0:00:02 > 0:00:06The 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 > 0:00:12But for thousands of people across the UK,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17The house was a deathtrap, at the end of the day.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19In the battle for decent housing...
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Leaving things, that's what happens. This is totally unacceptable.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26..it's local housing officers who are on the front line.
0:00:26 > 0:00:32If somebody had died here, you'd be standing in a coroner's court.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36I'm Matt Allwright and I'm back with The Housing Enforcers.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39- LIGHT BLOWS - Oh! You all right?- Yeah, good!
0:00:39 > 0:00:44I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties and slum conditions...
0:00:44 > 0:00:48- Faeces isn't an issue. That's standard.- Faeces is an issue, Glyn!
0:00:48 > 0:00:53..as they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours and everything in between...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Oh, no! That's incredible!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59..doing their best to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01- Ain't it fabulous? - SHE SOBS
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Oh, Margaret! Oh, Margaret!
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Today, council officers step in when one man tries to open a guest house
0:01:12 > 0:01:15in an empty office building, without planning permission.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Number on the door.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21We've got a fridge here. It's basically set up as a hotel.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24I think probably we'd look at prosecuting.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29A house that's been left empty for 12 years is causing huge problems for neighbours.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33It's full of rats and it's empty
0:01:33 > 0:01:35and something's got to be done about that.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37KNOCKING
0:01:37 > 0:01:41And housing officers try to help a tenant desperately battling
0:01:41 > 0:01:45the cold in a house with rotting windows and holes in the wall.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48There's a very... That's like an invitation.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50That's not just potential access.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53That's, "Please, come on in, there's a party in here."
0:01:59 > 0:02:04When was the last time you heard anyone use the phrase "slum landlord"?
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Not that recently, right?
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Well, that's because we live in a country with laws
0:02:10 > 0:02:13that make sure housing meets basic standards.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15And it's not just landlords -
0:02:15 > 0:02:19there are laws that mean that tenants need to behave, too.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I'm working alongside the men and women
0:02:22 > 0:02:26from councils across the UK who enforce those laws.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30They are the housing enforcers.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Have you ever thought of starting your own little B&B?
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Or maybe it's crossed your mind to make a quick bob by renting out
0:02:38 > 0:02:41your spare room and turning your home into a guest house?
0:02:42 > 0:02:44The idea may be even more appealing
0:02:44 > 0:02:47if you live in an area like Stratford in East London,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50which attracts tourists wanting to visit the Olympic Park,
0:02:50 > 0:02:56the 02 Arena or the giant Westfield Shopping Centre, all of which are on the doorstep.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58But it's not as simple as it sounds
0:02:58 > 0:03:03and if you don't follow council planning rules, you're going to be in trouble.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Like here, where a guest house was opened
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and was operating without planning permission.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Newham Council ordered its closure several months ago.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Together with housing officers Stephen, Holly and Christine,
0:03:17 > 0:03:22I'm checking on whether the "no vacancies" sign has now been hung up for good.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24What are we looking for specifically?
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- Well, again...- Is it people we're talking about or is it
0:03:27 > 0:03:30- door furniture and that sort of thing?- That's the sort of thing.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Door furniture. We'd expect door numbers, maybe, on a hotel to have been removed,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37door locks on the internal doors.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Basically, it should look like a family house on the upper floors now, one flat.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47The property used to be offices and then it sat empty until someone
0:03:47 > 0:03:52had the bright idea of turning it into accommodation for tourists.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54Let's check it out, then.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Here's the problem - you can have as many bright ideas as you like,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00but if the council doesn't give the correct planning permission,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04that bright idea will be switched off very quickly.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- Hello.- Hi, there.- Hello.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- OK, so we're in the kitchen now. - In the kitchen.- Apart from a sign...
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- Apart from a sign saying "guest house"...- It still says "guest house"!
0:04:14 > 0:04:18..we've got two hobs, two ovens, two washing machines, two sinks.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23It's already abundantly clear that a guest house is still operating here.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Unless it's a very big family, it does still feel a bit guest-housey.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Yeah, we wouldn't expect to see these facilities in a single flat for a family to live in.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So already there are sort of concerns over
0:04:37 > 0:04:41the amount of compliance we might find today.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- "Welcome to our guest house!" - This hasn't really changed, has it?
0:04:44 > 0:04:48No, no. This is clearly still in breach of the notice.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50All he's done is taken out the current occupiers
0:04:50 > 0:04:52and he's stopped using it.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57He hasn't done the next step of actually preventing the use from reoccurring.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Right, let's keep looking.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02If the landlord had done more research,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05he'd have found out the council wouldn't have given him permission
0:05:05 > 0:05:08to run a guest house in this part of town.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Newham Council planning officers want to keep tourists
0:05:11 > 0:05:15in the town centre, where they're less likely to disturb residents,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18leaving areas like this for family homes.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21After what we've seen in the kitchen it seems unlikely,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24but let's see if the rooms upstairs have been cleared.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29- OK. So, number on the door. - Number on the door.
0:05:29 > 0:05:35We've got a fridge here so the occupiers can keep their own food.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- It's basically set up as a hotel. - Guest house.- Guest house still.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41So what happens next? We can go and look at the other rooms
0:05:41 > 0:05:44but it's pretty clear what we've got here, isn't it?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Yeah. We'll continue to look at other rooms,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49but it's pretty clear they haven't done what we required.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52So now we've got to look at the next sort of action.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55In this case, I think probably we would look at prosecuting
0:05:55 > 0:05:58the owner of the property, because they've failed to carry out
0:05:58 > 0:06:02what we require and turn it back into a family residence.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04This is where planning steps into criminal law.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Up until this point, planning, there's no criminal liability so,
0:06:08 > 0:06:13basically, an enforcement notice doesn't have any effect until you don't comply with it.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18When you don't comply with it, that's when it becomes a criminal offence.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21It goes to show how easy it is to fall foul of planning laws.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24If you want to set up any sort of overnight accommodation,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27whether you call it a B&B or guest house,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30make sure you've got the right permissions in the first place.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Every local authority is going to have different requirements.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40The man who had the grand plan in Stratford has just arrived and is trying to explain himself.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44I don't want to deal with this property. I have invested enough money in this place.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Did you ask the planning department at the time? Before you did it?
0:06:46 > 0:06:49I didn't have enough knowledge, sir. That was my mistake.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- Did you get a lawyer or a solicitor to look at your sale details?- No.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Sid Mahajan is the man that took that financial risk.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59He was already an experienced landlord,
0:06:59 > 0:07:05so why did he take the gamble of starting a guest house before he knew he could get planning consent?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08My mistake - I didn't involve a solicitor.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12It was because a big agent was involved, estate agent. That, too.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15You know, with the full affiliation by everyone.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19So you took this place on the basis you would be able to let it out as a short let, as a guest house?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Yes, because it was a commercial premises above a big restaurant
0:07:22 > 0:07:25and it was serviced offices.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26I can't stop straight away
0:07:26 > 0:07:29because I already have bookings from Europe and the last thing
0:07:29 > 0:07:34I want to do is stop something and there are a lot of tourists coming and they don't have a place.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37- Yeah.- So I told them, "OK, give me three months." Which they did.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41- And your last guests are moving out? - Because their booking came a long time back, so I can't tell him,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43"Go on the street." And you can see the premises is empty.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- What are you going to do now? - I'm handing back the premises to the owner.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49But what about your lease? You've paid for ten years of lease.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- Are you going to be able to... - I lose my three-month deposit,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54he's told me, and he'll put a big family here.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I said fine. I don't... I'll lose money.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58I'll lose 15 grand, I know that.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01The last thing I want is to run something which is against the law.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06You can see the allure - a large empty commercial property with loads of rooms.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Fill it with lots of paying guests and make lots money.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12If only it was so simple.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Even if it's just a couple of spare rooms you want to let out,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17check with the council about the change-of-use consent.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21So there we have a landlord who thought he'd bought a property
0:08:21 > 0:08:24or leased a property that he could then let out on short lets.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26And that just wasn't the case.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28You can't do that with that property.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31No, he seems to have got hold of the property,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35hasn't made the right checks, signed the lease for a long time,
0:08:35 > 0:08:39thinks he can operate it in this way and that's not the case at all.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41So he's fallen foul of the system.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47We're leaving Sid to pack up the rest of the guest house, but we'll be back.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Coming up - we speak to the owner who sold Sid the lease
0:08:51 > 0:08:54and ask him some difficult questions.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Sid actually has quite a big operation.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03He full well knew what was entailed in this particular venture.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Next, we're in Stroud,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13a market town surrounded by rolling hills and valleys.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16With an increasingly ageing UK population,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19it's one of many councils aiming to provide a good standard
0:09:19 > 0:09:22of sheltered housing for older, vulnerable residents.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25To make sure it's not left to chance,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27they send in local tenants like Dave Dale to check
0:09:27 > 0:09:32newly renovated social housing and make sure it's up to scratch.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35After working in the building trade all his life,
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Dave's well-qualified to sign off work done by council contractors.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46So, what my role involves is just checking to see if it is,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49from a tenant's point of view, you know, is it suitable?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52If I'm happy with it, would they be happy with it?
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Stroud is one of a handful of councils in the country which works
0:09:56 > 0:10:00with tenants to inspect repairs as part of a scheme to improve homes.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Today it's vital that Dave does a good job.
0:10:04 > 0:10:10The sheltered home he's visiting is earmarked for a woman with leukaemia.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14She is struggling to cope alone since her army veteran husband was moved into care.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19My husband and I used to live here together and I'm here on my own.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25This is why I can't kind of manage it all on my own.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Elaine's immensely proud of her husband, who served his country for almost 40 years.
0:10:31 > 0:10:36But now, without him at home, she wants to move nearer to family.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41With tenants' champion Dave fighting her corner, she's going to get the best home possible.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46In this role I feel as though I'm protecting the tenants.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49That is my main role, is helping people.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54But what it is I'm looking for is to make sure everything's safe
0:10:54 > 0:10:57for the ingoing tenant, for her,
0:10:57 > 0:11:01so she can move straight in without any problems.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04That's great news for Elaine, and other residents like her.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Housing officers have already seen a significant improvement
0:11:07 > 0:11:10to building work in council properties,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14as contractors don't know when spot-checks will be carried out.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18As a council tenant himself, Dave's job is to keep standards high,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and he won't accept second best.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26I'll be quite hard on the contractors who've done the work,
0:11:26 > 0:11:31cos there's only one way to do it, is do it right, and right first time.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34That's my motto.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40From the outside, everything looks neat and tidy.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42But as I know only too well, on this series,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45you can't always judge a book by its cover.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50These are sheltered homes, where older residents can stay
0:11:50 > 0:11:53independent while still having support close at hand.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59It's time for Dave's finely honed detective skills to come into play.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04See if all the windows, there's no cracked windows.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Every tiny detail comes under Dave's scrutiny.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Landlords - please take note!
0:12:14 > 0:12:18I'm just checking the doors to make sure they open and close properly.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21That's fine.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27Here, the rubber seal is rubbing on the threshold.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32Well, an elderly person would have difficulty opening this door.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39Nothing much gets past Dave. And now he's spotted something else.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Little bit there which really needs touching up.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So I'll make a note of that.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51It's thanks to this kind of attention to detail that standards have improved.
0:12:51 > 0:12:59There's no problem, it's just the finished article which I'm not happy with, as a tenant inspector.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Dave should rent himself out to look round people's houses.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Nothing escapes his critical eye.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08He now turns his attention to the electrical sockets.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Could do with a little bit of a clean on the plates.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Another plug there, fine.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Looking very good in here.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20If they're cracked or anything like this,
0:13:20 > 0:13:25obviously, the tenant could get electrocuted or something like this.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Unlikely to happen here.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Dave takes pride in keeping standards high
0:13:29 > 0:13:31so that tenants are protected.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38I'd say, at the moment, there's nothing with the property
0:13:38 > 0:13:40that would stop the tenant moving in.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45It's just those tiny little things need just addressing, perhaps.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49They'll get a score on all the things that I've checked.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Anything that I'm not happy with obviously will bring the score down.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58Anything serious enough to pose a risk will have to be redone before the tenant can move in.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00There's no problem, you know?
0:14:00 > 0:14:03They can go straight into the home and that's it.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05End of story, really, for them.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09What a great way of getting residents involved in providing
0:14:09 > 0:14:12the best possible housing for the people who really need it.
0:14:12 > 0:14:18We'll come back later to see if the new home meets with Elaine's approval.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Here we are, come on in. - That's lovely, thank you.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I'm back in Stratford, in the London borough of Newham.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Earlier I saw what happens when you try to start a guest house
0:14:32 > 0:14:36without consent - the council shut it down.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40The last thing I want is to run something which is against the law.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44Sid Mahajan made a mistake when he bought the lease for this building.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47He should've checked with his local authority before he opened
0:14:47 > 0:14:49his guest house because he wasn't going to get approval
0:14:49 > 0:14:53for change of use here - the council doesn't want hotels in this area.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55They want family homes.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59He'd have saved himself a lot of money and heartache
0:14:59 > 0:15:03if he hadn't assumed he could start a guest house anywhere he wanted.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Sid blamed the owner and agent, Kamran Younis.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Hi, Kamran, how are you?
0:15:09 > 0:15:12I'm very well, thank you. Nice to meet you, Matt.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15According to Sid, Kamran had told him getting the licence
0:15:15 > 0:15:19wouldn't be a problem because it was a commercial property already.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24When we purchased it, the licence was A2, which is office use.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29Then came along this chap who wanted to do short lets,
0:15:29 > 0:15:34a hostel type of guest house type of thing.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- So this is Sid? The guy we've met? - This is Sid, absolutely.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41So we agreed some terms, we put together a lease
0:15:41 > 0:15:44and basically we passed it over to him, assigned him the lease.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Certainly, the feeling I was getting from Sid is that he was led
0:15:48 > 0:15:53to believe it would be lawful to run the place as a bed and breakfast,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57hostel-type arrangement, by you. That's certainly what he's saying.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02Then I think that was a misunderstanding on behalf of Sid.
0:16:02 > 0:16:08I am legally trained and, basically, I personally wrote that lease out.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13I personally put the covenants in for any lawful permitted use.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15And that is the responsibility
0:16:15 > 0:16:20of the ingoing tenant to seek the appropriate lawful usage.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23That's probably something he's misunderstood.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25I have a very good working relationship with Sid.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27This place is not going to work as a bed and breakfast.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31There was never going to be permission granted for that.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34I can understand how he would be a little bit put out
0:16:34 > 0:16:38when he entered into it in what he felt was good faith,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40and thinking that this was possible.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44Now, Sid actually has quite a big operation.
0:16:44 > 0:16:52He runs tens, if not 20 units or so, which are hostels,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54bed-and-breakfast type of apartments.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56He full well knew what was entailed
0:16:56 > 0:17:01in this particular venture at the outlay.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05While I've been getting to the bottom of things with Kamran,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07the housing officers have returned to the property to see
0:17:07 > 0:17:11if their demands have been met - they don't want this place
0:17:11 > 0:17:14returning to a guest house the minute their back is turned,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17so they want it stripped out and ready for use by a family.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Right, OK. So they've got...
0:17:19 > 0:17:22They've taken out all the tables of all the rooms and they've
0:17:22 > 0:17:26put them here so far. Looks as though it's ready to be taken out by a van.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Locks have been removed off the door.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- Locks gone off that door. - So we're on our way.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35All the beds in these rooms have been taken out and removed, so that's a good step so far.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Again, we've got a lock removed off the door,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40all signage removed off the door.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43So it's back to a bit of a blank canvas.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46They've just got to take out the furniture at the moment.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49So we're on the way to getting compliance here.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Yeah, I'm satisfied that they're taking the right steps.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58We may have to come back another time just to confirm everything else is done.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01But with regards to any future action we may take,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04as long as it keeps progressing like this,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08this would be a case that we would look to close in the future.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12It seems both landlord and agent acted in good faith.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16But setting up a guest house without getting the planning permission
0:18:16 > 0:18:19in place first has been a costly gamble which didn't pay off this time.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23As for Newham Council, officers hope that in the future
0:18:23 > 0:18:27this will be a building that houses families instead of visitors.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Back in Stroud, tenant inspector Dave Dale has cast his beady eye
0:18:38 > 0:18:43over a sheltered home that was earmarked for army veteran's wife Elaine.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48She has leukaemia and was struggling to cope after her husband was moved into care.
0:18:49 > 0:18:55Nice little place, but a little bit too big for me at the moment.
0:18:55 > 0:19:02I got diagnosed last October with a very rare leukaemia
0:19:02 > 0:19:09and they also picked up that I have arthritis of the knee and of the back.
0:19:09 > 0:19:16That's why I'm struggling to be able to do everyday things.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Dave's inspection of Elaine's new home is part of a pioneering
0:19:21 > 0:19:25council scheme to involve residents in keeping social housing up to par.
0:19:25 > 0:19:31After a few cosmetic concerns, he signed it off as fit for purpose.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34I believe people trust me because I'm a tenant myself.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36This is a patch that I know very well.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39I was born and bred in Stroud
0:19:39 > 0:19:43and I'm proud to look after the area in this respect, you see?
0:19:43 > 0:19:48Elaine and her husband had lived in their flat for 11 years
0:19:48 > 0:19:50and they enjoyed making the most of their garden,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54but recently, just going outside has become a major problem for Elaine.
0:19:54 > 0:20:01The step here, it's a bit steep and it does present a problem.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05And that is the getting out.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08And that'd be the same for getting back in again.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14Up round the path there are steps, but there's nothing to hold on to.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19So I would need the help and support out in the back garden here.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23As well as her difficulties getting around, there are other issues
0:20:23 > 0:20:26affecting Elaine just as much as her poor health.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30The wall is quite high and it's enclosed
0:20:30 > 0:20:34so I don't really see anybody coming and going.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39Loneliness and isolation are very real problems for those with mobility issues
0:20:39 > 0:20:43and they can affect both physical and mental health.
0:20:44 > 0:20:50I need to be back in the community that Stroud is offering.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56Here I haven't got that community. With Stroud, I've got the community
0:20:56 > 0:21:01where I can go and talk to somebody, you know, be involved.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05As well as being a more sociable place to live,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08the move will also bring Elaine closer to her family.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12She can't wait to collect the keys to her newly renovated bungalow.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17It's a new chapter. A moving-on.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23I'm looking forward to being able to manage the property on me own,
0:21:23 > 0:21:28with some support as and when I want it. Or need it.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Elaine's being met by Stroud housing officer Rachel Pugh,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33who's keen to show her her new home
0:21:33 > 0:21:38now that it's been carefully checked and given the go-ahead by Dave.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- Here we are, come on in. - That's lovely, thank you.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45All right, do you want to go straight through to the living room?
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- It looks nice, yeah. - It should be easier now.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Definitely. This is what I need at the moment, isn't it?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53OK, I'll show you the bedroom.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58Elaine has some mobility issues, so she needs a level-access property,
0:21:58 > 0:22:02something that she can move around inside with ease.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Also, the location is much better for her.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10She's got the support of her family, just a few miles away,
0:22:10 > 0:22:15rather than 30, 40 miles away, which is the situation at the moment.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20- It's looking lovely, it's nice. Definitely. Yeah.- OK, thank you.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25It looks like this is the perfect place for Elaine.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Today she's just delighted to take charge of the keys
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and look forward to a new start.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Just get you to sign at the bottom there,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35just to accept the keys from me, please.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37It's lovely to be moving out of that old place.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42At least I can see things without high fences and high walls
0:22:42 > 0:22:46and I'm moving into a property that's nice and bright.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49It'll feel like home shortly.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:22:56 > 0:23:00is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind. - Do you think?!
0:23:04 > 0:23:08I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11- Top marks.- Yes!
0:23:11 > 0:23:13- I'm hitting the streets... - Hello, can you open up?
0:23:13 > 0:23:16There's definitely somebody inside, because we've seen movement.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20..finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:23:20 > 0:23:23The cistern's in the bath. I don't know how they flush it.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28..and learning what it takes to make sure a house is fit to be called a home.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42Having a warm, safe and secure place to live is something many of us take for granted.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44But not everyone's that lucky.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48Four in ten people who use benefits to pay their rent to a private
0:23:48 > 0:23:52landlord complain of poor insulation and excess cold.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57In Wolverhampton, I'm with housing officer Maria Harley.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00We're on our way to meet a tenant who's unhappy
0:24:00 > 0:24:03about the condition of her privately rented home,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07which she claims is so cold she's forced to sleep downstairs on the sofa.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Somebody's called in to complain about the condition of their house.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15That the windows are leaking, that it's cold
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and the shower is leaking into the living room.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23So we're going to go and see what the matter is with the property.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Hopefully, the landlord will be in attendance also,
0:24:25 > 0:24:30because he's been advised that we're carrying out an inspection of the property.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So we'll just wait and see what conditions we find there.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Are we talking about a family? Who lives in this place?
0:24:36 > 0:24:39It's a single lady. She's 51 years of age.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43This semidetached house has been home to tenant
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Tracy Skinner for almost two years.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48And when we meet up with housing officer Ravi Phull outside,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52there's immediately one very obvious problem that needs fixing.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00Straight away I can see the consumer unit for the property
0:25:00 > 0:25:05is on the wrong side of a fence which separates it from next-door.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08And not only that, it's wide open.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13So that means that anybody can come along and turn off Mrs Skinner's
0:25:13 > 0:25:15electrics any time they feel like it. Is that right?
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- Ten out of ten. - Thank you very much.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- OK. And there's one more. It's right in front of you, Matt.- Literally.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24So we've got a concrete fence...
0:25:24 > 0:25:27That is about to fall on a public highway.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Although we haven't even set foot inside the house yet,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34the problems we've already spotted could be a sign that the landlord
0:25:34 > 0:25:38isn't doing the work needed to keep the property in a good state of repair.
0:25:39 > 0:25:45And tenant Tracy is less than impressed with his approach to maintenance.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47So, how long have the problems been in this property, then?
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Well, since I've moved in here.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53He started, he started coming and doing the painting and then he kept
0:25:53 > 0:25:56saying the reason why he wouldn't come was because I was never at home.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01And then half the times when he used to come it was late.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I mean, about three o'clock and he wants to start repairs.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06And many a times I've been in and he's never come.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09According to Tracy, the landlord has made only half-hearted attempts
0:26:09 > 0:26:12to sort out the problems with the house.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14She's so fed up with the lack of progress,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17she's made a list of the things that are wrong with this place.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21"Upstairs shower leaks through to living room.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23"Dampness around the property.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27"Loose tiles on the kitchen floor. The gas fire doesn't work.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30"Downstairs window doesn't shut securely. Old windows.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34"No point in turning heating on as the heat goes all out the window."
0:26:35 > 0:26:40It's big a list of serious problems but it's a list that's about to grow.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43We've spotted a large hole in the ceiling.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46I'd be worried about the electrics in this place and the risk they pose.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48We've obviously got a massive hole there,
0:26:48 > 0:26:54where either the water has come and the plaster's fallen away from it,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58or there's been some kind of strange repair that's going on.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00It doesn't look promising.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02But the biggest problem for Tracy is the cold.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07Looking at the terrible state of the old, draughty windows, it's easy to see why.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12And it sounds like the temperamental gas fire isn't helping either.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14It's very hard to put it on.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17When we do put it on, it works,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20but all the house is so cold it goes all out the window.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23And with your heating, does it work? When you put the boiler...
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- It does, yes.- The heating. And how would you say the property feels?
0:27:26 > 0:27:29It feels cold, cos all the heat is going out the window.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Right, and have you seen a gas safety certificate?
0:27:31 > 0:27:34No, I haven't seen anything.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39The possible lack of a gas safety certificate is a real cause for concern.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42It could mean that the gas appliances here are unsafe.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44But we're still only in the living room
0:27:44 > 0:27:48and the stains on the ceiling are evidence of even more problems.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52When I put my shower on, all the water comes in.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55If you were to do that now, would we see evidence of that happening?
0:27:55 > 0:27:58I don't know if it does work like that but it usually does.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00If I give you the damp meter, could you press it in...
0:28:00 > 0:28:03- Of course.- ..and see whether we can pick up readings for that?- Yeah.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06- I'm just noticing the damp stain. - A little bit over there as well.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10- Seems to be everywhere. And is the bathroom directly above here?- Yes.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13It's still dry. It's still pretty dry,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16even though there's black marking on it.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Although the moisture meter doesn't pick up damp now,
0:28:19 > 0:28:23it's clear that at some point water has come through the ceiling from the bathroom above.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26But we're still downstairs.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30We haven't even looked in the back room yet.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- Do you use this room very much, Mrs Skinner?- No.- No.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36- Why don't you use it? - Too cold.- Too cold.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38You know when you moved in?
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Did it have floor covering then or was it always like this?
0:28:41 > 0:28:43- It's always been like that. - It's always been like this.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46The problems with the warmth of the house could be resolved
0:28:46 > 0:28:49by double glazing and efficient central heating.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52But there are also problems with the boiler.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55What's this?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58When you see a saucepan under a boiler, you think it's leaking.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01Yeah, it does leak, look, cos that's where all the water's coming from.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05- Right, so it does leak. - Do you have problems with the pressure at all? Does it go down?
0:29:05 > 0:29:09Yeah, it keeps on going off and I have to keep on messing about with it and I hate it.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11You keep pumping it up, do you?
0:29:11 > 0:29:16- Yeah, I have to turn that and turn that one, too, and I hate it. - So that's why, then.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19So, the boiler's not working properly either.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24The kitchen has broken wall and floor tiles,
0:29:24 > 0:29:26making it difficult to keep clean.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28But at least it has some ventilation.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30If you can call it that.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Matt, do you want to have a look down here and tell us
0:29:36 > 0:29:39what there's a potential for here?
0:29:39 > 0:29:41There's a very... That's like an invitation.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43That's not just potential access, that's,
0:29:43 > 0:29:46"Please, come on in, there's a party in here."
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Who are we inviting?
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Well, I mean, in the first instance, mice, followed by large rats,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56cats, foxes - anything could fit through that hole.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01Coming up, we're on the hunt to uncover what's causing the water damage to the ceiling.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03The sealant's gone all round the sides of the bath.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06I wonder if that's the problem.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12In Barmouth on the north Wales coast,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Gwynedd Council housing officer Carwyn Roberts is on his way
0:30:15 > 0:30:19to a property that's tangled up in a story of neglect.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21It's stood empty for more than a decade.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24And an empty home, whatever its issue,
0:30:24 > 0:30:27is a problem for Carwyn both professionally and personally.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30It's quite a shame when you see them.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32You get some that are in very good condition,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35you get some that are in a very bad condition.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39As a young person who isn't a home owner yet,
0:30:39 > 0:30:44it does tend to put the question in your head of why are these properties empty?
0:30:44 > 0:30:46I find it difficult to buy my own home as it is and yet
0:30:46 > 0:30:49there are people out there with several of them sitting there
0:30:49 > 0:30:55with nobody living in them, just slowly disintegrating and it's quite disheartening, really.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59But Carwyn has to put his personal feelings to one side.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03There's a job to do. This house is in need of some serious love.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08Neglect has taken its toll and it's in a very sorry state.
0:31:08 > 0:31:16This is the property, which is the end terrace of a row of five.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20It's been empty now for about 12 or 13 years
0:31:20 > 0:31:23and over time it's just slowly gotten worse.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25It's such a shame, really,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29because most of these properties in the whole terrace are rented out
0:31:29 > 0:31:33in separate units as flats, yet this property is just sat there,
0:31:33 > 0:31:37where it could accommodate a number of families.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42But it's not just that this property could be put to good use that's so frustrating.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Barmouth attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Basically, it's a bit of an eyesore.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51It's in the middle of one of our largest tourist towns.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54A lot of people come here.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56The property is slap bang in the middle.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59It's empty, it's falling down to bits.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04As you can see here, they've tried to put boarding up, but it's slowly rotting.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Obviously, again, the property's not having maintenance
0:32:07 > 0:32:10so there are issues like this that crop up.
0:32:10 > 0:32:17Something else that keeps cropping up here is Japanese knotweed. It surrounds the place.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Japanese knotweed spreads very quickly
0:32:19 > 0:32:21and stops everything else around it from growing.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24It can reach a height of seven feet.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28It can even get under the foundations of buildings, affecting house prices.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Some lenders will refuse to give a mortgage on a property with
0:32:32 > 0:32:35Japanese knotweed and even if they do lend,
0:32:35 > 0:32:37they'll want an insurance-backed guarantee
0:32:37 > 0:32:39there's a treatment plan in place.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42The problem's so serious, new laws have been introduced
0:32:42 > 0:32:45which mean it's a criminal offence to ignore council orders
0:32:45 > 0:32:48to control Japanese knotweed on your property.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52And it is hard to control - even the plant-loving
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Royal Horticultural Society describe it as a "real thug".
0:32:56 > 0:32:58It's a bit of a jungle.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03Somebody's obviously been here cutting or putting some kind of poison down to kill the knotweed,
0:33:03 > 0:33:06which seems to have worked slightly.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10You can see parts of knotweed here where it's still growing
0:33:10 > 0:33:13and these bits where the shoots are.
0:33:13 > 0:33:18Obviously, bits where the weedkiller or whatever has been used
0:33:18 > 0:33:20has killed the top part but, of course,
0:33:20 > 0:33:25the danger we've got is that's only the visible bit on the surface.
0:33:25 > 0:33:30That will actually go about four metres underground and of course
0:33:30 > 0:33:34you can put enough weedkiller on top and it will kill the weed that you see
0:33:34 > 0:33:37but it won't actually kill the roots.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39It will keep growing back,
0:33:39 > 0:33:42so in a couple of weeks' time, maybe a month,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45again, it will keep going and keep going
0:33:45 > 0:33:48and of course next year it will come back even worse.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51So it's trying to keep on top of the problem and it's such
0:33:51 > 0:33:56an invasive plant that it's just difficult to keep control of it.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00The community here would be grateful for council intervention.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03They've had enough, according to neighbour Roy Ellis.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07The house has knotweed, so it's a concern, obviously.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10But it's a matter of getting someone to bring it under control.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14The local authority here say they've got some restricted powers
0:34:14 > 0:34:18forthcoming where they might have a mandate to actually get some work done. Is that not right?
0:34:18 > 0:34:22So that's what we're waiting for. In the absence of the owner,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25we're pretty powerless to take any other action.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29- Lacks a certain kerb appeal at the moment, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32For 25 years, Milton Pitcher has run a hotel down the road.
0:34:32 > 0:34:38The ongoing vacancy at this property is a huge source of frustration.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41It's full of rats and it's empty.
0:34:41 > 0:34:46Something has got to be done about that and I'm not on my own on this.
0:34:46 > 0:34:52I think that property, the council should do something about him -
0:34:52 > 0:34:54either having to do it up or they should take it over,
0:34:54 > 0:34:57do it up and let it because it's a pity.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01It's a nice house in a beautiful position.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05But this knotweed, if it's going to affect a property,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08it'll affect that property there because it's full of it.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13The owner told us he will make this home habitable again
0:35:13 > 0:35:16and he's going to renovate the house so his daughter can move in.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19He also said the knotweed came onto his property from a neighbour,
0:35:19 > 0:35:23so he isn't to blame for the jungle it's created.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26In the past, he's been saying to us that he's going to be coming up
0:35:26 > 0:35:30to do the property, he's going to be coming back to live here but
0:35:30 > 0:35:34of course we're a way on now and no-one's come here to live here.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39The owner's only ever - as far as I know -
0:35:39 > 0:35:44come here once since I've been working on this case and all he's done is painted a window
0:35:44 > 0:35:46to make it try and look nicer from the road.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51The house is a frustration on every level for Carwyn.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55He sees an empty home as an opportunity wasted.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59It's a shame, especially when it's got so much potential.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01And it's quite irritating, because you feel like you're
0:36:01 > 0:36:05banging your head against a brick wall with some owners.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09I just don't understand why you'd have such a property
0:36:09 > 0:36:14which could be generating quite a nice income for you
0:36:14 > 0:36:16and just leave it and let it rot.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18It's quite...quite funny.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Funny or not, Carwyn is likely to get the last laugh.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Legislation is now in place to allow councils to take action
0:36:27 > 0:36:30against owners who allow knotweed to go untreated.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33If the owner doesn't take action,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Gwynedd could issue a community protection notice.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40And if nothing is done, he could be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49We're back in Wolverhampton, where housing officers Maria Harley
0:36:49 > 0:36:53and Ravi Phull are investigating complaints from an unhappy tenant
0:36:53 > 0:36:56about the condition of her privately rented home.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58When we do put it on, it works,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01but all the house is so cold it goes all out the window.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Now we've turned our attention to the back garden.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09I have to secure myself and I've had to put that there.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12That door was originally there and it was removed because?
0:37:12 > 0:37:16- I don't know why it was removed. - He just took it out. - He just took it out.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19- And you're using that to secure the rear door?- Yeah. That's all I have.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23Living alone, the makeshift back gate is all Tracy can do
0:37:23 > 0:37:27to try and secure the property from unwanted visitors.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29But there are other problems which aren't so obvious.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34We've got another potential hazard. And can you identify what that is?
0:37:35 > 0:37:40We've got water that's just going to spew out over that courtyard there,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43erm, which is going to then, in cold weather, ice over.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46It's just not going to get down to the drain, which is at the end.
0:37:46 > 0:37:51So we need that down pipe to go all the way round to the drain there...
0:37:51 > 0:37:54- Yeah. - ..and make sure the drain's clear.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57So far we've discovered a broken cover for the electrical mains power board,
0:37:57 > 0:38:01water leaking into the sitting room ceiling from the upstairs bathroom,
0:38:01 > 0:38:06a temperamental gas fire and boiler, with no gas safety certificate,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09a missing back gate and the downpipe downstairs not draining away properly.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11But there's more.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Looking at the state of the windows upstairs.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20I know we haven't gone upstairs yet but you look at those and they are,
0:38:20 > 0:38:23I mean, they're just hanging on for dear life, aren't they?
0:38:23 > 0:38:29Yeah, absolutely. This just seems to have been neglected, really.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35The problems continue upstairs, and even getting up there reveals
0:38:35 > 0:38:38something else wrong with the house that could send someone tumbling.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42So, again, the carpet. Was this like it when you moved in?
0:38:42 > 0:38:47- No, I had to put this on myself. - Was it just bare wooden treads?- Yes.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52In the bedroom, we can now get a good look at the problem windows.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Can you open that window or is it just this one?
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Yeah. You can open both of them.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03When you look at these windows and, again,
0:39:03 > 0:39:09they're sort of hanging on for dear life where they've not been painted this century.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11This millennium, I would say.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14And they're sort of flaking away. Just about holding the glass in.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17And they're single-glazed.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19This is going to be a very cold place, isn't it?
0:39:22 > 0:39:27By the look of things, Tracy is just using the upstairs bedrooms for storage.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Mrs Skinner, is there any reason why you're not using these rooms?
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Cos it's too cold up here, so I just put all my stuff in here.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37What's that hole in the wall?
0:39:37 > 0:39:39I don't know what that hole is in the wall.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44So, actually, you're not getting proper use of the property that you're paying for, are you?
0:39:44 > 0:39:49- No. I stay downstairs because, like I said, it's too cold.- Right.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53- And was it always in this condition when you moved in as well?- Yes.
0:39:53 > 0:39:59It's beginning to look as though this house might not have been properly maintained for years.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03You're saying when you have a shower here, it goes straight down.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05- Yeah.- Cos...cos you've got...
0:40:05 > 0:40:07The sealant's gone all round the sides of the bath.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10I wonder if that's the problem. It's getting in through there.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Probably, yeah.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16The house is in such poor condition, the impact that living here
0:40:16 > 0:40:20is having on Tracy is becoming clearer the more I talk to her.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25I'm petrified of upstairs. I don't like it up there. I sleep down here.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28So, you've done the last two winters in this house.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31- What's it like?- It's horrible.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33It's like being - excuse my language -
0:40:33 > 0:40:36it's like being in the flippin' North Pole, man.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39If the problems were here to start with,
0:40:39 > 0:40:43- why did you choose this property? - Because I had nowhere else to go.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46To make matters worse, despite everything wrong with the place,
0:40:46 > 0:40:51Tracy says the landlord actually wants her to pay more to live here.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55The rent that he's asking for now, he wants to put it up.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Am I paying for the work to be done?
0:40:57 > 0:41:01It seems to me a lot of this work is to get it into a liveable condition.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04You know, which is a safe, healthy condition in which to live.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07That's his responsibility as a landlord.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Mrs Skinner, thank you very much. It's really nice to meet you.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Thank you for letting us into your home.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Inspection over, it's clear Maria has seen enough to convince her
0:41:18 > 0:41:22that urgent action is needed to fix the problems here.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24And she knows who's responsible for putting them right.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28I'm going to write to your landlord and I'm going to give him
0:41:28 > 0:41:31the opportunity to get back to me with what he intends to do
0:41:31 > 0:41:34with respect to the hazards we've identified here.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39I think first and foremost we get, obviously, the leak sorted out and the gas safety certificate
0:41:39 > 0:41:43for the property, the windows need looking at, entry by intruders...
0:41:43 > 0:41:49In the meantime, can I just ask that you try and bring yourself up to speed with your rent, OK?
0:41:49 > 0:41:54- OK.- Because you don't want to give the landlord any excuse on his part.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57We've got a long list of problems that need resolving.
0:41:57 > 0:42:03It's time to take stock and, sadly, it seems like the situation here is far too common.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08Landlords provide accommodation like this to tenants but because they don't live in it themselves,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12so they feel like it's all right to just see it as bringing in money,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14but not needing to spend on it.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18I worry...I worry about the quality of work in there cos, obviously, there's the stuff we can see
0:42:18 > 0:42:20and the stuff that we can see is shocking.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24You know, windows that are letting the heat out and the cold in.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27But the stuff we can't see - we really don't
0:42:27 > 0:42:30know about the electrics, we don't know about the gas work.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33And then you start to think, "Right, OK, this needs a proper look at."
0:42:33 > 0:42:38- Yep.- Now the housing officers have seen just how bad things are here,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41they can order the landlord to do some repairs.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45But once back at the office, they discover there's more to this story.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48When Maria and Ravi contact the landlord to tell him
0:42:48 > 0:42:52about the tenant's complaints, he says the tenant has fallen behind with rent payments
0:42:52 > 0:42:55and the increase he proposed is to cover the arrears.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00He says he won't change the windows until the rent arrears are paid.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04But in the meantime, he has agreed to do all the other repairs.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09That's it for today.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Join me next time on the front line with Britain's housing officers.