0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, can you just let me in?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06The 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 > 0:00:12But for thousands of people across the UK,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the 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 > 0:00:20In 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 > 0:00:29If somebody had died here,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31you would've been standing in Coroner's Court.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37I'm Matt Allwright and I'm back with the housing enforcers.
0:00:37 > 0:00:3815 people in this house?
0:00:38 > 0:00:4015 people total living in here.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties
0:00:43 > 0:00:45and slum conditions...
0:00:45 > 0:00:47It really does look shanty town.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Yeah, it's not up to standard.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..as they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours
0:00:51 > 0:00:53and everything in-between...
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Oh, my God. Straight away there's the smell of dog muck.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58You never know what you're going to find.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01..doing their best to help those in need of a happy
0:01:01 > 0:01:02and healthy home.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Oh, my God, Ted!
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Today, a tiny leak turns into an epic flood...
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I've got them in my shoes! I had no idea it was this bad.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Yeah, I know, mate.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Ted, you should've told us about it as soon as you got the leak.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25..a dispute over planning regulations puts lives in danger...
0:01:25 > 0:01:28At the moment, there are offences under the Housing Act in this property.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31The spiral staircase should never have been put in in the first place.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33No, that's entirely untrue, I'm afraid.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36We had regular inspections when I put all this in.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42When was the last time you heard anyone
0:01:42 > 0:01:45use the phrase "slum landlord"?
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Not that recently, right?
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Well, that's because we live in a country with laws that make sure
0:01:51 > 0:01:53housing meets basic standards.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56And it's not just landlords -
0:01:56 > 0:02:00there are laws that mean that tenants need to behave too.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03I'm working alongside the men and women from councils
0:02:03 > 0:02:07across the UK who enforce those laws.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09They are the Housing Enforcers.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17There are times in life when we all need a helping hand.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20But one of the hardest things facing the UK's housing officers
0:02:20 > 0:02:24is striking a balance between giving tenants help and getting them
0:02:24 > 0:02:26to take responsibility for themselves
0:02:26 > 0:02:28before things get out of hand.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32It's a dilemma Babergh Council's Ian Watson deals with every day.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36How do you do this, though?
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Are you trying to just stick to the book and do your job,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43or do you have to relate to people and try and understand
0:02:43 > 0:02:44their situation?
0:02:44 > 0:02:46You've got to be able to listen, you know,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49and that's one of the most important things, listening.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It's just trying to get, you know, to the root cause of the problem
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and it's sometimes just getting those people to realise that
0:02:57 > 0:03:00you're actually there to help them rather than hinder them.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Some people need more help than others.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Ian's had a call from Sudbury about water coming from
0:03:06 > 0:03:09the ground-floor flat of a tenant he's known for a long time.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14I'm a little bit concerned because the gentleman did leave
0:03:14 > 0:03:17one of our other properties in rather a mess.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19I did get the tenant ring me back
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and say he was trying to sort it out himself, but obviously
0:03:22 > 0:03:26we need to get in there. It's our responsibility to do repairs.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Tenant Ted Hurrell moved into the flat two years ago
0:03:29 > 0:03:32after caring for his elderly mother and battling addiction.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36I nursed her with Alzheimer's...
0:03:38 > 0:03:41..and also trying to detox from...
0:03:43 > 0:03:45..a 30-year heroin habit.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49It isn't the first time he's come to the attention
0:03:49 > 0:03:50of ex-copper Ian.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55- I never nicked you. - No, I don't think so.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I've never known anything that you done wrong, to be quite honest.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Well, I was a smackhead for...
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Yeah, I know you were heavy into drugs,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05but at least you sorted yourself out, didn't you?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07All right. Well, look, we've managed to get...
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Let's go and have a look, shall we?
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Ian's barely over the threshold and he can already see
0:04:14 > 0:04:17that the situation is serious.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18Oh, my God, Ted.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19That's happened overnight.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22That's happened over a couple of nights.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Oh, my God, Ted.- Yeah, I know.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28I had no idea it was this bad, Ted.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32With the whole flat under several inches of filthy water
0:04:32 > 0:04:36and Ted's possessions ruined, Ian's shocked by the scale
0:04:36 > 0:04:40of the deluge and can't understand how Ted's allowed it to get so bad.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Ah, I've got them in my shoes.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49- Yeah, I know, mate. - Ted, what on earth have you let...?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Yeah, I know.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Yeah, but, Ted, you should've told us about it
0:04:53 > 0:04:54as soon as you got the leak.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Well, I've been backwards and forwards to Bury St Edmunds
0:04:58 > 0:05:01because I have health problems...
0:05:02 > 0:05:06..and, it's, er...
0:05:06 > 0:05:09You know, it's just got worse and worse.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Right, I'm going to go and try and find out where
0:05:12 > 0:05:14the mains water comes in.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Easier said than done.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19With no idea where to find the stopcock,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Ian's forced to phone back to base for help.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Hi, it's only Ian from Housing.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Steve, where are the mains' stopcocks outside
0:05:29 > 0:05:31these properties so we can get the water turned off?
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Let's put it this way - the water's so deep and horrible,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37I've got it inside my shoes and I'm not best pleased.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39It seems they can't help, either.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42I just can't believe that we don't know where our stopcocks are
0:05:42 > 0:05:45for these properties, but there we go.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47They were built some time ago.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Even more frustrating for Ian is his suspicion that
0:05:50 > 0:05:53the leak's been going on for longer than Ted's letting on.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57I came here last Tuesday
0:05:57 > 0:05:59and there was a little bit of water out the front.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01I spoke with Ted at the time and he said
0:06:01 > 0:06:04he'd washed the concrete floor down inside with a couple of buckets.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06What sounds like it could've been a small repair
0:06:06 > 0:06:11has now left the council facing a full-scale clean-up operation.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14The water is actually coming down below the dampcourse.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19That's going to take some considerable time
0:06:19 > 0:06:20to dry this property out.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22And it's left Ted with nowhere to live.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28I've spoken with the Homeless team and we haven't got any units
0:06:28 > 0:06:31available for homeless at the moment.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33But with neighbours stepping in to lend a hand,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37at least music lover Ted's most valued possessions are safe.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- We can store some bits for you. - Yeah, well...
0:06:39 > 0:06:41At least that way it's not all over the place.
0:06:41 > 0:06:42I'm just going to run this up there.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45We'll sort him out a place somewhere.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Whether it be one of our properties that's coming up for rent
0:06:48 > 0:06:52or something just to get him into or it may well be bed and breakfast.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Although he's been happy just to roll up his trousers and wade,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58with the water still rising, even Ian's had to admit defeat
0:06:58 > 0:07:01and accept he's not properly equipped to deal with the problem.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I've got everything in that I can. Need to go and get some wellies
0:07:06 > 0:07:09because I need to have a look at exactly what's going on.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12As far as he's concerned, the cluttered state of Ted's flat,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15even before the flood, hasn't helped the situation.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18If he'd only got the rubbish out the way,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22that water would've come gushing out the front of the house, I'm sure.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It's sort of like dammed it in there.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26The water's still pouring in and it doesn't look like it'll be
0:07:26 > 0:07:28stopping any time soon.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32I've just had a phone call while I've been out getting some boots.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Anglian Water have been contacted. They've given us
0:07:34 > 0:07:38an arrival time of any time between now and 6pm tomorrow.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42So, at this stage, I'm hoping it's going to be a lot quicker.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45So, now properly kitted and potentially facing a 24-hour wait
0:07:45 > 0:07:49for the water company, Ian decides to wade in again himself.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53At least I don't have to have my trousers pulled up this time.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- You all right, Ted?- Hello, there.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00All right, I'm coming back in.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I've got some boots now, so I'll be able to see.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I'm dreadfully sorry, mate.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- That's all right. Look, these things happen, don't they?- Yeah, I know.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11But the shocking condition Ted had let the flat get into
0:08:11 > 0:08:14even before the flood isn't making the situation any easier.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20I don't know what's in here, if you know what I mean.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22I don't get paid enough for this.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25With piles of clothes and old newspapers everywhere,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28the whole flat's under several inches of dirty water
0:08:28 > 0:08:29and soaking wet rubbish.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33There's a drain in here.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35If I can get the water...
0:08:35 > 0:08:38running into that drain, which it is.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Thank God for that.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43With the blockage cleared, there's more good news.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47- Ian?- Yeah?
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Anglian Water.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50- Oh, they're here, are they?- Yes.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54It's going down the drain now - some of it.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Finding the stopcock finally means that water isn't pouring
0:09:00 > 0:09:02into Ted's flat.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04But it's also created a new problem for Ian
0:09:04 > 0:09:07and the rest of the tenants.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Unfortunately, the only stopcock to the premises outside is
0:09:10 > 0:09:13the one up there, which has turned all 12 flats off,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17which I need to get someone back as soon as possible.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20With the supply finally cut off, though,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23reinforcements from the council mean the massive clean-up
0:09:23 > 0:09:24can get under way.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Be prepared.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29With Ted's clutter everywhere, it isn't going to be easy.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33We're going to need to clear a lot of this before we can get
0:09:33 > 0:09:34- a lot of this water out.- Oh, Ted.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37- Right, these guys are here to start clearing up.- Yeah.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- Because of all the paper and everything in this...- Yeah, yeah.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44..they aren't going to be able to use their sucker.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46I don't know. Are we going to need to get a skip here?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I personally would think so.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- At least if we can make a start... - We'll make a start.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56The flat isn't going to be habitable any time soon,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00but at least there's some good news about where Ted's going to stay.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Basically, I've just had a call from the Homeless Team.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07We've managed to get bed and breakfast for Ted tonight.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08Be careful, Ted.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Something coming.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12It's only a couple of hundred yards away,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15so we'll get over there with his bags and take him over there now.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16Oh, dear!
0:10:16 > 0:10:18It might just be a temporary solution, but at least
0:10:18 > 0:10:20he'll be close to home.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22- Quite smart, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- You've even got coffee making facility, look.- Yeah.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Right.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- OK.- OK, you're sorted out for today.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30- OK, mate.- All right. And good luck,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32and I'll contact you at the end of the week.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33Bye!
0:10:33 > 0:10:35It's a great result for Ian, so far.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38The hard work is only just beginning.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41The rest of the team will take over in terms of what we need to do
0:10:41 > 0:10:45with that property tomorrow. Erm, successful day, really!
0:10:45 > 0:10:49Later, I'll be lending a helping hand to bring Ted home.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I've been trusted with the guitar, though, which is...
0:10:51 > 0:10:54- Well, you're honoured, then, aren't you?- I'm very lucky.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57It seems he's moved in more ways than one.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- Is it a bit of a shock? Are you all right?- Yeah.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15In rural Lincolnshire, North Kesteven District Council
0:11:15 > 0:11:18housing officer Chris Gallimore is acting on a complaint
0:11:18 > 0:11:21from a tenant about a privately rented property
0:11:21 > 0:11:24that he claims was in such a dangerous state, he moved out.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I think the tenant... They weren't there very long.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33They were there a few months and they moved out.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36They weren't happy with the condition of the property.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Former tenant Jack and his girlfriend thought they'd found
0:11:38 > 0:11:42their perfect home, when they rented a picture-postcard conversion
0:11:42 > 0:11:43of an old village school.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51When we first saw this property, me and my girlfriend...
0:11:51 > 0:11:53We just fell in love with it.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57When we first moved in, it looked like a nice house.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59But before long they became concerned it was
0:11:59 > 0:12:00putting their safety at risk.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Well, the house was a deathtrap, at the end of the day.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07I mean, there was just exposed wires,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10the spiral staircase wasn't safe up to the living room,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13the gaps in the banisters were easy enough to fall down
0:12:13 > 0:12:15and they were quite dangerous.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17And we were told that we'd be having a new fire installed,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21but again nothing come about it, so we was using the storage heaters
0:12:21 > 0:12:24which were inefficient and expensive to run.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27After three months, they decided to move out,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30but not before contacting the council.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33At the moment I don't think there's a tenant residing there,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35but there's going to be another one imminently coming in.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38So what we want to do is get some improvements made
0:12:38 > 0:12:40before the next tenant comes in.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Chris has done some digging and thinks the safety concerns
0:12:43 > 0:12:47are actually part of a problem dating back almost two decades.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50One of the issues is that when the property was converted, it wasn't
0:12:50 > 0:12:53authorised by Building Control and it hasn't been signed off by them.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58The man responsible for the conversion is Richard Taylor.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- Hello.- Hi, there.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- Chris Gallimore from the council. - Hi.- Pleased to meet you.- Richard.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Richard's daughter now owns the property
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and he's agreed to talk to Chris on her behalf.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11But it's not good news.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13One of the main issues with this property,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16after I did some research at the council, is that it wasn't actually
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- signed off - the conversion - at the time...- Yes.- ..it was converted.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23To comply with the Building Act 1984,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27buildings must meet minimum standards for health and safety
0:13:27 > 0:13:30set out in the Government's building regulations.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33New buildings and most conversions must be signed off
0:13:33 > 0:13:35by the local authority Building Control,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37or by an approved independent inspector.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Crucially, it's the owner's responsibility
0:13:41 > 0:13:44to ensure projects have a final certificate
0:13:44 > 0:13:47to say work meets the legal standard required.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50It's something Richard never did.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53So what I've got is a copy of the notice from Building Control,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55which is this one.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Quite a lot of the issues that's highlighted on there are things
0:13:58 > 0:14:00that I'm kind of concerned about as well.
0:14:00 > 0:14:0317 years ago, Building Control told Richard
0:14:03 > 0:14:06the handrails weren't safe and needed to be changed.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10They weren't changed and they're still dangerous.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13The problem if you've got a gap that's less than 100 millimetres
0:14:13 > 0:14:15is a child can actually get their head stuck in it.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18And I think certainly a small child could probably fall through that gap
0:14:18 > 0:14:20with the size of it.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It's not the only health hazard listed in Chris's copy
0:14:23 > 0:14:25of the original inspection report.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Hazards that were never fixed.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Just going back to the list there, another thing
0:14:30 > 0:14:33they're basically saying is that the staircase doesn't comply, either.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35And from my understanding, it is that the spiral staircase
0:14:35 > 0:14:37should never have been put in in the first place.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39No, no, that's entirely untrue, I'm afraid.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42No, we had regular inspections when I put all this in.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I wouldn't have put in a spiral staircase without any consideration.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49If you look at this staircase, it's got very narrow tapered treads
0:14:49 > 0:14:52on the inside. You've got no proper handrail on the inside.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55You've got open risers where people can trip going up,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57the lighting isn't very good. There's a lot of issues with it.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00That's a duty of care that I've got, I understand, not you.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Well, it's not, because it's the Housing Act 2004,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04which is a regulation.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Known as a duty of care, landlords are legally responsible
0:15:07 > 0:15:11for preventing personal injury to tenants caused by defects
0:15:11 > 0:15:12to a property.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15But Richard doesn't seem to realise it's the council's job
0:15:15 > 0:15:16to enforce this.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19At the moment, there are offences under the Housing Act
0:15:19 > 0:15:21in this property, OK? So we wouldn't be able to allow
0:15:21 > 0:15:23a tenant come in this property at the moment.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Later, it seems Chris will have to tread carefully
0:15:27 > 0:15:31if he wants to solve the stalemate over the staircase.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Can I stop you there? I paid quite a bit of money for
0:15:33 > 0:15:35the building inspection on this place.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Can you tell me why there's no record of what they've seen?
0:15:38 > 0:15:39- For Building Control?- Yeah.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Unfortunately, you're going to need to speak to them.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- Maybe you should speak to them before you come to me next time. - Yeah.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:15:53 > 0:15:57is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.- Do you think(?)
0:16:01 > 0:16:06I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- Top marks.- Yes!
0:16:08 > 0:16:10- I'm hitting the streets... - Hello! Can you open up?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Definitely somebody inside, because we've seen movement.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17..finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Cistern's in the bath. I don't know how they flush it.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21..and learning what it takes
0:16:21 > 0:16:25to make sure a house is fit to be called a home.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40In Suffolk, tenant Ted Hurrell's failure to report a leaky pipe
0:16:40 > 0:16:43left housing officer Ian Watson facing a full-scale flood
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and a mammoth clean-up operation.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51I don't know what's in here, if you know what I mean.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53I don't get paid enough for this!
0:16:54 > 0:16:59True to Ian's word, the flat's finished and I've come back to help Ted move back in.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Are we all right to come in?
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Yeah, yeah.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06You should be all right back there - it's dry now.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10- I've been almost afraid to look in. - You should be quite pleased, I hope.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Right, do you want me to grab a couple of those?
0:17:12 > 0:17:14You could grab a couple of those.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19It looks like I get the job of moving music lover Ted's most prized possession.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22I've been trusted with the guitar, though, which is...
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- You're honoured, then, aren't you? - I'm very lucky.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- All right.- Good stuff.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29- OK.- In the back, Ted.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42- Are you all right, Ted?- Yeah.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45'It's the first time Ted's seen the flat.'
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Go on, Ted. I'll let you go first.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49You can see what it's like then.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53'The place is completely unrecognisable.'
0:18:05 > 0:18:08So what's happened here, Ted...
0:18:08 > 0:18:12As you can see, all of your stuff, it's all clear and clean,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14all the walls have been done
0:18:14 > 0:18:17and the floor is clean, ready for something to go down.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Yeah. I mean, oh, golly.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Your records are here.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Gracious me, yeah.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28'Clearly, it's all a bit overwhelming.'
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Is it a bit of a shock? Are you all right?
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Yeah.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39It's...
0:18:39 > 0:18:43It just means you can start completely from scratch.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51- Something to be proud of now, ain't there?- It is, and...
0:18:51 > 0:18:56I swear to God that I shall endeavour to keep it this way.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Well, I want to keep you to that cos I want to come
0:18:59 > 0:19:03and have a cup of coffee with you in your nice flat now.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Yeah, well, I will be pleased to receive you.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Good.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09You've done a wonderful job.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11'After all of Ian's hard work,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14'we're both determined to make sure Ted never lets things
0:19:14 > 0:19:16'get so out of hand again.'
0:19:16 > 0:19:18So this is a wet room now, OK?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22So you've got a floor that all slopes down to the drain here.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24All brand spanking new.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Any leaks, anything like that - what are you going to do?
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Mr Watson will be informed or...
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Of course they will informed immediately.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37All right, good stuff.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Ted, would it be all right if you and I sit down and have a little chat?
0:19:40 > 0:19:43'If there's one thing I've learnt from Ian,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47'it's the importance of being able to relate to the people you're helping.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50'And something I definitely have in common with Ted is a love of music -
0:19:50 > 0:19:53'a love that he says helped him battle his addiction.'
0:19:56 > 0:19:59It's a really nice guitar, that. It's beautiful.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01TED SINGS
0:20:01 > 0:20:04# On a dark, stormy night... #
0:20:13 > 0:20:14What does your music give you, then?
0:20:14 > 0:20:17What does that provide you with?
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Comfort.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22I need to do it to survive.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26God and music have been my salvation.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Now I've got the chance to start again.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32'It seems that the flood hasn't just given Ted the chance to start again.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37More importantly, it's inspired him to want to.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40What were your thoughts when you walked in the door?
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Because it seemed to me you were quite emotional.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- I was.- Why was that? What were you thinking?
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Because I think they've done all this for you,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55and I try to think back to what I was living in before,
0:20:55 > 0:21:00you cannot... You cannot let this happen again.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04I don't want to go down on record as an unreliable tenant.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06- Yeah.- Period.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09I want to have a nice place that I can bring people round.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12I want to come back and hear you sing happy songs.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14It's so lovely meeting you, honestly.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17And I really wish you the best. I hope it works out here, Ted.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Yeah, I want it to work out.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23And, you know, keep playing.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Really nice to meet you, Ted. Take care.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30'Seeing Ted so determined to take more responsibility for himself
0:21:30 > 0:21:33'means of all Ian's hard work has paid off.'
0:21:33 > 0:21:36I know you wanted to go in there and sort of remind Ted
0:21:36 > 0:21:38that, you know, for all this effort that you've put in
0:21:38 > 0:21:42and the money that's been spent, there is a responsibility.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- I think he gets it.- I think so. - Do you? I mean...
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Yeah, I really do think we had a connection there with him
0:21:49 > 0:21:54and certainly you did, you know, so he's going to remember this time.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58And I won't forget it in a hurry, either.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Well, Ian said to me that one of the key strengths
0:22:00 > 0:22:03you need as a community housing officer
0:22:03 > 0:22:07is the ability to understand somebody,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09put yourself in their shoes.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12It's never been easier for me than with someone like Ted.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16His love of music and my love of music are in exactly the same place
0:22:16 > 0:22:20but at the point where he was up to his ankles in water,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22that was almost all he had left.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Now, that problem has been resolved
0:22:25 > 0:22:28and he's got a space that's clean and bright and warm
0:00:00 > 0:00:00and that's all thanks to Ian.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46In Lincolnshire, Chris Gallimore's been investigating claims from former tenants
0:22:46 > 0:22:49that a converted schoolhouse could be putting lives in danger.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53It's a problem that dates back nearly two decades.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55One of the main issues with this property was I actually
0:22:55 > 0:22:58signed off the conversion.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03But having converted the property himself
0:23:03 > 0:23:07it's a frustrating situation for the owner's father, Richard.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12No longer able to live there herself but still liable for council tax on the empty house
0:23:12 > 0:23:15he says the council advised his daughter to rent it out
0:23:15 > 0:23:16to cover the cost.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20They suggested that we should take in tenants,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22which is why we're here, standing here today.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Never rented this place off.
0:23:24 > 0:23:25I think the only issue with that is, you know,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29that'd be a suggestion for them but they wouldn't necessarily know whether the property is...
0:23:29 > 0:23:33I did point out that there were exceptional circumstances
0:23:33 > 0:23:35that they could investigate if they wanted to.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38They didn't, so she's left high and dry here
0:23:38 > 0:23:41with this property that she pays rates on,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43water rates and a mortgage.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45- Yeah. - And she can't rent it either.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49For Chris, any suggestion from the council to let the house
0:23:49 > 0:23:52would have been subject to it meeting the minimum safety standards
0:23:52 > 0:23:56for a rental property - which leaves them both with a problem.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59In its current condition, we wouldn't want it rented out to a tenant.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03However, there are things you can do to improve the property where you could rent it out to a tenant.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06And with the argument about the spiral staircase going round
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and round in circles, he decides to move on to complaints
0:24:09 > 0:24:12from the previous tenants about inadequate heating.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Cos you've got electric heating in here,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19if at any point the electricity wasn't working
0:24:19 > 0:24:23so your secondary form of heating was the multi-fuel burner
0:24:23 > 0:24:24in the corner there,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27unfortunately, that's been condemned and it's got a sticker on it
0:24:27 > 0:24:29saying that's it's been condemned.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32The actual fire's not condemned. It's the chimney...
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Either way, it can't be used, can it, so...
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Well, you can if we mend the chimney.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41It's not a great start, and it doesn't get any better.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43The storage heaters that are in here,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46how old would you say the storage heaters are?
0:24:46 > 0:24:47About 15 years old.
0:24:47 > 0:24:4815 years, yes.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53And how do you know they're working correctly?
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Do you ever get anybody to test them, or...?
0:24:55 > 0:24:59I left here and they were working and as far as I know they haven't been used since, so...
0:24:59 > 0:25:02One of the problems, obviously, with the storage heaters is that they're
0:25:02 > 0:25:05not that good in they're not that good in poorly insulated buildings.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06Well, I actually found them very...
0:25:06 > 0:25:08The modern storage heaters actually have
0:25:08 > 0:25:10a fan in them and it actually blows the heat out.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- You're talking a lot of money here. - It could be, yeah.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The cost of making this place suitable for tenants is mounting.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Richard's adamant he was never told that the conversion didn't
0:25:19 > 0:25:24comply with building regulations, despite an inspection at the time.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25Can I stop you there?
0:25:25 > 0:25:28I played quite a bit of money for the building inspection on this place.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Can you tell me why there is no record of what they've seen?
0:25:30 > 0:25:33- For building control?- Yes.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38- Maybe you should speak to them before you come to me next time. - Yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Well, Chris has already spoken to them.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44The next thing on his list is ex-tenant Jack's claims
0:25:44 > 0:25:46about potentially dangerous wiring.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50There were some issues with the electrics as well.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I'm having the building tested next week.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Including the appliances.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Is it possible I can get a copy of that?
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Sure, that's what I'm doing it for. That's fine, yes.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02After what's been a difficult meeting for both parties,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06getting the electrics tested is at least one thing they can agree on.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09OK, thanks a lot for your time anyway,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and stay in contact, and hopefully be in contact with me,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14as well, with any... Any sort of...
0:26:14 > 0:26:15I hope you appreciate my position.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18I didn't want to give you too much of a hard time.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I'm just pressing you so I know what I'm doing, really.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Knowing what needs to be done and being happy about it
0:26:24 > 0:26:26are two different things, though.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29I think they're making unreasonable suggestions today,
0:26:29 > 0:26:30to be quite frank.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32It's a modern problem today that health and safety
0:26:32 > 0:26:37tends to take the extreme rather than the moderate level of thinking.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41My experience has always been that they wish to spend your money a lot,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44and if you cooperate too much then they will spend more money.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48Beyond that, it just bugs me a little bit to think that that
0:26:48 > 0:26:53my duty of care extends to and stretches beyond reasonable
0:26:53 > 0:26:56expectations, to be honest with you.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59But the council has a very different view.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03To put tenants in a building that you know hasn't been approved
0:27:03 > 0:27:07as being appropriate under the regulations at the time I think is a bit irresponsible.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10The building wasn't ever signed off in the first place by
0:27:10 > 0:27:12building control and he needs to appreciate,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15if the stairs weren't safe, they're still not safe now.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18As the owner, Richard was legally responsible for rectifying
0:27:18 > 0:27:19any safety hazards
0:27:19 > 0:27:23and getting the property signed off when the house was converted.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25But, determined to keep the staircase,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27he's come up with a more radical solution.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31I'm going to consult with my daughter and then I'm going
0:27:31 > 0:27:32to move back into this.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34The thing about building regulations are,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38you can still live in the building providing you yourself stay
0:27:38 > 0:27:42there and are prepared to take the risk that you put into the
0:27:42 > 0:27:44building, which, of course, I am.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52That's it for today. Join me next time on the front line
0:27:52 > 0:27:54with Britain's housing officers.