0:00:02 > 0:00:03Oh, my God!
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 ever envision anybody living like this.
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 was a deathtrap, at the end of the day.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20'In the battle for decent housing...'
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Leaving things, that's what happens.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24This is just totally unacceptable.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26'..it's local housing officers who are on the front line.'
0:00:26 > 0:00:28If somebody had have died here,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31you would have been standing in coroner's court.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35'I'm Matt Allwright and I'm back with The Housing Enforcers.'
0:00:35 > 0:00:37BANG! Oh!
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- You all right?- Yeah, good(!)
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties
0:00:42 > 0:00:44'and slum conditions...'
0:00:44 > 0:00:48- Faeces isn't an issue, you know, that's...- Faeces is an issue, Glyn!
0:00:48 > 0:00:51'..as they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours
0:00:51 > 0:00:53'and everything in between...'
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Oh, no! That's incredible.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58'..and doing their best to help those in need
0:00:58 > 0:01:00'of a happy and healthy home.'
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- Ain't it fabulous?- Oh, Margaret.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04SHE SOBS Oh, Margaret.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10'Today, a visit to a house converted into flats
0:01:10 > 0:01:13'without planning permission uncovers a surprising secret...'
0:01:14 > 0:01:17A shed with a bed! This should be used just for storage,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20it shouldn't have any residential use at all.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22'..council tenants have a narrow escape
0:01:22 > 0:01:24'after a devastating house fire...'
0:01:24 > 0:01:29I can't believe how much heat I'm feeling from the walls, still.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I would imagine the heat was quite intense.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34'..a dispute between a landlord and a tenant reveals
0:01:34 > 0:01:38'shocking living conditions in a privately rented home...'
0:01:38 > 0:01:41So at the moment, you've got no heating and hot water
0:01:41 > 0:01:43and you've got no electrics?
0:01:43 > 0:01:44No, they've all blown.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48'..and there's a new flat and a new start for homeless Brian.'
0:01:48 > 0:01:50There's the kitchen. Have a look at the kitchen.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52It's just nice to see someone so excited.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55The bedroom. Never had a flat, myself.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Never. Never had a flat.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and every year, rents go up.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12For those of us chasing cheaper housing, that can mean
0:02:12 > 0:02:16enduring living conditions so bad that they break the law.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18I'm working alongside the men and women
0:02:18 > 0:02:21whose job it is to uphold those laws.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24They...are The Housing Enforcers.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31For some landlords, London brings easy pickings.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Property means profit, regulations can be ignored and houses are
0:02:35 > 0:02:38converted to flats without planning permission.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43In the borough of Newham, a two-bedroomed property can rent
0:02:43 > 0:02:46for about £1,350 a month,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49over 500 quid more than an equivalent property
0:02:49 > 0:02:51in Birmingham or Manchester,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54so it's no surprise some landlords bypass the planning rules.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59'Housing officers Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp
0:02:59 > 0:03:02'are visiting a house where the owner has already
0:03:02 > 0:03:05'been given notice to change his unlawfully converted property
0:03:05 > 0:03:09'from two flats back into a single family home.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11'Now they need to see if he's done the work
0:03:11 > 0:03:14'required by the council's enforcement notice.'
0:03:14 > 0:03:16So what we'd be looking for today is to make sure they've taken
0:03:16 > 0:03:21out any internal partitioning, any internal doors that separate
0:03:21 > 0:03:25it from, say, flat one to flat two.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27You line up your arguments here.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31There's, like, four different reasons why the change of use
0:03:31 > 0:03:36from a family home to two flats is no good.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Er, the first one says cos you lose a family house.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41The second one says cos they're not big enough,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44the flats aren't big enough. Er...
0:03:44 > 0:03:48The next one is because it's not available,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53it's not accessible, you know, to all users, regardless of disability.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56And then because there's an increased level of coming and going.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00That's right. All the arguments are based on the council's policies
0:04:00 > 0:04:02with regards to housing.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06'The property is on a quiet residential street
0:04:06 > 0:04:09'and from the outside, there's little evidence to suggest that it
0:04:09 > 0:04:11'had ever been converted.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14'Judging by the pile of furniture in the front garden,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17'straightaway it looks like the building work to turn
0:04:17 > 0:04:21'it from flats back into a single family home has already started.'
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Hello. We're from the planning department from Newham Council.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27We're here to see some works take place.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30'We're being shown around by one of the tenants, Mr Hussain,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33'who also acts as a manager on behalf of the landlord.'
0:04:33 > 0:04:35..it's likely you'd get another enforcement notice...
0:04:35 > 0:04:37'Things are looking even more promising.'
0:04:37 > 0:04:40So we can see that it looks like some internal partitioning
0:04:40 > 0:04:42might have been removed here.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Going straight up.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47'Stephen and Holly are mostly interested in the first floor.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51'On a previous visit, this was an entirely separate flat.'
0:04:51 > 0:04:54This was a...this was a kitchen in here, and a bathroom.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57And a bathroom in this area, that's right.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59And the owner's done works now to take all those fixtures
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and fittings away. They're now going to
0:05:01 > 0:05:04probably put some carpet down and may turn it back to a bedroom.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08We've just got a few items of whiteware, such as a washing machine
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and a microwave, er, just left in one of the rooms.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13That's to be removed.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15So this now feels like...
0:05:15 > 0:05:17more like it's becoming a family home again, doesn't it?
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Yeah, it now looks as though it's back to habitable space.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23'Before the work was done,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27'the first floor was a flat with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30'There's also an attic bedroom.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35'A two-bedroomed property in Newham can rent for around £1,350 a month,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39'so by converting your house into two smaller flats,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41'you could almost double your income.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44'Putting aside the cost of the conversion,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48'a shrewd property developer could make an additional £7,000
0:05:48 > 0:05:50'in as little as six months.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55'Our visit's going surprisingly well.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57'It looks like the landlord's done exactly what the council have
0:05:57 > 0:05:59'asked him to do.'
0:06:00 > 0:06:03So, so far it looks like it's fitting the bill.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05I would say that it's the key on the first floor where they've
0:06:05 > 0:06:08done the works and I'm pretty happy that the property's now
0:06:08 > 0:06:10probably been reverted back to use as a single house.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14Explain to me why it is that Newham would want this to be
0:06:14 > 0:06:17a single family home rather than two flats.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Cos there's a shortage in the borough of single family houses,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23so any works to convert properties require planning permission and
0:06:23 > 0:06:28we simply won't grant that unless there's extreme circumstances.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31'Upstairs, though, the converted attic is one area that Stephen
0:06:31 > 0:06:33'thinks will still be a cause for concern
0:06:33 > 0:06:37'when the house is back to being used as a single dwelling.'
0:06:37 > 0:06:39To maximise the space we have in Newham,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41people will convert their lofts,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44so the works they had done to convert it were very minimal,
0:06:44 > 0:06:49just so they could split it, but any property done correctly would
0:06:49 > 0:06:52have to have, you know, proper building control regulations
0:06:52 > 0:06:56and sound insulation. This didn't have any of that.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58- It's got very interesting things, like this.- Yeah.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02And this.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Nonstandard, I'd say. Nonstandard wiring.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10'The conversion of the house into flats
0:07:10 > 0:07:13'and the loft into a bedroom is substandard.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16'It didn't meet the rules designed to make sure our homes are safe
0:07:16 > 0:07:18'and comfortable.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21'But the council has limited powers - officers can only
0:07:21 > 0:07:23'instruct that the bed be removed
0:07:23 > 0:07:25'and the attic not be used as a bedroom.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27'On the ground floor,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30'one of the rooms is still being used for sleeping in.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34'That might be because work is still going on upstairs.'
0:07:34 > 0:07:37- Right, so this is a downstairs bedroom.- Yeah.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39It sort of gives you a flavour of the way it must have been
0:07:39 > 0:07:42when there were two flats because presumably
0:07:42 > 0:07:45these are the downstairs occupants who are still here.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47You would think the first thing that would happen as well,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51come out of this bedroom and use an upstairs bedroom.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- But that hasn't happened, has it? - No, not yet.- So why not?- Why not?
0:07:54 > 0:07:57We can't force them to have their bedrooms upstairs because,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00you know, if there's any elderly people living at the property,
0:08:00 > 0:08:01they find it difficult to get upstairs,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03so we can't make them, as a rule.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06But, yeah, why would you not now look to use
0:08:06 > 0:08:10all of the space in the property? So...it's a bit confusing.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13'So far, the inspection couldn't have gone more smoothly.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16'The owner of the property seems to have completed all the work
0:08:16 > 0:08:18'needed to turn it back into a single dwelling.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24'But later, I make a bizarre discovery in the back garden
0:08:24 > 0:08:27'that threatens to put the council right back to square one.'
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I don't know about your shed, but mine doesn't tend to have curtains.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Here in Suffolk...
0:08:37 > 0:08:41and housing officer Ian Watson is on an emergency call-out.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43He's just been alerted that there's been
0:08:43 > 0:08:45a fire at one of the council's houses.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47It's obviously a disaster for the tenants
0:08:47 > 0:08:51and he needs to get there as soon as he can to help.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53One of the repair guys is already on scene
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and the fire service are in attendance.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58The kitchen's been gutted.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Fortunately, nobody was in the premises
0:09:01 > 0:09:03so we're just going to have to see what we've got.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Now the emergency services have done their job,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09it's Ian's task to assess the damage and see how soon
0:09:09 > 0:09:11he can get the tenants back into their home.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13But it doesn't look good...
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Right, let's go indoors and...
0:09:15 > 0:09:16So...
0:09:16 > 0:09:19'It looks like the fire started here in the kitchen,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22'leaving a real mess in its wake.'
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Nobody was here at the time
0:09:24 > 0:09:27and I think one of the neighbours called the fire service.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29They've attended very, very quickly
0:09:29 > 0:09:33and obviously managed to contain the fire to the kitchen here.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37It seems to have something to do with the cooker.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41The damage is devastating and it doesn't look like much can be saved.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Luckily, the tenants are uninjured and plans are already
0:09:44 > 0:09:48in place to find them some temporary accommodation.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52I can't believe how much heat I'm feeling from the walls, still.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54I would imagine the heat was quite intense.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Very unfortunate for the tenants.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02We've already got repair people coming out to obviously board up
0:10:02 > 0:10:05the windows and the doors and everything.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Main thing is, no-one's hurt.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09But for these tenants,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12it's not just the damage to the property that's causing concern.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14There were four dogs here.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18They've been taken to the vet's. They're, um...
0:10:18 > 0:10:21They're actually receiving some oxygen in oxygen tents,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24but one of the dogs, I think, has been burnt on the shoulder,
0:10:24 > 0:10:26but we're keeping our fingers crossed and say that, you know,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29they're going to be OK.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31And the damage continues upstairs.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Yeah, the carpet's fairly well ruined, but...
0:10:37 > 0:10:41well, obviously, as you can see, the floor's burnt underneath.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Yeah, the heat and smoke damage...to the bath...
0:10:49 > 0:10:52so that will probably be a replacement bath as well.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56This level of devastation is terrible news for the tenants,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59but Ian knows it could have been a lot worse.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02You've got attached properties either side, you know,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04if it had been left longer then we could have
0:11:04 > 0:11:07been looking at houses either side being damaged.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Having now seen the scale of the problem for himself,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Ian's priority is now the tenants,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15but first he calls the council office to let
0:11:15 > 0:11:18the rest of the team know the severity of the damage.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22This is going to be a little long-term thing, I think.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25'How long do you think? Any ideas?'
0:11:25 > 0:11:29We're looking at minimum two weeks, I would say, because the windows
0:11:29 > 0:11:33have gone and the doors gone, so the double glazing will be a problem,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35but the kitchen will have to be redone.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Part of my job is dealing with tenants and any issues they've got.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43First things first, we need to get surveyors out to have a look
0:11:43 > 0:11:45at the actual structure of the building, but,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47looking up through the ceiling,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49it looks like the floorboards have been damaged,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51probably beyond repair.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53I really, really feel sorry for 'em
0:11:53 > 0:11:56cos it's not nice to have a fire in your house,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59but it is contained, they've got some bed and breakfast.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02So with some temporary accommodation sorted,
0:12:02 > 0:12:06the work can get started on turning this wreck back into a home.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10And two weeks later, Ian's back to check on the progress.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12It looks as though the fire might have caused more problems
0:12:12 > 0:12:14than first thought.
0:12:14 > 0:12:15Crikey.
0:12:15 > 0:12:22I never expected...the smoke damage to come through...that far.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25And inside, although things might look a little brighter,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28the extent of the damage is also much clearer.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Obviously, all the carpet's been taken out and everything,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38but, erm...I know they've had to stack everything up.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43There's still quite an acrid smell of smoke
0:12:43 > 0:12:46so I don't know how much of this will have to be destroyed.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Little has changed in the kitchen,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50where it's thought the fire may have started.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Not a lot different, unfortunately.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59And upstairs it's a similar story.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Well, they've cleared everything from upstairs.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Mainly no different to how it was.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09Sadly for the occupants, the fire caused more damage to the house
0:13:09 > 0:13:11than the council first thought.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Now it looks like moving them back in
0:13:13 > 0:13:15is going to take longer than Ian had hoped.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17A little disappointed.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I'd have liked to have seen things getting on a bit quicker,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23windows and doors, double glazing, minimum four weeks, and I think it's
0:13:23 > 0:13:26going to be a little bit longer than that so they're not going to
0:13:26 > 0:13:29be back in for the next two or three weeks, I don't think.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31But there is some good news -
0:13:31 > 0:13:34the injured pets look to be on the mend.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36I spoke to the tenant on the phone this morning.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39The dogs are fine. The springer, which was the one
0:13:39 > 0:13:42who took the main brunt of it, she's fine, she's doing OK
0:13:42 > 0:13:44and they're getting better all the time,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46so they're quite happy with that.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54'Earlier, I visited a house in east London which had been
0:13:54 > 0:13:58'converted into two flats, in breach of planning permission.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01'Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp from Newham Council were there to
0:14:01 > 0:14:03'make sure the building had been converted back
0:14:03 > 0:14:05'to a single dwelling.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:08This was a...this was a kitchen in here, and a bathroom.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10And a bathroom.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12The owner's done works now to take all those fixtures
0:14:12 > 0:14:14and fittings away. They're now going to
0:14:14 > 0:14:18probably put some carpet down and may turn it back to a bedroom.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21'So far Stephen and Holly are impressed with what's been done,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24'but when I look out of the window in the kitchen,
0:14:24 > 0:14:25'I spot something.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27'Something that just doesn't look right.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29'And considering the history of this house,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32'with its unlawful conversion, I'm curious.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'What exactly...is that?'
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Stephen, have you seen the property at the end of the garden?
0:14:39 > 0:14:40What, the outbuilding at the back?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Hmm.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Interesting-looking outbuilding at the back of the garden.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Um, I don't know about your shed,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49but mine doesn't tend to have curtains.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53So that looks a bit like a dwelling to me.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Hopefully it's just being used as storage, but we'll just find out.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59Yeah...
0:14:59 > 0:15:01'And once again, it's down to tenant Mr Hussain,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05'who also manages the building, to show us around.'
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Ah... Not so.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09A shed with a bed!
0:15:09 > 0:15:12So what's this part of the property being used for?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Before it was, no space over there, so any guest who comes
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- will be staying here. - OK, but this can't be used.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20So is anyone living here at the moment?
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Not at the moment.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25So the shoes that are down there, whose are those?
0:15:25 > 0:15:29We use it ourselves, sometimes, as a storage and we rent out.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32'Despite Mr Hussain's assertion that nobody's living in what can only be
0:15:32 > 0:15:34'described as an outbuilding,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36'there's plenty of evidence to suggest
0:15:36 > 0:15:39'someone could be spending a lot of time in here.'
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- So you've got a fridge here, with... - Yeah.- ..loaded up with food.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- Washing machines and everything there.- Yeah.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- So why is... And you've got a kitchen here as well.- Yes.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51So that's not good, really, is it?
0:15:51 > 0:15:52This should be used just for storage.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56It shouldn't have any residential use at all.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00So you've got another kitchen out here with another fridge in here.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Presumably, that is for someone else to live here. Isn't that right?
0:16:04 > 0:16:06No. There's nobody here at the moment.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10About a couple of days before, a lady was here.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13We just asked to give them notice. She moved.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14When did she leave?
0:16:14 > 0:16:19About roughly... More than a week ago.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21(It's better stocked than my fridge.)
0:16:21 > 0:16:25So I mean, if this isn't being subject to any council action at the
0:16:25 > 0:16:29moment, it's likely that we're going to serve another notice on this...
0:16:29 > 0:16:31- OK. That's fine. - ..to have everything removed.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Yes. That's fine.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36This isn't something we'd usually allow, the kitchen and the bathroom.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40- They're quite big problems.- OK. - Obviously for storage, that's fine,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43but we're quite concerned that the fridge and the washing machine
0:16:43 > 0:16:46are turned on. It indicates to us that there's somebody living here
0:16:46 > 0:16:48so it will be a concern that we'll be looking into.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- I can remove it. That's no problem.- OK.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53'So before the council became involved
0:16:53 > 0:16:56'and ordered the landlord to turn the property back into a
0:16:56 > 0:16:59'single dwelling, it looks as if it may have actually been divided up
0:16:59 > 0:17:03'into two flats in the house and a third in the garden.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05'With rent on the increase,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09'this could have been generating as much as £875 a month in income.'
0:17:09 > 0:17:12It looks as though we've seen a shed with a bed there.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- What do you think of that? - Well, that's absolutely right.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17So all the hard work that's been done in here, turning this back into
0:17:17 > 0:17:22a single family dwelling, is totally undercut by the fact that we've got
0:17:22 > 0:17:27a separate dwelling at the back of the house, just sitting there, with
0:17:27 > 0:17:31fresh fruit on the table, a fridge that's on, its own kitchen,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33its own bathroom and all the evidence
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- that someone's still living there.- Yeah.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40'Having looked around, this place clearly has much more to
0:17:40 > 0:17:43'offer than your average garden shed, but it's still
0:17:43 > 0:17:45'totally unacceptable if the landlord has been allowing someone
0:17:45 > 0:17:48'to live in what is still just an outbuilding
0:17:48 > 0:17:50'at the bottom of the garden.'
0:17:52 > 0:17:55It's not bad-looking, from all accounts. We've been in there
0:17:55 > 0:17:59and from the outside it looks quite a decent level of accommodation,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01- but clearly...- That's not the point. So here we go again,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04after all that, we now have to look at notices for that.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07We may have to look at notices if it hasn't already got one,
0:18:07 > 0:18:08yeah, that's right.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11So we close one door and we have to open up another one.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14'It's understandable some landlords want to maximise
0:18:14 > 0:18:17'the number of rooms they can rent out to increase their income,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20'but it can't happen at the expense of the planning rules.'
0:18:23 > 0:18:26So just when we thought we were getting somewhere with that place -
0:18:26 > 0:18:30all compliant, changed from two flats into a single dwelling -
0:18:30 > 0:18:35then we discovered the bed in the shed in the back garden.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38More notices, more knocking on doors...
0:18:38 > 0:18:41A housing officer's job in Newham is never done.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47'Later, it looks like I may have spoken too soon.'
0:18:47 > 0:18:51- The toilet!- The toilet's been taken out.- Wow!
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Very big changes!
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:18:59 > 0:19:03is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06This is not really an acceptable way of leaving
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- a property behind.- Do you think?
0:19:08 > 0:19:12I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- Top marks.- Yes!
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- I'm hitting the streets... - Hello, can you open up?
0:19:16 > 0:19:20There's definitely somebody inside, because we've seen movement
0:19:20 > 0:19:23..finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:19:23 > 0:19:26The cistern's in the bath, I don't know how they flush it.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32..and learning what it takes to make sure a house is fit to be called a home.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34I'm very shocked, this is ridiculous.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45As the UK economy emerges from a recession,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47house prices are on the increase.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52In the West Midlands the outlook for potential buyers looks challenging.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Recent statistics show that the average worker in the area
0:19:55 > 0:19:59would need a staggering £19,000 pay rise to be able to get
0:19:59 > 0:20:02a mortgage for a normal-sized home in the region.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07In Wolverhampton, the average house price is more than six times
0:20:07 > 0:20:11the typical salary, meaning that more and more people in the area
0:20:11 > 0:20:15are having to stay in rented properties for longer periods of time.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19This is great news for local landlords,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22but not for local councils, who are now spending more time and resources
0:20:22 > 0:20:26dealing with disputes between private tenants and landlords.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Today, housing officers Sam Hoskins, Lesley Williams
0:20:29 > 0:20:32and Maria Harley are on their way to investigate a dispute
0:20:32 > 0:20:35at a privately owned maisonette attached to a corner shop.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41We've come today because a complaint's been made about a lack
0:20:41 > 0:20:45of heating and hot water and faulty electrics and also damp.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49The landlord is saying that it's the tenant's responsibility
0:20:49 > 0:20:52and the tenant is saying it's the landlord's responsibility
0:20:52 > 0:20:56so we've come today to have an inspection of the property
0:20:56 > 0:20:57and find out what is going on.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The landlord was given the opportunity to be in attendance,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03but he served a Section 21 notice on the tenant yesterday.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08A Section 21 notice is a legal document that allows
0:21:08 > 0:21:12the landlord to take back possession of their property.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16In this case, that gives the tenant two months to leave,
0:21:16 > 0:21:17something he's not happy about.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Surely not...?
0:21:27 > 0:21:28It's the right address,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31but this can't be the only access into the house.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33There must be another entrance into here.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Is there a gentleman there...
0:21:37 > 0:21:38Hello?
0:21:40 > 0:21:42INAUDIBLE
0:21:42 > 0:21:44- Um, if you want to come... Are you Mr Caddick?- Yeah.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Mr Caddick, is this your way into the property?
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- No, there's a gate.- A gate? I'll come round there and tell you.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Luckily there's another entrance to the property,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57the only problem is it's only accessible by walking past
0:21:57 > 0:21:59a decidedly dodgy bit of masonry.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03- You've got a definite lean to the one side, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05If you look down there, you can see it coming away.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07That's quite a big, hefty piece of wall to come down on you,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11especially if you were a small child walking along here.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Yeah, we'll report that to building control.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Look at that massive crack there, too.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18The team aren't even inside the house
0:22:18 > 0:22:20and the list of problems is already quite extensive.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Ooh, hello. Hello, Mr Caddick?
0:22:23 > 0:22:26The team have already offered to provide Jonathan Caddick with some
0:22:26 > 0:22:29temporary accommodation so he can move out sooner,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31but because he wouldn't be able to bring his dogs,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33for now he's stuck in the house.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- Have you and the dogs got somewhere good to go?- No.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- So, if you're leaving today, where are you going to be going? - Homeless.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43- Have you got any friends or family local?- I've got friends, but because of the dogs...
0:22:43 > 0:22:45It's difficult with the dogs? Yeah, I appreciate that.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- I'm not going to give up them. They're the two things that have stuck by me.- Of course not.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52On first impressions, things don't look good. The garden area is
0:22:52 > 0:22:56full of rubbish and inside the trail of destruction continues.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01I'm looking at... If you see that rotten piece of wood there,
0:23:01 > 0:23:05signs of dampness in here, cracked cistern to the toilet,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09lack of toilet seat, just the general condition of the boiler...
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- This is your main boiler here, is it, Mr Caddick?- Yes.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Yeah, condition of the boiler.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16There's lots to take in, really.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20And the problems aren't just confined to the bathroom fixtures and fittings.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23So this water building up here, this is what you say happens?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Yeah, it seems to run up the whole of the wall.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29The moisture meter allows Maria to build up a picture of how
0:23:29 > 0:23:32much damp is in the property's walls by taking various readings
0:23:32 > 0:23:35throughout the house. It also helps her to
0:23:35 > 0:23:38track down where the moisture might be coming from.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41So at the moment, you've got no heating and hot water
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and you've got no electrics?
0:23:43 > 0:23:44I've got no lighting.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47I've only got one plug socket that works in the kitchen.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- And is that from you turning the power off, is it, to the lighting? - No, they've all blown.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52It's the landlord's legal responsibility
0:23:52 > 0:23:55to ensure that the house is safe for tenants to live in,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and at the moment, it's far from a habitable state.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03- So is this your living room/kitchen, yeah?- I live, sleep, everything in here.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07The damp and other problems have become so bad in the rooms upstairs
0:24:07 > 0:24:11that Jonathan has resorted to living and sleeping in the kitchen.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14This is the room I've got the one plug I'm on, yeah.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17OK, does that...? That's no good.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Is this the only double socket that works?- Yeah.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22The issues with the damp and the electrics are bad enough
0:24:22 > 0:24:24but getting into, and more importantly,
0:24:24 > 0:24:28out of the property could actually be dangerous.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32If this is his main access in, clearly it's not suitable
0:24:32 > 0:24:36because we've got an LPG canister outside.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39I know he has another entrance in, but obviously from a fire
0:24:39 > 0:24:43point of view, it would be good if this was not blocked.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Having a clear escape route can be a matter of life or death.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49The fire and rescue services in England attended
0:24:49 > 0:24:53over 154,000 fires in 2014 and 2015.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55In the same period,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59258 people lost their lives as a result of a fire-related incident.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04The fire people came last week, they're sending me
0:25:04 > 0:25:06a letter from the fire station. He said if you
0:25:06 > 0:25:08had to get out, you can't get onto a flat roof that's on fire.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- I have to keep that there to keep it...- To keep it closed?- Yeah.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I'll take a picture of that, too.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17The poor fire safety and security measures are just another item
0:25:17 > 0:25:19on a very long list of problems.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Upstairs, Jonathan claims the damp has become so bad that it's
0:25:23 > 0:25:27affecting his health, forcing him to live and sleep in the kitchen.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Did you take the door off or did it fall off?
0:25:29 > 0:25:30- No, no, it just came off by itself! - OK.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33When was the last time you put the heating on?
0:25:33 > 0:25:37- Have you had the heating on since you've been in?- Never. Even though the boiler worked for a month,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39it was just hot water, the radiators never chugged on.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43In the bedroom, the walls are so damp that the moisture meter has sunk into the plaster.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46But Maria's uncovered a bigger problem.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49On top of the issues with electrics, Jonathan's revealed his fuse box
0:25:49 > 0:25:53is actually located in a shop next door.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57What I'm going to do is try and gain access to the shop if I can,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00to take a picture of that consumer unit that feeds both the shop
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and your flat also.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05And there's something else strange going on.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08The flat and shop share one electricity supply,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11despite being rented independently of each other.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15He said he wanted £400 a month for the guy in the shop,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18because that's how much electric costs. I said, "How am I using that with a telly?"
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I said, "I haven't even got anything electrical, there's nothing on."
0:26:21 > 0:26:24His tenancy agreement with the landlord says Jonathan's
0:26:24 > 0:26:27responsible for splitting the cost of electricity to both
0:26:27 > 0:26:30properties with the shopkeeper next door.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33And £400 a month seems extortionate for a flat
0:26:33 > 0:26:35with only one working socket.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38This here, does that fit into the shop also?
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Yeah, that's where they fitted their heater fan,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43so all the heat blows into here...
0:26:43 > 0:26:45from the back of their fridges.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47So, again, from a fire safety point of view as well,
0:26:47 > 0:26:53- we have no adequate protection between the shop and your flat, do we?- No.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Venting the heat from the shop's fridges into the house
0:26:56 > 0:26:59is filling it with an uncontrollable stream of warm air,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01making for uncomfortable living conditions.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Coming up, Maria heads next door to shop for some answers.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I'm from the council, environmental health.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12I don't suppose you know anything about the flat above, do you?
0:27:16 > 0:27:20In east London, two weeks have passed since the discovery
0:27:20 > 0:27:24of the surprise "bed in the shed" in the garden of a house in Newham.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27And I'm back with housing officers Stephen Pavett
0:27:27 > 0:27:30and Holly Ripp to find out if the bed's gone.
0:27:30 > 0:27:37We've had contact from the lead tenant that they've removed
0:27:37 > 0:27:40whoever was living there, and all their belongings
0:27:40 > 0:27:42should've been removed as well.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Should be just now in use as storage for the main house.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48So what's the deal then?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Can we then get rid of the facilities that are there,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52because you know, it's ready to go, isn't it?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55It's got a little kitchenette, it's got a little bathroom...
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Unfortunately, on this one, the council has evidence
0:27:58 > 0:28:01that those facilities have been there for some time.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05In this particular case, we can't actually ask for them to be removed.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08- Can't force the issue?- We can't force the issue on this one, no.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Although the council does have the power to stop the shed being
0:28:13 > 0:28:16used for accommodation, they can't force the removal of facilities,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19because they've been in place for more than four years.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Planning law says that's long enough for them to be considered lawful.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27On our previous visit, work to convert the property
0:28:27 > 0:28:31from flats back into a house was well advanced.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32- Hello.- Good morning, how are you?
0:28:32 > 0:28:34But can the same be said for the shed?
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- So is that the loo? - A toilet!
0:28:39 > 0:28:41The toilet's been taken out.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Looks... It has been taken out. Wow.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Very big changes.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49It's a real surprise. A lot of major work has been done.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54You were saying we wouldn't be able to necessarily insist
0:28:54 > 0:28:57that they take out the facilities that make this a little flat.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00- That's right.- They're ahead of the game, they've done it.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03They've done it, so that means now, if they put it back after this,
0:29:03 > 0:29:07then we'll definitely have more control over what happens to this outbuilding.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10So this is a better result for us, actually.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- The kitchen's now over there on the floor...- Yeah. The fridge is gone.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15The fridge has gone, the bed has gone.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16Bed has gone.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18And then we had a bathroom through here?
0:29:18 > 0:29:20That's gone as well.
0:29:20 > 0:29:21And no loo.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26And the shower's been... Well, the shower's still there, but it's a lot harder...
0:29:26 > 0:29:29It's a lot harder now to make this into habitable accommodation.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32So we can't ask them to do anything more.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35- We can inform them that if... - If it goes back, that's right...
0:29:35 > 0:29:41- Then that's a problem.- Then we will take further action by doing a new notice, but, er, this is good.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44If they leave it just like this, this is perfect for us.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47It's obviously not in use as any form of accommodation,
0:29:47 > 0:29:51no-one's living here and can't live here. Very good result.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54So, it's good news for the council, but it's also a great result
0:29:54 > 0:29:57for tenant Mr Hussain, who's also the manager.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00I'm happy now. So everything back to normal at the house.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02That's all ready.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05It's just your main concern is not to be going to court, not going
0:30:05 > 0:30:07through that process and...
0:30:07 > 0:30:10- Because it's stress, apart from anything else.- Yeah.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12By complying with the notice,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Mr Hussain's landlord has avoided legal action.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18But sometimes, going to court IS the only option.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20According to London Property Licensing,
0:30:20 > 0:30:24between April 2011 and March 2014,
0:30:24 > 0:30:29prosecutions against London's landlords averaged 190 a year.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33And a staggering 62% of them were in the borough of Newham.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38It's probably easier for them in this instance just to do what was
0:30:38 > 0:30:42necessary to remove the facilities and stop all the hassle
0:30:42 > 0:30:45from the council, too, and further visits to get them to do that.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Well, last time I said, you know, a housing officer's job is never done,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- but it seems in this case, it is! - It is done.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53- For now.- For now.
0:30:59 > 0:31:04In Wolverhampton, housing officers Sam Hoskins, Lesley Williams
0:31:04 > 0:31:07and Maria Harley are investigating a dispute between a tenant
0:31:07 > 0:31:10and a landlord at a privately rented maisonette
0:31:10 > 0:31:12attached to a corner shop.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15So at the moment, you've got no heating and hot water
0:31:15 > 0:31:16and you've got no electrics?
0:31:16 > 0:31:20I've got no lighting. I've only got one plug socket that works, in the kitchen.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23And is that from you turning the power off, is it? To the lighting?
0:31:23 > 0:31:25No, they've all blown.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28After finding a number of problems inside, it's time for Maria
0:31:28 > 0:31:30and the team to have a look around outside.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34It's just trying to get to the grips, to the actual base of what's what with it.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38It's not what you expect to see when you first go into a property.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46This is meant to be his main entrance into his flat.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50The fire service have said that this does need to be opened up,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53because his only other means of escape is across the flat roof.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57And they've said that because the flat goes under that,
0:31:57 > 0:32:00if there was a fire in the shop, that would compromise his means of escape
0:32:00 > 0:32:03in the event of a fire. But he's also got this as well,
0:32:03 > 0:32:07this giant LPG canister and partial boarding-up of his main entrance door.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Blocking one of the main escape routes out of the house
0:32:10 > 0:32:13is obviously extremely dangerous, should there be a fire.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17But the LPG canister makes things even worse.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Although the sturdy metal tanks are resilient,
0:32:19 > 0:32:20they're still susceptible to fire
0:32:20 > 0:32:23and could explode if heated to a high enough temperature.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27And I don't know what this other...
0:32:27 > 0:32:29whether or not they were looking to convert
0:32:29 > 0:32:31this into part of the shop or what.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33I don't know what's going on here.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37What I'd expect to see is this whole structure taken down.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39I don't think there's any need for this.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42Maria's seen enough, this property's in a bad state, but she still
0:32:42 > 0:32:45needs to get to the bottom of what's going on with the electricity.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49Hello there. I'm from the council, environmental health.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51I'll get my ID out to show you.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54I don't suppose you know anything about the flat above, do you?
0:32:54 > 0:32:58- The man in the shop shares the electrics...- With the guy upstairs?
0:32:58 > 0:33:02Yes. So I was wondering whether we could see the consumer unit, please,
0:33:02 > 0:33:06or your electric box, just to have a look and take a picture of it?
0:33:06 > 0:33:10- I can ring my boss?- How long will it take him to...- He lives across the road.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11Oh, yes, please. If you could.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17This is the separating wall between him and his flat
0:33:17 > 0:33:23and I'm assuming that is the other side of the kitchen
0:33:23 > 0:33:26and that's that vent that goes into the flat next door.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30It might make it easy for Jonathan to pop round for a pint of milk,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33but venting this heat from the refrigerators into his flat
0:33:33 > 0:33:36isn't acceptable and it needs to be fixed.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- He's coming.- Oh, he is, is he? Brilliant.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Even though Jonathan's moving out, it's important for Maria
0:33:41 > 0:33:43and the team to establish what's going on with
0:33:43 > 0:33:47the electrics before the flat goes back on the rental market.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Hello there. Sorry, I'm from the council, environmental health.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52How long have you had the shop, sir?
0:33:54 > 0:33:55Since 2008.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59- Since 2008?- Yeah.- So you know about the gentleman living above?
0:33:59 > 0:34:02No, I just own the shop.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Nothing about the flat upstairs?
0:34:04 > 0:34:09And what agreement do you have with the gentleman above? In the flat? In respect to electric?
0:34:09 > 0:34:12He's not paying the electric at all.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16And what I wanted to see was your actual electric box,
0:34:16 > 0:34:18- your consumer unit, in the shop. - Yeah.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22- Can I have access to that, please? - Yeah, yeah.- Thank you.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25According to the shopkeeper, Jonathan hasn't been paying
0:34:25 > 0:34:28anything towards the cost of the electricity, but Maria still
0:34:28 > 0:34:33needs to look at the fuse box to confirm where his supply comes from.
0:34:33 > 0:34:38So this one serves the lights throughout the shop and upstairs?
0:34:38 > 0:34:40- Yeah, that's the circuit breakers, yeah.- Yep, OK.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45As expected, there's only one electricity supply for the shop
0:34:45 > 0:34:48and the flat, so there's no way to calculate how much Jonathan
0:34:48 > 0:34:52or the shopkeeper are using and who should be paying what.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Having questioned the shop owner, we need to get to the
0:34:55 > 0:34:57bottom of who's responsible.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01- OK. More investigations. - Yes, more investigations. Thank you.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Armed with a long list of questions for the landlord,
0:35:04 > 0:35:08the team heads back to the office to work out the council's next move.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Shortly after the team visited,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Jonathan moved out of the house and the council placed
0:35:15 > 0:35:19an order on the property, stopping the landlord letting it
0:35:19 > 0:35:23to new tenants before it's brought up to an acceptable standard.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25The landlord is now working on doing this
0:35:25 > 0:35:28and once the works are complete, it will be
0:35:28 > 0:35:31re-inspected by the council before being let to new tenants.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38One of the biggest challenges facing councils
0:35:38 > 0:35:41is providing housing for a growing population.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46Sadly, it's often the people most in need of support who fall through the net.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49In Wellingborough, housing officer Johnathan Hodgson's on his way
0:35:49 > 0:35:53to meet a vulnerable client who's currently living in temporary
0:35:53 > 0:35:56accommodation and is in desperate need of a permanent home.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01I first met Brian about a month ago, when he had a few problems with
0:36:01 > 0:36:05a property that he was living in and some people who lived near him.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Erm, so we're trying to move him to somewhere a bit more
0:36:08 > 0:36:12suitable for him, trying to move him into some sheltered accommodation.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15He's just been accepted for a property,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17so we're going over to view his sign-up.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21He's a bit confused about what we're doing, where we're going and when he's moving in.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24So I'm just going to make sure that he's OK with his move in,
0:36:24 > 0:36:29he's OK with his sign-up and he's happy with his accommodation.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32We've had him around for quite a while now, so I'm trying to
0:36:32 > 0:36:36make sure that he's definitely going to move in, because we're a bit worried
0:36:36 > 0:36:41he might end up missing his appointment and being refused the property.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Brian Beaumart has a history of issues with alcohol.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48Johnathan's hoping a stable place to live with support on hand
0:36:48 > 0:36:51could give him a fresh start.
0:36:51 > 0:36:52Brian has some problems.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55He has been a street drinker for quite a long time,
0:36:55 > 0:36:57so putting him in some sheltered accommodation
0:36:57 > 0:36:59might be the better thing for him.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Karen from the housing association has his new tenancy agreement.
0:37:02 > 0:37:07Once he's signed, she'll be able to hand over the keys to his new flat.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09- Hello, Brian.- Hiya. - Good to see you.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- So we're here to do your tenancy sign-up.- Mm-hm.- Yeah?
0:37:12 > 0:37:14So where do you want me moniker?
0:37:14 > 0:37:17Just down the bottom there, that's lovely.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Paperwork done, Brian has a secure, permanent home.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22As long as he sticks to the rules.
0:37:23 > 0:37:29- If things don't work out at all within the first year, we can take action...- Hmm.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31..to ask you to leave.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34But obviously, that won't happen... Hopefully.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36You have to be on your best behaviour.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40For you have obligations as well in looking after your flat,
0:37:40 > 0:37:42and the usual no loud noise late at night...
0:37:42 > 0:37:44That's not me. You won't hear me.
0:37:44 > 0:37:45..no pets.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47When do I get the key?
0:37:47 > 0:37:48Any minute now.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52There's your tenancy agreement and there are your keys.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Two front-door keys and two keys to your flat.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58To your new flat!
0:37:58 > 0:38:01How's it feel to finally have your keys?
0:38:01 > 0:38:03It's OK.
0:38:03 > 0:38:04I need to get cleaned up.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06It must be more than OK, Brian.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Take a look.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12I'm more like a jailbird.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Thank you very much, Brian.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Thank you very much.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23It's a big moment for Brian and Johnathan's very aware
0:38:23 > 0:38:26what having a place of his own really means to him.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29So we've just signed Brian up for his new tenancy.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31We've signed all the documents that he needs to.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33We're just going to go and take a look at his new flat.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35I've just seen him run off, all excited.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38It's open. It's open. Are you coming in?
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Now he's in, he can't wait to start making himself at home.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Well, this is the sitting room, as you know, the sitting room.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49You haven't seen the kitchen. Have a look at the kitchen.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53The bedroom. Which there's nothing in.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Never had a flat myself. Never. Never had a flat.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Do you want to see the bathroom?
0:38:59 > 0:39:01Let's go and see the bathroom, Brian.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06I think it's here. Yeah, there you are.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08This is my home.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11I want to get myself set and I want to get cleaned up.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14It's just nice to see someone so excited.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17It's been a long road with Brian and we're finally getting him into a place of his own
0:39:17 > 0:39:20and getting him into somewhere where he's safe and he's secure
0:39:20 > 0:39:22and he's not at risk of harm.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25The flat's unfurnished.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Although he has few belongings of his own to fill it,
0:39:27 > 0:39:29luckily for Brian, the sheltered accommodation
0:39:29 > 0:39:33has a store of furniture he can use to make it home.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36So we've got some tables, we've got some chairs, we've got a microwave
0:39:36 > 0:39:38and a sofa, by the looks of things, so Brian can
0:39:38 > 0:39:41move in some of those things so it's a bit less bare
0:39:41 > 0:39:43and then we'll move in some of his own stuff as well.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Let's go and have a look at what we've got.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47After you. You're a young man.
0:39:47 > 0:39:48Mattress to start with.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51So can you sort it out?
0:39:51 > 0:39:54- Can I sort it out? Yeah.- Can you get it out? I'll give you a hand.
0:39:54 > 0:39:55I'm the removals man now, am I?
0:39:58 > 0:40:01It's a start. We're getting there. Bit by bit, we're getting there.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I hope this is on camera.
0:40:04 > 0:40:05We're getting there.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09That's one.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10Now we want other bedding, don't we?
0:40:10 > 0:40:14It really helps people moving in without anything to have
0:40:14 > 0:40:17something to get a bit of a start.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20It doesn't take long for Brian to pick out some essential items,
0:40:20 > 0:40:23and seeing him so keen to get settled means Johnathan's more
0:40:23 > 0:40:25than happy to roll up his sleeves to help.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30I think we've got it. Push it! I think you've cracked it.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Very concerned with how Brian was living a few weeks ago.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38It's been a bit of a long road trying to get to this point, but we finally got there
0:40:38 > 0:40:43and we finally got him somewhere where he's going to be happy and I think he's going to be safe.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50Just having some of the basic everyday things most of us
0:40:50 > 0:40:55take for granted is going to make a huge difference to Brian.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Now I've got a fridge. I've got a cooker.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59I'm quite good now I've got my own home,
0:40:59 > 0:41:02thanks to you people who helped me.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05I'm very, very happy. Very happy.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08And it's made all the hard work worthwhile for Johnathan, too.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10I've never, never moved anyone in before.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14It's usually just signing the paperwork and going on my way.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16But, yeah, you have to help Brian out.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19If all goes to plan, we hopefully won't hear from Brian again.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Hopefully he'll be quiet, and he's got his tenancy support officer with him,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25so if he's got any problems, he can go to them.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Most days when I'm working, it's really difficult, I'm plugging away,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34then it's days like today that make the job worthwhile.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40Six weeks have gone by and Brian is now settled into his new flat
0:41:40 > 0:41:42in the sheltered accommodation.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47In fact, he's so settled in, he can't wait to show it off.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48Freezer.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52You want me to open it up, have a look?
0:41:52 > 0:41:55See what I've got in? It's jam-packed.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Literally jam-packed.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59I was homeless. Now I've got this place.
0:41:59 > 0:42:04Six weeks, two days I've been here, so I'm comfortable and happy.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Thanks to the council.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13It's nice having your own swamp, like Shrek.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15It's nice having your own swamp. Very nice.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Brian's wasted no time making the flat his own.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25Well, there's my Big Ben clock.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Er, there's my lovely lamp.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31And I need a pillow case, but I'm working on that.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33I've just got to go to town now and get a pillow case.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37I've got a lot of clocks, but the main thing is, I want a wardrobe to put all my clothes in.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41He finally has a safe, secure place to live.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43With so many people in desperate need of a home,
0:42:43 > 0:42:46he's all too aware he's one of the lucky ones.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49It's easier than it was when I was on the streets.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52I'm a happy man. You've got one man off the streets.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55But I wish a lot more could get off the streets.
0:42:55 > 0:42:56I'm happy.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06That's it for today. Join me next time, when I'll be learning
0:43:06 > 0:43:10more about what it takes to be a front-line housing officer.