0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, can you 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 have died here,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32you'd have 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 > 0:00:42One of the fishiest presentations of a property I've come across so far.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties
0:00:44 > 0:00:46and 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 > 0:00:54nightmare 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 > 0:01:14Today, 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 > 0:01:23This is like a vertical village.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27A visually disabled family get the help they need to live independently
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- in their own home.- You 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.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42And I visit a flat where the tenant seemed to have disappeared
0:01:42 > 0:01:43into thin air.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46You can see, there's even still beans on toast on the table
0:01:46 > 0:01:49and then everything else virtually as if he's left it
0:01:49 > 0:01:51like five minutes ago.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and every year, rents go up.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03For those of us chasing cheaper housing,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07that can mean enduring living conditions so bad
0:02:07 > 0:02:08that they break the law.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11I'm working alongside the men and women
0:02:11 > 0:02:14whose job it is to uphold those laws.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16They are the housing enforcers.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24In 2015, the population of London reached 8.6 million.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27That's the highest it's been since 1939.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30As people move here from all over the world,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33boroughs like Newham in east London are facing a crisis.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36High demand for cheap housing means family homes
0:02:36 > 0:02:40are being unlawfully converted into shared accommodation.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Looking to get the biggest return possible,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45landlords are packing these homes with tenants,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47meaning there often aren't enough toilets
0:02:47 > 0:02:49or kitchen space to go round.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52It turns what should be a family home into a health hazard.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Today I'm joining housing officers Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp
0:02:58 > 0:03:01on an inspection of a shared house that they suspect
0:03:01 > 0:03:03is dangerously overcrowded.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07The house in question is beautiful, if somewhat run-down,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09a double-fronted Victorian property
0:03:09 > 0:03:12in one of Newham's best neighbourhoods.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Hello, we're from the council. We need to do another inspection today.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Stephen and Holly started investigating this property
0:03:19 > 0:03:20over two years ago,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23when they discovered that the landlord had more than one family
0:03:23 > 0:03:24living in the house.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28They issued an order, forcing him to turn the property back
0:03:28 > 0:03:29into a single family home,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32but since then, there's been no communication from the landlord,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35so they've come to see if anything's changed.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37So this is a living room.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41We've got a living room, at least in this room of this house.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43It's certainly set up in that way.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Perhaps it's maybe a kids' play area as well.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48- You can see a toy here.- Yeah.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51There is a single, temporary mattress,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53but we've got a fridge in here.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Um...
0:03:55 > 0:03:58why we've got a fridge in the living room, I don't know.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Then we've got the lady who came in
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and said there were people living in that room over there,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09suggesting people other than her or her family.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11- Yes.- So straightaway...
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Straightaway, we've got the signs again
0:04:13 > 0:04:15that this property is not used in the correct way
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- and it could be that they're using this as their living area...- Yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20..and they're keeping their food in here,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22separate from the other people.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25A major problem with overcrowding the house
0:04:25 > 0:04:27is that it creates a serious fire hazard,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30making it difficult for everyone to get out of the building
0:04:30 > 0:04:32should there ever be an emergency.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36A complete lack of all fire protection that's required.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40We've got one on the ground floor here. It looks wired to the mains,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43but it's not working, it's hanging from the ceiling.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Not in working order, so that's pretty dangerous for this property.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48We've only been in the house five minutes
0:04:48 > 0:04:49and it's already pretty clear
0:04:49 > 0:04:52that the landlord has more than one family living here.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It would appear he's completely ignored the council's order,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57which is a criminal offence.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00We found a family of four in here last time
0:05:00 > 0:05:04and the lady's just confirmed that's still the situation.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- OK, the family living separately in here?- Yeah.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Let's just have a little look.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11This really worries me down on this wall.
0:05:11 > 0:05:12If we have a look at the number of plugs
0:05:12 > 0:05:15that are working out of that single socket there...
0:05:15 > 0:05:17There's an iron there as well.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19It's all going into that one socket,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23again, completely overloading what should be...
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- a front room, a dining room. - That's right, yeah.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29It's not designed to be used in that way.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32This room is right next to the main escape route out of the house,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34so a potential fire hazard like this,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36combined with the overcrowding,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38means that should there ever be an emergency,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41it would be incredibly hard for the tenants to escape.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42So just to be clear,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45- there is an enforcement order on this house...- That's correct.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47..to stop it being used in exactly the way
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- it seems to still be being used? - That's correct, yeah.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Unfortunately, they don't seem to have complied
0:05:51 > 0:05:53with the enforcement notice still.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55There's at least two children here.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57So one is at school age,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00judging by the fact that there's homework being done over there.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03It's all happening in here. Family of four,
0:06:03 > 0:06:08everything going on in this room - education, food, sleep.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12It's all going on right here.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15It's not big for four people at all.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21It's heartbreaking to think how desperate the family must be
0:06:21 > 0:06:24for them all to have to live together in this one room,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26but I soon get to find out what it's like
0:06:26 > 0:06:28when we head upstairs to meet Anita,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31who's been in the house for the past three years.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37- So in this room at the moment... - It's too small for me and my kids.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- You...? - And my two kids and my husband.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- So there's four of you in this one room?- Yeah.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Can you tell me how that works? How do you do the things you need to do?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Because there is one bed here - do you all sleep in that bed?
0:06:50 > 0:06:53No, my husband sleeps on...
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- Your husband sleeps on the floor? - Yeah.- Then the three of you...?
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- Do you get any sleep at all?- No.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02I can imagine.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04- How much do you pay for this room? - 380.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- 380 a month?- Yeah.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12It just feels like a very small room for a family for four,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14but then, with your son being so young,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16- are you in this room all day long? - Yeah.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I'm living...
0:07:19 > 0:07:21He's sitting with me all the time.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- So all day long, the two of you in this room?- Yeah.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It's upsetting to see the conditions Anita has to try
0:07:28 > 0:07:30and raise her children in.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33She's constantly surrounded by a stream of ever-changing tenants
0:07:33 > 0:07:35in a dirty, unkempt house.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40Oh, man.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44So this is the bathroom where she has to bathe her kids.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Again, trying to put myself in Anita's situation,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50one thing you want to do is keep your kids clean.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53And this is where she comes to try and do that,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56so there's obviously some kind of repairs that they've carried out
0:07:56 > 0:08:00with sellotape just to try and hold the bath together
0:08:00 > 0:08:02so that the kids haven't got sharp edges
0:08:02 > 0:08:05or try and creep underneath the bath.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Then you put yourself in the place of the dad,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09who works on a building site -
0:08:09 > 0:08:11he comes home from work.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Who knows? Long hours, manual labour.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18This is where he gets to relax and have a bath.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Then he goes to sleep on a mat under a duvet on the floor
0:08:22 > 0:08:24next to them in the bed.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Just picture that as your day-to-day life for a second.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Anita and her family are in the country legally,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34but what concerns the housing officers
0:08:34 > 0:08:36is that overcrowded shared houses like this
0:08:36 > 0:08:39often exploit a hidden population of people
0:08:39 > 0:08:42who don't have permission to be in the UK.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45It's something the council is keen to get under control.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49This is the last bedroom that we've come across
0:08:49 > 0:08:50and I've lost count now.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53So we've got a family of four on the ground floor.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- That's four.- Four. - Another family of four.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56- Two.- Eight.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- Two.- 10, 11.
0:08:59 > 0:09:0012.
0:09:00 > 0:09:0213, 14 people.
0:09:02 > 0:09:0414 people in this house.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07And another gentleman on the ground floor, 15.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09- Is that...? - Yeah.- I didn't even spot that one.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11- No. - They've got 15 people in this house?
0:09:11 > 0:09:1215 people in total living in here.
0:09:12 > 0:09:1515 people is a lot to cope with in this property.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- Yeah. - It's just completely overcrowded.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23What we're looking at is not just a house. This is like a village.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28You've got people doing everything, every different walk of life,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32growing families, living by themselves, together as guys,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34all in one place.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36This is like a vertical village.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41I can't believe there's 15 people living in this one house.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43That means the landlord's netting
0:09:43 > 0:09:45somewhere in the region of £1,600 a month
0:09:45 > 0:09:49from a property that by law should only have one family living in it.
0:09:51 > 0:09:57So this a kitchen for, we think, about 15 people.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Just have a look at this. This is the work surface.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02This is...
0:10:02 > 0:10:05This is your food preparation area.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Big chunks taken out of it through sogginess
0:10:09 > 0:10:11or maybe a little fire or something.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14But there's one final problem with this house that tells us
0:10:14 > 0:10:17all we need to know about the conditions here.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Clearly at some point,
0:10:18 > 0:10:23someone is so worried about the safety of their food supplies...
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- Yeah, that's mine. - ..that they fitted...!
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Anita, that's not going to stop anyone.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Does everyone know this is your cupboard?- Yeah, that's mine.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- Your cupboard?- Yeah.- Right, OK.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- Your food is in there, is it? - Yeah, yeah.- Your lunch?
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Because sometimes, a mouse is coming.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- You get mice in there?- Yeah.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43- Oh, so that's what the spoon's for? - Yeah.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47- Cos otherwise it just opens by itself.- That's right.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Can we have a look? Is there any evidence of mice in there?
0:10:54 > 0:10:55Oh, OK.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59- Oh, that's the mice eating away at the bottom of the cupboard?- Yes.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Are you going to show me something else?
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Have you got something else to show me? Go on, then?
0:11:05 > 0:11:06'It's time for us to leave.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09'We've seen that the house is dirty, overcrowded
0:11:09 > 0:11:11'and has a pest problem,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13'but if the housing officers want more evidence
0:11:13 > 0:11:15'of how many people are actually living in the property,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18'they'll have to come back after dark.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21'Establishing what's really going on in some properties
0:11:21 > 0:11:22'can be a time-consuming job.'
0:11:22 > 0:11:26This is a really stunning double-fronted house
0:11:26 > 0:11:29minutes from the city of London,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32the most exciting city in the world with some of the highest property,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and yet we go in there through the front door
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and there are scenes of real proper depravation, aren't there?
0:11:38 > 0:11:40That's right. We don't want to see the property
0:11:40 > 0:11:42rented out as individual rooms.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44They're basically just sharing kitchen facilities,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46bathroom facilities, they've locks on the doors,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49there's no interaction between them, they come and they go frequently.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54It's trying to remove that transient population from Newham
0:11:54 > 0:11:56and make it a place where people want to stay,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00rather than this continual movement of people through the borough.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Later on, Stephen and Holly are back at the house,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07but this time, it's not the landlord who's in trouble.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10He's got no ID, no passport, no nothing.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13No form of identification that tells us where he's from,
0:12:13 > 0:12:14what he's doing here, nothing.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27For the nearly 12 million people in the UK living with disability
0:12:27 > 0:12:30or chronic health issues, the home should be a place
0:12:30 > 0:12:32where they can feel safe and live with dignity.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Sadly, for many, the reality can be quite different.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39In Kent, Susan Hughes is on her way to meet a couple
0:12:39 > 0:12:43who both have severe visual disabilities.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45They've asked the council for help with urgent improvements
0:12:45 > 0:12:47they say they need
0:12:47 > 0:12:50to live independently in their own home.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53They live in a housing association property.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55They've lived there for about a year now,
0:12:55 > 0:13:00but it hasn't got some of the adaptations that they really need.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05They took it on because it was meant to be adapted for disabled,
0:13:05 > 0:13:08but they have got some quite different disabled requirements.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Harriet Keeling has been visually impaired since birth
0:13:14 > 0:13:16as the result of a genetic condition.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23I was born with cataracts and I had it removed
0:13:23 > 0:13:26when I was about three years old.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32But unfortunately, I got left with quite complex vision,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34very low vision,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37but I was born with a sight problem,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40so I've got on with my life and moved forward.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41But for husband Michael,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44who didn't have sight problems when the couple met,
0:13:44 > 0:13:49losing his ability to see in later life has been a huge adjustment.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Having already lost one eye in an accident,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54his remaining eye started to fail three years ago.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59I had retinal degeneration.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03So my sight loss was quite rapid.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07A situation made worse, as Michael also suffers from Marfan's syndrome,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11a rare genetic disorder affecting the heart and the joints,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13leaving him battling mobility problems.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19When I was younger, I used to play a lot of sport.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20But now, I don't do any of that.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23To be honest with you, I don't actually do much of anything now.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Part of you doesn't always accept what's happened.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28After leading an active life,
0:14:28 > 0:14:33losing his independence has taken its toll on his self-confidence.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36This is why it's harder for Michael to come to terms with,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38but at the moment,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41we prop each other up and we work as a team.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45But he can struggle to do even the simplest of tasks.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48You take it for granted
0:14:48 > 0:14:51when you can see,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54but when it's taken away from you,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57you don't realise how much you rely on it,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01even just doing the smallest of things.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02Making a cup of tea -
0:15:02 > 0:15:06scrabbling around finding the side where the kettle's on.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Having moved to Kent to be closer
0:15:08 > 0:15:12to the specialist medical treatment the family needs in London,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16they say their previous housing association told them their new home
0:15:16 > 0:15:19would be fully adapted to their sight and mobility problems.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It's basically about keeping your independence
0:15:22 > 0:15:26and having a very straightforward life like anybody else would
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and being able to do things yourself, keeping your confidence.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32But when they asked for alterations to the kitchen
0:15:32 > 0:15:35and bathroom to make them easier and safer to use,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37the couple say they were turned down.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40The new housing association say they'd done some work
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and were happy to discuss the family's needs,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45but the house had already been adapted for disabled occupants,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48so Harriet called in the council.
0:15:49 > 0:15:57Everything is a fight and I think what I'm asking for is not a lot.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00It's just to give us the independence.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02We've been here nearly a year
0:16:02 > 0:16:04and we're struggling for something
0:16:04 > 0:16:07that really doesn't need to be a struggle.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Ask part of the council's Staying Put team,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17it's Susan's job to help elderly, disabled and vulnerable people
0:16:17 > 0:16:21to adapt their homes so they can live independently.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Hello, Mrs Keeling? Mr Keeling? Nice to meet you.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26- Lovely to meet you. - I'm Susan Hughes.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Susan's been called in to assess the situation
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and see what the council can do to make the house safer
0:16:31 > 0:16:33while they work with the housing association
0:16:33 > 0:16:35to resolve the issue.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Social services have written to your housing association, yes?
0:16:39 > 0:16:42And they've asked for a few things to be done,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44but your housing association haven't done them.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47This was a few months ago, it was six months ago.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51We got in touch with the housing association,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55- because we moved to this property from another adapted home.- Right.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57And our previous association said
0:16:57 > 0:17:02- that all the adaptations will be done as you move.- Yeah.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04And that's something that has to be done.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06It's a good-sized house, it's perfect for what we need,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09but we need the adaptations to make life easier
0:17:09 > 0:17:11for our individual needs.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13We'll have a look at what's needed.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16I can write and sort of ask them again.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19There may be some things we can do.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22With his sight deteriorating, issues in the kitchen
0:17:22 > 0:17:25make it even harder for Michael to do things for himself,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27with poor lighting at the top of the list.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Simply having strip lighting would allow the family to make the most
0:17:31 > 0:17:33of the sight they do have.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37This is one of the worst points for us.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40When it's a day like this, you can see it's quite bright in here,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43but that single light does no light for us
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- once the weather changes and in the evenings.- Right.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49So we asked for strip lights to be put in,
0:17:49 > 0:17:53which is a normal thing that we had in our other property.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57If I need to go away, if Michael, my husband, is here,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00then he has to have everything done for him,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02because he cannot see in here at all.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05It's just that it's too dangerous.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I'm sure the housing association would allow that,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10so I'll try and look at some funding, at least for the light.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11For keen chef Michael,
0:18:11 > 0:18:16cooking's one pleasure not taken away by the loss of his sight,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19but unable to stand for long because of the joint
0:18:19 > 0:18:21and mobility problems caused by his illness,
0:18:21 > 0:18:26the layout of the kitchen is making that impossible.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Cos my husband's actually a great cook
0:18:28 > 0:18:31and if he just had a side there, if he's having a bad day,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- it's something he can go and prepare...- And he'd sit down at it?
0:18:35 > 0:18:37- Sit down, et cetera.- OK.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40The Keelings aren't alone in having difficulty finding a home
0:18:40 > 0:18:42which allows them to live independently
0:18:42 > 0:18:44despite their disabilities.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48One in six disabled adults and half of all disabled children
0:18:48 > 0:18:51live in housing that isn't suitable for their needs.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Later, we see how making small changes can make a huge difference
0:18:55 > 0:18:58to people living with a disability.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02- You're happy with everything? - Yeah.- That's brilliant.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04I just think it's a brilliant service and, you know,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07more local councils should be doing something like that.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17Back in Newham, housing officers Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp
0:19:17 > 0:19:21have been investigating overcrowding at a shared house.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- 15 people in this house? - 15 people in total living in here.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- 15 people is a lot to cope with in this property.- Yeah.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29It's just completely overcrowded.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34It's 11pm and Stephen and Holly are on their way back to the house,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36this time accompanied by police.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40We've actually gained information
0:19:40 > 0:19:43that there are more people living there
0:19:43 > 0:19:46than we were previously aware of when we first did the visit
0:19:46 > 0:19:50and that some of them may be in the country illegally.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Raids like this are important for the council
0:19:52 > 0:19:56as they try to crack down on unlicensed shared housing.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59They've invited the police to attend because they suspect
0:19:59 > 0:20:03they might also find some of Newham's hidden illegal population.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06If the police can prove that the landlord is knowingly renting
0:20:06 > 0:20:07to illegal immigrants,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11they could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- Hello.- Hi, we're from the council again.- OK.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- Is it all right to come in?- Yeah. - OK, thank you.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23By raiding the house at night,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Stephen and Holly are hoping to catch any extra tenants
0:20:26 > 0:20:28that we didn't meet before.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35This is the same as last time, so it's still a lounge.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Can't see anyone in there.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41The lounge is empty, but upstairs the police have found a man
0:20:41 > 0:20:43they believe could be in the country illegally.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48That room's over the annexe, so it's the back of the house room.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50It's a small single room with a double bed in it
0:20:50 > 0:20:51that we were in the other day.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55He's got no ID. No passport, no nothing.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58No form of identification that tells us where he's from,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00what he's doing here, nothing,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03so the officer's just getting him to write down some details now
0:21:03 > 0:21:07of his name, his date of birth, so they can run a check on him,
0:21:07 > 0:21:09but having no identification's a bit odd.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14The police will inform the border agency about anyone they find
0:21:14 > 0:21:16with no official papers.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20He's just basically said that he's come over seven years ago
0:21:20 > 0:21:21to the UK on a lorry.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26So it doesn't appear that he's legally allowed
0:21:26 > 0:21:28to be in the country,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31so the officer's just going to ask him a few questions more
0:21:31 > 0:21:32at this stage.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37A search of the property doesn't reveal any extra tenants,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39but further down the hall in one of the other bedrooms,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41the police have found another couple
0:21:41 > 0:21:43who are potentially in the country illegally.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I've just been informed by another officer
0:21:47 > 0:21:50that another two people down there, a couple,
0:21:50 > 0:21:51a lady that we met the other day
0:21:51 > 0:21:55are unfortunately going to be asked to come down to the police station,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59cos the police believe that they're illegally in the country.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02In total, three people are taken in for questioning
0:22:02 > 0:22:06by the police and border agency, a single man and a young couple.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Anita and her family remain in the house.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12The officer's just telling the gentleman down there
0:22:12 > 0:22:15that he's going to have to escort him to the police station,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19cos the UK Border Agency will want to talk to him.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26The raid's complete and although the team don't find any extra tenants,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29there's still action for Stephen and Holly to take.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33The information that results from tonight won't change how
0:22:33 > 0:22:35we're going to deal with this property.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38We're still going to continue with our prosecution.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40We'll just add the small bit of information
0:22:40 > 0:22:41that we've gathered from this evening,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43add that to our evidence
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and then we'll be preparing prosecution instructions
0:22:46 > 0:22:47for this one.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Newham Council have told us that since we've filmed,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58they wrote to the landlord warning him
0:22:58 > 0:23:03of their intention to prosecute for breaching an enforcement notice.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06In reply, the landlord said he'd now complied with the notice.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Newham housing officers are going to carry out a final inspection
0:23:09 > 0:23:12of the house to see what work's being done
0:23:12 > 0:23:13before they make a decision
0:23:13 > 0:23:16on whether to continue proceedings against him.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:23:23 > 0:23:27is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Do you think?(!)
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37- Top marks.- Yes!
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- I'm hitting the streets... - Hello, can you open up?
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Definitely somebody inside, cos we've seen movement.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46..finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:23:46 > 0:23:50The cistern's in the bath. I don't know how they flush it.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53..and learning what it takes to make sure a house
0:23:53 > 0:23:56is a fit place to call a home.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06It falls to council housing officers
0:24:06 > 0:24:09to make sure that both social housing and privately rented homes
0:24:09 > 0:24:12are safe and fit for their tenants to live in
0:24:12 > 0:24:15and in Gwynedd in Wales, they've got their work cut out.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Figures up to March 2015 showed
0:24:19 > 0:24:25that of almost 6,500 social rented homes registered with the council,
0:24:25 > 0:24:2744% didn't meet the quality standards
0:24:27 > 0:24:29set by the Welsh Government.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Getting these homes improved is tough for housing officers
0:24:32 > 0:24:36and a common cause of disputes between landlords and tenants
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and it's often then that the council is called in.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Today, Richard Hughes is about to visit a property
0:24:41 > 0:24:43which was at the centre of a row
0:24:43 > 0:24:46between a private landlord and a council tenant.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48The landlord wanted to do some repairs,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51but the tenant wouldn't let him in to do the work.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56This is one of the places we're going to later on.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57It's a bit strange, isn't it,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59that you've got a property with tenants in there
0:24:59 > 0:25:02and these works are there to protect those tenants,
0:25:02 > 0:25:07to make their lives better and to keep them safe,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10yet the landlord that's trying to carry these works out
0:25:10 > 0:25:12is prevented from doing them.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16'According to the file, the tenant stopped paying his rent
0:25:16 > 0:25:17'and a few months ago,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20'the landlord was forced to give him notice to quit.'
0:25:20 > 0:25:25As relationships deteriorate, they might, as in this example,
0:25:25 > 0:25:29stop paying rent and it just deteriorates further and further,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33which is a shame, because everyone's there, really, to try and help them.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37The flat in question is in Caernarfon.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38It's owned by a private landlord
0:25:38 > 0:25:42and rented out for social housing through an agent.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44It looks like the problems started
0:25:44 > 0:25:46when the council advised the landlord
0:25:46 > 0:25:49that work was needed to make the flat safer for tenants.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54So, Richard, I'm looking at a file here for a property
0:25:54 > 0:25:58which it appears needs pretty substantial work
0:25:58 > 0:26:00to put in order, is that right?
0:26:00 > 0:26:04We visited previously and there were bits and bobs to do, that's true.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07The tenants have been evicted because of non-payment of rent.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09They've actually finally got access,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12but the condition of the property as it stands today
0:26:12 > 0:26:14is a bit unknown.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Whatever grievances the tenant had,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19not paying the rent is always a risky strategy
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and in this case, he was evicted.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24All Richard can do now is to have a look at the flat
0:26:24 > 0:26:27to see what improvements need to be done
0:26:27 > 0:26:30and work with the landlord to make it fit to rent again.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33The property is right in the centre of town, above a shop.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38- That's the place?- This is the one.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42The landlord's representative is here to meet us.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- Hello, there.- Hello, hi.- How are you doing? I'm Matt.- I'm Dawn James.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Nice to meet you, Dawn.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49So you're the agent for this property?
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- Yes, I help look after the property, yes.- OK.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Shall we go in and have a look?
0:26:55 > 0:26:59The flat is on the top floor of a three-storey building.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03As the landlord's representative, Dawn has the keys.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Once inside, the poor state of the flat becomes clear.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10- It looks like someone left in a bit of a hurry.- Yes.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13There's no electric because it's on a key meter...
0:27:13 > 0:27:15And that's all run out?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18'It's obvious life's been going on as normal here
0:27:18 > 0:27:20'until quite recently.'
0:27:20 > 0:27:24You can see, there's even still beans on toast on the table
0:27:24 > 0:27:28and then everything else is virtually as if he's left it
0:27:28 > 0:27:31about five minutes ago, but how long is it, Dawn,
0:27:31 > 0:27:32since anybody's been in here?
0:27:32 > 0:27:34I came in a couple of days ago
0:27:34 > 0:27:37and people seemed to think downstairs that he'd gone,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40but he hadn't brought the keys back or anything,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42so we had the locks changed
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and we put a notice on the window giving him another seven days
0:27:45 > 0:27:50to come in to the property if he wanted to remove any more goods.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52This is a whole life here,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55this is somebody's life that's just been dropped.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57'It's incredible that someone would leave
0:27:57 > 0:28:00'so many personal possessions behind.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03'It's also a big headache for Dawn.'
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Somebody downstairs said he had moved a lot of stuff out
0:28:06 > 0:28:09and he said that he'd taken everything he wanted,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11but there's still a lot of items here
0:28:11 > 0:28:12that we don't know what to do with now.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15It feels like either a sudden decision has been made,
0:28:15 > 0:28:17or something very bad's happened.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20There are things here which seem very personal,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22like children's toys here,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24there are photographs.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26'I'm struggling to understand what's happened here,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28'but with safety work needing to be done in the flat
0:28:28 > 0:28:31'and the tenant refusing to let the landlord in to do it,
0:28:31 > 0:28:35'or pay his rent, the agent had no choice but to evict him.'
0:28:36 > 0:28:39He's been told to leave now for a couple of months
0:28:39 > 0:28:41and he's kept putting it off, then he realised
0:28:41 > 0:28:45that the final day's come and he needed to move out.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48I think he may have gone to live with his girlfriend and the baby.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50For Richard, the most important thing now
0:28:50 > 0:28:51is to assess what needs to be done
0:28:51 > 0:28:54so the landlord can bring the flat up to standard.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57We've discussed previously works required here.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59So obviously, you've had difficulty with the tenant
0:28:59 > 0:29:02- not allowing you access, what have you.- Yes.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05So we'll crack on with the existing list
0:29:05 > 0:29:09and obviously, I think there's a few additional things
0:29:09 > 0:29:11like they've smashed the door.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- Yeah, that wasn't smashed. - No, definitely not.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17We're hoping to get the work started within the next couple of weeks.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21We'll just work with you now and try and get it back up and running
0:29:21 > 0:29:24as soon as we can so you can re-let it, really.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26We'll have a quick look round now
0:29:26 > 0:29:28and we'll see the extent of the damage.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Then we'll have a bit of a chat on where we go from here.
0:29:31 > 0:29:32OK, that's fine, yeah.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Coming up, the mess left behind by the tenant
0:29:36 > 0:29:39is disguising a dangerous problem.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41I'm also looking at it in the context
0:29:41 > 0:29:43of what would happen in a fire.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44Your exits are all...
0:29:45 > 0:29:47..already alight.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Back in Kent,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Susan Hughes has been called in to help Harriet and Michael Keeling,
0:29:57 > 0:29:59who both have severe visual impairments
0:29:59 > 0:30:03and say their housing association property needs urgent work
0:30:03 > 0:30:06to allow them to live there independently.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09We've been here nearly a year
0:30:09 > 0:30:12and we're struggling for something
0:30:12 > 0:30:15that really doesn't need to be a struggle.
0:30:15 > 0:30:16The housing association say
0:30:16 > 0:30:18they've done considerable work for the family
0:30:18 > 0:30:22and they'd already adapted the house for a disabled previous tenant.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26But changes made to help him actually make everyday tasks harder
0:30:26 > 0:30:30for Michael, who's also battling a condition affecting his joints.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33That means sometimes he needs a wheelchair.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37- Oh, shower room. - This is our lovely wet room.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40My husband actually can't use the bath
0:30:40 > 0:30:43and the whole point of having this room is to have the space
0:30:43 > 0:30:46for the wheelchair for Michael to be independent.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Michael needs a different type of handrail to allow him
0:30:49 > 0:30:52to get in and out of the shower and bath safely.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56And there's not enough room in the bathroom to manoeuvre the wheelchair
0:30:56 > 0:30:58with the shower in its current position.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01- That's the shower area.- This is the shower area, which we asked...
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Originally, the shower was over on that wall,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07so you would have a lot of room to come in and out with the chair.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- Yeah.- But what he's done, the previous tenant,
0:31:09 > 0:31:11he unfortunately moved it to there,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13so when you have a shower, you just get a flood
0:31:13 > 0:31:15and then it goes out the door.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17- Right. - Because it's not sloped properly.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20- Yeah.- We've asked them to move that, but that's...
0:31:20 > 0:31:23And a few rails sorted out, but...
0:31:23 > 0:31:26We can look at the rails, we can definitely look at the rails.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28The lack of a handrail on the stairs
0:31:28 > 0:31:32is also leaving the whole family frightened every time they use them.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35We just asked for, on the stairs, to have a rail on the other side.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Yes, I heard that, yes.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40- Only because...- That's definitely something we can do.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44Only because we can't...
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- With the sight thing...- Yeah. - ..we have to come down,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48but because we've only got one side to hold on...
0:31:48 > 0:31:50That's something that we can simply do.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53- ..it's quite scary.- That'll be fine.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Keen to do whatever she can to help,
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Susan has some good news and some bad news.
0:31:57 > 0:31:58We can't take out the bath
0:31:58 > 0:32:01and bigger things like that, cos they're too big,
0:32:01 > 0:32:03but we'll look at doing some of the smaller bits for you.
0:32:03 > 0:32:08That's great and that's not what I thought I would hear,
0:32:08 > 0:32:10cos we've been waiting so long for things
0:32:10 > 0:32:12and everything is a struggle and a fight,
0:32:12 > 0:32:13so I'm chuffed.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15Thank you.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Susan's done everything she can for today
0:32:17 > 0:32:21and she's starting to understand exactly what this family needs.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23I can see now what they're struggling with.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25We take our sight for granted.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27It just makes you realise what it would be like
0:32:27 > 0:32:28if you couldn't see
0:32:28 > 0:32:31and all the difficulties you'd have in your own home, of getting around
0:32:31 > 0:32:34and doing your normal...making a cup of tea, making your dinner,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37getting up in the morning, what a difference it can make.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40And being able to do the kind of things he used to take for granted,
0:32:40 > 0:32:43like cooking, could make all the difference for Michael
0:32:43 > 0:32:46as he comes to terms with the loss of his sight.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50Just to have lighting in the kitchen,
0:32:50 > 0:32:54a surface that Mike can work on himself.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57It's all about safety, it's not because we fancy
0:32:57 > 0:33:00a top-of-the-range, brand-new fitted kitchen, we don't want that.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02What we want is safety.
0:33:06 > 0:33:07A couple of weeks later
0:33:07 > 0:33:10and Susan's back in Kent to see how the family is getting on.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15Today I'm going to the Keelings'. They've had all their work finished.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18I just want to make sure that it's all done correctly
0:33:18 > 0:33:20and they're happy with everything.
0:33:27 > 0:33:28Hi, Mr Keeling, it's Susan Hughes.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31- I've just come to check all the work.- Yeah, OK, no problem.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Is that all right for you to show me everything?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- Are you happy with it all? - Oh, it's fabulous.- Is it? Brilliant.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Straight away, Susan spots a small change
0:33:39 > 0:33:41that's already making a big difference.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43Oh, yeah, lovely rails.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45They look good, are you happy with them?
0:33:45 > 0:33:47- Yes, I am.- Yeah? Very good.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Using the stairs is now much easier and more importantly,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52much safer for the whole family.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56OK, is it all right to go in the kitchen and see what's in there?
0:33:56 > 0:34:00- Sure.- Oh, look at those lights. That's very good.
0:34:00 > 0:34:01So they make a difference, do they?
0:34:01 > 0:34:03Yeah, they make a huge difference.
0:34:03 > 0:34:04Yeah.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08Especially at night, with just having that single light there.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11But now we've got these two, it's absolutely brilliant in here.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Michael's unable to stand up for long
0:34:13 > 0:34:16because of problems with his joints,
0:34:16 > 0:34:19so creating a worktop he can sit at has been a great help.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Our handyperson has done you a worktop.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24- Yeah.- That looks very good, doesn't it?
0:34:24 > 0:34:26It's a lot easier for me now.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30- So you can sit down here and you can do some work?- Yeah.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31What are you cooking tonight, then?
0:34:31 > 0:34:34I'm going to make a chilli con carne tonight.
0:34:34 > 0:34:35That's really good.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38And a few simple adaptations
0:34:38 > 0:34:41designed for people with visual and mobility problems
0:34:41 > 0:34:45means Michael can now use the bathroom safely by himself.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49All these nice blue rails, then.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- Wow, you've got a lot of 'em! - THEY LAUGH
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- Obviously replaced the ones that were already here.- Yeah.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59The one down by the bath there.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02That was a new one put in,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05which makes getting in and out of the bath a hell of a lot easier.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08So, you do get in and out of the bath, do you?
0:35:08 > 0:35:12Yeah, because you had nothing to actually hold on to, to get in.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Using the white ones, there was a clash
0:35:15 > 0:35:18against the background on the tiles
0:35:18 > 0:35:22so it was better to have a darker rail.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Are you happy with everything? That's brilliant.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26Yeah, I just think it's a brilliant service
0:35:26 > 0:35:30and more local councils should be doing something like that.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Well, as I say, you know where we are. You can always give us a ring.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Hopefully, other bits that you need,
0:35:35 > 0:35:37your housing association will pick up on,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40but if you have got any problems, by all means, give us a ring back.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45- Brilliant, OK, well, I'm glad it's all OK. Bye!- Bye!
0:35:45 > 0:35:48The council Staying Put scheme is there to help people
0:35:48 > 0:35:50live independently in their own homes
0:35:50 > 0:35:53and Susan is delighted with the results.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58I think the biggest change has been
0:35:58 > 0:36:01that Michael can now do some things more independently
0:36:01 > 0:36:03so he can see to cook,
0:36:03 > 0:36:05he's got that nice worktop that he can cook on
0:36:05 > 0:36:08so I think they're in for a lot of treats of nice meals coming up.
0:36:08 > 0:36:09He's a lot happier so, yeah,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11you go home today with a good feeling,
0:36:11 > 0:36:12knowing you've helped someone.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Although the work will make life easier for the whole family,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17adjusting to the loss of his sight
0:36:17 > 0:36:21and much of his independence has been especially hard for Michael.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23So, for him, it isn't just about being helped.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27It's about being able to help himself again.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29The thing is with something like this,
0:36:29 > 0:36:31because it's something I enjoy,
0:36:31 > 0:36:38something I know, I don't have to rely on my sight for it so I can...
0:36:38 > 0:36:41I was just about to say I could do it blindfolded, but I nearly am!
0:36:41 > 0:36:42HE LAUGHS
0:36:42 > 0:36:45It sounds like being able to cook for his family again
0:36:45 > 0:36:47hasn't come a minute too soon.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52Now, with everything that's been done in here,
0:36:52 > 0:36:53I can get back to it
0:36:53 > 0:36:56and I don't have to put up with Harriet's cooking!
0:37:00 > 0:37:03The housing association which owns the house tells us
0:37:03 > 0:37:05that they've carried out a lot of work
0:37:05 > 0:37:07to adapt the home for the family,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10even though they had no obligation to do so.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12They say the family and the previous tenant
0:37:12 > 0:37:15had arranged between themselves to swap homes
0:37:15 > 0:37:17and would have assessed the suitability of the house
0:37:17 > 0:37:20for their needs before they moved in.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27'I'm in Caernarfon town centre
0:37:27 > 0:37:31'where Gwynedd Council housing officer Richard Hughes
0:37:31 > 0:37:33'was showing me this abandoned flat.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37'The landlord and tenant had been in dispute for several months
0:37:37 > 0:37:40'and it ended with the tenant being given notice to quit,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43'but he apparently just walked out of his life,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46'leaving Brian plenty of work for the council to do.'
0:37:46 > 0:37:48How long is it, Dawn, since anybody's been in here?
0:37:48 > 0:37:50I came in a couple of days ago
0:37:50 > 0:37:53and people seemed to think downstairs that he had gone.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56'Despite being given extra time to come back
0:37:56 > 0:37:58'and claim his belongings,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01'it looks like this tenant has well and truly moved on.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03'With housing in short supply in Wales
0:38:03 > 0:38:05'and many homes not up to standard,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08'housing officers are keen to help landlords
0:38:08 > 0:38:09'get properties improved
0:38:09 > 0:38:12'and back on the market as soon as possible.'
0:38:14 > 0:38:16You can see this is the damage
0:38:16 > 0:38:18and the way it's been left by the tenant.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Obviously, there will be the odd thing to do extra,
0:38:21 > 0:38:25such as the bedroom door which has been smashed up.
0:38:25 > 0:38:31Housing is in short supply and, when people abuse what they've got,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34it's taking it off the market for the next person, really.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39So we'll try and work with the agent as well as we can now
0:38:39 > 0:38:41and try and get it back up and running
0:38:41 > 0:38:43to the standard that it should be.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47'Although it's small, this could be a really great home for someone,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50'but there is one huge problem with this flat
0:38:50 > 0:38:52'which is staring even me in the face.'
0:38:52 > 0:38:57So, we've got one sort of stairwell down to the ground floor
0:38:57 > 0:39:02from up here and I'm thinking what do we do in the case of a fire.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05There's no real other way to get out.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Let's say that that living area there is consumed by fire,
0:39:09 > 0:39:12which is maybe started from the kitchen or something like that.
0:39:12 > 0:39:13Those are two high-risk areas
0:39:13 > 0:39:18and we are in this part or upstairs, then how do we get out?
0:39:18 > 0:39:20It's one of the things we probably look at
0:39:20 > 0:39:22just to have some kind of protected route
0:39:22 > 0:39:24to escape from the flat because it's on the second floor
0:39:24 > 0:39:27so you're not going to be jumping out of any windows.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32House fires cost 188 lives in Great Britain last year.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34When the Government looked into this,
0:39:34 > 0:39:36they discovered half of all house fires
0:39:36 > 0:39:39were caused by the misuse of cooking appliances.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43We'll be looking to maybe construct some kind of internal partition,
0:39:43 > 0:39:47maybe, to create some kind of hallway that would allow tenants
0:39:47 > 0:39:50to escape without going through the lounge and kitchen area.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53'This is a split-level flat with a kitchen,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56'bedroom and living space downstairs
0:39:56 > 0:39:59'and another open plan bedroom in the attic space
0:39:59 > 0:40:00'at the top of the stairs.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03'It's here that it gets really dangerous.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06'If a fire started below, there would be no escape.'
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Up here, we've got his double bed
0:40:08 > 0:40:11that's tucked in there under the eaves
0:40:11 > 0:40:13and we've got a crib.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15You're a family guy.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18What do you think when you see situations like this?
0:40:18 > 0:40:21It does bring it home to you, really,
0:40:21 > 0:40:26because a very young child has been living here.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29I'm also looking at in the context of what would happen in a fire.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32- You're not going anywhere. - You're not going anywhere, no.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34You could chance it out on the roof if you could get up there,
0:40:34 > 0:40:40but, really, your exits are already alight.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43'It's a terrifying thought, but something
0:40:43 > 0:40:46'that Richard has to consider every time he inspects a home.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49One of the examples we've mentioned is to create
0:40:49 > 0:40:52an internal route of escape
0:40:52 > 0:40:55and, you know, you can easily achieve it
0:40:55 > 0:40:57if you boarded up the open side
0:40:57 > 0:41:02underneath the stairs, 30 minutes construction.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04So, when you say 30 minutes, what we're looking for
0:41:04 > 0:41:07is we're looking for some construction
0:41:07 > 0:41:10that will resist the fire for 30 minutes,
0:41:10 > 0:41:12just long enough for the smoke alarms to go off
0:41:12 > 0:41:14and then get out as quickly as possible.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Yeah, basically,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20so it's just sort of getting from the bedrooms of the flat
0:41:20 > 0:41:23out to the communal hallway and they can make their way down.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26'It could be expensive for the landlord,
0:41:26 > 0:41:30'but housing officers like Richard are enforcing laws.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31'Either the work is done
0:41:31 > 0:41:34'or the council could decide the property can't be let.'
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Is that what you see when you walk around a place like this?
0:41:38 > 0:41:41You're trying to balance the needs of trying to keep the landlord...
0:41:41 > 0:41:43something that makes financial sense for them,
0:41:43 > 0:41:47but also at the same time trying to make sure
0:41:47 > 0:41:50that this is a place that is going to be safe for people to live?
0:41:50 > 0:41:53If you're talking about spending hundreds of thousands
0:41:53 > 0:41:55to redo the whole building, well,
0:41:55 > 0:41:58you've got to balance that then on the rent income
0:41:58 > 0:42:01and how long will it take for them to get their money back.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06But we won't sacrifice the safety of prospective tenants
0:42:06 > 0:42:10or the building just to save a quick buck, basically.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13'It's good to know that, once the work's done,
0:42:13 > 0:42:15'this will be a much-needed and safe home
0:42:15 > 0:42:17'for the next person to live in.'
0:42:20 > 0:42:23Gwynedd Council told us that, after we filmed,
0:42:23 > 0:42:27an architect was brought in by the landlord and work is now underway
0:42:27 > 0:42:30to convert the property into a one-bedroom apartment.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34There will be proper fire separation between the bedroom
0:42:34 > 0:42:37and living area and a protected escape route for people
0:42:37 > 0:42:40to leave the flat safely in the event of fire.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43The council is keeping an eye on the situation
0:42:43 > 0:42:46to make sure all the work is completed to the required standard
0:42:46 > 0:42:48before a new tenant moves in.
0:42:52 > 0:42:53That's it for today.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57Join me next time back on the road with the housing enforcers.