0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, can you 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 > 0:00:10I wouldn't keep my dog there, is the honest truth.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12'But for thousands of people across the UK,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15'the reality can be more hovel than home.'
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The house is falling to bits. There's nothing I can do.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20'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 died here,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32you 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 > 0:00:42One of the fishiest presentations of a property I've come across so far.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44'I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties
0:00:44 > 0:00:46'and slum conditions...'
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- It really does look shanty town. - Yeah, it's not up to standard.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52'..as they deal with dodgy landlords,
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'nightmare neighbours and everything between...'
0:00:54 > 0:00:58My God, straightaway there's the smell of dog muck.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00You never know what you're going to find.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04'..doing their best to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:14'Today, housing officers investigate a dangerously overcrowded bedsit.'
0:01:14 > 0:01:18- We've got 15 people in this house? - 15 people in total living in here.
0:01:18 > 0:01:2015 people's a lot to cope with in this property.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22This is like a vertical village.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25'A visually disabled family get the help they need
0:01:25 > 0:01:27'to live independently in their own home.'
0:01:27 > 0:01:30You take it for granted when you can see.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34You don't realise how much you rely on it,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36even just doing the smallest of things.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38You're learning all over again.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in
0:01:45 > 0:01:48and, every year, rents go up.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50For those of us chasing cheaper housing,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54that can mean enduring living conditions so bad
0:01:54 > 0:01:55that they break the law.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58I'm working alongside the men and women
0:01:58 > 0:02:01whose job it is to uphold those laws.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04They are the housing enforcers.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11In 2015, the population of London reached 8.6 million.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15That's the highest it's been since 1939.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17As people move here from all over the world,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21boroughs like Newham in east London are facing a crisis.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24High demand for cheap housing means family homes
0:02:24 > 0:02:28are being unlawfully converted into shared accommodation.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Looking to get the biggest return possible,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32landlords are packing these homes with tenants,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35meaning there often aren't enough toilets
0:02:35 > 0:02:37or kitchen space to go round.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40It turns what should be a family home into a health hazard.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46'Today I'm joining housing officers Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp
0:02:46 > 0:02:48'on an inspection of a shared house that they suspect
0:02:48 > 0:02:51'is dangerously overcrowded.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54'The house in question is beautiful, if somewhat run-down,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57'a double-fronted Victorian property
0:02:57 > 0:03:00'in one of Newham's best neighbourhoods.'
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Hello, we're from the council. We need to do another inspection today.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06'Stephen and Holly started investigating this property
0:03:06 > 0:03:08'over two years ago,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11'when they discovered that the landlord had more than one family
0:03:11 > 0:03:12'living in the house.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15'They issued an order, forcing him to turn the property back
0:03:15 > 0:03:17'into a single family home.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20'But, since then, there's been no communication from the landlord,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23'so they've come to see if anything's changed.'
0:03:23 > 0:03:24So, this is a living room.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28We've got a living room, at least in this room of this house.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31It's certainly set up in that way.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Perhaps it's maybe a kids' play area as well.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36- You can see a toy here.- Yeah.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39There is a single, temporary mattress.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41But we've got a fridge in here.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Um...
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Why we've got a fridge in the living room, I don't know.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Then we've got the lady who came in
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and said there were people living in that room over there,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57suggesting people other than her or her family.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- Yes.- So, straightaway...
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Straight away, we've got the signs again
0:04:00 > 0:04:03that this property is not used in the correct way
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- and it could be that they're using this as their living area...- Yeah.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08..and they're keeping their food in here,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10separate from the other people.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12'A major problem with overcrowding the house
0:04:12 > 0:04:15'is that it creates a serious fire hazard,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18'making it difficult for everyone to get out of the building
0:04:18 > 0:04:20'should there ever be an emergency.'
0:04:20 > 0:04:23A complete lack of all fire protection that's required.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28We've got one on the ground floor here. It looks wired to the mains
0:04:28 > 0:04:30but it's not working, it's hanging from the ceiling.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Not in working order, so that's pretty dangerous for this property.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36'We've only been in the house five minutes
0:04:36 > 0:04:37'and it's already pretty clear
0:04:37 > 0:04:40'that the landlord has more than one family living here.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43'It would appear he's completely ignored the council's order,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45'which is a criminal offence.'
0:04:46 > 0:04:48We found a family of four in here last time
0:04:48 > 0:04:52and the lady's just confirmed that's still the situation.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- OK, the family living separately in here?- Yeah.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Let's just have a little look.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59This really worries me down on this wall.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00If we have a look at the number of plugs
0:05:00 > 0:05:03that are working out of that single socket there...
0:05:03 > 0:05:04There's an iron there as well.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07It's all going into that one socket,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11again, completely overloading what should be
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- a front room, a dining room. - That's right, yeah.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17It's not designed to be used in that way.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20'This room is right next to the main escape route out of the house,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22'so a potential fire hazard like this,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24'combined with the overcrowding,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26'means that should there ever be an emergency,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29'it would be incredibly hard for the tenants to escape.'
0:05:29 > 0:05:30So just to be clear,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- there is an enforcement order on this house...- That's correct.
0:05:33 > 0:05:34..to stop it being used in exactly the way
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- it seems to still be being used? - That's correct, yeah.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Unfortunately, they don't seem to have complied
0:05:39 > 0:05:41with the enforcement notice still.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42There's at least two children here.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45So, one is of school age,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48judging by the fact that there's homework being done over there.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51It's all happening in here. Family of four,
0:05:51 > 0:05:56everything going on in this room - education, food, sleep.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00It's all going on right here.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03It's not big for four people at all.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09It's heartbreaking to think how desperate the family must be
0:06:09 > 0:06:12for them all to have to live together in this one room,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14but I soon get to find out what it's like
0:06:14 > 0:06:16when we head upstairs to meet Anita
0:06:16 > 0:06:18who's been in the house for the past three years.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25- So, in this room at the moment... - It's too small for me and my kids.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27- You? - And my two kids and my husband.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30- So, there's four of you in this one room?- Yeah.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Can you tell me how that works? How do you do the things you need to do?
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Because there is one bed here. Do you all sleep in that bed?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41No, my husband sleeps on...
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- Your husband sleeps on the floor? - Yeah.- Then the three of you...?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Do you get any sleep at all?- No.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I can imagine.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- How much do you pay for this room? - 380.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- 380 a month?- Yeah.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59It just feels like a very small room for a family of four.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02But then, with your son being so young,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- are you in this room all day long? - Yeah.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07I'm living...
0:07:07 > 0:07:09He's sitting with me all the time.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- So, all day long, the two of you in this room?- Yeah.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16It's upsetting to see the conditions Anita has to try
0:07:16 > 0:07:18and raise her children in.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21She's constantly surrounded by a stream of ever-changing tenants
0:07:21 > 0:07:23in a dirty, unkempt house.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28Oh, man.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32So, this is the bathroom where she has to bathe her kids.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Again, trying to put myself in Anita's situation,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38one thing you want to do is keep your kids clean.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40And this is where she comes to try and do that.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44So, there's obviously some kind of repairs that they've carried out
0:07:44 > 0:07:48with sellotape just to try and hold the bath together
0:07:48 > 0:07:50so that the kids haven't got sharp edges
0:07:50 > 0:07:52or try and creep underneath the bath.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Then you put yourself in the place of the dad
0:07:55 > 0:07:57who works on a building site.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59So, he comes home from work.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Who knows? Long hours, manual labour.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05This is where he gets to relax and have a bath.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10Then he goes to sleep on a mat under a duvet on the floor
0:08:10 > 0:08:12next to them in the bed.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Just picture that as your day-to-day life, for a second.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19'Anita and her family are in the country legally.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22'But what concerns the housing officers
0:08:22 > 0:08:24'is that overcrowded shared houses like this
0:08:24 > 0:08:27'often exploit a hidden population of people
0:08:27 > 0:08:30'who don't have permission to be in the UK.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33'It's something the council is keen to get under control.'
0:08:33 > 0:08:36This is the last bedroom that we've come across.
0:08:36 > 0:08:3814 people in this house.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41And another gentleman on the ground floor, 15.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43- Is that...? - Yeah.- I didn't even spot that one.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44- No. - They've got 15 people in this house?
0:08:44 > 0:08:4715 people in total living in here.
0:08:47 > 0:08:4915 people is a lot to cope with in this property.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- Yeah. - It's just completely overcrowded.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55This is like a vertical village.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58'I can't believe there's 15 people living in this one house.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00'That means the landlord's netting
0:09:00 > 0:09:02'somewhere in the region of £1,600 a month
0:09:02 > 0:09:06'from a property that by law should only have one family living in it.'
0:09:09 > 0:09:10'It's time for us to leave.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14'We've seen that the house is dirty and overcrowded.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17'But if the housing officers want more evidence
0:09:17 > 0:09:19'of how many people are actually living in the property,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22'they'll have to come back after dark.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24'Establishing what's really going on in some properties
0:09:24 > 0:09:26'can be a time-consuming job.'
0:09:26 > 0:09:30This is a really stunning double-fronted house
0:09:30 > 0:09:33minutes from the city of London,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36the most exciting city in the world with some of the highest property,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and yet we go in there through the front door
0:09:39 > 0:09:42and there are scenes of real proper depravation, aren't there?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44That's right. We don't want to see the property
0:09:44 > 0:09:46rented out as individual rooms.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48They're basically just sharing kitchen facilities,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50bathroom facilities, they've locks on the doors,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53there's no interaction between them, they come and they go frequently.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58It's trying to remove that transient population from Newham
0:09:58 > 0:10:00and make it a place where people want to stay,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04rather than this continual movement of people through the borough.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09'Later on, Stephen and Holly are back at the house
0:10:09 > 0:10:11'but, this time, it's not the landlord who's in trouble.'
0:10:11 > 0:10:13He's got no ID, no passport, no nothing.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16No form of identification that tells us where he's from,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18what he's doing here, nothing.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31For the nearly 12 million people in the UK living with disability
0:10:31 > 0:10:34or chronic health issues, the home should be a place
0:10:34 > 0:10:36where they can feel safe and live with dignity.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Sadly, for many, the reality can be quite different.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43In Kent, Susan Hughes is on her way to meet a couple
0:10:43 > 0:10:46who both have severe visual disabilities.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49They've asked the council for help with urgent improvements
0:10:49 > 0:10:51they say they need
0:10:51 > 0:10:54to live independently in their own home.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57They live in a housing association property.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59They've lived there for about a year now
0:10:59 > 0:11:04but it hasn't got some of the adaptations that they really need.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09They took it on because it was meant to be adapted for disabled
0:11:09 > 0:11:12but they have got some quite different disabled requirements.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Harriet Keeling has been visually impaired since birth
0:11:18 > 0:11:20as the result of a genetic condition.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27I was born with cataracts and I had it removed
0:11:27 > 0:11:30when I was about three years old.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36But, unfortunately, I got left with quite complex vision,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38very low vision.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40But I was born with a sight problem,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44so I've got on with my life and moved forward.
0:11:44 > 0:11:45But for husband Michael,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48who didn't have sight problems when the couple met,
0:11:48 > 0:11:53losing his ability to see in later life has been a huge adjustment.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Having already lost one eye in an accident,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58his remaining eye started to fail three years ago.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02I had retinal degeneration.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07So, my sight loss was quite rapid.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10A situation made worse, as Michael also suffers from Marfan's syndrome,
0:12:10 > 0:12:15a rare genetic disorder affecting the heart and the joints,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17leaving him battling mobility problems.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22When I was younger, I used to play a lot of sport.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25But now, I don't do any of that.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27To be honest, I don't actually do much of anything now.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Part of you doesn't always accept what's happened.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32After leading an active life,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36losing his independence has taken its toll on his self-confidence.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40This is why it's harder for Michael to come to terms with
0:12:40 > 0:12:42but, at the moment,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45we prop each other up and we work as a team.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49But he can struggle to do even the simplest of tasks.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52You take it for granted
0:12:52 > 0:12:55when you can see,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58but when it's taken away from you,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01you don't realise how much you rely on it,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05even just doing the smallest of things.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Making a cup of tea,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10scrabbling around finding the side where the kettle's on.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Having moved to Kent to be closer
0:13:13 > 0:13:15to the specialist medical treatment the family needs in London,
0:13:15 > 0:13:20they say their previous housing association told them their new home
0:13:20 > 0:13:23would be fully adapted to their sight and mobility problems.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26It's basically about keeping your independence
0:13:26 > 0:13:30and having a very straightforward life like anybody else would
0:13:30 > 0:13:33and being able to do things yourself, keeping your confidence.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36But when they asked for alterations to the kitchen
0:13:36 > 0:13:39and bathroom to make them easier and safer to use,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41the couple say they were turned down.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44The new housing association say they'd done some work
0:13:44 > 0:13:46and were happy to discuss the family's needs,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49but the house had already been adapted for disabled occupants,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52so, Harriet called in the council.
0:13:53 > 0:14:01Everything is a fight and I think what I'm asking for is not a lot.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03It's just to give us the independence.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06We've been here nearly a year
0:14:06 > 0:14:08and we're struggling for something
0:14:08 > 0:14:11that really doesn't need to be a struggle.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17As part of the council's Staying Put team,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21it's Susan's job to help elderly, disabled and vulnerable people
0:14:21 > 0:14:25to adapt their homes so they can live independently.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Hello, Mrs Keeling? Mr Keeling? Nice to meet you.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- Lovely to meet you. - I'm Susan Hughes.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Susan's been called in to assess the situation
0:14:32 > 0:14:35and see what the council can do to make the house safer
0:14:35 > 0:14:38while they work with the housing association to resolve the issue.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43Social Services have written to your housing association, yes?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46And they've asked for a few things to be done,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48but your housing association haven't done them.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51This was a few months ago, it was six months ago.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55We got in touch with the housing association,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- because we moved to this property from another adapted home.- Right.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01And our previous association said
0:15:01 > 0:15:06- that all the adaptations will be done as you move.- Yeah.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08And that's something that has to be done.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10It's a good-sized house, it's perfect for what we need
0:15:10 > 0:15:13but we need the adaptations to make life easier
0:15:13 > 0:15:15for our individual needs.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17We'll have a look at what's needed.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20I can write and sort of ask them again.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22There may be some things we can do.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26With his sight deteriorating, issues in the kitchen
0:15:26 > 0:15:29make it even harder for Michael to do things for himself,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31with poor lighting at the top of the list.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Simply having strip lighting would allow the family to make the most
0:15:34 > 0:15:37of the sight they do have.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41This is one of the worst points for us.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44When it's a day like this, you can see it's quite bright in here,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47but that single light does no light for us
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- once the weather changes and in the evenings.- Right.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53So we asked for strip lights to be put in,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56which is a normal thing that we had in our other property.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01If I need to go away, if Michael, my husband, is here,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04then he has to have everything done for him,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06because he cannot see in here at all.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09It's just that it's too dangerous.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11I'm sure the housing association would allow that,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14so I'll try and look at some funding, at least for the light.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15For keen chef Michael,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19cooking's one pleasure not taken away by the loss of his sight.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23But, unable to stand for long because of the joint
0:16:23 > 0:16:25and mobility problems caused by his illness,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29the layout of the kitchen is making that impossible.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Cos my husband's actually a great cook
0:16:32 > 0:16:35and if he just had a side there, if he's having a bad day,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39- it's something he can go and prepare...- And he'd sit down at it?
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- Sit down, et cetera.- OK.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44The Keelings aren't alone in having difficulty finding a home
0:16:44 > 0:16:46which allows them to live independently
0:16:46 > 0:16:48despite their disabilities.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52One in six disabled adults and half of all disabled children
0:16:52 > 0:16:55live in housing that isn't suitable for their needs.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59Later, we see how making small changes can make a huge difference
0:16:59 > 0:17:02to people living with a disability.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- You're happy with everything? - Yeah.- That's brilliant.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08I just think it's a brilliant service and, you know,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11more local councils should be doing something like that.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:17:17 > 0:17:21is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26Do you think?!
0:17:26 > 0:17:30'I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.'
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- Top marks.- Yes!
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- I'm hitting the streets... - Hello, can you open up?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Definitely somebody inside, cos we've seen movement.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41..finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:17:41 > 0:17:45The cistern's in the bath. I don't know how they flush it.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47..and learning what it takes to make sure a house
0:17:47 > 0:17:50is a fit place to call a home.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03'Back in Newham, housing officers Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp
0:18:03 > 0:18:07have been investigating overcrowding at a shared house.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10- 15 people in this house? - 15 people in total living in here.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- 15 people is a lot to cope with in this property.- Yeah.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16It's just completely overcrowded.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21It's 11pm and Stephen and Holly are on their way back to the house,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23this time accompanied by police.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28We've actually gained information
0:18:28 > 0:18:30that there are more people living there
0:18:30 > 0:18:33than we were previously aware of when we first did the visit
0:18:33 > 0:18:37and that some of them may be in the country illegally.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Raids like this are important for the council
0:18:40 > 0:18:43as they try to crack down on unlicensed shared housing.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46They've invited the police to attend because they suspect
0:18:46 > 0:18:50they might also find some of Newham's hidden illegal population.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53If the police can prove that the landlord is knowingly renting
0:18:53 > 0:18:55to illegal immigrants,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58they could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- Hello.- Hi, we're from the council again.- OK.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- Is it all right to come in?- Yeah. - OK, thank you.
0:19:09 > 0:19:10By raiding the house at night,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Stephen and Holly are hoping to catch any extra tenants
0:19:13 > 0:19:15that we didn't meet before.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21This is the same as last time, so it's still a lounge.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Can't see anyone in there.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27The lounge is empty, but upstairs the police have found a man
0:19:27 > 0:19:30they believe could be in the country illegally.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34That room's over the annexe, so it's the back-of-the-house room.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37It's a small single room with a double bed in it
0:19:37 > 0:19:38that we were in the other day.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42He's got no ID. No passport, no nothing.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45No form of identification that tells us where he's from,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47what he's doing here, nothing,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50so the officer's just getting him to write down some details now
0:19:50 > 0:19:54of his name, his date of birth, so they can run a check on him,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57but having no identification's a bit odd.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01The police will inform the Border Agency about anyone they find
0:20:01 > 0:20:03with no official papers.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06He's just basically said that he's come over seven years ago
0:20:06 > 0:20:08to the UK on a lorry.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13So, it doesn't appear that he's legally allowed
0:20:13 > 0:20:15to be in the country,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18so the officer's just going to ask him a few questions more
0:20:18 > 0:20:19at this stage.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23A search of the property doesn't reveal any extra tenants,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26but further down the hall in one of the other bedrooms,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28the police have found another couple
0:20:28 > 0:20:30who are potentially in the country illegally.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34I've just been informed by another officer
0:20:34 > 0:20:36that another two people down there, a couple,
0:20:36 > 0:20:38a lady that we met the other day
0:20:38 > 0:20:42are unfortunately going to be asked to come down to the police station,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46cos the police believe that they're illegally in the country.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49In total, three people are taken in for questioning
0:20:49 > 0:20:52by the police and Border Agency, a single man and a young couple.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Anita and her family remain in the house.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The officer's just telling the gentleman down there
0:20:59 > 0:21:02that he's going to have to escort him to the police station,
0:21:02 > 0:21:06cos the UK Border Agency will want to talk to him.
0:21:09 > 0:21:10The raid's complete and,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13although the team don't find any extra tenants,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16there's still action for Stephen and Holly to take.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20The information that results from tonight won't change how
0:21:20 > 0:21:22we're going to deal with this property.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We're still going to continue with our prosecution.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26We'll just add the small bit of information
0:21:26 > 0:21:28that we've gathered from this evening,
0:21:28 > 0:21:29add that to our evidence
0:21:29 > 0:21:32and then we'll be preparing prosecution instructions
0:21:32 > 0:21:34for this one.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Newham Council have told us that since we've filmed
0:21:43 > 0:21:45they wrote to the landlord warning him
0:21:45 > 0:21:49of their intention to prosecute for breaching an enforcement notice.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53In reply, the landlord said he'd now complied with the notice.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Newham housing officers are going to carry out a final inspection
0:21:56 > 0:21:59of the house to see what work's being done
0:21:59 > 0:22:00before they make a decision
0:22:00 > 0:22:03on whether to continue proceedings against him.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Back in Kent,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Susan Hughes has been called in to help Harriet and Michael Keeling
0:22:15 > 0:22:16who both have severe visual impairments
0:22:16 > 0:22:20and say their housing association property needs urgent work
0:22:20 > 0:22:23to allow them to live there independently.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26We've been here nearly a year
0:22:26 > 0:22:28and we're struggling for something
0:22:28 > 0:22:32that really doesn't need to be a struggle.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33The housing association say
0:22:33 > 0:22:36they've done considerable work for the family
0:22:36 > 0:22:38and they'd already adapted the house
0:22:38 > 0:22:39for a disabled previous tenant.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44But changes made to help him actually make everyday tasks harder
0:22:44 > 0:22:47for Michael who's also battling a condition affecting his joints.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50That means sometimes he needs a wheelchair.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55- Oh, shower room. - This is our lovely wet room.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57My husband actually can't use the bath
0:22:57 > 0:23:00and the whole point of having this room is to have the space
0:23:00 > 0:23:03for the wheelchair for Michael to be independent.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Michael needs a different type of handrail to allow him
0:23:06 > 0:23:09to get in and out of the shower and bath safely.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13And there's not enough room in the bathroom to manoeuvre the wheelchair
0:23:13 > 0:23:15with the shower in its current position.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- That's the shower area.- This is the shower area, which we asked...
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Originally, the shower was over on that wall,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25so you would have a lot of room to come in and out with the chair.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27- Yeah.- But what he's done, the previous tenant,
0:23:27 > 0:23:28he unfortunately moved it to there,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31so when you have a shower, you just get a flood
0:23:31 > 0:23:32and then it goes out the door.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- Right. - Because it's not sloped properly.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38- Yeah.- We've asked them to move that, but that's...
0:23:38 > 0:23:40And a few rails sorted out, but...
0:23:40 > 0:23:44We can look at the rails, we can definitely look at the rails.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Keen to do whatever she can to help,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Susan has some good news and some bad news.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50We can't take out the bath
0:23:50 > 0:23:53and bigger things like that cos they're too big,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55but we'll look at doing some of the smaller bits for you.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59That's great and that's not what I thought I would hear,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01cos we've been waiting so long for things
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and everything is a struggle and a fight, so I'm chuffed.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Thank you.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10And being able to do the kind of things he used to take for granted,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12like cooking, could make all the difference for Michael
0:24:12 > 0:24:15as he comes to term with the loss of his sight.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Just to have lighting in the kitchen,
0:24:19 > 0:24:24a surface that Mike can work on himself.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26It's all about safety, it's not because we fancy
0:24:26 > 0:24:29a top-of-the-range, brand-new fitted kitchen, we don't want that.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31What we want is safety.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36A couple of weeks later
0:24:36 > 0:24:40and Susan's back in Kent to see how the family is getting on.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42'Today I'm going to the Keelings.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44'They've had all their work finished.'
0:24:44 > 0:24:47I just want to make sure that it's all done correctly
0:24:47 > 0:24:49and they're happy with everything.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Hi, Mr Keeling, it's Susan Hughes.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- I've just come to check all the work.- Yeah, OK, no problem.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Is that all right for you to show me everything?
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- Are you happy with it all? - Oh, it's fabulous.- Is it? Brilliant.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Oh, look at those lights. That's very good.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- So they make a difference, do they? - Yeah, they make a huge difference.
0:25:12 > 0:25:13Yeah.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Especially at night, with just having that single light there.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21But now we've got these two, it's absolutely brilliant in here.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Michael's unable to stand up for long
0:25:23 > 0:25:25because of problems with his joints.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28So, creating a worktop he can sit at has been a great help.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Our handyperson has done you a worktop.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- Yeah.- That looks very good, doesn't it?
0:25:33 > 0:25:35It's a lot easier for me now.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39- So you can sit down here and you can do some work?- Yeah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41What are you cooking tonight, then?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- I'm going to make a chilli con carne tonight.- That's really good.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47And a few simple adaptations
0:25:47 > 0:25:50designed for people with visual and mobility problems
0:25:50 > 0:25:55means Michael can now use the bathroom safely by himself.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58All these nice blue rails, then.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02- Wow, you've got a lot of 'em! - THEY LAUGH
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- Obviously replaced the ones that were already here.- Yeah.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Using the white ones, there was a clash
0:26:08 > 0:26:10against the background on the tiles
0:26:10 > 0:26:15so it was better to have a darker rail.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Are you happy with everything? That's brilliant.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Yeah, I just think it's a brilliant service
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and more local councils should be doing something like that.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Well, as I say, you know where we are. You can always give us a ring.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Hopefully, other bits that you need,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30your housing association will pick up on,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33but if you have got any problems, by all means, give us a ring back.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37- Brilliant, OK, well, I'm glad it's all OK. Bye!- Bye!
0:26:37 > 0:26:40The council Staying Put scheme is there to help people
0:26:40 > 0:26:43live independently in their own homes
0:26:43 > 0:26:45and Susan's delighted with the results.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51I think the biggest change has been
0:26:51 > 0:26:54that Michael can now do some things more independently
0:26:54 > 0:26:55so he can see to cook,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58he's got that nice worktop that he can cook on.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00The thing is, with something like this,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02because it's something I enjoy,
0:27:02 > 0:27:09something I know, I don't have to rely on my sight for it, so I can...
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I was just about to say I could do it blindfolded, but I nearly am!
0:27:12 > 0:27:14HE LAUGHS
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Now, with everything that's been done in here,
0:27:18 > 0:27:19I can get back to it
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and I don't have to put up with Harriet's cooking!
0:27:27 > 0:27:30The housing association which owns the house tells us
0:27:30 > 0:27:32that they've carried out a lot of work
0:27:32 > 0:27:34to adapt the home for the family
0:27:34 > 0:27:37even though they had no obligation to do so.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39They say the family and the previous tenant
0:27:39 > 0:27:41had arranged between themselves to swap homes
0:27:41 > 0:27:44and would have assessed the suitability of the house
0:27:44 > 0:27:46for their needs before they moved in.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52That's it for today.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Join me next time back on the road with the housing enforcers.