0:00:02 > 0:00:03Oh, my God!
0:00:03 > 0:00:06The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09- MAN:- I 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 death-trap, at the end of the day.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20In the battle for decent housing...
0:00:20 > 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 > 0:00:28If somebody had've died here,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31you would've been standing in 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- Oh!- Are you all right?- Yeah, good.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41I'll be with them, as they tackle
0:00:41 > 0:00:44problem properties and slum conditions.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48- Faeces isn't an issue that's, you know...- Faeces is an issue, Glynn!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50As they deal with dodgy landlords,
0:00:50 > 0:00:52nightmare neighbours and everything in between.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Oh, no! That's incredible!
0:00:55 > 0:01:00Doing their best to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- Ain't it fabulous?- Oh, Margaret!
0:01:02 > 0:01:03SHE SOBS Oh, Margaret!
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Today, I visit a family home that's being plagued by flies.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14- There's a lot of flies in the property.- I know.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17You've got a mixture, as well. You've got little fruit flies here
0:01:17 > 0:01:19and then you've got great big bluebottles,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21as well, on the walls and things.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25A search reveals evidence that a shared house in Oxford
0:01:25 > 0:01:26may be overcrowded.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28There's definitely more than the numbers
0:01:28 > 0:01:30that are permitted on the licence,
0:01:30 > 0:01:32just on the two rooms that we've inspected.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Housing officers in Stevenage
0:01:34 > 0:01:37are called in to help a homeless man found living in his car.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42The car hasn't been able to start for the last two or three days.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- You've been here, sleeping in your car the whole time?- Yeah.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47And an unkempt garden in Norwich
0:01:47 > 0:01:49is the cause of a neighbourhood dispute.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53All I want now is somebody to come in and clean it up.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57When was the last time
0:01:57 > 0:02:00you heard anyone use the phrase "slum landlord"?
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Not that recently, right?
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Well, that's because we live in a country
0:02:05 > 0:02:09with laws that make sure housing meets basic standards.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11And it's not just landlords.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15There are laws that mean that tenants need to behave, too.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18I'm working alongside the men and women
0:02:18 > 0:02:22from councils across the UK who enforce those laws.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25They are The Housing Enforcers.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29I'm in Wolverhampton,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33heading out on the road with housing officer Clare Clifft.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36She's taking me to a rented property
0:02:36 > 0:02:38that she's concerned might not be safe to live in,
0:02:38 > 0:02:43especially worrying as it's full to the brim, with a family of eight.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44What's going on here?
0:02:44 > 0:02:48- It's got a fairly-lengthy report already on it.- It has.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50They're talking about things
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- specifically that might affect under-fives?- Yes.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I mean, it's quite a comprehensive report, when you look at its layout.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59So, you know, they are picking up some electrical issues.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02But it gives us the opportunity to go in and have a look,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- to see if there's other things they might have missed.- Absolutely.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11The report was triggered after the council's Children's Centre
0:03:11 > 0:03:13raised concerns about the property
0:03:13 > 0:03:16and potential dangers to the children living here.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- Hello.- Come in.- Hiya.- Mr Renton?
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- How do you do?- How you doing?
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Renting the property at the moment is Thomas and his extended family.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28It definitely feels like he's got his hands full.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30BARKING
0:03:30 > 0:03:34- Shut up. He won't bite you. - OK. If we just start upstairs.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Can we have a look at each of the rooms, Thomas?
0:03:37 > 0:03:39And then we'll work our way downstairs
0:03:39 > 0:03:40to have a look at some of the issues.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42BARKING
0:03:42 > 0:03:46We're here to check if the tenants, particularly the children,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49are in danger and it doesn't take long to spot some problems,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53with a lack of safety features and some potentially dodgy wiring.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56I don't think, to be honest with you, this has probably been
0:03:56 > 0:04:00converted to building regs and to planning approval, if I'm honest.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Right, I've got you. The thing that bothers me is no handrail.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Absolutely. And you've got no guarding, either.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Also, as well, your plug sockets are the wrong way round and smashed.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14They're on sideways! Sideways plug sockets?!
0:04:14 > 0:04:18What's the thinking on putting them on sideways?
0:04:18 > 0:04:21There's massive gaps around the sides of this one, as well.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25The landlord has clearly made some strange design choices.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28And there's another buzzing that's beginning to worry me too.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- Thomas, I've noticed there's a lot of flies in the property.- I know.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35I don't know where they're coming from. There's flies everywhere.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39I keep on trying to get rid of 'em, I put sticky tapes up to get them.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40- I spray them, but...- Yeah.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44But you've got a mixture of them, you've got little fruit flies here
0:04:44 > 0:04:46and then you've got great big bluebottles, as well,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- on the walls and things.- I don't know where they're coming from.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52While we leave and make our way downstairs...
0:04:54 > 0:04:57..I notice a familiar theme developing.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- Again, you've got so many flies in here.- I've put fly things up,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- you know?- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- OK.- I don't know where they're all coming from, to be honest with you.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10There's a lot of flies.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12They've got to be coming from somewhere.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15An unusually large amount of flies.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19There also appear to be some serious safety issues.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Even more worrying, as it's a room where a small child sleeps.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25- Have you got keys for the windows,- Thomas?- No.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- No keys at all?- No.- Are the children in this room here?
0:05:29 > 0:05:32My youngest daughter sleeps in there and me and the wife sleeps
0:05:32 > 0:05:33- in here.- So how old is she?
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- She is two.- She's two?- No, she's four.- Four-years-old? Right.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39No restrictors, no keys.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43So, the problem we've got there, Thomas, is that four-years-old,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46there's nothing to stop her opening that window.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49It opens all the way up straight down on to the pavement below.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51It's something that needs to be sorted, anyway.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54And there's similar safety concerns in the next bedroom,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57shared by Thomas' eldest and her two children.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- So the mum and two kids are in this bed?- Yeah.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Again...no window restrictor,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07catch broken.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- No keys again, Thomas? - No keys again. No keys again.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13A really small radiator for this size of room, as well.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16And no sockets. No wall sockets.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- No? Nothing at all? - Nothing at all.- Are you serious?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- There's no sockets in this room? - No sockets at all.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- That's why I've had to run this out.- Yeah.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26You can't have NO sockets in a room.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- Clearly, you can. - Well, I mean, you can,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32as has been proved. SHE LAUGHS
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- But, you know...- It's unusual. - It's really very unusual.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38It seems the report that alerted Clare
0:06:38 > 0:06:42to child safety concerns was on the money.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46- Now, this is a major leak. - This is the big leak.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- This is the big leak?- This leaks all the way down onto the carpet here.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- It's soaking wet.- That's whenever it rains?- That's whenever it rains.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57With a large family and small children all crammed in together,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01the growing list of problems is definitely a concern.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03That's before I find another member of the family
0:07:03 > 0:07:08- living in the bathroom.- Oh! Your friend!- It's me daughter's hamster.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13- Your hamster lives in here?- In here. - Just in case he wants a shower.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15LAUGHTER
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- So the seals have gone have they?- Yeah.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20- Just falling apart. - They've just degraded.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22This floor is treacherous, isn't it?
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Is it? I thought it was wet, but it's not, is it?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- What is that, then? - The pipe is flexi.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34That's like a tumble-dryer hose.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39So, your poop has got to find its way across the corrugated nature
0:07:39 > 0:07:44- of that.- At least it's sloping down. - I mean, yeah, gravity's on its side,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- but not much else. That is a very temporary situation.- Yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Even though it's there, it's not secure at all, is it?
0:07:50 > 0:07:53You trip over that and you're going to get all sorts of...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- Let's move on.- After you.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57TOILET FLUSHES
0:07:57 > 0:08:02Coming up, I discover just how risky living in this property has become.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05The fact you've been without hot water,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08without, you know, a hob, without heating.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Well, we've got the hob, we use the hob.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14I know, but this is against the advice of the gasman who's come
0:08:14 > 0:08:16around and said, "Don't do it."
0:08:21 > 0:08:25The historic city of Oxford may be known for world-class education,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28but with house prices in the area on the rise,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31the number of family homes being converted has increased.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35The area now has the 14th highest number of shared houses
0:08:35 > 0:08:37in England and Wales.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40This morning, housing officers Adrian Chowns and Matt Kidger
0:08:40 > 0:08:42are leading the search at a property
0:08:42 > 0:08:45that's been converted into a shared house.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49We're here to execute a warrant.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51We believe the property might be overcrowded.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55We've been before, but couldn't get access to all of the bedrooms.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57They had padlocks on the doors.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01But there were an awful lot of shoes and belongings in the house.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05The property's only licensed for four people,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07and it's likely to have a few more in there.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Because the team have previously been unable to gain entry
0:09:10 > 0:09:14to all of the property's bedrooms, they've come armed with a warrant -
0:09:14 > 0:09:18a legal document that allows them to enter and search the house by force.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21It's essential if they're going to get inside
0:09:21 > 0:09:22and find out what's going on.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26The landlord has a licence to have four people living in the house,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28so any more than this is a criminal offence.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32The team also suspect there may be illegal immigrants inside,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36which is why the police and Border Agency have joined the search.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39We have a warrant to enter the premises.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43If you don't give us access, we'll have to force access.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Knowingly renting to illegal immigrants is a civil offence
0:09:47 > 0:09:51and landlords can be fined up to £3,000.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54If you don't give us access, we will knock the door down.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56It seems like no-one's at home.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Hello?
0:10:05 > 0:10:08But then, miraculously, it looks like getting inside
0:10:08 > 0:10:10is going to be easier than everyone initially thought.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- Hello.- Hello.- Can you open the door?
0:10:16 > 0:10:19As the minutes roll by, it seems that whoever is inside
0:10:19 > 0:10:22isn't going to be inviting them in for tea and biscuits,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26so it's time to get the locksmith to break open the door.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29DRILL WHIRS
0:10:29 > 0:10:31It's off in seconds.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35And the team move in to try and catch whoever's been hiding inside.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I have a warrant to enter the premises.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40There was definitely someone in this room and then,
0:10:40 > 0:10:41all of a sudden, nobody.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Hello?
0:10:47 > 0:10:50There was somebody in this room when Matt knocked at the door,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53cos he opened the curtain on the window.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57And now he's not, so we think he's obviously done a bunk.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Mysteriously, it seems that whoever was inside just a few moments ago
0:11:01 > 0:11:03has now vanished into thin air.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08if you look out here, it looks as though the tenant's
0:11:08 > 0:11:11made a swift exit using this chair.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Up like this... and then a bit of downforce,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18over here through the back gardens and you're away.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Whoever was inside may have had something to hide,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23so Matt and Adrian begin searching the house
0:11:23 > 0:11:27to try and piece together what's been going on.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31There appears to be male and female.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36I would say there's probably a couple...in here.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Next door, there's yet more evidence
0:11:38 > 0:11:42to suggest the house is dangerously overcrowded.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Three beds. There might even be a child in this room.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Yeah, it looks that way.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50We think maybe...three.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54A family of three - mum, dad and a young...girl by the look of it.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58But possibly four, we ain't quite sure,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02but there's definitely more than the numbers that are permitted
0:12:02 > 0:12:05on the licence, just on the two rooms that we've inspected.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09If a landlord knowingly leaves tenants in an unsafe property,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12they can be fined up to £5,000.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19You can...tell by the way it sounds,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22it's just a partition that's just been built.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25This would probably have been the original dining room,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28or part of the dining/kitchen area,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31and they've turned it into a bedroom.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34If a fire breaks out in an overcrowded property,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36it increases the risk to life.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38If there are no decent escape routes,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40then things start to look really bad.
0:12:43 > 0:12:44We've got two beds in here
0:12:44 > 0:12:48and the room's situated directly off the kitchen,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50where there's most likely to be a fire.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53So these guys are going to have to go through the kitchen to get out.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56I mean, I suppose they could hop out the window,
0:12:56 > 0:12:58but we want this to be a fire door.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Between April 2014 and March 2015,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05almost three-quarters of fire-related deaths
0:13:05 > 0:13:07occurred in dwellings, so for Matt and Adrian,
0:13:07 > 0:13:11ensuring that the building is up to standard is a serious business.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14That window's defective.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Upstairs, there's more to suggest
0:13:16 > 0:13:19that the house is home to more people than it should be.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22This room shouldn't be occupied. It's too small,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25but we've got a single bed, we've got some belongings.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28It's the landlord's responsibility to ensure
0:13:28 > 0:13:32that he keeps to the number of tenants specified on the licence,
0:13:32 > 0:13:34but it is possible he had no idea
0:13:34 > 0:13:37extra people had been sleeping in his house.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Because of the numbers that we suspect are actually living here
0:13:42 > 0:13:45there's not enough bathrooms and not enough toilets.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49With the inspection complete, the house is secured
0:13:49 > 0:13:52and the locks changed. The evidence found inside points to
0:13:52 > 0:13:55some serious overcrowding issues within the property,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59putting whoever's living here in real danger.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Yeah, it was worth going in,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03making sure we could get into all the rooms,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05making sure there wasn't any vulnerable children in there.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09And we've left the property secure and we've got the keys,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12so the tenants can come and pick them up and get back
0:14:12 > 0:14:13into their...their homes.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Later on, Matt and Adrian
0:14:15 > 0:14:19prepare to come face to face with the landlord.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21I'm hoping he's going to be honest.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23I'm hoping to hear his side of the story
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and to understand, from his perspective, why the property
0:14:26 > 0:14:28was the way we found it.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I'm in Wolverhampton, with Assisting Housing Officer Clare Clifft
0:14:37 > 0:14:42in a property that's home to eight people, one hamster, and, seemingly,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44a large influx of flying pests.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47There's a lot of flies in the property.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49I don't know where they're all coming from.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52You've got a mixture as well. You've got little fruit flies here and then
0:14:52 > 0:14:54you've got great big bluebottles on the walls.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56I don't know where they're coming from.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59But for Thomas and his family, the state of his rented house
0:14:59 > 0:15:00is no laughing matter.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- That's like a tumble-dryer hose.- Yeah.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07So your poop has got to find its way across the corrugated...
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- That is a very temporary situation.- Yeah.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Clare's here after being alerted by a report from the Children's Centre,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18who were worried about the safety of the young people living here.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23And so far, we've found plenty to back up their findings.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- And what else are we missing here? - We're missing a handrail on this.
0:15:27 > 0:15:33We're missing smoke detection, of any shape or form. Yeah.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36I mean, I'd like to see some other form of lighting in here.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40And while we explore the rest of downstairs,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42we notice our old friends are back again.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- You don't know where the flies are coming from?- No.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- I just don't get it.- No.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49They've got to be coming from somewhere.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50Whether it's sanitation somewhere,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52but it doesn't smell like that, does it?
0:15:52 > 0:15:55There are more problems in the kitchen.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58From this raised platform here,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00the kids can get straight to the hob.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03And that's a clear danger to the children.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06I don't even want to imagine what could happen if the kids found
0:16:06 > 0:16:07their way up to the hob.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10On top of all that, there's even an issue with the heating.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14- You've got no hot water at the minute, have you?- No hot water.- No.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18A quick investigation of the boiler reveals why.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- So this is the boiler that...? - This is the boiler.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25- The pipework's been condemned? - It's the pipework they've condemned,
0:16:25 > 0:16:26- not the boiler.- Right.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- This was condemned, this was shut off in May?- Yeah, turned off.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33And the hob, as well, was supposed to be shut off,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36so that would have been no hot water, no heating,
0:16:36 > 0:16:41no cooking on the hob since May of this...of this year?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44The pipes were condemned six months ago.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47It's a serious problem, especially with so many children in the house.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50It's the landlord's responsibility to get this fixed.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52You've got a lot of flies again, Thomas.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Look at the flies in here.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- Let's see if we can get them out. - Look at that.- I know.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Do you know what I'm really keen to find out, is where those flies
0:17:02 > 0:17:03are coming from?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Cos there are flies right the way through the house.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09And whether it's, you know, it's food that's being stored somewhere,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12or some sort of fault with the sanitation.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I don't know, it's difficult to tell,
0:17:15 > 0:17:16but they'd get on your nerves.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It can't be good having flies in every room.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21With so many issues in this house,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24it seems Thomas is caught in a downward spiral.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25How much would you say
0:17:25 > 0:17:29the house has changed in the time that you've had it?
0:17:29 > 0:17:32And how much of that would you say is down to you, how much is down to
0:17:32 > 0:17:33the landlord neglecting it?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35I would say 50% is down to me.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38The state of the carpets is down to me.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42And the walls at the minute, which need decorating, that's down to me.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45You've got to respect Thomas' honesty in sharing part of the blame
0:17:45 > 0:17:49for the state of the property, but it doesn't excuse the landlord's
0:17:49 > 0:17:51behaviour, in allowing this dangerous situation to exist.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54The fact you've been without hot water,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57without a hob, without heating.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Well, we've got the hob, we use the hob.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- And we use the boiler. - This is against the advice
0:18:02 > 0:18:05of the gasman, who's come round and said, "Don't do it."
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- But we use it, we've got no option. We've got no option.- You've got
0:18:08 > 0:18:10- to cook, I understand that. - We've got no option.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Thomas' position is a desperate one.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16There are clear breaches of safety in this property.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19And with the family continuing to use heating that's been condemned,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22they're putting their safety further at risk.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Clare needs to take direct action with the landlord - and fast.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I'm going to tell him to get your heat and hot water on ASAP.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32If he doesn't, then I have the right to come and do it myself.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37Not me personally, but a contractor, and then he will also get a letter
0:18:37 > 0:18:40giving him 28 days to get the rest of the works done -
0:18:40 > 0:18:43things like the window restrictors, doors on handles, sort the leak out,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46re-route that soil pipe, get the roof fixed and all those
0:18:46 > 0:18:48- things, all right?- Yeah.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50- He's got to do, this regardless who's in the house.- Right.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53So it doesn't matter whether it's you or someone else
0:18:53 > 0:18:54he's renting it out to,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58these jobs have got to be done, cos it's not safe the way it is.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01- Lovely. Thanks, Thomas. I'll see you again soon.- Thank you.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03- Take care.- Bye.- Take care.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Well, I might not have got to the bottom of where the flies
0:19:06 > 0:19:08were coming from, but I think that with young children
0:19:08 > 0:19:13living in such dangerous conditions, that may not be the first priority.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14If you were to put them in order,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16what would you must worried about right there?
0:19:16 > 0:19:21Most worried about heat and hot water, first of all.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Then, secondly, probably worried about how they're living.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Need to make sure we get some services wrapped around those guys,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31especially the children. I mean, they are not adequately housed.
0:19:31 > 0:19:32The fact you've got mum,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35a three-year-old and a one-year-old sleeping all in one bed.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Yeah, so that's second. And then, third, is the rest of the repairs.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42And it's not a flat full of young guys who can go a couple of weeks
0:19:42 > 0:19:45without a shower. You've got kids there that need to be washed,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48you've got clothes, you've got bedding that needs to be washed.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51All that stuff is absolutely basic bottom line.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54And it's October, you know, it's cold at night time.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- It's cold.- So, yeah, of course
0:19:56 > 0:20:00After we finished filming, the landlord repaired what needed
0:20:00 > 0:20:03to be done in the property and has put the house on to the market.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Thomas and his family are still living there,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and Clare's currently working to get him and the rest of them
0:20:09 > 0:20:12rehoused into two properties, so that they have more space.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17Now ,we're back in Oxford,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20where housing officers Adrian Chowns and Matt Kidger
0:20:20 > 0:20:25have been investigating suspected overcrowding at a shared house.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28There's definitely more than the numbers that are permitted
0:20:28 > 0:20:31on the licence, just on the two rooms that we've inspected.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Back at the council offices,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35they're now preparing for a face-to-face interview
0:20:35 > 0:20:38with the landlord, to hear his side of the story.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The property was in a bad state, there were overcrowded conditions,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45too many people in there,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47the landlord's obviously not taken that on board,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50he's not dealing with the situation, so we've had to step in
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and do something about it.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Matt and Adrian spend two hours in the interview room
0:20:57 > 0:20:59hearing the landlord's side of the story,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01before Matt emerges with an update.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06He expressed his point of view and responded to what were,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10- you know, allegations. - It's now up to Adrian and the rest
0:21:10 > 0:21:13of the team to decide what to do next.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16We've assessed the situation. We've put together a file.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20Our recommendation will be for Legal to look at it,
0:21:20 > 0:21:25to see whether it's suitable to take a prosecution.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:21:30 > 0:21:34is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Do you think(?)
0:21:39 > 0:21:43I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- Top marks.- Yes!
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I'm hitting the streets... TAPPING
0:21:47 > 0:21:50That's ready to collapse.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52...finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:21:52 > 0:21:55The cistern's in the bath. I don't know how they flush it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57..and learning what to takes
0:21:57 > 0:22:01to make sure a house is fit to be called a home.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Stevenage in Hertfordshire...
0:22:12 > 0:22:14was one of Britain's new towns,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16built up just after the Second World War.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19It was designed with plenty of council accommodation in mind
0:22:19 > 0:22:21to house its new residents.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24But even here, it can be a struggle to find a home for everyone,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28leading to some desperate people taking some desperate measures.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34We've just, funnily enough, come out of one of those buildings here
0:22:34 > 0:22:39and one of the guys who does maintenance for Stevenage
0:22:39 > 0:22:42has said that, apparently, the storage cupboards here
0:22:42 > 0:22:44are being used as accommodation.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Someone's living in one of the cupboards at the moment.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49So, we just... I don't think they're in there now.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Come and have a look.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- How did we find this? - We're caretakers and we come round
0:22:58 > 0:23:00and we check all the buildings for health and safety.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04That's been broken in and looks like they're sleeping in there.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- So they've got a mattress down in there?- Yeah.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10And all their clothes and everything.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- That's life.- It's just where they've ended up. Yeah
0:23:14 > 0:23:16After more investigation from the council,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19the man living in the cupboard was evicted,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21but now it seems he's turned up again,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24living in a car park in a council block of flats.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Housing Officer Ashley Mansfield
0:23:27 > 0:23:30is responsible for looking after the tenants' homes here
0:23:30 > 0:23:32and he's going to investigate.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37So we've had a report that somebody's sleeping rough
0:23:37 > 0:23:39inside a car in our car park.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41It's not usually a tenancy issue,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43but I'm already out here visiting the block,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47so, hopefully, I can jump on it and try and get them moved along.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49The tenants in the flats
0:23:49 > 0:23:52have complained that the car has been here for more than a few days,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and there are concerns that there's someone living inside it.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00From the reports that I've been given, it is that red car there.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02And there is somebody in there.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05So I am going to, erm, engage with them
0:24:05 > 0:24:07and see if they are a tenant here
0:24:07 > 0:24:09and see what we can do to go forward.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13- Bit scared. - HE LAUGHS
0:24:13 > 0:24:15A recent survey revealed there were more than 3,000
0:24:15 > 0:24:17physical and verbal assaults
0:24:17 > 0:24:21on housing staff across the country in 2014,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23so Ashley's right to be cautious.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31- Hiya.- Hello.- I'm the tenancy advisor for the building
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- and we're advised that you've been sleeping in the car?- Uh-huh.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- Are you doing all right?- Yeah. - Do you live in the block?- No.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40- No. Do you have a home at all anywhere?- No.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- OK. Erm, cos it's private land, you can't park here.- Oh.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47So we need to get you moved on a little bit.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49- I'm sorry, I didn't get your name? - Abu Abduli.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- Hi. I'm Ashley. - Well, Abu seems friendly enough.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54And after a few enquires,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58it also turns out he's been homeless for some time,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00but living in a car clearly isn't the solution,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03especially the state it's in.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08The car hasn't been able to start for the last two or three days.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- OK, so you've been here sleeping in your car the whole time?- Yeah.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14So, is it out of petrol or is it just not turning on?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- No, the battery's run out. - The battery's run out? OK.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- And is it MOT'd and taxed, do you know?- It's MOT'd, yeah.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Hmm. Uh-huh.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27So he's been living in the car for at least three days.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30He's saying the car doesn't start. That's why he can't move it along.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Cases like Abu's provide a real challenge for Ashley
0:25:34 > 0:25:35and the council.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Even if Abu's not-very-mobile home
0:25:38 > 0:25:41with all his worldly possessions does because roadworthy,
0:25:41 > 0:25:46driving it away only moves on the problem, rather than solving it.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49If we can get you to come down to the town,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52and then you can get a form, fill out a form,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55and we can get you back on the housing list to go forward with you.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58You can always go into the council and talk to the homeless team,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00see if there's anything else they can give you,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03even for the weekend, if there's anywhere else they can suggest.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06I'm waiting to hear back, to see what we can do with the car,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09that's not going to be too troublesome for you going forward.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12- OK.- All right, so I won't be a minute.- OK.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16So...all my stuff's in the car.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21So, I'm not sure what the best course of action is to move him on.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Having first lost a roof over his head,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Abu is understandably worried about losing everything else he owns.
0:26:28 > 0:26:29God!
0:26:32 > 0:26:34So, I can't allow it to be parked there any longer,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37because it is someone's parking space and it's private property.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39So I will need to speak to the traffic department
0:26:39 > 0:26:41to get that towed away somewhere.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44- Erm... - What about my stuff on the inside?
0:26:44 > 0:26:46That can stay. They'll let you know where it's going to.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49If you stay with the car, anyway, they'll come out to you here
0:26:49 > 0:26:50to take it from you.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55They're going to take the car, definitely
0:26:55 > 0:26:58That's what they're going to do.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Abu is clearly distressed about his situation.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05But Ashley can only help him if he agrees to be helped.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06So the best course of action for you
0:27:06 > 0:27:08is to go to the Customer Service Centre,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12present yourself as homeless and see if there's anything they can do
0:27:12 > 0:27:13for you in the short-term.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17It's not easy to see anyone in this position,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20living in a car because they've got nowhere else to go.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Sadly, the housing situation in many areas is short at the moment.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28It's very hard to find somewhere for people to stay at short notice.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Cases are always very difficult,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33because even though we want to help the gentleman as much as we can,
0:27:33 > 0:27:38our hands are tied by regulations and places for them to stay.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Abu now knows where he needs to go for help,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45but will he take Ashley's advice?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Hopefully, the gentleman has gone to Customer Service Centre, as advised,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50to speak to the homeless team.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53And, hopefully, we can get this obstruction cleared,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56so the tenants can be happy to have their spaces back
0:27:56 > 0:27:58and they feel a bit more secure.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Later, Ashley brings backup,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06as it looks like it's back to square one for Abu.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11- Abu, we meet again. Right, you know you can't stay.- Yes, I know.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20In Norwich, Housing Officer Mark Siddall
0:28:20 > 0:28:23is on his way to a property where the boundary between a nature lover
0:28:23 > 0:28:27and an absentee home owner is the scene for a war of the wildlife.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32The property we're going to has been empty for about three years.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35It's been neglected and has got a somewhat overgrown garden.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37The worries of the neighbour
0:28:37 > 0:28:40are perhaps slightly different to the worries of the council.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43The neighbour's worried that the garden's a little overgrown
0:28:43 > 0:28:45and he thinks this might be causing pests and vermin.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48The council would like to see it looking tidy,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51but what they really want to see is that the property is occupied
0:28:51 > 0:28:53and not just wasted by, sort of, standing there empty.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58There are 300 empty homes in this area for Mark to deal with,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00but after complaints from a neighbour about this one,
0:29:00 > 0:29:03he's had to step in to try and resolve the issue.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06You could potentially drive past it on the street,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09but if you're looking at all, the property does stand out.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12The front wall's a little untidy. In isolation, it's not...
0:29:12 > 0:29:14You know, this happens to properties.
0:29:14 > 0:29:20The garden is overgrown, the hedges are...are unkempt.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24We walk down and it's, sort of, like a story of two halves here,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27a clean, sort of, square cut tidy hedge
0:29:27 > 0:29:28and on the other side of it,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31we've got the overgrown element in this property.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34And it's quite clear no-one's really caring for this house
0:29:34 > 0:29:35in the way that it deserves.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39They have got a responsibility to their neighbours
0:29:39 > 0:29:42and to the wider community to do something with the property,
0:29:42 > 0:29:48rather than just leave it to run wild and...deteriorate.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52Every day that passes means it's going to require more work to get
0:29:52 > 0:29:54this place back into shape.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57And it means the neighbours get more and more upset.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00What happens to gardens after two or three years,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03they return to their natural state of, you know, wild scrub.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07Which, you know, one man's sort of wilderness
0:30:07 > 0:30:10is another man's wildlife garden, at the end of the day,
0:30:10 > 0:30:12but it does start to impact on the neighbours.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17It's hard to hold back that tide of brambles and nettles and weeds
0:30:17 > 0:30:20which are going to go encroaching on neighbours' gardens.
0:30:20 > 0:30:21Yeah, it's a little unfair.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23It's outside the remit of the council, perhaps,
0:30:23 > 0:30:25but it does have an impact on neighbours
0:30:25 > 0:30:28and so we do have some sympathy for that.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32And it is, you know, symptomatic of the problems when properties
0:30:32 > 0:30:33are left empty like this.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36And the neighbour living next to that garden,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39be it wilderness or wildlife haven, is John Prentice.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44- Hello, Mark. Nice to see you. - Hello. Pleased to see you again.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- Thanks for coming along to see us. - You're welcome.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49- It's a nice day to be out of the office.- Yeah.- Thank you.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52It's still a mess, isn't it? No change here, is there?
0:30:52 > 0:30:55They haven't done a thing since I was last here have they,
0:30:55 > 0:30:56- I don't think, by the looks of it?- No.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01John is a keen gardener. His passion for plants was once mirrored
0:31:01 > 0:31:03by the woman who used to live next door.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06She was 99 when she died,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09but she always had a gardener coming in.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12That's one thing about her, she was so keen on getting
0:31:12 > 0:31:14the garden looking nice.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17And if she could come back now and see this, well, you know.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20But, other than that,
0:31:20 > 0:31:24all I want now is somebody to come in and clean it up.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Because when you try and keep your own garden and your hedge
0:31:28 > 0:31:31and everywhere nice and clean and tidy,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33you know, it is...it is sad.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36You probably used to chat with the lady here over the fence
0:31:36 > 0:31:37- at one time, didn't you?- Always.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40I used to look after the old lady, cos she was on her own.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43I used to look after her and, you know, do bits and pieces,
0:31:43 > 0:31:44like gardening, for her.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47And, you know what, a chat over the garden fence
0:31:47 > 0:31:49is one of life's great pleasures,
0:31:49 > 0:31:52but John's not just lost his friendly neighbour,
0:31:52 > 0:31:56he's also lost part of the fence they used to talk over.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00It is hard work, but it just keeps going through.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03In fact, only yesterday, I started chopping some of this down
0:32:03 > 0:32:05from the other side, you see.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09- Let's hope.- Yeah.- Let's hope. - I'm sort of on to them,
0:32:09 > 0:32:12and I think they're hoping that, if they tidy up the garden
0:32:12 > 0:32:15and sort it out a little bit, that will keep me off their back.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Well, that's right, you know.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20I mean, if they just put the fence in and tidy up around,
0:32:20 > 0:32:23everything's going through to my place, you see.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26You would have thought they could have let it out for the time being
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- and it could have been done with. - This is it.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33In my world, I can't think of many people who would turn down
0:32:33 > 0:32:35- a little extra income.- That's right.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37You might as well, sort of, tidy it up.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40There's little more Mark can do here on this visit.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42How are you tomatoes this year, then?
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Yeah.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Got a little bit of curly-leaf kale there.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50But Mark has got a plan. He's going to suggest that the council look
0:32:50 > 0:32:52to compulsory purchase the property.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Because it's been empty for a long time, it's been drawing complaints
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and it's in an area of high housing demand.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01This won't happen overnight,
0:33:01 > 0:33:04so it will either give the current owner time to tidy up,
0:33:04 > 0:33:06or, in the long-term,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09John Prentice will have a new companion over the fence to talk to.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12What we don't want to do is compulsory purchase it,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- but if we have to, we have to. - It takes a long time.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18It takes a long time, but if these actions...
0:33:18 > 0:33:20I'll keep the owner informed of what we're doing
0:33:20 > 0:33:23and, hopefully, that'll put pressure on 'em to make a decision.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Cos I think that's what's always missing in these things.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Someone needs to make a decision what they're going to do with it.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Coming up...
0:33:30 > 0:33:32Mark's back at the house,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35to check if any progress has been made on the garden.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39Well, on the whole, I would say it's a distinct improvement,
0:33:39 > 0:33:41from the street anyway.
0:33:46 > 0:33:47Earlier in Stevenage,
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Housing Officer Ashley Mansfield
0:33:50 > 0:33:54was called to deal with an unusual homeless problem in a car park.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58Residents of a block of council flats had complained of a man, Abu,
0:33:58 > 0:34:00living in his car.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04The car hasn't been able to start for the last two or three days.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07- OK, so you've been here sleeping in your car the whole time?- Yeah.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11- Right, OK.- They're going to take the car definitely.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Worried about Abu's lack of accommodation,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Ashley pointed him in the direction of the council's homeless team,
0:34:17 > 0:34:20while he organised to get the car removed.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22But it looks like Abu hasn't taken the advice.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26He, the car, and all his possessions are still in the car park.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30To try and find a solution, Ashley's returned with reinforcements,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Tony Silverio from the council's Antisocial Behaviour team.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39The reason I'm here is because my understanding is he's come back
0:34:39 > 0:34:40to the car.
0:34:40 > 0:34:46Ashley's powers at this point cease, because he's not a council tenant.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49So I've got to look at, erm, what I can do.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52If he doesn't go of his own volition, after I've asked him,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55then I'll be looking to start legal proceedings
0:34:55 > 0:34:59by way of getting either a community-protection order
0:34:59 > 0:35:03against him or a court order, through an injunction,
0:35:03 > 0:35:05to remove him from this area,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09probably banning him from the whole of this particular site.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13Tony knows Abu well, as he was the one responsible for evicting him
0:35:13 > 0:35:16from his previous abode, the storage shed.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23- Hi.- Ah.- Abu, we meet again.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26- Right, you know you can't stay. - Yes, I know.- I know.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31- Are you able to move it tonight? - I should be able to, yeah.- OK.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34So if you can remove it from the car park, OK,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37then that will stop us having to worry about getting a removal van in
0:35:37 > 0:35:42- to remove it, OK?- OK.- Erm, the other thing is, clearly you're still...
0:35:42 > 0:35:44- Are you still sleeping in it?- Yeah.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- Right. Have you contacted the homeless section?- No.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49That's the number. Give them a ring. If you go to
0:35:49 > 0:35:52the customer service centre, they're open till 5.30
0:35:52 > 0:35:54- and they have a free phone. - Across the road.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58If you go across the park, you can go to the homeless section,
0:35:58 > 0:36:02all right? And I'm going to come back and check that the car's gone.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05Otherwise, I'll have to get a removal van and that's going
0:36:05 > 0:36:06to cost you money.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Tony and Ashley can only cross their fingers that Abu will get help
0:36:10 > 0:36:14from the council this time. But history suggests that he's not
0:36:14 > 0:36:17too good at that, so Tony's not optimistic.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Well, from past experience, I don't think he's going to go.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24He really doesn't want the help.
0:36:24 > 0:36:31Erm, I removed him from a cupboard about a week and a half ago,
0:36:31 > 0:36:35erm, gave him exactly the same information.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Erm, he just doesn't want to do anything.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41He seems to be quite happy doing what he's doing, which is sad.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44It's never nice seeing anyone in this position,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47but I'm glad that I have a team that I can work with,
0:36:47 > 0:36:49I can depend on, to help us try and find a solution.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52It's not always the best solution for everybody,
0:36:52 > 0:36:54but, hopefully, at the end of the day,
0:36:54 > 0:36:55we'll find him somewhere he can stay,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58even for a couple of nights, while he gets back on his feet.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00But that's IF he'll let us help him.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04I'm constantly amazed how persistent housing officers
0:37:04 > 0:37:09around the country are, when they find someone who needs help.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12And Tony and Ashley are no exception.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Despite Abu being so backward at coming forward,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17they're going to give it one more go.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21- Oh, the car's still there. - LAUGHTER
0:37:21 > 0:37:25So, we've just been out on a visit to another property.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28On the way back, we're going to check out to see
0:37:28 > 0:37:29if he's back at the car.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32And, if not, we're going to go to the Customer Service Centre
0:37:32 > 0:37:36and just see if he's still there, hopefully getting some help.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Well, we've just had a peek, he's not in the car,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42so I'm hoping that he's definitely gone to the CSC.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46He headed the right way, so we're going to go and check now
0:37:46 > 0:37:48that he is there and see what help he can be given.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00And it's great news.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04Against the odds, Abu has this time taken Ashley and Tony's advice.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Here's here asking for help.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Right. OK. Well, take a seat.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15- Fingers crossed.- Yeah.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19So, happily to say, he has taken our advice on and he's in
0:38:19 > 0:38:21the Customer Service Centre.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24And, hopefully, we'll just wait to see what happens now.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- They'll sort you out. - That's the plan.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30We're getting you in the right direction now and work together
0:38:30 > 0:38:31to go forward.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33Considering it was very late in the day already, I think
0:38:33 > 0:38:35- we've done very well.- Yeah.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Yeah, so, hopefully, we'll go back after the weekend,
0:38:38 > 0:38:40car will be gone and we'll be getting some feedback
0:38:40 > 0:38:43from the homeless team, to find out where he's going next.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46There's an important lesson for aspiring housing officers,
0:38:46 > 0:38:50if you keep chipping away, sometimes against the odds you get a win.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52It's nice when you get a pleasant surprise like this.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56You can have a tenant you see ten, 20 times and each outcome
0:38:56 > 0:38:59could be the same. But then, every now and again,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02you get one time they actually listen to ourselves
0:39:02 > 0:39:04and, hopefully, get a new step forward.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06The news is even better for Abu.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08He has a roof over his head for tonight, at least,
0:39:08 > 0:39:11until a longer-term solution can be found.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13Yeah, they found me somewhere.
0:39:13 > 0:39:18It's temporary accommodation. It's fantastic. Thank you very much.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28Back in Norwich,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Housing Officer Mark Siddall has to make a decision
0:39:31 > 0:39:34about the future of a home that's been abandoned for three years.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36The next door neighbour has been complaining
0:39:36 > 0:39:39because the fence between the two back gardens fell down
0:39:39 > 0:39:43and now the weeds are making their way onto his property.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46All I want now is somebody to come in and clean it up.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49You know, when you're trying to keep your own garden
0:39:49 > 0:39:54and your hedge and everywhere nice and clean and tidy, you know,
0:39:54 > 0:39:55it is sad.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57We're going back to this property.
0:39:57 > 0:40:02We've formerly seen it when it was rather overgrown at the time
0:40:02 > 0:40:07and the neighbour was not happy with the situation there, understandably.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11I gather that the situation has changed a bit at the property
0:40:11 > 0:40:13and I'd like to go to catch up and see where we are now.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19If nothing has changed, one option available is for the council
0:40:19 > 0:40:23to compulsory purchase the property. Mark's told the owner of the plans,
0:40:23 > 0:40:25but has that spurred them on to take any action?
0:40:29 > 0:40:31Well, on the whole,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34I would say it's a distinct improvement, from the street anyway.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37The front garden, they've definitely had a good cut back,
0:40:37 > 0:40:39we can see a few remnants of what they've been up to.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42The hedge is a bit of a cleaner line than it was.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46With the overgrown front garden trimmed back to Mark's satisfaction,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48it's time to check on the neighbour's reaction.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52John Prentice maybe a keen gardener, but was growing tired of fighting
0:40:52 > 0:40:56back the weeds from two gardens - his and his neighbour's.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59- They've made a start. - They've made a start.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01OK, well, that's really pleasing.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04The impression I've been left with is that possibly the same people
0:41:04 > 0:41:06are responsible for clearing the property.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09The chap is possibly going to be moving into the property
0:41:09 > 0:41:10maybe as soon as this weekend.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15We will see. We will see anyway, but, you know, fingers crossed.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17- But if you don't mind, if we can have a look?- By all means.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19That's very kind of you.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- Thanks very much and we'll keep in touch.- Yeah, that's fine. Thank you.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25It's an improvement, you know, that's the main thing.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30That's all I'm concerned about, as long as something gets done, yeah.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33And Mark's delighted to see things are getting done.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35The back garden is looking a lot less jungly.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39If you can remember how we saw it last time,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42quite obviously someone's been having a pretty good go.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45They've made a very good start. We'll have a little look further
0:41:45 > 0:41:47down the garden and see what's going on down there.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51This is where gardener John had become fed up with the lack
0:41:51 > 0:41:53of a fence. He'd tried to hold back the growth
0:41:53 > 0:41:56from next door's garden, but he was losing the battle.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58It's a bit disappointing down here,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01cos one of the big gripes of the neighbour
0:42:01 > 0:42:04is the state of the fence. A whole section is completely absent
0:42:04 > 0:42:07and it's all pretty wobbly. So, yeah, I'll be keeping the pressure
0:42:07 > 0:42:09on the owners of the house to deal with that.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13But looking over the fence, we can see they have been making
0:42:13 > 0:42:16a significant effort to clearing some of the undergrowth.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20Hopefully, they can maintain that momentum and deal with the rest
0:42:20 > 0:42:24of it over the course of time. What I've seen here is really good.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26With the amount of undergrowth which has been cut back,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28it's give me a deal of confidence.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31It doesn't mean I'm walking away at this stage.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Until it's, kind of, complete and finished and I can definitely
0:42:34 > 0:42:37sign it off, I'll still be maintaining pressure on the owner.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39So, a job well done for Mark.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41His diplomatic approach has paid off
0:42:41 > 0:42:44and the garden is finally getting some much-needed attention.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Hopefully, a new fence will follow shortly.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55That's it for today. Join me next time,
0:42:55 > 0:42:57when I'll be learning more about what it takes
0:42:57 > 0:42:59to be a frontline housing officer.