..must be more than anything.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Yeah, and hopefully we can get things rolling quite quickly,
0:26:52 > 0:26:53get them in, get them settled
0:26:53 > 0:26:55and then the boys can concentrate on school.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Is it too early for a little knuckle bump, like that?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I think that's fair enough, given the circumstances.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09Three weeks later,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Ian and the boys have moved back home to Sittingbourne
0:27:12 > 0:27:15and are already settled into their new flat.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18This is the kitchen.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20You've got the basics - cooker, washing machine,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22we've got a fridge and a freezer.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25It makes a big difference being able to cook different things, you know,
0:27:25 > 0:27:26and it's been a pleasure for me,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29like, to actually sit down and have a meal with them
0:27:29 > 0:27:31and spend time with them.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Struggling to learn how to cook but we'll get there eventually.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37With any luck, this place will be
0:27:37 > 0:27:40just the fresh start they've been looking for.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47That's it for today.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Join me next time back on the road with the housing enforcers.