0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello? Can you just let me in?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I wouldn't keep my dog there, is the honest truth.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12But for thousands of people across the UK,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The house is falling to bits. There's nothing I can do.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20In the battle for decent housing...
0:00:20 > 0:00:22We've just got conditions that are just appalling,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I don't know how the people are coping, to be quite honest.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28..it's local housing officers who are on the front line.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29If somebody had've died here,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32you would've been standing in Coroner's Court.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37I'm Matt Allwright and I'm back with The Housing Enforcers.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40- 15 people in this house? - 15 people total living in here.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43I'll be with them as they tackle problem properties
0:00:43 > 0:00:45and slum conditions...
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- It really does look shanty town. - Yeah, it's not up to standard.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52..as they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours
0:00:52 > 0:00:53and everything in between...
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Oh, my God, straight away, there's the smell of...dog muck.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59You never know what you're going to find.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Today, housing officers help a man with a back injury so severe
0:01:13 > 0:01:16he's been eating and sleeping on the floor for years.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Took me ages to pluck up enough courage to ask for help.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24I tried to get along on me own but, in the end, I couldn't.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Suspicions that a house in a residential street is being
0:01:27 > 0:01:31used as a brothel lead to a council investigation.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33We've got a full body massage card here.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35It just sort of degrades the whole area, really,
0:01:35 > 0:01:40just makes it look as though it's a real slum area.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43And officers and police crack down on overcrowding
0:01:43 > 0:01:45and dangerous meter fixing.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Anything that goes wrong in this house can very quickly affect
0:01:48 > 0:01:51what's going on to the neighbours either side.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02And, every year, rents go up.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06For those of us chasing cheaper housing, that can mean
0:02:06 > 0:02:10enduring living conditions so bad that they break the law.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11I'm working alongside the men
0:02:11 > 0:02:15and women whose job it is to uphold those laws.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18They are the Housing Enforcers.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22In Swale,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26the council actively supports disabled or vulnerable clients
0:02:26 > 0:02:29who want to remain living in their own homes.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31With housing officers Susan Hughes
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and Sue Spice, we're heading to meet Peter.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Five years ago, he fell off a ramp whilst working as an MOT
0:02:38 > 0:02:43examiner, seriously damaging the nerves in his left knee and back.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Unsurprisingly, it's left him
0:02:45 > 0:02:48unable to keep up the maintenance on his house.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51He's now been awarded a council repair loan,
0:02:51 > 0:02:52but before the builders move in,
0:02:52 > 0:02:56we'll need to assess Peter's needs and make sure the place is safe
0:02:56 > 0:02:57and clutter-free, although,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59it does look like he's already made a start.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- This is good already - look. - Mmm, that is.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07So, we've got a little mini skip here,
0:03:07 > 0:03:08and it's got a lot of the stuff
0:03:08 > 0:03:10that Peter doesn't feel he needs any more.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13That's good. So, hopefully, we're going to find it nice
0:03:13 > 0:03:15and clear inside.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- Hi, Peter, it's Susan Hughes here. - Hello, there.- We've Matt and Sue.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- Hi!- Hello, Peter.- Just come to have a look at how things are going.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24- Is that all right?- Yep. - Do you want to go first?
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Sorry about this, cos I have to wall-walk.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32His injury also forces Peter to lie down on a hard surface,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35as he finds it difficult to get out of a bed or sit in a chair.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Sue was saying about how you needed to clear stuff.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- I can see you've started to do that. - I've started doing that.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42- That's very good.- I've got a skip out there.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46It's good that Peter's making an effort, but it's clearly a struggle.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Before the accident, he was leading an active life.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53I was a motor mechanic, MOT tester.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Used to go for walks, fishing. I used to go swimming a lot.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Quite active.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03But that knocked on me on the head.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Peter struggled on, reluctant to ask for help,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10until the constant pain made him severely depressed.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- You all right?- You all right? - Yeah.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17You seem like you're in a lot of pain all the time,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and I can't quite work out how you're moving around.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- You have to get up and then wall-walk everywhere?- Yes.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- That's the only way you can do it. - Yes.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28So, for you, there's no real sitting down. There's either...
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- I can't sit, no. - ..lying down as you are right now,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- or there's walking using the walls for support.- Yeah.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40- It's like I can't sit too long. It's about 15, 20 minutes...- Yeah.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43..and the pain's unbearable. I've got to get up.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45The most shocking thing is that
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Peter's been living like this for five years.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50The way I've been brought up is the old-fashioned way.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52I don't like to ask.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I like to get on and try to do things myself.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Trying to be independent.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59And I understand that.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Because, as a bloke, you think to yourself,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05"I'm self-reliant and I'm, you know, I don't want to be a bother to anyone."
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- That's right.- But what's going to happen is, it's going to go
0:05:08 > 0:05:12further down the road, and then it's going to be a big problem.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15It's easy to see how cleaning and maintenance around the house
0:05:15 > 0:05:19has become impossible for Peter to manage.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21So, I can see how it's going to be hard for you to keep it clean.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Have you ever thought about talking to Age Concern about getting
0:05:24 > 0:05:27somebody in to help you with the housework?
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Yes, I'm still waiting for that to come through.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Peter, just behind there,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33what we can see there, with the leaves,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36- does that go right back? Is that...? - Yeah. A massive garden.- So it's like
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- a jungle, basically, outside your window?- Yes.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41- Because you've got no light coming in here at all, have you?- No.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43That can't be good for your state of mind.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45- Well, we've got some good news about the garden.- Oh!
0:05:45 > 0:05:48So, there's a scheme that we can refer you to,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50and they will come in and do a one-off clearance,
0:05:50 > 0:05:51a one-off big clearance.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Somewhere under all those brambles is a greenhouse
0:05:57 > 0:06:02and a fish pond. It's a garden that's been left untended for years.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04But you can see why.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- You all right?- Yeah. Ooh.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- You all right?- Yeah. Go on.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18So, how often are you getting up and getting down like that?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- When I go to the toilet.- Yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25I do all me cooking in the front room.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26Me kettle. I've got...
0:06:26 > 0:06:30me toaster's in there, I've got a little oven in there.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- Oh!- Cos I can't stand. If I go in the kitchen standing,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36I can't do nothing.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38I eat a lot of takeaways, put it that way.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It gets worse - as well as eating on the floor,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Peter also sleeps there.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I think it's time we had a look at what needs doing,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49starting with the kitchen.
0:06:51 > 0:06:52Crikey.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55This is a long way down the list, because he doesn't actually
0:06:55 > 0:06:57use it. He can't stand in here, so he cooks in the other room.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Right, so there's no point ripping this out and giving him
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- a new kitchen if he's not going to use it.- Not yet, no.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Cos he's got no way of being able to use it, to get in here and stand up.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09No, so, we just need to make him safe in the rooms that he's actually using.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11And then gradually as he gets more mobility, maybe.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Yeah, get him back in here.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Keeping Peter safe is our priority.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19The conditions in here leave a lot to be desired.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24The ceiling has effectively caved in, the plasterboard's gone,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and it's being supported by this plank,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30and, then, at right angles to it, this plank,
0:07:30 > 0:07:34which then goes down to this dining room chair,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37- here, so I would suggest... - Don't move the chair!
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- Let's not move that chair. - Yeah, let's not!
0:07:40 > 0:07:43The bathroom's also been neglected and, more importantly, it's
0:07:43 > 0:07:47so difficult for Peter to use, he's been having to pop over to the local
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Age Concern just to have a shower.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54The bathroom is one that we are going to completely rip out.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Once we've done this, which is going to start in a couple of weeks,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59cos it's clean enough for the builders to come in,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01rip it all out and do this, so there's no problem.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05That should really help him, boost his confidence, because it'll be a lovely shower room.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Do you know, what I find almost the most upsetting thing
0:08:08 > 0:08:11about Peter's house is on that wall there,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15because what you can see there is years
0:08:15 > 0:08:21and years of using that wall as support to walk,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23when...he just needs...
0:08:24 > 0:08:28..something else, he needs just, what, 50 quid for a grab rail?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Yeah, definitely so that's one thing we can do, again,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34pretty quick, we can put some rails along there.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Inspection over, it's time to talk to Peter.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We've got quite a few things to do to help you.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42First thing is the bathroom,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44and then we'll start doing on the ceilings, once we talk.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46We'll also get that rail done.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48We'll also refer you to this falls clinic,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51and we'll also get your garden cleared.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53So, they're the first few things.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57But we'll go at your pace, so don't worry, and then after that,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59I'll come back and we'll see how we're going.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02- You've got our number if you need anything.- Yeah, it's on speed dial.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Peter, lovely to meet you. Really nice to meet you. Thank you.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08See you later on, Sue.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Peter owns this house, but he qualifies for a council loan
0:09:11 > 0:09:15offset against the property because he's on benefits.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18It does feel like Peter's totally slipped through the net, hasn't he?
0:09:18 > 0:09:21It does. That's what's worrying, you know, when he had his accident,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23where was everything in place, you know, there?
0:09:23 > 0:09:27It should have been all put in place and he shouldn't have got this bad.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29But now we're there, now he's on our radar,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31we're not going to let him go.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34It's not the system, necessarily, that's completely failed.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37- Also, it's partly Peter not really being willing to engage...- It is.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40..cos of that pride thing, never wanting to ask for help.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44That is the problem with lots of things, is that people are proud
0:09:44 > 0:09:45and they don't want to ask for help,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48so you need somebody with a bit of time to encourage them,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51and give them more confidence and realise how much difference
0:09:51 > 0:09:54it is going to make, so that's what we can do in our service.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Man, there but for the grace of God.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- Seriously. It could so easily happen.- Yeah.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02A bad afternoon at work and then you find yourself like that.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- Yeah, it's so sad.- But I really want to know what happens next.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06But there is a lot that we can do,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10and it all starts in a couple of weeks, so that'll be good.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Coming up: The council's offer of support pays off for Peter.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18So, out here, our handy person has come along
0:10:18 > 0:10:21and put this rail up now, which I think is going to help.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Here in Newham, East London,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32you can't help but notice that alongside the area's vibrant
0:10:32 > 0:10:35city culture, there's also a less salubrious side,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38all too visible on the street's walls and lampposts.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41These stickers advertising "massage parlours"
0:10:41 > 0:10:43are often a front for prostitution,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47operating out of respectable-looking properties in the borough.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49And this brings it under the remit
0:10:49 > 0:10:52of Housing Officers, Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57All right, we're off to a new case now.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01It's been reported that a property's being used as a brothel.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04So, we're going to be first on the scene
0:11:04 > 0:11:07from the Planning Department from the council
0:11:07 > 0:11:08to have a look at this one.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11The council doesn't really want to see that sort of use of a family
0:11:11 > 0:11:15house in this borough, so we'll see if that's the case.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19If it is, then it's likely that we'll get an enforcement notice
0:11:19 > 0:11:23on the property to have the current use removed and returned back to
0:11:23 > 0:11:24its lawful use, which is probably
0:11:24 > 0:11:27going to be a single family dwelling.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29And the council's planning department
0:11:29 > 0:11:32is involved in this police operation because there are concerns that
0:11:32 > 0:11:35if the house is being used for unlawful business activities,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39that's one less much needed family home available.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42And, of course, there's also the added impact on the community,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45with the associated antisocial issues
0:11:45 > 0:11:47that this kind of profession can attract.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50We've just seen a guy shoot out of this property here, the one we're
0:11:50 > 0:11:53hoping to get access to. The police are just having a word to him now.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56He scarpered rather quickly.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59That's a prime example of what residents in this street
0:11:59 > 0:12:00have had to put up with,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03and a good clue that Stephen and Holly are in the right place.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Hello, we're from the council Planning Department.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08We need to come and have a look around the property.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10The property's suspected of being used as a brothel,
0:12:10 > 0:12:12so we need to come and have a quick look around, OK?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Once inside, the team needs to collect enough
0:12:15 > 0:12:18evidence that the property's no longer operating as a family home.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21OK, well, we've gained access.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24We've got a number of girls at the property.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27All done up and in nice outfits.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30There's nothing in this room apart from a couple of beds.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Nothing what you'd expect to see as a family house.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35No TV, no dining table, no sofas.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40It's simply got a single bed here, and we've got a double bed here.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Let's have a look in some of the drawers.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47We've got a "full body massage" card here.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Let's go upstairs.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Again, very similar situation.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Not much furniture in the room.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02We've got a double bed here. Over on the side, we've got a single bed.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Again, you know, there's no duvets, no pillows, no anything.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Nothing you'd expect for someone
0:13:09 > 0:13:11who's actually sleeping here during the night.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14The wardrobe here, this wardrobe is particularly...
0:13:14 > 0:13:17there's no clothing, for example, in this wardrobe.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20So this room really isn't used at all to live in.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21The absence of home comforts
0:13:21 > 0:13:24is a good clue that all is not what it should be.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29Oh, we've got some, definitely some underwear, haven't we?
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Some bras and knickers up there.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33And there's something else.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37There's some sort of weekly rota here.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Days of the week, looks like.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44And you've got possibly girls' names associated with them.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Stephen's discovered more evidence this property is
0:13:47 > 0:13:50responsible for bringing down the community.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Got a roll of massage stickers there.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56These are commonly placed on bits of street furniture around Newham,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58we're finding, at the moment. These are everywhere.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02So, phone booths, lampposts, everything.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04These are everywhere at the moment.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07It just sort of degrades the whole area, really. It just makes it
0:14:07 > 0:14:12look as though it's a real slum area when you've got all these stickers
0:14:12 > 0:14:17everywhere. It's a real blight on the sort of, the streets of Newham.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20It looks like the house is operating an illegal business,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23and regardless of what you might think about what should
0:14:23 > 0:14:25or shouldn't be allowed to go on behind closed doors,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27there's little doubt that living
0:14:27 > 0:14:29next door to it is far from acceptable.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35We have got a ladder there - that looks rather suspicious.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38That's so someone can get a quick getaway, what's the bet?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40They can jump out onto here, onto the ladder,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43perhaps onto the neighbour's property and get away.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49Stephen and Holly have seen enough to make their case that this
0:14:49 > 0:14:51property is breaking planning law.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55It needs to be turned back into a much needed family home.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59From our point of view, that went really well. Clearly evidence there.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02The number of girls dressed up
0:15:02 > 0:15:06for propositioning, full make-up.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Yeah, and all of the rooms laid out in exactly the format that
0:15:09 > 0:15:13we've come to know. Unfortunately, it's another single family dwelling
0:15:13 > 0:15:17we've lost, at the moment, to that use, but we should be able to turn
0:15:17 > 0:15:20that back around when we get an enforcement notice served.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Basically, we'll serve the enforcement notice, so if we go
0:15:23 > 0:15:26back after the date when they should have complied with that notice,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and it is still operating as a brothel,
0:15:29 > 0:15:30then we can look to prosecute.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32The planning department will investigate
0:15:32 > 0:15:36and take action against anyone using a property unlawfully.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39In due course, this house should be returned to its proper
0:15:39 > 0:15:40use as a family home.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51In Swale, after a fall at work damaged the nerves in his knee
0:15:51 > 0:15:55and back, Peter now has to lie on the floor to get comfortable.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59It's also left him incapable of looking after his property.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03The ceiling has effectively caved in, the plasterboard's gone.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04Housing Officers Susan Hughes
0:16:04 > 0:16:08and Sue Spice wanted to ensure Peter could continue to live
0:16:08 > 0:16:11independently at home.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Three weeks later, Susan and Sue have returned.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19We're going to see Peter again today. Some of the work's been done.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21There's a little bit extra that we could do on it,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24so we're talking as well about the kitchen - some work that we can
0:16:24 > 0:16:26do for him for him so he can use the kitchen now,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30and just see how he's going and what else we can do.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Thanks to a council repair loan, a team of builders have now
0:16:33 > 0:16:35started work on the property.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38- Hi!- Morning!- You all right?
0:16:38 > 0:16:42How's it all going? Oh, I can see you're working now.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47I was shocked at how Peter had spent years using the wall as a support
0:16:47 > 0:16:50to walk through his house. Happily, that's now been sorted.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54So, out here, a handyperson has come along and put this rail up now,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57which he can hold to get along to the door.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Before, he was sort of trying to walk along the wall
0:17:00 > 0:17:03and there was all the marks on the wall, so we've had it painted
0:17:03 > 0:17:05and got a nice sturdy rail for him to use,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07which I think is going to help.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Peter's bathroom was in such a state,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13he'd been travelling to a local Age Concern centre for a shower.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15But it looks like those days will soon be over.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18Well, it's looking good already.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20It's looking lovely and clean and everything.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23So, it will just be nice once the shower's in.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Peter's disability, caused by a fall at work, forced him to cook
0:17:27 > 0:17:30and eat while lying on the lounge floor.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33But a new kitchen design should put an end to that.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37They are going to literally gut it all, take everything out,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39put new worktops with nothing underneath,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43so he can sit on a perching stool under it, and then maybe along
0:17:43 > 0:17:47here, put some cupboards without doors on that he can actually reach.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52And then he can get all his cooking equipment, which is on the floor
0:17:52 > 0:17:55in the other room, at the moment, in here, so he can cook safely.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57It's a bit worrying he's got a kettle and the cooker
0:17:57 > 0:17:59and all that on the floor down there.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Fires, as well, with the cooker and the toaster down on the floor.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07That wasn't the only health hazard in the house - a leaking water tank
0:18:07 > 0:18:10had left some of the ceilings close to collapse.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13In this room, then, the ceiling's being done. That's very good.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15So, that's a lot better.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17And, then, as you can see, it's still very dark.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21We do need that garden cleared cos it makes this room very dark.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24- And Peter, hello!- Hello!
0:18:24 > 0:18:27All right? I'm coming back to see how the work's going.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Right, so are you happy with what's being done so far?
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Yep? You've got two nice ceilings.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33- Just cleaning it up. - Just want the bathroom.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Yeah, they reckon next week that'll be up and running,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38but it's nearly there - it's just the shower in,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- change the toilet height so it suits you better.- Yeah.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44And then we're going to look at adding some more to the kitchen,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46some more bits,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50so make it so that you can use the kitchen with a worktop.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55After years of sleeping on the floor, Peter's had some good news.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- OK?- Yeah, they're going to get me some stuff
0:18:57 > 0:18:59so I can get in and out of bed.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Right, yep, that's great. Hoists and rails and things.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05It was all right getting in it, it was getting out.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Yeah. Then you can sleep in a bed. So, yeah, that'll make it easier
0:19:08 > 0:19:11for you if you've got a good night's sleep, rather than...
0:19:11 > 0:19:13- This is where you're sleeping now, is it?- Yeah.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15I normally get to sleep about four in the morning.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20Yeah, so it's trying to make your living condition as best as you can.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22But I'm sure a bed's going to help,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24rather than sort of living on the floor like you are.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26- It is.- Yeah.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32That's gone really well, so there's a bit more done than what I thought.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35He seems pretty happy about it, so hopefully this is going to
0:19:35 > 0:19:39improve his life, make it a lot better for him and enable him
0:19:39 > 0:19:42to live a lot more independent in his own home, and safe.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Took me ages to pluck up enough courage to ask for help.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Cos I'm the old sort where I try to get on with me own.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56But, in the end, I couldn't.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58They can put new rails in for me,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02when I do have a shower, which will be great.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It's shocking that someone could have been struggling to
0:20:05 > 0:20:09cope on their own for as long as Peter has, and thank goodness
0:20:09 > 0:20:12he finally plucked up the courage to ask for help.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15With work about to start on clearing his overgrown garden,
0:20:15 > 0:20:16Peter's already pitching in.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28I'm here in Wolverhampton, and I'm learning that providing
0:20:28 > 0:20:32people with safe and secure homes is only part of the challenge.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Keeping people safe in their properties is just as important.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39So, today, there's a joint operation with police to tackle
0:20:39 > 0:20:42some of the worst dangers to residents' health and security.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46I'm joining Housing Officer Ravi Phull
0:20:46 > 0:20:48on patrol for the day of action.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I'm not sure it's supposed to be top secret,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53but I'm already feeling very excited.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57This may look like a block of flats, but it conceals a cunningly
0:20:57 > 0:20:59hidden police station. Right down there, look at that.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02That's the only way you'd know it's a police station -
0:21:02 > 0:21:04look at that tiny little sign.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06All right, this is not quite
0:21:06 > 0:21:09the James Bond scenario I was hoping for,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12but the plan for today is no less important for local residents.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14There are plenty of us here ready to go,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16and we've all got a part to play.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Right, we'd like to welcome you all to our day of action, which
0:21:18 > 0:21:22has come about due to the issues raised by our local community.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25These issues that we've got are very many and varied,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28including a lot of antisocial behaviour, overcrowding,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31illegal vehicles and utilities misuse.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34The aim is to patrol the area with the local police team
0:21:34 > 0:21:38and, obviously, your invited agencies, to visit
0:21:38 > 0:21:41a number of identified premises and streets to tackle the above issues.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Well, overcrowding definitely comes under our remit,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48but the "utilities misuse" element also catches my attention.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51This rather harmless sounding term is anything but.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54It means some people are rewiring their gas and electricity meters,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57with potentially lethal consequences.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So, we've got lots of photographs provided here by Western Power,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02which will show you how they bypass the system
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and the kind of things that we're actually looking out for today,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08because, obviously, it's very dangerous at the moment.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11If we get in to premises, I'm going to request that we're
0:22:11 > 0:22:13able to see the electricity meter for safety reasons.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16At which point, then, the utility company will come in...
0:22:16 > 0:22:18They will come out and make them safe.
0:22:18 > 0:22:19Will they cut off the supply?
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- Disconnection's normally the last resort.- Right.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25And they don't generally do that first. Brilliant. On the first case.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Because, then, that falls back on us, then, if they've got no
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- electricity...- Yes. Absolutely. - ..be it of their own doing,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33I've then got a duty to make sure that they're safe.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- OK. Are we all set?- Yep.- Great.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41It's time to establish some facts.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44So, Ravi and I are on the lookout for dodgy electric meters
0:22:44 > 0:22:45and overcrowding.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48And Ravi's got some tips on how to spot a house that's being
0:22:48 > 0:22:50shared by too many people.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55So, there's small, telltale signs that you can find - if you've got a lot of litter,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58if you're generating more than what a normal household would
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- generate...- Yeah.- ..you know, you've got more households.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04The other small little tweaks that you would look for are things like
0:23:04 > 0:23:07if you've got different curtains downstairs and upstairs,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09that means potentially you've got different households
0:23:09 > 0:23:11living in different types of decor.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Do you know what I've started to look for as well, is toothbrushes
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- in the front window...- Right.- ..or a packet of Hobnobs.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Because that's where they're storing their...
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Why would you have that if you had a bathroom?
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- That you weren't sharing with other people.- Exactly.- Yeah.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26So, after following the advice...
0:23:26 > 0:23:28As I'm saying, telltale signs.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31- We ready to give it a crack? - I think so.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33..we're ready to hit our first house.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- Hello there. I'm from Wolverhampton City Council.- Yes?
0:23:36 > 0:23:37I'm from Environmental Health.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42I just wanted to get an idea of how the property is being lived in.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43Are you renting?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47It's a rented house and looks to be a well looked after family home.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49But there are some safety concerns.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51So, you've got a smoke alarm.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54The backing plate is there and the wires and nothing else.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56And there's evidence that there are a lot of people
0:23:56 > 0:23:59squeezed into this property.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02And that's just one bedroom, that's the front bedroom.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05If we go, work our way backwards.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09So now we've got a double bed in here.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11One cot, one baby buggy.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13- Any more people in the cupboard? - No.- No!
0:24:13 > 0:24:15THEY LAUGH
0:24:15 > 0:24:17So, we have quite a few children, right?
0:24:17 > 0:24:21That's visit my son yesterday. He sleep in here.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23So, we've got five in there.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25SPEECH INDISTINCT
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Are these all your children and your grandchildren?
0:24:29 > 0:24:31- Yeah, my grandchildren.- Yeah?- For... children.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- So, there aren't other people here, who aren't members...?- No.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37We've got overcrowding, but in a single occupied property.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- But we're just talking about sheer numbers here...- Yes.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43..the numbers of people in each room, which is, in itself,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46part of the health and safety rating system, isn't it?
0:24:46 > 0:24:48That's going to be there as a hazard.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51So, definitely some issues that need addressing, but at least,
0:24:51 > 0:24:56as a family, they're more likely to take good care of the property.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Currently, there are a lot of people in this house.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02We can't establish whether that's a permanent thing,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05or whether that's just for a weekend, or, you know,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08for a short time. In the meantime, we have to contact the landlord
0:25:08 > 0:25:12and make sure that the things we can see that need sorting out,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14are sorted out as soon as possible.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- OK.- Can I check your electric meter, please, while I'm here?
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- Yeah.- Yes, it's over there.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Both the meters in this house were running properly,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24but - coming up:
0:25:24 > 0:25:27In the next house, we discover just how dangerous
0:25:27 > 0:25:28meter tampering can be.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30He described it as a bomb.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Defending our right to a safe place to live is
0:25:37 > 0:25:41the job of Housing Officers right across the UK.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45Do you think?!
0:25:45 > 0:25:49I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51- Top marks.- Yes!
0:25:51 > 0:25:53I'm hitting the streets...
0:25:53 > 0:25:54Hello? Can you open up?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Definitely somebody inside, because we've seen movement.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00..finding out what's happening on the front line..
0:26:00 > 0:26:02The cistern's in the bath.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04I don't know how they flush it.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07..and learning what it takes to make sure a house
0:26:07 > 0:26:09is fit to be called a home.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23I'm in Wolverhampton, taking part in a joint housing operation
0:26:23 > 0:26:26with the police and other local council agencies.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27They're hitting the streets to try
0:26:27 > 0:26:30and tackle some of the underlying problems that are affecting
0:26:30 > 0:26:33the health and wellbeing of this community.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36So far, there's been evidence of overcrowding.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39I just wanted to get an idea of how the property is being lived in.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43We've got five...in there. Five people in there.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46But the team's on the lookout for other potentially more
0:26:46 > 0:26:48dangerous issues.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51And, at the next house, we find something much more worrying.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I think they've found a bypassed meter.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57We're not allowed to film inside, but they've now just
0:26:57 > 0:27:00discovered, in there, there is a bypassed meter.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02I don't know if it's gas or electric.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04That's something I need to find out.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07So, the numbers on the meter aren't moving.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11She's not paying an electric bill.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14We've got an abstraction of electricity. It's a really
0:27:14 > 0:27:17dangerous thing - it can cause so many fires. There's already
0:27:17 > 0:27:18fire damage in some of the boxes.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- Right.- And you can smell gas as well, so...
0:27:20 > 0:27:22OK, so why is Ravi getting involved?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Because, clearly, that's something the electricity company
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- will come out and sort.- Yeah. - But she's on the phone right now.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29She has to make sure they've got somewhere safe to live,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and that they've got some kind of power with them as well.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- It's her right...- So, even though that meter's been bypassed...- Yes.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38- ..it's still a responsibility from the council...- Absolutely.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- ..to make sure they have power. - Yeah, absolutely,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43and they've got to safeguard the residents there as well, make sure
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- they're safe.- Right.- And they've got somewhere suitable to live.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Given the potential danger of the situation,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Ravi's not wasting any time getting the landlord down here.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55So, I've just spoken to your father on the phone. What we've basically
0:27:55 > 0:27:59got here is, the...I'm not sure, either yourselves or the tenants
0:27:59 > 0:28:03have bypassed the electric meter. Right now, we need to safeguard.
0:28:03 > 0:28:04We've got an electrician in there,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07and the only way, at the moment, he can look to safeguard
0:28:07 > 0:28:10is by disconnecting, which we don't want to do.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14So, Ravi's now gone inside with the landlord to inspect
0:28:14 > 0:28:18the tampered-with electric and gas meters,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20which, having chatted to the electrician,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23he says it's phenomenally dangerous because you've got the two both
0:28:23 > 0:28:27being tampered on. He described it as a bomb.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30It's where it gets rather serious this, because you look at this.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35This...anything that happens in this house is not isolated to this house.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38You've got houses either side of it, very closely.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Anything that goes wrong in this house can very quickly affect
0:28:41 > 0:28:43what's going on to the neighbours either side.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Ravi's main priority is clearly making this property safe.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50It's less clear who's to blame.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Right, at the moment, we can't ascertain who's
0:28:52 > 0:28:55responsible for it. Potentially, could be the people
0:28:55 > 0:28:58who are living in there but, right now, it's a safeguarding issue.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01There's children, there's vulnerable people here. You know, I can't walk
0:29:01 > 0:29:03away with them having no electricity whatsoever.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07When does the landlord take responsibility for knowing
0:29:07 > 0:29:09when there's something? Is it ever his responsibility,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12if, let's say, something's happened by the tenants,
0:29:12 > 0:29:14- if they've been responsible? - It's a difficult one,
0:29:14 > 0:29:16but, right now, the emergency prohibition order is looking
0:29:16 > 0:29:19to be served, and that will be served on him and on the tenants.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- It feels quite hard on the landlord. - Yes, I agree.- Do you know what
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- I mean?- Yes, yes.- Because he's being told, "sort this out now".- Yes.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28Because it's dangerous. Because, realistically, you can't leave it
0:29:28 > 0:29:30in this state. But he's like, "well, I've just walked in here
0:29:30 > 0:29:33- "and I didn't know anything about this."- That's right.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35No, I appreciate that but, at the end of the day, you have to
0:29:35 > 0:29:38remember, this is me doing everything in my power
0:29:38 > 0:29:40to keep his property ticking over, to not have the electric supply
0:29:40 > 0:29:44cut off, so, yes, it does look like we're being harsh, but we're saying,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47"look - it's dangerous and we need to get it done now."
0:29:47 > 0:29:48So, benefit of the doubt is,
0:29:48 > 0:29:51they didn't know anything at the point of today. If I come
0:29:51 > 0:29:54out in another month or two's time and this is still going on, he knew
0:29:54 > 0:29:57about it and he should have been a bit more savvy about what was going
0:29:57 > 0:29:59on. The issue isn't about who did it and why and what.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01- Right now, it's about making it safe.- Safe.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07Later on, Ravi has a landlord of a different property in her sights.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Can you see how your vagueness is quite worrying?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12No, it's not vague! I'm not going to give you the information.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14You worry me, Mr Patel.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Now, they say moving house is one of the most stressful things
0:30:23 > 0:30:27you can do. Imagine what it must be like if you don't want to
0:30:27 > 0:30:28move in the first place.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31Fortunately, in Stroud, Housing Officer Chris Eadie
0:30:31 > 0:30:36is on hand help some council tenants who've been left no alternative.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39Well, we're going out today to see Mr and Mrs Tucker, because we're
0:30:39 > 0:30:43redeveloping, we're knocking down their property so they have to move.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46The demolition is part of a multimillion pound plan to
0:30:46 > 0:30:50replace 59 houses that were only ever meant to be temporary,
0:30:50 > 0:30:52and now have serious structural defects.
0:30:52 > 0:30:53They were built after the war
0:30:53 > 0:30:55because there was a lot of people needing houses.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58But I don't think they were ever intended to be long term,
0:30:58 > 0:30:59but they have lasted well,
0:30:59 > 0:31:03but they are concrete and they have a limited life.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Affectionately known as prefabs,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08because of the prefabricated concrete panels used to
0:31:08 > 0:31:10build them, they were a quick solution to replacing
0:31:10 > 0:31:14some of the estimated one million homes destroyed in the Blitz.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Sadly, they haven't stood the test of time.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22They're pre-cast concrete houses and they get concrete cancer.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25When we say concrete cancer, what it means is that the metal poles,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27the metal struts rust,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30and if they rust, they then will burst the concrete.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32So, they've come to the end of their useful life,
0:31:32 > 0:31:35and they need to come down because of that reason.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37It's a decision the council hasn't taken lightly.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40But that doesn't make losing their homes any
0:31:40 > 0:31:42easier for the tenants living in them.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46Obviously, for a lot of people, it's distressing to be moving,
0:31:46 > 0:31:49so a lot of my role, I feel, is to be partly an emotional support,
0:31:49 > 0:31:52really, as well as a practical support.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Support to tenants like Maureen Tucker.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57We're going up the stairs, of course.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01We actually moved into this house on December 3rd, 1960,
0:32:01 > 0:32:05and I vowed I would never, never, ever move again!
0:32:07 > 0:32:10So, unfortunately, that's all gone out the window.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Maureen's lived in the house for most of her life
0:32:13 > 0:32:15and raised a family there.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18The news she'd have to leave came like a bolt out of the blue.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21This is the bathroom, which is quite adequate
0:32:21 > 0:32:25for our needs - even though we had six children, we managed quite well.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28It's always been such a lovely neighbourhood to live in.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30I've always loved it and I still do.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33But once we got the letters explaining that our houses
0:32:33 > 0:32:37were due for demolition, it really struck home, then.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39It's not just Maureen's memories
0:32:39 > 0:32:42that have made the unwanted move a difficult one.
0:32:43 > 0:32:48This is our second bedroom, which I use, at the moment,
0:32:48 > 0:32:50and, as you can see, when I wake up
0:32:50 > 0:32:53in the mornings, this is the view that I have.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Well, it's just the open countryside I like.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59It just feels so open, you know.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02I couldn't bear to live in one of these places
0:33:02 > 0:33:05where there's houses to the left, right and centre.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07It's like living in a box.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10And if they wouldn't pull it down, I'd be very happy.
0:33:10 > 0:33:15I never envisaged ever, ever moving from this house, I really didn't.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17And it was such a shock, you know,
0:33:17 > 0:33:20when I realised, yes, this is going to happen,
0:33:20 > 0:33:24and it was very, very hard to come to terms with for a long time.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Fortunately, there's a happy compromise.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Maureen and husband Tommy are being moved to a new house being
0:33:30 > 0:33:32built just around the corner,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35allowing the council to demolish their current home
0:33:35 > 0:33:37and build a new one on the same site.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39If all goes according to plan,
0:33:39 > 0:33:42in two years' time, they'll be able to move back to a brand-new
0:33:42 > 0:33:46home in the very spot they've loved for nearly 60 years.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50When we come back, obviously, my house will not necessarily be here,
0:33:50 > 0:33:54so I've already told Chris I'm putting two pegs out there,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57and that's where I want my house to be!
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Maureen's big move is fast approaching,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03and it's down to Chris to make sure it's as stress-free as possible.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- Chris, have a seat, my dear. - Thank you very much, Mrs Tucker.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I just wanted to talk about,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15- you know, are you feeling ready now to move across?- Oh, yeah.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17When I think about it, my son-in-law said to me
0:34:17 > 0:34:20"Mum, just think of it - you're going off on an adventure."
0:34:20 > 0:34:23She seems to be taking a philosophical approach to
0:34:23 > 0:34:26the upheaval, but there's one thing that has been troubling her.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29And I just wondered if you've got any kind of concerns,
0:34:29 > 0:34:31or any questions about any other aspects of the move.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33I know this sounds really stupid,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37but I've never handled central heating before,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40so, please, please can I have some instruction on how to use it?
0:34:40 > 0:34:43You definitely will. I know you haven't had central heating here,
0:34:43 > 0:34:46- because you didn't...- No, it was my...oh, yes, it was my choice.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50To avoid any more disruption than is absolutely necessary,
0:34:50 > 0:34:54their new temporary home is only five minutes' walk away.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55It's still being built,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58but Chris wants to give Maureen a better idea of what it'll
0:34:58 > 0:35:01be like, to get rid of any lingering worries she might have.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03I can't actually show you the property itself,
0:35:03 > 0:35:04because that's a little way off...
0:35:04 > 0:35:07- Right.- ..but I can show you the outside of a similar two bed
0:35:07 > 0:35:10property, just to give you an idea and a sense of where you're going.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Yeah. Right, OK, Chris. I'll just get my coat.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16The Tuckers will be last tenants to move out of the street.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Right, off we go, Christopher.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Just around the corner,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24first impressions of the new temporary homes are good.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26I like the look of them. They look very, very nice.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29What you can see here is, so on the right-hand side of this one,
0:35:29 > 0:35:33- that's where your sitting room is. - Oh, that window is the lounge, yeah.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36At the back, we normally, we'll always have the sink looking
0:35:36 > 0:35:39- out the window, so when you're doing the washing up you can see out. - Yeah.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42So, is the garden, then, at the back - obviously, at the back
0:35:42 > 0:35:45- of the house?- The garden's at the back, yeah.- Yeah.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47They're sort of small to medium sized gardens.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Now I've seen what the houses are like, I feel a lot
0:35:50 > 0:35:53happier about it, you know, because I, when you don't, it's fear
0:35:53 > 0:35:54of the unknown, isn't it, really?
0:35:54 > 0:35:56- I've never known anything but that one.- Yes.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00But seeing, and you explaining sort of roughly which bits goes
0:36:00 > 0:36:02where, I think I could quite like it round here.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05So Maureen can relax, safe in the knowledge it's only
0:36:05 > 0:36:09a temporary move. Chris wants to make the arrangement official.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11If you want to open that letter,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13that just tells you about going back.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16I thought it was going to tell me I've won the lottery.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18Yeah, that's next week, I think.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21- Don't forget me, though, if you do win!- No, no, I won't.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24I'll put it through your letterbox for you.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Oh, very official, Chris.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29It's a proper district council letter.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31I do feel a lot happier now.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35When I move from there, I'm over a barrel, basically, aren't I,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38because, really, you've given me a brand-new house - why should you
0:36:38 > 0:36:41- give me another one, you know. - Yeah.- But this is just my assurance
0:36:41 > 0:36:43- that I will be able to come back. - This is your assurance.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46So, that's there. Whatever happens, you can definitely have that.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48I shall keep that in with my money!
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Saying goodbye to a home full of love
0:36:52 > 0:36:55and happy memories is never going to be easy,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59but with Chris's help, Maureen's ready to start her new adventure.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02I do feel a lot better now about having to move.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05I found it all very daunting to begin with,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08but, over a period of time, having come round here and seen for
0:37:08 > 0:37:13myself exactly what I'm coming into, I don't really mind at all now.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15And Chris couldn't be happier either.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18With the Tucker family, they're such a friendly family
0:37:18 > 0:37:20and they've been here a long time, and we want to make sure
0:37:20 > 0:37:23that they've got the option to go back because her heart is
0:37:23 > 0:37:25where she lives, and she wants to go back to that area.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28And, in that way, I feel, in my job, I'm looking after them,
0:37:28 > 0:37:32and I feel the council's looking after them in a professional manner.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Back in Wolverhampton, this police operation to tackle
0:37:39 > 0:37:42neighbourhood problems is winding down.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Housing Officer Ravi Phull has been on the lookout for any
0:37:45 > 0:37:47potentially dangerous housing issues.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49And, safe to say, there were some,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53including a very dodgy electricity meter.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57Having chatted with the electrician, he says it's phenomenally dangerous.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59He described it as a bomb.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02But, for Ravi, this operation isn't quite yet over.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05A week later, she's back to follow up on another
0:38:05 > 0:38:07house in the area with a similar problem.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13So, we were subsequently called back to the property by the police,
0:38:13 > 0:38:18because they'd found the gas meter
0:38:18 > 0:38:20and the electric meter had been bypassed.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23The tenants were alleging that was the condition that they'd found
0:38:23 > 0:38:25the property in. A large portion of the work
0:38:25 > 0:38:27should have been done by today,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30and hopefully the electric supply should be back on
0:38:30 > 0:38:33and the tenants should be on their way to move back in again,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36in a safer condition than they were when we left them.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38This is a very serious issue.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Both the gas and electric meters were so dangerous,
0:38:42 > 0:38:44the tenants were evacuated from the property.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49Ravi demanded that the landlord, Mr Patel, sort it out within five days.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53- Npower came Saturday evening... - Right.- ..and they've now fixed that
0:38:53 > 0:38:56- meter, so there's gas supply to the property.- OK.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58- Yeah?- And with regards to the electric?
0:38:58 > 0:39:00So, the electric's out.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03There's no work actually been started as yet.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06There's no work started to the electric?
0:39:06 > 0:39:07Now, when is this work looking to be done?
0:39:07 > 0:39:10- Because the notice was served on you on Thursday...- Yeah.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13..and that was for five days, which runs out tomorrow.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16Yeah, so, the work is to be done today. He said he'll get me
0:39:16 > 0:39:19the certificate by the end of play tomorrow, that's what he's told me.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23So, he's going to be able to bring the whole installation up to
0:39:23 > 0:39:26- regs by end of play tomorrow? - End of play tomorrow.
0:39:27 > 0:39:28Mr Patel seems confident
0:39:28 > 0:39:32he can make the repairs in time for the tenants to move back in.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36What's less clear is how the meters got like this in the first place.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39How do we check, how do we check, like these tenants have said,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42that all the meters were bypassed before they moved in?
0:39:42 > 0:39:44How did you check that that wasn't the case?
0:39:44 > 0:39:46I didn't check for meter being bypassed.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48It's not something you check for.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51They had left this electrical installation
0:39:51 > 0:39:54- in a dangerous condition.- No, we don't know whether it was
0:39:54 > 0:39:56the previous tenants or the current tenants.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- That's right.- We've got no evidence either way.- We don't, do we?
0:39:59 > 0:40:02When you ended the last tenancy and you started this tenancy,
0:40:02 > 0:40:04you would have had a handover procedure. You would have finished
0:40:04 > 0:40:07the last set of tenants, you would have done their meter readings,
0:40:07 > 0:40:10you would have done everything, you would have finished that off.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13So, you've got a procedure, you know what the procedure is.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Because no checks were carried out, there's no way of finding out
0:40:16 > 0:40:19who's responsible for tampering with the meters at this house.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22But it's up to the landlord to ensure that electrical
0:40:22 > 0:40:25and gas installations at a property are safe.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29What I know is you've potentially given a tenancy to new tenants
0:40:29 > 0:40:32with a dangerous electrical installation.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Now, if somebody had died here, you would have been
0:40:34 > 0:40:38standing in Coroners' Court. Not the last tenants and not these tenants.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Because you were the one who didn't carry out your checks.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Can you see how your vagueness is quite worrying?
0:40:43 > 0:40:45No, it's not vague! I'm not going to give you the information.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47We just have to walk ten steps down
0:40:47 > 0:40:49to Marcus and I can show you the contracts.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- But you worry me. You've opened a management agents.- Yeah.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56You're working on behalf of other landlords. You worry me, Mr Patel.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59And Ravi's spotted another serious problem with the property.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02So, we've got a few issues here. We had no working smoke alarms
0:41:02 > 0:41:04- on the day that I came in.- Now, yeah, OK. Smoke alarms,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08I don't understand, because smoke alarms...is something
0:41:08 > 0:41:10that's quite a passion to me,
0:41:10 > 0:41:12and I make sure there's smoke alarms in every property.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14They've obviously taken it off,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16because you can see where the smoke alarm was before,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18so it's actually been pulled off.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21Right. With regards to all the other smoke alarms, they were just
0:41:21 > 0:41:23- literally hanging off the ceiling. - Yeah, these smoke alarms here,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26- these are what they call hard-wired smoke alarms.- That's right.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Now, what I'm going to do now is, which is why it's going to take
0:41:29 > 0:41:31longer, is going to put these back into service,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34because, obviously, then, there's no
0:41:34 > 0:41:37issue with the tenants then ripping the battery out.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40- Well, no, there is. They can still...- Well, they can rip
0:41:40 > 0:41:42the whole thing off, but you can't do anything about that.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Right, OK, I think we're just very, very grateful this
0:41:45 > 0:41:47time around that we haven't got a death on our hands.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51Ravi's dished out quite a battering, and it may have left Mr Patel
0:41:51 > 0:41:53bruised, but certainly better informed, too.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56This is a wake-up call, as the landlord was saying,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59where he's going to have to start really actively managing
0:41:59 > 0:42:02his own properties and properties that he's managing for other people.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06It also demonstrates some of the difficulties landlords can face
0:42:06 > 0:42:08when trying to provide safe accommodation.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10You get good tenants, you get bad tenants.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12You get good landlords and you get bad landlords.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16The law is there to protect the tenants,
0:42:16 > 0:42:18but it, I think we, personally,
0:42:18 > 0:42:20something like this, we should be working together
0:42:20 > 0:42:24with the council, rather than this constant battery of information.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28When I spoke to the gas engineers, they said they wouldn't have known.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31So, even if they fiddle the gas now, they wouldn't have known.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35So, if the gas engineers don't know, what chance has a landlord got?
0:42:37 > 0:42:39I'm pleased to say that Mr Patel did
0:42:39 > 0:42:42get the work done to the electricity meters the following day,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45so the council didn't need to take any action against him.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48The tenants have now moved back into the house.
0:42:52 > 0:42:53That's it for today.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Join me next time back on the road with The Housing Enforcers.