0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, can you just let me in?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06'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.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13'But for thousands of people across the UK the reality can be
0:00:13 > 0:00:15'more hovel than home.'
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The house is falling to bits. There's nothing I can do.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20In 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 > 0:00:31If somebody had died here you'd be standing in a Coroner's Court.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37'I'm Matt Allwright, and I'm back with The Housing Enforcers.'
0:00:37 > 0:00:41- 15 people in this house? - 15 people total, living in here.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43'I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties
0:00:43 > 0:00:45'and slum conditions...'
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- It really does look shanty town. - Yeah, it is not up to standard.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52'..as they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'and everything in between...'
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Oh, my God, straight away there's the smell of dog muck.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58You never know what you're going to find.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02'..to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.'
0:01:08 > 0:01:12'Today, police and council officers join forces to investigate
0:01:12 > 0:01:15'a landlord's unlawful bedsits.'
0:01:15 > 0:01:19You don't get fridges like this in a busy communal kitchen.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24'And housing officers discover one problem after another
0:01:24 > 0:01:26'at an elderly couple's home.'
0:01:26 > 0:01:31- No way we can put anything in that one...- No.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in
0:01:39 > 0:01:42and every year rents go up.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45For those of us chasing cheaper housing, that can mean
0:01:45 > 0:01:49enduring living conditions so bad that they break the law.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52I'm working alongside the men and women
0:01:52 > 0:01:54whose job it is to uphold those laws.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57They are The Housing Enforcers.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Here in Dudley, I'm joining housing officer Ian Bowen.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Today he's on a mission to investigate three houses
0:02:07 > 0:02:09all owned by the same landlord.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13They've been split up into unlawful bedsits, with tiny kitchens
0:02:13 > 0:02:15which pose a risk to tenants' safety,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19so he's been ordered to turn them back into shared properties.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22But there are fears he hasn't done the work properly
0:02:22 > 0:02:24and is still breaching planning permission.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27The council is taking this pretty seriously.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32It's a big operation, with the local police here too.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Talk me through exactly why we're here in the first place.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37We've had a call from the Planning Department.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40They're taking enforcement action with regards to the property.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43It's been subdivided into more flats than is allowed.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45And does he know we're coming, is he going to be there?
0:02:45 > 0:02:47He's arranged to meet the planners.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- So there could be a few of us in there today?- Yes.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53So they're coming back today to have a look to see whether
0:02:53 > 0:02:58the landlord has put it back to comply with the planning permission.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01The first house officers are inspecting should now have
0:03:01 > 0:03:05just one flat on each floor, instead of several bedsits.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08To comply with council safety rules, the landlord's been ordered
0:03:08 > 0:03:12to remove kitchen equipment from individual bedsits, leaving
0:03:12 > 0:03:16each tenant with their own bedroom, but sharing a communal kitchen.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Ian and Carl from the council's Planning Department
0:03:21 > 0:03:23are here to see if the landlord has done the work in a way that
0:03:23 > 0:03:25protects the safety of the tenants.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Although as we make our way to the upstairs flat,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30things don't look too promising.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36So, you've got no handrails on the stairs at all,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39and it leads straight down to a very sudden end,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42hitting a big fire door, an external door at the end.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46And nice, hard, uncarpeted steps on the way down -
0:03:46 > 0:03:49you could really do yourself some damage.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52'And the facilities don't improve much once inside.'
0:03:54 > 0:03:55HE CHUCKLES
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Look at that. That's a new design that I haven't seen before.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'If the landlord has done what's been asked, none of the bedrooms
0:04:06 > 0:04:09'in this building should now have any cooking facilities.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11'Fortunately we're able to check,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14'as one of the tenants lets us look around.'
0:04:14 > 0:04:15Talk us through your flat.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18That's my bedroom, that's my wardrobe, that's my living room,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21that was my kitchen, and that's my bathroom.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24OK, so that was your kitchen. You've got your own fridge here.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26- Yeah, that's all mine.- Do you have a sink and everything?
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was in there.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30They took it out and we've got to use the communal kitchen next door.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33OK, so why was that? Do you know?
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Er... Not really, no.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- Thank you so much for letting us in. - It's all right, mate.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41'From what I can see, it looks like the landlord hasn't removed
0:04:41 > 0:04:45'kitchens from the bedsits. He's just taken out the sinks.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47'But it's cooking that poses the biggest fire risk
0:04:47 > 0:04:48'in these tiny rooms.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51'With a fully functioning shared kitchen,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53'that danger should be reduced.'
0:04:53 > 0:04:57So here we have a kitchen which doesn't have
0:04:57 > 0:05:01the feel of a regularly used shared kitchen.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04For instance, I don't know about you
0:05:04 > 0:05:08but at home, my kettle isn't held together with Blu-Tack.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13My fridge, let's see...
0:05:14 > 0:05:16..definitely doesn't look like that.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18'And you'll wait a long time for your soup
0:05:18 > 0:05:21'to heat up on this hob. It's not working.'
0:05:21 > 0:05:27It's on number six. That's not going to cook your tea.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31So it's not working as a kitchen, clearly no-one's using it,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33and we've just got a dead space.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39'This is why inspections like this are so important.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42'Landlords need to obey the rules or else tenants can get a raw deal,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46'being forced to pay for facilities that are substandard or unsafe.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49'The flat downstairs is also supposed to have
0:05:49 > 0:05:51'a new, shared kitchen.'
0:05:51 > 0:05:55You don't get fridges like this in a busy communal kitchen.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01'So the kitchens have been removed from the bedrooms,
0:06:01 > 0:06:03'but the housing team is not convinced they've been
0:06:03 > 0:06:06'properly replaced by the facilities that we've seen.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09'This visit has definitely opened my eyes,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12'but coming up, things get even worse.'
0:06:12 > 0:06:16These shouldn't be here at all, these shouldn't be separate units.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18The owner's known this for a long time.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Here in Swale, the council are looking not to just deal with
0:06:28 > 0:06:30the problems of today's housing,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32they're looking to the future too.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35A local study suggests this region is set to see a significant
0:06:35 > 0:06:38increase in the number of older residents.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41An ageing population is clearly going to present
0:06:41 > 0:06:43very specific challenges.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Housing Officer Susan Hughes works with the council's
0:06:46 > 0:06:47Staying Put agency.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50The Staying Put service are there to actually help
0:06:50 > 0:06:54vulnerable and elderly and disabled clients to remain in their own home.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Everybody wants to stay in their own home, and it is quite important.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01But as they get older, repairs get harder and they quite often
0:07:01 > 0:07:04just ignore it - rather than sort out the problem they will ignore it.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06They also need adaptations more -
0:07:06 > 0:07:08rails up the stairs, that sort of thing -
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and if it's left their house will get into disrepair,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13clients can fall, hurt themselves...
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Lots of things can happen.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Susan's on her way to what on the face of it
0:07:17 > 0:07:20looks like a routine appointment to help deal with some
0:07:20 > 0:07:22maintenance issues at a client's home.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26But something small can sometimes be a symptom of a much larger problem.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29We're going over to see a couple that live in Faversham.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31So this couple own their home,
0:07:31 > 0:07:35and they've lived in it all their married life.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38They've been with us before, they've had a few issues that we've had to
0:07:38 > 0:07:42help with them - mainly clutter and a few little minor repairs -
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and we've had our handyperson out do a lot of jobs,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48but they called us again because they have a hole in the floor.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Our handyperson went out and it's a bit too big for him
0:07:51 > 0:07:55to actually sort out, so I'm going out to have a look
0:07:55 > 0:07:58and I'm going to get a builder out there.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Rose, whose husband has been battling a brain infection,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04has called for some help after another visitor to her home
0:08:04 > 0:08:07put her foot through the floor.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11The nurse came to give my husband his insulin
0:08:11 > 0:08:13and she went through it.
0:08:15 > 0:08:21I wasn't here but I would have liked to have seen the look on her face!
0:08:21 > 0:08:26I have been keeping out of its way, otherwise I'd be down it.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Sadly for Rose, the hole around the fireplace was just
0:08:30 > 0:08:34one in a long line of recent mishaps.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Rose has just returned from hospital after suffering a nasty fall.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I got out of bed to go to the bathroom,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43went in the bathroom -
0:08:43 > 0:08:46the next minute I was tumbling down the stairs.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50I fractured it, fractured the humerus.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52It's clearly a delicate situation.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55With Rose's recent tumble and her husband's serious illness,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Susan needs to be assured the couple are safe in their own home.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Fortunately, she's got Phil the builder in tow
0:09:02 > 0:09:03to look at the repairs.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- How are you?- All right, thank you. - I've brought a builder...
0:09:06 > 0:09:08- As right as expected.- Yeah.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I've brought a builder to come and have a look, and if you can show me
0:09:11 > 0:09:14this hole in the floor to see what can be done, OK?
0:09:14 > 0:09:16You lead the way, all right? See what there is.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Oh, right.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Well, it's not in an AWKWARD place, that is one thing.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I don't think it's too major. We'll see what Phil says anyway.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28What we'll have to do is move you out the way for a while and do some
0:09:28 > 0:09:30exploratory digging out here,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33take some boards up to see exactly what's happened.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35But it's nothing to worry about, your house isn't going to fall down.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38We'll come back with a bit of boarding over it for you,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41so you don't trip over it. Just be aware it's there.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43We don't want you having an accident, so...
0:09:43 > 0:09:44The repair seems very straightforward,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48but Susan's more concerned about whether the hole in the floor
0:09:48 > 0:09:52is part of a wider problem with the couple's living conditions.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Two years ago the council spent three days clearing out
0:09:55 > 0:09:58huge piles of clutter from the downstairs room.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03It's not as cluttered as it was, you're keeping it under control.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06What about the other rooms, are they all OK? Yeah?
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Well, at the moment, I'm not going up the stairs.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11I'm a bit...
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- Are you sleeping downstairs as well? - I'm sleeping here.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17That's not very good, sleeping in a chair.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18How do you manage that?
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Can't you get another bed put in the front room?
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- No.- Cos that's where your husband sleeps.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26You don't want another bed put in there?
0:10:26 > 0:10:27I don't think there's room.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Rose's recent fall has left her too shaken to go back upstairs,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33but her downstairs sleeping arrangements
0:10:33 > 0:10:36are clearly less than ideal.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38While Rose's husband is out having a medical check-up,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Susan wants to see if she can get an extra bed in his room.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Can I just have a look at your front room?
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I am still worried about you sleeping in a chair.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Right. Oh, OK...
0:10:52 > 0:10:55There could be space if things were moved around, don't you think?
0:10:55 > 0:10:57We could move that over a little bit.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Why are all those things here?
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Is it really important that there's a table there?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04You'll have to ask my husband that because I don't know the reason.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Right. Cos if you moved that table,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11you would fit in a little bed, wouldn't you?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14You may have to get another bed, but at least you're sleeping in a bed,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16it's awful that you're not.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20I think we need again someone here just to help move a few bits...
0:11:20 > 0:11:21If we put the chairs upstairs somewhere?
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- Yeah...- Is there room up there?
0:11:25 > 0:11:26Sure we can...
0:11:26 > 0:11:29We haven't been up there in a while, we'll go up and have a quick look.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31This is a worrying sign.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33It looks as though the couple's past problems
0:11:33 > 0:11:36with hoarding of possessions are beginning to creep back.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40And when they get upstairs, there's a shock for Susan.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42The bedrooms are all overflowing with belongings.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46It's unlikely anything from downstairs is going to find a home.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52No. No room at all.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56No. No way we can put anything in that one...
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Obviously they want to keep lots of the stuff,
0:11:59 > 0:12:00which is why it's been brought up.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03It's dolls, and she's done lots of knitting. It's just not
0:12:03 > 0:12:07been put in an easy way that you can even get to anything, really.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10One of these rooms needs to be emptied.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12De-cluttered again.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Then we can put everything from downstairs up here.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17This is a blow for Susan.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19If the clutter keeps building up,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22it could become a serious health risk to Rose and her husband.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25And there's more bad news in the bathroom.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28The tub is in a terrible state, and the toilet is broken.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31The cistern's in the bath.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33I don't know how they flush it.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36In an emergency you can have a standpipe and a bucket, but...
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Well, there must be one downstairs, we'll go and ask.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41They obviously don't come up here, then.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45OK. The bath hasn't been used for gosh knows...
0:12:45 > 0:12:48We'll go have a word with her anyway, but... Yeah.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52We've just been upstairs, it is still quite cluttered.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55What do you do for your toilet now?
0:12:55 > 0:12:59I've got a commode for now but there is one out there.
0:12:59 > 0:13:05What worries me is how do you empty the toilet now?
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Do you have to go outside? Do you carry it?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09My husband does that.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- He goes to the outside toilet and goes down there?- Yeah.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14And how's he doing that? Because he was quite poorly,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17he was dragging his feet... Is he able to do that OK?
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- Not really. - No. So we do need to look at that.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24And do you feel safe to go outside at the moment?
0:13:24 > 0:13:25- No.- No.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29The problems here are even bigger than Susan was expecting.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33With no working indoor toilet and rooms filled with clutter,
0:13:33 > 0:13:34quick action is needed
0:13:34 > 0:13:39if this couple are going to be able to remain living in their own home.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41You've got to think about whether
0:13:41 > 0:13:43you ever are going to go back upstairs.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46If you do go upstairs, you could apply for a disabled grant
0:13:46 > 0:13:48to have a shower room put in.
0:13:48 > 0:13:49It's something to think about.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Yeah. I'll get Phil to quote for that as well.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- Quite happy with him.- Yeah. She's happy with you, there you are.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- OK.- You'll do.- All right.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Today's visit demonstrates that even if you are an experienced
0:14:02 > 0:14:05housing officer like Susan, you just never know
0:14:05 > 0:14:09what challenges you're going to face when you walk through a front door.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Very often we go out to clients and they've asked for one thing,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and then when we go in there we find a lot more. Lots of people
0:14:15 > 0:14:17don't realise exactly what's wrong with their property.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20They've always lived like it so they don't realise it's a problem
0:14:20 > 0:14:22and it's not till we go in that we realise this.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24This is why we're really encouraging people to let us in
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and do health and safety checks.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Susan and her team are there
0:14:29 > 0:14:32to offer help and advice wherever they can.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33And as far as Rose is concerned,
0:14:33 > 0:14:38she's determined to make the house safer for the future.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I don't like her sleeping in a chair. She seems used to it,
0:14:41 > 0:14:43but that is going to cause problems long term,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45so we've got to think about whether
0:14:45 > 0:14:47we can clear the front room and get her bed in there.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50So the more confident she is in her home walking around, the better.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55Oh, I'm just glad that there's somebody that is willing to help.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57We'll have to wait and see.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59See what Susan comes up with.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Coming up... Susan tries to tackle the growing problem
0:15:03 > 0:15:04of Rose's clutter.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Have you managed to find anything to throw away, or not?
0:15:08 > 0:15:10You're going to keep the pen. Right.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:15:17 > 0:15:21is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25Do you think?
0:15:25 > 0:15:30I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- Top marks.- Yes!
0:15:32 > 0:15:33'I'm hitting the streets...'
0:15:33 > 0:15:34Hello, can you open up?
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Definitely somebody inside because we've seen movement.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41'..finding out what's happening on the front line...'
0:15:41 > 0:15:42That's ready to collapse.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Let's get it sorted.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48..and learning what it takes to make sure a house
0:15:48 > 0:15:50is a fit place to call a home.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Back in Dudley, and I'm with a team from the local council,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06and police, investigating a number of houses
0:16:06 > 0:16:08owned by the same landlord.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11He's been served enforcement notices demanding
0:16:11 > 0:16:15he turn the individual flats he owns back to shared properties.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18That means he's supposed to remove any kitchen facilities from his
0:16:18 > 0:16:22tenants' bedrooms, and provide fully working communal kitchens instead.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Something the housing team suspect he hasn't done.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31If they find evidence today that the landlord hasn't done the work
0:16:31 > 0:16:34he's been ordered to do, he'll face prosecution.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It's worth remembering that we're not just talking about rules
0:16:39 > 0:16:42and regulations here. These are not just
0:16:42 > 0:16:46jobsworth approaches to these properties,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49these are to make sure the people inside these properties have
0:16:49 > 0:16:53enough space and amenities to live a half decent sort of life.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57'I wonder if the second property might prove to be any better.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00'Again, the landlord IS supposed to have converted this place
0:17:00 > 0:17:03'back into a single flat, complete with a safe
0:17:03 > 0:17:05'and fully functioning communal kitchen.'
0:17:05 > 0:17:07So, here we are. We're in the loft space.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10What was a kitchen area.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13No fridge... No cooker there now.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15'The room is home to Leanne.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17'And it seems the landlord's renovations up here
0:17:17 > 0:17:19'haven't improved things much.'
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Are you hoping to stay here long term
0:17:21 > 0:17:23or do you want to move somewhere else?
0:17:23 > 0:17:25- No. I want to move.- Yeah? - Definitely.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Why do you want to move out of here?
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Because it's not big enough. I've got a ten-year-old, so...
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Have you? So does your ten-year-old stay with you here?
0:17:34 > 0:17:36No. No, no, at my mum's.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39'Despite the landlord removing the kitchen sink,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42'this room still has the feel of a bedsit,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46'but now without the benefit of privacy or independence.'
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Do you wash up, do you prepare your food,
0:17:49 > 0:17:50do everything up here?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53No. I prepare my food up here,
0:17:53 > 0:17:55I have to go downstairs for the kitchen.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57This is somewhere that shouldn't be occupied at all.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00According to Planning, there shouldn't be anyone here.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04'At least the shared kitchen looks a little better than the first
0:18:04 > 0:18:08'property. But I'm not sure the changes go far enough.'
0:18:08 > 0:18:13This floor that we're on now should be one unit. One flat.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16I think we've got... two, maybe three, is it?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19The first two properties have followed a familiar,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21if depressing, pattern.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23The landlord's supposed to have turned the third property
0:18:23 > 0:18:25back into a shared house too.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28The deadline for doing the work passed some time ago.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30'While we're waiting to get inside,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33'I'm distracted by the unusual letterbox set-up.'
0:18:35 > 0:18:36So this is what I don't understand.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39These are the letterboxes for these flats.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41There are five flats. How do I know which one is which?
0:18:41 > 0:18:46Well, you don't. The tenants don't either when we asked them.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48It doesn't almost matter cos when you see inside,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50you can't get it anyway, so...
0:18:50 > 0:18:54So you have to reach in to get your post from this side anyway?
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Yeah. So it just drops down.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59So it drops down inside the wall?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- Yeah.- So you never receive your post anyway?- No.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04'It doesn't bode well for the rest of the house.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07'Unfortunately, once we do make our way upstairs,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09'it's easy to see that the accommodation
0:19:09 > 0:19:10'is less than luxurious.'
0:19:13 > 0:19:19Yeah. So in theory, anyway, this could be a sort of bedroom possibly?
0:19:19 > 0:19:21But this shouldn't be here at all,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23these shouldn't be separate units.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26The owner's known this for a long time.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31These are legal criteria, these are specifications,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33but they're there for a very simple reason
0:19:33 > 0:19:36and that's to protect the people who occupy these places.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Because you can tell
0:19:38 > 0:19:43this is not somewhere that's designed for individual occupation.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46That's your washing facility there.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50You can't even get in it at the moment. It's ludicrous.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Thank you. Bye-bye.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55'It's been a long, wet and frankly depressing day for all of us.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'I'm hoping the council might have some solutions for the tenants
0:19:58 > 0:20:00'I've met today.'
0:20:02 > 0:20:07So three properties, one owner, all in sort of different stages.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12In fact what we found was a mishmash of a shared property,
0:20:12 > 0:20:17and individual bedsit units which you could lock the door.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21I mean, the conditions that resulted from that were pretty miserable,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- weren't they?- Yeah.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27The kitchens are not operating, the rooms again are small,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31you've not got the facilities, really. Things have been taken away
0:20:31 > 0:20:33from the tenants,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37rather than a better facility being provided.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39So what is it that we're going to do?
0:20:39 > 0:20:42From a planning point of view those notices are in place
0:20:42 > 0:20:44and they've been in place for some time,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46plenty of time to comply with and therefore it's up to us now
0:20:46 > 0:20:48to determine whether we think it's appropriate
0:20:48 > 0:20:50to refer that to our legal team
0:20:50 > 0:20:53to prosecute the owner for failing to comply with the notices.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57'All of which sounds reasonable in the long term.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'But it's the short term that has me more concerned.'
0:21:01 > 0:21:05Don't know what to make of these properties, honestly. They are...
0:21:05 > 0:21:08They shouldn't be divided up in the way that they are
0:21:08 > 0:21:11in the first place, and rather than put them back
0:21:11 > 0:21:14the way they should be the landlord seems to have opted to
0:21:14 > 0:21:17reconfigure them to look like shared houses.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21But they are so miserable... So miserable.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23I can't tell you.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25And I'm trying to put my finger on why
0:21:25 > 0:21:29they are like that - maybe it's just because the weather's terrible,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I don't know. But honestly, the effect it has on you...
0:21:32 > 0:21:34They don't feel like places
0:21:34 > 0:21:37where there's a way out again, if I'm honest with you.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49The council is now pursuing action against the landlord.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52They say he breached enforcement notices which ordered him
0:21:52 > 0:21:55to comply with planning permission in all three properties.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58They're building a case, and hope to bring it to court soon.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Back in Swale, housing enforcer Susan Hughes
0:22:07 > 0:22:10from the council's Staying Put team is returning to Faversham,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13where she went to help a couple with a maintenance problem,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16but soon found a lot more needed fixing.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Went in the bathroom. Next minute,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22I was tumbling down the stairs.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Susan discovered that even though she had a broken arm,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Rose was sleeping in a chair,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29and that the couple are both struggling to cope with
0:22:29 > 0:22:33disabilities, as their house fills up with clutter.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Today I'd like to talk a bit more to them about the clutter that
0:22:36 > 0:22:39they've got, how that is their main problem, and if we could sort that
0:22:39 > 0:22:43out then maybe some of the other issues could be addressed easier.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Susan needs to make sure that the jumble of possessions
0:22:46 > 0:22:49doesn't once again build to dangerous levels.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53It could cause falls or even block escape routes if there was a fire.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55But first on her list is checking that
0:22:55 > 0:22:58the hole in the floor has been taken care of.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59Oh. That's looking good, isn't it?
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Yeah, we're getting there.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04The builders have actually covered it up and made it a lot safer,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07and although it's not fireproof, it's not a proper hearth -
0:23:07 > 0:23:10they'll have to pay for that if that's what they want -
0:23:10 > 0:23:11but as it is at the moment
0:23:11 > 0:23:15it's going to prevent her tripping on it or falling.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17So that actually satisfies me that the job's done
0:23:17 > 0:23:19and we've made it safer for her.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21That's one down at least.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Next is Rose's unconventional bedtime arrangements.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27I'm really not happy about you sleeping in that chair.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29That's not good for you at all.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31So we've got a couple of options there.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34We can either try and declutter a bit of the front room so we can
0:23:34 > 0:23:38move another bed in there, so you can sleep in where your husband is.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42The other option is... That one would be quick, but the longer one
0:23:42 > 0:23:45would be a stairlift could be put in.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Now, you can either fund that yourself or
0:23:47 > 0:23:49you could apply for a disabled grant.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I've put a phone number down here, which is where you ring and then you
0:23:52 > 0:23:56have to go through an assessment, they'll ask about your disabilities.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00If it's feasible, I would go back upstairs.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03You mustn't go up until we've sorted it out.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Till you've either got a stairlift and all the clutter gone...
0:24:06 > 0:24:08So you need the stairlift put in, and you need to declutter.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10But sleeping in a chair is not good for you, is it?
0:24:10 > 0:24:12You're going to get a stiff neck soon.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16Well, that would join my arm!
0:24:16 > 0:24:18SUSAN LAUGHS
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Rose agrees to try to get back upstairs,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23but now Susan wants to help her mobility
0:24:23 > 0:24:24around the rest of the house.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27So you're going to have lots of rails everywhere
0:24:27 > 0:24:30but I think it's just going to be safer for you. OK?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Yeah.- So if we do them all along
0:24:32 > 0:24:35where there's a space on the corridor here. Yeah?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37And the rails continue outside -
0:24:37 > 0:24:39so the couple can get to the loo.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43All right? How does that feel there?
0:24:43 > 0:24:44- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:24:44 > 0:24:46I'll do it at that.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48A little mark on there.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52But Susan knows the main issue is the clutter.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53With Rose sleeping in a chair
0:24:53 > 0:24:56because there's no room for a bed downstairs,
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Susan wants to help with the mammoth task of dealing with the hoarding.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03If the couple can't keep on top of the amount of stuff
0:25:03 > 0:25:07in the house, the problems are going to mount up.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Have you managed to find anything to throw away, or not?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I was just wondering if I could find your other shoe...
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- No, I think that was thrown away. - Oh, do you?
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Well, if that's the case you could throw that one away then, can't you?
0:25:19 > 0:25:22But that's in your knitting bag, so we need to have another bag...
0:25:22 > 0:25:26You need to keep it in that bag for throwing away, don't you?
0:25:26 > 0:25:28You're going to keep the pen. Right.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31That's your throw-away bag, is it? That's it, put the shoe in it.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35How about you have a little bag a day and go through things,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37and then you might get rid of some of the stuff as it goes?
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Yeah?
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Small steps, maybe - but at least it's a start.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45And Susan's wasting no time in trying to get the ball rolling
0:25:45 > 0:25:48with Rose's much-needed stairlift.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Hi, all right - I'm with a client of mine,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I'm from Staying Put home improvement agency.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Erm... She's actually sleeping in a chair downstairs
0:25:55 > 0:25:57cos she can't get upstairs.
0:25:57 > 0:25:58The bathroom's upstairs
0:25:58 > 0:26:01so she's having to use a commode and empty it outside.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05So I think we need to look at getting her a disabled grant -
0:26:05 > 0:26:08definitely for a stairlift, and maybe a shower room. OK?
0:26:08 > 0:26:12So we've still got quite a lot to do. So Paul's going to come back
0:26:12 > 0:26:15and he's going to put those rails along the corridor
0:26:15 > 0:26:17to make it easier for you to walk.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20And then I'll get two estimates for the toilet as well upstairs.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21You think about the clutter as well -
0:26:21 > 0:26:24think about whether you want a couple of hours,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27somebody to come and help you declutter a bit more as well.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Thank you very much.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32For Susan, this sort of case provides a lot of challenges.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36It's a balancing act between trying to keep people in their own homes,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38but also helping them to make important changes.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Bye.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Yes, it feels...
0:26:43 > 0:26:46as though I've achieved something.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48And we know it's going to take time.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Can't do it in five minutes, can we?
0:26:50 > 0:26:55There's not so much as what there used to be,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59but...Susan seems to think that we can get rid of a bit more.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03We need to think about decluttering, that's the major thing.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06We even managed to get rid of ONE bag of rubbish today.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Erm... OK, it was very small, but it's a start.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12And I am worried about Rose falling again,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16so we do need to sort of take it very carefully, certainly
0:27:16 > 0:27:20with her husband, and make sure that we can make it safer and secure for
0:27:20 > 0:27:24them, so they can carry on living in their own home independently.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Since we visited,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Susan's been looking into getting a lift installed in the couple's home.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32They could then apply for a disability grant
0:27:32 > 0:27:35to get a suitable bathroom installed upstairs.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36In the meantime,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Susan's keeping a close eye on the couple's hoarding tendencies.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47That's it for today. Join me next time
0:27:47 > 0:27:49back on the road with The Housing Enforcers.