0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello. Can you let me in?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06The law says everyone has the right to a safe place to live.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10I wouldn't keep my dog there, is the honest truth.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12But for thousands of people across the UK,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15the reality can be more hovel than home.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The house is falling to bits. There's nothing I can do.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20In the battle for decent housing...
0:00:20 > 0:00:22We've just got conditions that are just appalling.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I don't know how the people are coping, to be quite honest.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28..it's local housing officers who are on the front line.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29If somebody had've died here,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32you would've been standing in the Coroner's Court.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37I'm Matt Allwright and I'm back with the housing enforcers.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41- 15 people in this house? - 15 people in total living in here.
0:00:41 > 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 a shanty town. - Yeah, it's not up to standard.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..as they deal with dodgy landlords, nightmare neighbours
0:00:51 > 0:00:53and everything in between...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Oh, my God. Straight away, there's the smell of dog muck.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59You never know what you're going to find.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..doing their best to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12Today, there's a rat infestation at a house in Wolverhampton.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14I actually found a rat in the toilet at one time.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17It had got in, went for a drink and drowned.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19The council adapt an unsuitable bathroom
0:01:19 > 0:01:22allowing an elderly tenant to stay in her much-loved home.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26And has it changed the way that you live here independently?
0:01:26 > 0:01:28It does, definitely.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29I visit a house in Newham
0:01:29 > 0:01:32that's been unlawfully converted into flats.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34- This is taking the mick. - Yeah.- Isn't it?
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- It is, really.- It's taking the mick.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39You could at least move the fridge out and then...
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- You know... - Or take the kitchen cupboards out.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Some token effort to try and pretend,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48- but none of that's happened at all.- No.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51And in Babergh, a housing officer discovers
0:01:51 > 0:01:54what's been left behind by a tenant after years of hoarding.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55Oh!
0:01:57 > 0:02:01I don't think I can even get into the room or open the door.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Every year, more of us rent the homes that we live in,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12and every year, rents go up.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15For those of us chasing cheaper housing,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18that can mean enduring living conditions so bad
0:02:18 > 0:02:20that they break the law.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23I'm working alongside the men and women whose job it is
0:02:23 > 0:02:25to uphold those laws.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28They are the housing enforcers.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Here in Wolverhampton,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35just like other parts of the UK,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38housing officers like Clare Clifft have a difficult job.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39It's like that
0:02:39 > 0:02:41when you're applying rules and regulations
0:02:41 > 0:02:44to people's complex lives and their homes.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Especially when you're looking after a tenant
0:02:47 > 0:02:49with very complicated needs.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Paul lives alone in this rented three-bedroom house
0:02:53 > 0:02:56with his three ferrets and beloved dog.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59I've had no heating for about four years.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01At least four years.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04And that's my only form of heating.
0:03:04 > 0:03:05For Paul, this is home,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09even though it's clearly a property with plenty of problems.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13As you can see, there's a block of wood down there by the drainpipe.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16That's actually stopping the rats getting in.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19As you can see, where the house is tilting,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21because the house is going to the side,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24you can see all the cracks on the window there.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25There's cracks all up there.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27If you walk back,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31you can actually see from here all the cracks on the top window.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32The cracks up there.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35So, obviously, the house is tilting.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38And the structural issues continue inside.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39One day, I'm going to wake up,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41there's going to be none of this here.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44It's all sinking. You can see yourself.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Obviously, the house is falling to bits.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49There's nothing I can do.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51On top of the difficulties
0:03:51 > 0:03:53of keeping the building and himself safe,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Paul has no access to heating or hot water.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58That's the combi boiler...
0:03:59 > 0:04:03..which hasn't worked for about five years.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05It's old.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07The landlord came with the plumber
0:04:07 > 0:04:11and they said it was too old, it couldn't be repaired.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16And that's my only form of heating - log burner.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19I don't want to have to live like it,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23but you have to make do with what you've got, unfortunately.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I know myself there's other people a lot worse off than me.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29There's some people ain't even got anywhere to live,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31they ain't even got a house.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Without adequate support from the landlord,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Paul's been left to his own devices
0:04:35 > 0:04:38in trying to tackle the problems with his house.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Obviously, there's been a lot of issues with the house.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43There's mice, there's rats, hence why there's ferrets here,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47cos ferrets actually kill mice and rats.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49I went into the hallway there,
0:04:49 > 0:04:53my dog had got one end of the rat and the ferret had got the other.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56The dog didn't loosen it, the ferret wasn't loosening it,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58and in the end, the ferret loosened,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00the rat bit the dog's paw,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02and picked the rat up and walked off with it.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07If you come through into the bathroom and look down there,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10there's two bricks and a piece of wood.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13That's actually stopping rats getting through,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15cos there's been rats running round.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I actually found a rat in the toilet at one time.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20He got in, went for a drink and drowned.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Paul's clearly fighting a losing battle.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26The bathroom's in such a state
0:05:26 > 0:05:28that even rats don't want to be there.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34You could put me in a field, give me a caravan, I'd be happy.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Somewhere where I'm out the way,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39I ain't got nobody to bother me, nobody to pester me.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I've always been a bit of a loner.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I keep myself to myself. I don't give nobody any trouble.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53There's no way I can keep living like this.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Clare's been aware of Paul's problems for some time
0:05:58 > 0:06:02and has been demanding that the landlord does something about it.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03Hi, Paul. Are you all right?
0:06:03 > 0:06:07She's already sent the landlord an improvement notice
0:06:07 > 0:06:09telling him he needs to bring the property up to scratch.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13She's here with colleague Tom to check if anything's been done.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16We need to just get a bit of evidence today, Paul,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18about bits and bobs, all right?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Really big food safety issues in the kitchen.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24No cleansable flooring, no tiled splashbacks.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Large holes in the wall.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Damp and broken plaster.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34But, obviously, we've got big problems in here
0:06:36 > 0:06:38The property's clearly in a dismal state,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41but as the tenant, Clare knows that Paul, too,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44needs to take some responsibility for the house.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Because Paul has a lot of things and a lot of stuff,
0:06:48 > 0:06:53it is quite difficult to do a full, proper inspection.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55But, hopefully, if he gets rehoused
0:06:55 > 0:06:57then he will leave a lot of this stuff behind.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03And upstairs, the full extent of Paul's hoarding habit become clear.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06So, again, Paul's got a lot of stuff.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11But, actually, compared to when we first inspected...
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I mean, this was wall-to-floor high with bikes.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Massive damp issues here,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20again arising from the trees and things
0:07:20 > 0:07:23growing in the...side of the wall.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25The windows, I can't even get to the windows,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28so I can't really test to see if they open or not.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30There is a lot of stuff here, yes.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Obviously, everybody collects things,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37but I don't think it's as bad as some things you see on telly.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38Paul's keeping ferrets in the house
0:07:38 > 0:07:42as he thinks that will help tackle the vermin problem.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44But is it possible his lifestyle
0:07:44 > 0:07:47might be attracting them in the first place?
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Again, lots of stuff, so we have asked Paul to clear
0:07:51 > 0:07:54and start clearing some stuff out.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58But, again, here he is doing it slowly.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00But it takes time.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04I believe that rats and things are nesting, possibly, in this mattress.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I'm not sure whether there's any in there at the moment.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11I haven't seen any.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13With the house in such a poor state of repair
0:08:13 > 0:08:16and Paul's hoarding adding to the problems,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Clare needs to try to unstick a decidedly sticky situation.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24What are you going to do with all your stuff if you get rehoused?
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Are you just going to leave it, or what are you going to do?
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- I'll take it straight up to the tip.- OK.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Are you? Are you going to be quite ruthless?
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- I've got to.- Yeah.- There's no ifs or buts.- OK, all right, then.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- Things what I'll take is, like, the bed, obviously...- Yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43..and just, like, bare necessities.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44So what do you plan on doing?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Are you planning on completely and utterly stripping it?
0:08:47 > 0:08:48Straight up the tip.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51OK. What about all your clothes and things?
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- Well, what I don't need... - Just what you've got in here?
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- What I don't need I'll give to clothes bank.- OK.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57I think what you need to think about doing
0:08:57 > 0:08:59is just starting to get rid of it now,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02otherwise it's going to be a lot for you to deal with all in one go.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06What I'll do is put everything in a trailer, everything in the van,
0:09:06 > 0:09:07straight up Cannock tip.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Although Paul must accept some accountability
0:09:09 > 0:09:11for the state of the property,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14ultimately, the structural problems and lack of heating and hot water
0:09:14 > 0:09:16are the landlord's responsibility.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20The landlord here needs to do some kind of structural survey,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23needs to be doing quite a lot of work with the kitchen and bathroom
0:09:23 > 0:09:25to bring it up to standard.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28He needs to be managing this tenancy.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31At the end of the day, if you find a tenant living like this
0:09:31 > 0:09:32then you need to be managing it
0:09:32 > 0:09:36through either letters advising how they should be living, etc.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38If they're not living in a tenant-like manner
0:09:38 > 0:09:41then they need to be pulled up on it.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And if they need support, that needs to be highlighted to the council
0:09:44 > 0:09:46so we can give them some support.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Again, we've got issues, things like...
0:09:50 > 0:09:52It's just massive structural degradation,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54really, here with the plaster.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58I spoke to Housing Options this morning
0:09:58 > 0:10:03and we're getting there with sorting out your rehousing.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06All right? It will happen, OK?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Paul's promised to do his bit to try and improve the property,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13but there's no excuse for the landlord's behaviour.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Despite repeated warnings from Clare,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18the house remains in disrepair and the boiler is broken,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22leaving Paul in a vulnerable and dangerous situation.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Still exactly the same as it was three months ago,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29even after serving the improvement notice.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Exactly the same thing with the tyres.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34The tyres are still very much...
0:10:35 > 0:10:36..down the side.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41All still there.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Mattresses still there. Still leaning.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49If they find me somewhere, I'd be made.
0:10:49 > 0:10:55I should not have to go to people's houses for a bath or a shower.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I think it's degrading, myself, having to ask.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Later, Clare gets more than she bargains for on her return visit.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06- Just wait two seconds. - SQUEAKING
0:11:06 > 0:11:08I think there's a rat in here.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16I'm in Stroud in Gloucestershire
0:11:16 > 0:11:18with housing officer Sophie Smith.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24We're on our way to visit local council tenant Sylvia Croad.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Tell me about Mrs Croad.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29She's one of our elderly tenants.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32She lives independently on her own in a bungalow.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35And she's currently got a bath in there
0:11:35 > 0:11:39and she's really struggling to get in and out of it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43I had a bath seat put onto the bath
0:11:43 > 0:11:45and had problems with that
0:11:45 > 0:11:49after falling out onto the floor and bruising myself badly.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I wasn't going to try it again.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56It was really embarrassing to find yourself on the floor.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Thankfully, the council have come up with a plan to adapt the bathroom
0:11:59 > 0:12:03that'll be safer and easier for Mrs Croad to use.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Sophie and I just need her to agree to the changes.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09She's from an older generation that are used to having a bath
0:12:09 > 0:12:11rather than having a shower,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13so it is going to be a culture change
0:12:13 > 0:12:15and we want to be as accommodating as we can for her,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17so that's the plan.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Do you find people are sometimes resistant to changes like this?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- Yeah.- Or do they welcome them always?- We get a combination.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28We get some people who are desperate to have the adaptation
0:12:28 > 0:12:30but don't quite meet the criteria, which is a shame,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33and we can't help everyone.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37I've got a 92-year-old tenant somewhere else in the district
0:12:37 > 0:12:41who her whole family are really hoping for her to have an adaptation
0:12:41 > 0:12:43and she said, "Absolutely not.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45"I am going to have a bath for the rest of my life.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49"I can't stand showers. That's not for my generation."
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Falls are a common but often overlooked cause of injury.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Around one in three adults over 65 who live at home
0:12:56 > 0:12:58will have at least one a year.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01- Right, have you got my folder? - There you go.- Thank you.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Been looking after that for you.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- It's the one on the end, yeah? - Yeah, it's just down here.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Hello, Mrs Croad. I'm Sophie from the council.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11I think you met me before. And this is Matt.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- He's come along today. - Nice to meet you. How are you?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Is it all right if we come in? Thank you.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Before we can find out what Mrs Croad thinks to the plan,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Sophie shows me the bathroom in its current state.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- OK.- Yeah? - Oh, I see. Right, yes.- Yep.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28So, Matt, looking at this bathroom,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31talk me through what you think the danger points are
0:13:31 > 0:13:33at the moment for Mrs Croad.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Well, you know, this is a lovely bathroom for...
0:13:35 > 0:13:39Almost anybody would look at this and say there's no problems here.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41But when she's got mobility problems
0:13:41 > 0:13:44and it's not easy getting into a bath, when it's as low as that,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47for a start, she's really going to struggle, A) getting in,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49and then, B) getting back out again.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51So that doesn't really work.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Pretty much the same for the loo, cos the loo is right down there,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59and so everybody, eventually, is going to need a bit of help
0:13:59 > 0:14:01getting down and getting back up again.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05So anything that can be done to sort that out as well
0:14:05 > 0:14:08is all going to be for the good.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Would you be concerned about Mrs Croad staying here
0:14:10 > 0:14:13with the way things are at the moment?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Yeah, I'd be really worried.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I mean, she has had a fall.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22She's only strip-washing at the moment, which is not very nice.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25If she chooses to use the bath, it's a big risk.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28And we have actually had her family doctor involved in that as well.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31So it's all sorts of different people getting involved,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33and we know that we need to do something
0:14:33 > 0:14:35if she stays here long-term.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38With it like this then it might not be viable,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41so it's paramount that we do this.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44It's clear that a walk-in shower is the right solution.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Hopefully, Mrs Croad feels the same way.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48OK, Mrs Croad.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51It's a beautiful bathroom, but it's got to go.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53- That's right.- Yeah.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55By doing this adaptation,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57it means that you can completely wash
0:14:57 > 0:14:59and live in your home independently.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01I just can't wait for you to have it done
0:15:01 > 0:15:04and, hopefully, you'll really be happy with it and enjoy it,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08and it's going to look really nice as well, which is another thing.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09For the last two years,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12I've had difficulties getting in and out of the bath
0:15:12 > 0:15:13because I need a hip operation.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18So I'm glad, really, that something is being done.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20This is great news for everyone.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It means that the work can start as planned
0:15:23 > 0:15:27and Mrs Croad will no longer have to wash standing up at the sink.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Well, independence is very important
0:15:30 > 0:15:33because I've worked in a residential home
0:15:33 > 0:15:37and I've seen people who aren't so active as I am
0:15:37 > 0:15:40in body, mind or spirit.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42And I like to feel free.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44It's going take more than a week
0:15:44 > 0:15:46for the builders to redesign the bathroom,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and with Mrs Croad happy, it's a great result for Sophie.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51When you're dealing with somebody like Mrs Croad,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53there is always a danger
0:15:53 > 0:15:56that she can feel that events are overtaking her
0:15:56 > 0:15:59and that things are happening TO her rather than with her.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03And just saying, you know, just simple ideas like,
0:16:03 > 0:16:05"If you have any problems, call me,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08"this is what's going to happen, this is when they'll be here,"
0:16:08 > 0:16:09just give her that confidence
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- and a sense of control over what's taking place.- Yeah.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16A few weeks later, and Sophie's on her way
0:16:16 > 0:16:19to see how Mrs Croad is getting on with her new bathroom.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25We always do follow-up visits.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27It's important for a number of reasons.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29I mean, first and foremost,
0:16:29 > 0:16:31I want to know that it's actually functional,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34fit for purpose and working for that person.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37And as much as adapting a bathroom might sound quite straightforward,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40everyone has different needs and different abilities.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45It's keeping that communication open with that customer.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46This isn't the end.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48I'm going to come back and see them,
0:16:48 > 0:16:50make sure that they remember who I am
0:16:50 > 0:16:52so that they have the confidence to call me
0:16:52 > 0:16:54if they have any more troubles.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Hello, Mrs Croad. Is it all right if I come in?
0:17:08 > 0:17:09Thank you.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Is it all right if we go and have a look at the bathroom?
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- We will now.- Yeah?
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Are you happy with it?
0:17:18 > 0:17:19- Very.- Oh good.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Oh, wow! Looks good.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27So have you tried it out?
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- I have.- Yeah?- Yes, I have.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- And you've got your seat in there. - Mm-hm.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- And are you finding it OK? - I'm finding it OK, yeah.- Yeah?
0:17:35 > 0:17:39So how have you been using it? Have you been using it often?
0:17:39 > 0:17:40- I have, yes.- Yeah?- Yes.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44And has it changed the way you live here, independently and that?
0:17:44 > 0:17:46It does, definitely, yes.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48I really like to come in here now.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Ahh, yeah, it's not a fearful time, is it,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52going to the bathroom and having to have a shower?
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- That's right.- Oh, good.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57And the flooring, you're not slipping over or anything on it?
0:17:57 > 0:17:58- No, that's much better.- OK.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01I'm really happy with what they've done,
0:18:01 > 0:18:02so I'm happy to sign it off.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05- Are you happy to sign it off as well?- I am, yes.- Yeah? OK.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Sophie's work is now done here.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Thank you very much, Mrs Croad. All right, bye-bye.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13She's removed the dangers from Mrs Croad's bathroom,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17allowing her to live safely and independently in her own home.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Meanwhile, back in Wolverhampton,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25housing officer Clare Clifft had her hands full
0:18:25 > 0:18:28with a property that was not only falling apart...
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Really big structural issues.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35The landlord here needs to do some kind of structural survey.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38..it was also bursting at the seams.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41So, again, Paul's got a lot of stuff.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45I mean, this was wall-to-floor high with bikes.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48After her last visit, Clare made another demand on the landlord
0:18:48 > 0:18:49to improve the property.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51She and her colleague Suppreet are on the way back
0:18:51 > 0:18:54to see if this has been done.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57She's also looked at alternative accommodation for Paul.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59There was a chance of getting Paul rehoused.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I did some joint working with my colleagues
0:19:02 > 0:19:05in Homeless Services and Housing Options
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and he was offered temporary accommodation.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11But, unfortunately, he wasn't willing to leave his dog,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14so Paul's declined the housing offer.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19Which means, for now, Paul - and doggie - are staying where they are.
0:19:19 > 0:19:20I'm not bothered where I go,
0:19:20 > 0:19:25as long as I've got somewhere where I can take the dog.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27I'm not going to get rid of the dog.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29The dog's never done no harm to nobody,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32so why should I get rid of the dog?
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Finding dog-friendly accommodation could take some time.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Good morning, Paul. How are you? Are you all right?
0:19:42 > 0:19:44While Clare's doing her best
0:19:44 > 0:19:46to find suitable alternative accommodation
0:19:46 > 0:19:48that will take both Paul and his pet,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50she wants to check that he and the landlord
0:19:50 > 0:19:52have been improving the property in the meantime.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55How are you getting on? We'll just go and have a quick look round.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- Upstairs...- Yeah.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- Have you cleared a lot of stuff, or not?- A lot.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Have you? You been mad?
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- Where the bedroom was...- Have you gone crazy?- ..all that's clear.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- There's no rubbish on the floor, nothing like that.- OK.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- All the bags, everything's gone.- Right.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12The back bedroom up there,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14there's a pile of rubbish gone out there.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Right. All the bikes and that gone?
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Well, not yet, but they will be.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Although Paul claims he's done his best to clear things up,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Clare believes he might have missed something.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Just wait two seconds. I think there's a rat in here.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28SQUEAKING
0:20:31 > 0:20:33I think there's a rat in here.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- You can hear it. - You can hear it, yeah.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Yeah, not a lot, really, has been tidied.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39I think he's tried,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42but I think it's just sort of been pushed into one corner.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Not a lot has really changed. Still heavily ladened.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49OK. So, again, nothing's been cleared.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53It's exactly the same as it was beforehand.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56I did get a feeling that there were rats in that mattress at one point,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58because if you have a look at the nibble marks...
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- Yeah. - ..you can see it's been chewed.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04No, nothing's been cleared in here. Yeah, so this is kind of...
0:21:04 > 0:21:07The rubbish all came out to about here last time,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11so he has cleared a lot, and a lot of it was food debris as well.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13It is a bit tidier in here, yeah. Marginally.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16It seems like every time I come round,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18he tries to tidy that little bit more, which is good.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20I want to try and encourage him
0:21:20 > 0:21:23to make sure that he stays healthy and he stays well.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27You know, lots and lots of clutter and hoarding isn't good.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33And Paul has clearly tried to make things more hospitable.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- You cleaned your cooker for me, didn't you?- Yeah.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I know you did. I know you did. You did a really good job, Paul.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41But despite Clare's improvement notices,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44that's more than can be said of the landlord.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Big damp patch in the left-hand corner.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48Big hole leading to outside.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51And there's a reminder that with winter here,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53and Paul still without a working boiler,
0:21:53 > 0:21:54things are only going to get worse.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Do you know what?
0:21:56 > 0:21:58I don't think I've ever seen
0:21:58 > 0:22:01ice growing on the outside of a freezer before.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04That just goes to show you how cold it gets in here at night.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07So, yes, I need to do something, don't I, really,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09heating- and hot water-wise?
0:22:09 > 0:22:11The situation is still pretty bleak,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14and with Paul not happy to leave without his pet,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Clare's options are limited.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18I understand that you don't want to take the housing offer,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20and that's fine, cos of the dog,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22but I'm still leaving you here at Christmas-time
0:22:22 > 0:22:24with no heating, no hot water and no nothing,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26and you're still kind of here.
0:22:28 > 0:22:29There's nothing can be done.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34The council can't keep paying for you to be here, Paul,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36because it's not suitable.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Do you know what I mean? It's not how you should be living, is it?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42- I know that.- You know. - There's nothing I can do.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48I can't force him to do the repairs if he won't do them.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51I am going to try and get this heating and hot water sorted for you,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54cos I don't think I could sleep at night
0:22:54 > 0:22:57- if I leave you another year with it. - I don't think you'll get it sorted.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00It's not ideal and feels more like a compromise
0:23:00 > 0:23:01than a permanent solution.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03But it shows yet again
0:23:03 > 0:23:06the difficult challenges facing housing officers like Clare,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09not just here in Wolverhampton, but across the UK.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13I might be able to sort out the heating. I will...
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Considering how cold it was in there today...
0:23:15 > 0:23:17It was probably colder in there than it was out here.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20So I will go back, speak to my boss, see if there's any funding
0:23:20 > 0:23:23for getting a gas engineer out there and having a look,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25just to tell us what the problems are.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28If it's going to be too much money, like a whole new heating system,
0:23:28 > 0:23:30obviously, that might not happen.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32But if it's just a quick fix, something's gone, like a thermostat,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34then we might be able to fund that.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38It's just so we can get him some heating and hot water for Christmas.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44I've got a daughter who lives in Walsall.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48My brother lives in Darlaston.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I've got a son who lives with my ex-wife.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55I've got two grandchildren and all.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Like I say, I've got a lot of family,
0:23:58 > 0:24:00but they don't live in this area.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05If they can sort the heating out, yeah, but it's only short-term,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07cos I've got to go in the end, anyway.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10So then I'm going to be back to square one.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14The heating's a good option, cos at least I can be warm,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17but that's really not going to help me still.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20I need somewhere else to live.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Since Clare's last visit, there's been some good news.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Paul's been moved into a one-bedroom flat with his dog,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32although he did have to get rid of his ferrets.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35The house he was living in remains in the same condition
0:24:35 > 0:24:38and the council have now placed a prohibition order on it,
0:24:38 > 0:24:42which means the property cannot be used for residential purposes
0:24:42 > 0:24:44until the works have been completed.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:24:50 > 0:24:54is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57This is not really an acceptable way of leaving the property behind.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Do you think?!
0:24:59 > 0:25:03I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05- Top marks.- Yes!
0:25:05 > 0:25:06I'm hitting the streets...
0:25:08 > 0:25:09That's ready to collapse.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12..finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:25:12 > 0:25:16The cistern's in the bath. I don't know how they flush it.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17..and learning what it takes
0:25:17 > 0:25:21to make sure a house is fit to be called a home.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23I'm very shocked. This is ridiculous.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26You shouldn't have people living in here.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31In the London borough of Newham,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35almost half of the area's housing stock is flats,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37which isn't good news for the thousands of families
0:25:37 > 0:25:39desperate for decent accommodation.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I'm with housing officers Stephen Pavett and Holly Ripp,
0:25:44 > 0:25:49checking up on a property which had been converted into flats.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52It's been over three years since the council first ordered the landlord
0:25:52 > 0:25:54to return it to use as a family home.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56We need to make sure he has.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00So what we're expecting to find as we walk through the door
0:26:00 > 0:26:03is what looks like a normal family home -
0:26:03 > 0:26:06one gas meter, one electricity meter,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08you know, a front room,
0:26:08 > 0:26:10bedrooms upstairs and a kitchen downstairs.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Exactly - your standard family house.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14I actually spoke to the owner last week
0:26:14 > 0:26:17who told me that he has reached compliance
0:26:17 > 0:26:20so, fingers crossed, this could be a good one for us.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26- We're from the planning department from Newham Council.- Yeah.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31So...we've still got some work to be done here.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33This still has a kitchen area there
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- with a fridge still plugged in. - That's right.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38So this could actually operate quite easily
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- as a separate bedsit or flat. - That's right.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42This is a former bedsit here,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46so they haven't taken out everything they needed to do.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49So all the kitchen cupboards, the fridge,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52anything that made it a kitchenette, had to be removed.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- So, as you can see, that still hasn't happened.- Uh-huh.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57- Can I just check through there? - Yeah.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I think you'll find that's the toilet in there.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01So we've got...
0:27:01 > 0:27:07We've got a fully functioning shower room, basin, toilet...
0:27:07 > 0:27:09with extractor fan.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13OK, so early indications aren't great,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and the current tenant seems just as perplexed as we are.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19How long have you been in the property?
0:27:19 > 0:27:21- Two months.- Two months?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Has the owner given you any indication
0:27:23 > 0:27:26that he wanted to do any further works?
0:27:26 > 0:27:27No.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30The first room that we've come into...
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Bearing in mind this is supposed to be returned to a family dwelling,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37which means one family occupying the whole place,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39and we come in through the front door, turn right,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42and straight away, here's a room which is,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45to all intents and purposes, its own self-contained flat.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48It's got a very small shower and toilet room,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51it's got a little kitchenette ready to go.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53So it doesn't feel...
0:27:53 > 0:27:56I don't think Stephen and Holly are going to be pleased about this,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58is my prediction.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59It's not what should have happened.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Now, bearing in mind that this is a family dwelling,
0:28:05 > 0:28:07or should be a family dwelling,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10there is a clear indication that it's not,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14or it's ready to be something other than that straight away.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17If you have a look in the cupboard, you'll see...
0:28:18 > 0:28:22..not one, not two, but five separate electrical meters,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24all with their own keys...
0:28:26 > 0:28:30..which means that this is still a house
0:28:30 > 0:28:33that's very easy convertible into flats.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35I'm getting the impression
0:28:35 > 0:28:37the landlord hasn't made much of an effort
0:28:37 > 0:28:39to turn this place back into a family home.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Newham Council aren't keen to see any more family homes
0:28:44 > 0:28:48converted into flats or shared houses.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52With multiple occupants, properties can often fall into disrepair.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55The living conditions inside can deteriorate
0:28:55 > 0:28:58with poor cleanliness and overflowing bins
0:28:58 > 0:29:00leading to vermin infestations.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02It can even mean a lack of fire alarms
0:29:02 > 0:29:05and safe escape routes through the house.
0:29:06 > 0:29:07It's not that bad here,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11but the landlord of this place still isn't complying with regulations.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18So we come from the main kitchen here, or the kitchen here,
0:29:18 > 0:29:23into a living area which has got its own sort of bed area
0:29:23 > 0:29:27through a sort of string curtain thing,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29then we have a lounge here.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33- Are you following all of this with your diagram?- Not very well!
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- Because it's not easy, is it...- No.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37..to try and work out how the rooms relate to each other?
0:29:37 > 0:29:40And that's a very dark kitchen through there.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Does this feel to you, as it does to me,
0:29:43 > 0:29:48like a conversion that is necessity,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50making these different...?
0:29:50 > 0:29:53It's been very basically brought backwards
0:29:53 > 0:29:54and it would be very easy
0:29:54 > 0:29:57to convert it back into the four flats that it was.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00You just need to put back up the partitions.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03The four meters, five meters, are still there.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06And we still have the kitchen/living area.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- I assume that's a bathroom behind us over there.- Yeah.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13To be fair, this isn't your average unsafe and overcrowded shared house.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18In fact, compared to some of the places I've seen,
0:30:18 > 0:30:19it's the height of luxury.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23So this is a nice self-contained flat, really.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25We've got a really nice kitchen,
0:30:25 > 0:30:28super living area with a bed just off it,
0:30:28 > 0:30:29and then this really sweet...
0:30:29 > 0:30:32really sweet little bathroom here as well.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36Coming up, the evidence that the house
0:30:36 > 0:30:39IS still being rented as four flats mounts up.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42And then this is the empty room,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44which, once again, has got a kitchenette,
0:30:44 > 0:30:48it's got a shower room/bathroom and a little sink.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50- It's got its own fridge.- Yeah.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52So you can just hand somebody the keys,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55literally they walk in here, it's their own flat,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57they don't need to go anywhere else.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04In Babergh...
0:31:04 > 0:31:06housing officer Ian Watson is on his way
0:31:06 > 0:31:09to inspect a council-owned property.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11The house has been empty since the previous tenant,
0:31:11 > 0:31:15an elderly gentleman who lived alone, unexpectedly passed away.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17We're off to Sudbury today.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20I've got a void property that I want to go and have a look at.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24I'd previously been there because of issues with hoarding
0:31:24 > 0:31:26and cleanliness of the property.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28I haven't been back since
0:31:28 > 0:31:31and I just want to go and see what we've got.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34The house is a good-sized property in a prime location,
0:31:34 > 0:31:39so it's important to get it into a lettable state as soon as possible.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41And from the front, things look quite normal.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43But as soon as Ian gets round the back,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46it becomes clear this isn't going to be a quick job.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Obviously, things have been overgrown.
0:31:57 > 0:31:58And unfortunately for Ian,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01the untidiness isn't just confined to the garden.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- Cor. - HE COUGHS
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Inside, the house is in a shocking state -
0:32:14 > 0:32:17almost every inch of floor space taken up
0:32:17 > 0:32:21with piles and piles of things hoarded by the previous tenant.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26Well, obviously, the house hasn't been cleared.
0:32:26 > 0:32:31He did have dogs, and I think the smell of those has remained here.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33The smell is just one item
0:32:33 > 0:32:36on a very long list of things wrong with this property.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Rubbish boxes everywhere. I did say he was a bit of a hoarder.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42It's the stench that's getting to me, actually.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Flies and things.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47It's upsetting to think
0:32:47 > 0:32:49that someone spent the last months of their life
0:32:49 > 0:32:51living in these kinds of conditions.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54And upstairs, things aren't any better.
0:32:54 > 0:32:55Oh, my goodness.
0:32:57 > 0:32:58Ah!
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Cat's muck and stuff on...
0:33:02 > 0:33:04There's loads of dead flies.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10Ah!
0:33:12 > 0:33:14I don't think I can even get into the room
0:33:14 > 0:33:16or open the door.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21Spider's webs. Uck!
0:33:23 > 0:33:24It's going to need more than a skip.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26This is an incredible amount of stuff.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29That room is just full from top to bottom.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33It's not been used as a bedroom or anything.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35I've seen some people who hoard, yeah,
0:33:35 > 0:33:38and you've got to struggle to get through.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42But then bear in mind there has been one skip here,
0:33:42 > 0:33:47but I didn't realise the property was in such poor state.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49With the amount of stuff in here,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52it's going to cost quite a bit of money to clear this.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56The reasons why someone begins hoarding aren't fully understood.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58It can be brought on by another condition
0:33:58 > 0:34:01such as severe depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
0:34:01 > 0:34:02Some of the warning signs
0:34:02 > 0:34:05are a desire to keep seemingly worthless items,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07an inability to organise things,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10and difficulty managing everyday tasks.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14Somebody's obviously had issues and not sought help.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Some people want help, some people don't.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20But I never realised it was this bad.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25It's a bit unfortunate. There's just everything everywhere.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27And so many boxes.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31I mean, it must have taken years... years to get all this together.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35I certainly didn't expect this. It's quite sad.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Hoarding disorders are challenging to treat
0:34:37 > 0:34:41because many people who have them often don't see it as a problem,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44or have little awareness of how it's impacting their lives
0:34:44 > 0:34:45or the lives of those around them.
0:34:45 > 0:34:51I should think, even if we have the guys in to clear the property,
0:34:51 > 0:34:55it's going to take at least a week just to clear it,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58and there's no way we could rent this out.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02Those walls won't need cleaning. It'll need redecoration.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05There's obviously doors to be rehung, by the looks of it.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09Might need a new bathroom.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11New flooring and everything. All the carpet...
0:35:11 > 0:35:15Everything's got to be removed and we'll have to start again.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17The state of the property means
0:35:17 > 0:35:20it's going to be a big job to get it back up to a standard
0:35:20 > 0:35:22where it can let out, and it's important
0:35:22 > 0:35:25that Ian gets things moving as quickly as possible.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27The longer the house stays empty,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29the longer a family in need of a home
0:35:29 > 0:35:32will have to remain on the council's waiting list.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Disappointing and sad to see that somebody actually lived like that.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39I reckon we're talking six weeks
0:35:39 > 0:35:42to bring this property round back to how it should be,
0:35:42 > 0:35:46depending on whether we can get rid of that smell that's in there,
0:35:46 > 0:35:49whether it's ingressed into the concrete
0:35:49 > 0:35:51and the tiles and everything - that's the problem.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59Since Ian visited the property, a new kitchen has been fitted
0:35:59 > 0:36:01and the entire house repainted.
0:36:01 > 0:36:02Once the works are complete,
0:36:02 > 0:36:06it will placed back onto the market, ready for new tenants to move in.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Back in Newham, I'm with housing officers Holly and Stephen,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17inspecting a property which had been unlawfully converted into flats.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19The landlord's already been ordered
0:36:19 > 0:36:22to turn the house back into a single family home,
0:36:22 > 0:36:24but judging by what we've seen downstairs,
0:36:24 > 0:36:27it doesn't seem to have happened.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30Perhaps the occupant can throw some light on the situation.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- I mean, this is your home.- Yeah.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36- So how long have you been here? - Two months.
0:36:36 > 0:36:37- Two months?- Yeah.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- Do you live here alone?- Yeah... No, with my auntie.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43- Two person.- Can I ask you, how much rent do you pay?
0:36:43 > 0:36:45- 1,250.- Per month?
0:36:45 > 0:36:48So £1,250 a month.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50But there was... And deposit as well?
0:36:50 > 0:36:53- And one month deposit. - One month deposit.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56The tenant says he rents the entire house from the landlord
0:36:56 > 0:36:58and that it's just him and his auntie living there.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00But Stephen's not convinced.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02If he sleeps in there or his auntie sleeps in here,
0:37:02 > 0:37:05or his auntie sleeps upstairs,
0:37:05 > 0:37:07then who sleeps down here?
0:37:07 > 0:37:08Because this is clearly occupied.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11The bed's made up, we've got food in all the cupboards,
0:37:11 > 0:37:14food in the fridge, we've got damp towels here.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17We're still trying to establish what's taking place in this house.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19It's a bit of a mystery.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22And we need to look upstairs to make it clearer.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25We need to know how many people, how many individual units,
0:37:25 > 0:37:28and how the house is operating.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30Again, all the clues... They're not clues.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32It's evidence, you know,
0:37:32 > 0:37:37that, actually, it's operating as a series of separate flats
0:37:37 > 0:37:40and hasn't been converted back to a single family dwelling.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42The mystery deepens.
0:37:42 > 0:37:43Despite what the tenant says,
0:37:43 > 0:37:47all the clues point to this being four completely separate flats,
0:37:47 > 0:37:49but to be sure, we need to look upstairs.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- It's definitely occupied.- Yeah.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01And then, once again, as you walk in, it's got things
0:38:01 > 0:38:05that normal bedrooms in a family home don't have.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06For instance...
0:38:08 > 0:38:11That's the shower room with toilet and mini-sink.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13- Fridge.- We've got a fridge.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15- And then round the corner... - Little kitchenette.
0:38:15 > 0:38:16A little kitchenette.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18So, again, you could lock the door here
0:38:18 > 0:38:20- and do everything you need to live a life.- Yeah.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24This is an individual flat with its own electricity meter.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26You know, this is...
0:38:26 > 0:38:28- Nothing's changed here. - No, nothing's changed. No.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31So I'm really at a loss to know what the owner has done
0:38:31 > 0:38:34to comply with our enforcement notice.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38But there doesn't seem to be a lot that's gone on, really.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40This room's completely occupied.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43It's being used as a self-contained unit.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45It's marked outside as room 3.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48- This is taking the mick. - Yeah.- Isn't it?- It is, really.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50Quite frankly, it's taking the mick.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53You could at least move the fridge out, and then...
0:38:53 > 0:38:57- You know...- Or take the kitchen cupboards out, something.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Some token effort to try and pretend.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01- But none of that's happened at all.- No.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04- It's a fully stocked fridge. - It's ready for dinner.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07- There's more food in there than in my fridge.- Yeah!
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Let's have a look at the kitchen.
0:39:09 > 0:39:15- We've got a kitchen...- Fresh fruit. - ..cupboard, so this is all occupied.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Another sign - fresh fruit.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20- If you're not occupying somewhere, you don't find fresh fruit.- No.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23And that looks pretty fresh to me.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26I mean, I know there's such pressure in Newham
0:39:26 > 0:39:29that, actually, you don't want to fall out with people,
0:39:29 > 0:39:31cos you might find yourself very quickly homeless.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33- Mm. I mean...- I don't get it.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36He's stated that he lives here with his auntie
0:39:36 > 0:39:38and he said no-one else lives here.
0:39:38 > 0:39:43But yet we've already seen evidence of three beds being lived in,
0:39:43 > 0:39:47so you've got to think that a third person
0:39:47 > 0:39:50is potentially occupying the property along with them.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53It's very hard to tell, but it's not just two people.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55As if we needed any more evidence,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58the fourth flat looks like it's ready to go.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01And, like the other rooms, it's even got its own number.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04And then this is the empty room
0:40:04 > 0:40:06which, once again, has got a kitchenette,
0:40:06 > 0:40:10it's got a shower room/bathroom, and a little sink,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12- it's got its own fridge.- Yeah.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15You can just hand somebody the keys, literally they walk in here,
0:40:15 > 0:40:18it's their own flat, they don't need to go anywhere else.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20They don't need to interact with downstairs,
0:40:20 > 0:40:22- they've got everything they need in this room to live.- Yeah.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26So as far as we're concerned, it's still a self-contained room,
0:40:26 > 0:40:29self-contained flat, and it needs to change.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31Why not? Why hasn't it?
0:40:31 > 0:40:35- I mean, we're talking about a three-year process here.- Yeah.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38And not the slightest effort, it seems, has been taken.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43- You've still got individual numbers on each door of each flat.- Yeah.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45It seems all the landlord may have done
0:40:45 > 0:40:49is ask the previous tenants to leave
0:40:49 > 0:40:51and then he's just occupied it,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54rented it out again, to a new tenant,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57but all the fixtures and fittings are all the same.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Nothing's changed.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02So there's a lot of work to be done on this property still.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Well, to put it in official parlance,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11I feel that that was not compliant.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I mean, to put it in less technical language,
0:41:14 > 0:41:18a whole skip-load of mickey is being taken in that property.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22Three years since the original enforcement notice
0:41:22 > 0:41:28and still clearly four flats ready to go as soon as anyone decides.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Yeah. I mean, he hasn't bothered to disconnect any electrical supplies.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Easy things like fridges could have been removed from the property.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37He's done absolutely nothing.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41The slightly mysterious side of it is the tenant's point of view
0:41:41 > 0:41:45where he's kind of trying to protect the landlord, in a way,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48and saying, "No, it's just me and my auntie living here."
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Why would he do that?
0:41:50 > 0:41:52It could be that he's related
0:41:52 > 0:41:54or friends with the landlord in some way.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57So, OK, next step, then. What do we do with this place?
0:41:57 > 0:41:59So with this property, we'll have two options.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02We'll either write to the owner straightaway
0:42:02 > 0:42:04and tell him that we're going to take prosecution action
0:42:04 > 0:42:06because he's done so little to the property
0:42:06 > 0:42:09to comply with the enforcement notice.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11Or our other option, we'll give him a call,
0:42:11 > 0:42:13have a bit of a chat with him about it
0:42:13 > 0:42:16and see, basically, why he hasn't done anything
0:42:16 > 0:42:18and what his intentions are with the property.
0:42:18 > 0:42:19You know, when it's that brazen
0:42:19 > 0:42:23that they've not even taken the numbers off the doors,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25you know, there is a limit to how much more chat
0:42:25 > 0:42:28we should be having with this guy.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33Since we filmed at the property,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Stephen and Holly have been back to conduct another inspection.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39They discovered that the tenants we met had moved out
0:42:39 > 0:42:41and around 15 new ones had moved in.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Frustratingly, the case lingers on
0:42:44 > 0:42:47as they continue to force the landlord to comply with the rules
0:42:47 > 0:42:51by converting the property back to a single family dwelling.
0:42:54 > 0:42:55That's it for today.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59Join me next time, back on the road with the housing enforcers.