0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's difficult to imagine calling this a home.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06'Everyone deserves a safe place to live.'
0:00:06 > 0:00:07So that's a dead rat.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11'But with rents rising and demand increasing,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15'it's getting harder and harder to find a secure place to call home.'
0:00:15 > 0:00:19You can actually see the floorboards of the bathroom there.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20There's clear evidence...
0:00:20 > 0:00:22- There's clearly someone living down here.- Yep.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25'I'm Matt Allwright, and I'm back with the housing enforcers.'
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Someone nicked your wheelchair?
0:00:27 > 0:00:28'I'm on the front line
0:00:28 > 0:00:31'with those fighting for the right to decent housing...'
0:00:31 > 0:00:33The amount of mould is quite shocking.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Happiest residents of this property are the rats.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38'..as local councils and housing associations
0:00:38 > 0:00:41'battle problem properties and slum conditions...'
0:00:41 > 0:00:45I mean, that is just a scene of Dickensian misery.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47It, um, absolutely pen and inks.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49'..as they deal with dodgy landlords...'
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Whoa, sir!
0:00:51 > 0:00:52'..nightmare neighbours...'
0:00:52 > 0:00:54There's a good chance people will be getting evicted.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56'..and everything in between...'
0:00:56 > 0:00:59It does feel like we're close to the bottom of the housing ladder here.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03'..to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.'
0:01:03 > 0:01:06If there's something strange in your neighbourhood...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07who you going to call?
0:01:11 > 0:01:14'Today, I turn rat-catcher in Jaywick.'
0:01:15 > 0:01:16God, it stinks.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18'One man's dream of escaping outdoors
0:01:18 > 0:01:21'looks over before it's even begun.'
0:01:21 > 0:01:25- So we've got out here the biggest stinging nettles in the world.- Yep.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27'In Newcastle, things get feisty
0:01:27 > 0:01:30'over plans for a glorified garden pond.'
0:01:30 > 0:01:32The main concern is it doesn't look great at the minute.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35It's been there since October or something,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38and you've not really done anything with it.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42'And tempers start to fray when a demand for council tax hits home.'
0:01:42 > 0:01:43Take me to court.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45You have been taken to court.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47It used to be so straightforward -
0:01:47 > 0:01:51you leave education, you get yourself a job
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and then settle down once you've found a house or flat.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57And even though happily ever after wasn't guaranteed,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59you could usually depend on getting
0:01:59 > 0:02:02an affordable and safe place to live.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Well, it's no secret that thanks to the housing crisis,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07today, things are a bit more complicated.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10But there are men and women across the UK whose job it is
0:02:10 > 0:02:13to ensure that everyone has the opportunity
0:02:13 > 0:02:15to enjoy a safe roof over their heads.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Every day, they're out fighting for your rights.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20They are the housing enforcers.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25'Here in Suffolk, housing officer Andrew Weavers
0:02:25 > 0:02:28'has been called to a property in Stowmarket.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30'A fairly typical bungalow, by the looks of it,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34'and home to Mr Peck, an elderly resident.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37'Andrew's been asked by Mr Peck's occupational therapist
0:02:37 > 0:02:39'to see whether the council
0:02:39 > 0:02:42'could provide wheelchair access to the garden.'
0:02:42 > 0:02:44- Hello. You must be Mrs Howard?- Yes.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I'm Andrew from Mid Suffolk District Council.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- I want to come and talk to you about your ramp.- Yeah.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- Is that all right, if I have a chat with you?- Yes.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58'Mr Peck is currently being looked after by his niece, Mrs Howard.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03'Although Andrew was aware the tenant suffered mobility issues,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07'the extent of his condition is clearly a shock to both of us.'
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Hello, my name's Andrew. How are you?
0:03:11 > 0:03:12Yeah? Not too bad?
0:03:13 > 0:03:15You're late up?
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Did you? Been out partying?
0:03:21 > 0:03:22On the booze?
0:03:22 > 0:03:23THEY LAUGH
0:03:24 > 0:03:26So we've got the camera here.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29You could be on telly. You could be on telly.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Now, we've had an occupational therapist come round, haven't we?
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Are you hot?
0:03:37 > 0:03:39It's horrible out there at the moment, isn't it?
0:03:39 > 0:03:40- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Are you... Are you...
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Are you...mobile at all?
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Can you...? Are you able to get up and out?
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Yeah?
0:03:51 > 0:03:52Right.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53'The main reason for today's visit
0:03:53 > 0:03:57'was to measure up for wheelchair access into the back garden,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59'but given Mr Peck's condition,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02'it's now seeming a rather over-ambitious idea.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- I guess you're feeling a bit trapped in here, are you?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:04:07 > 0:04:08In here?
0:04:09 > 0:04:11- Haven't you been out?- No.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15'That's right. Mr Peck hasn't left this room for five years.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17'It's not often words fail me.'
0:04:17 > 0:04:19I didn't realise you'd been in here
0:04:19 > 0:04:21and not been able to get out for five years.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23So you'd push him out in a wheelchair,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25would you, out on the ramp?
0:04:28 > 0:04:29No, you won't.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Would you be able to manage, would you?
0:04:33 > 0:04:34- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38'It's a desperate situation.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42'Being confined to his bed must feel like a jail sentence,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46'but Mr Peck is not ready to give up on his dream of freedom just yet.'
0:04:46 > 0:04:49You want to get out in the back garden, don't you?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Get some fresh air.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55'Before Andrew can give the green light to the wheelchair ramp,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58'he needs to assess how the access might work.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01'But as we make our way through to the back,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03'we find another big problem.'
0:05:08 > 0:05:09So we've got out here,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13- I mean, we've got the biggest stinging nettles in the world.- Yep.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- We have, haven't we?- Basically taking up the entire space.- Yeah.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18I didn't quite expect to see it quite like this, if I'm honest,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and quite as bad as that, but, er...
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- So the dog has basically made the place his own, hasn't he?- Yeah.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Because this isn't just, you know, the odd pile of poo, is it?
0:05:28 > 0:05:32- There's quite...- It's the dominant colour.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Even the dog is a bit messy, so...
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Just watch where you step.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39If we put a ramp in here, it's not going to solve the issues.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43'The garden is in a truly dismal state.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46'Even if Andrew could arrange for access for Mr Peck's wheelchair,
0:05:46 > 0:05:47'there's very little chance
0:05:47 > 0:05:51'he'd be able to enjoy himself out here in...this.'
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I don't feel like you can blame either of those tenants
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- for the state of this.- No.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59It just feels like they're not able,
0:05:59 > 0:06:04- certainly in the state it is now, to keep it the way it should be.- No.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- Did Mr Peck say he's not been out of that room for five years?- Yeah.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10(That can't be allowed to carry on.)
0:06:10 > 0:06:12No, it can't.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13The trouble is, it's a balance here,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16because there's a breach of tenancy conditions here,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18but there's also people that are quite...
0:06:18 > 0:06:20well, as you can see, frail, you know?
0:06:20 > 0:06:22The thing I'm wondering is
0:06:22 > 0:06:25where's the rest of the family support, friends, other people?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Yeah.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Because for him to be in one room for five years,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34if I was a son or even an interested neighbour, I'd be saying,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36"We need to get you outside," you know?
0:06:36 > 0:06:39This is the next part of the conversation, I think,
0:06:39 > 0:06:43because you find out what the extent of the problem is.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45It's clear that they can't do it,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47but then the conversation goes on to,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50"Are you in the right accommodation? Have you got family support?"
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Maybe family support first.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56'Today's visit is another example of the demanding role
0:06:56 > 0:06:58'of the housing officer.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01'Andrew thought he was walking into a very straightforward case
0:07:01 > 0:07:03'of adapting a house for wheelchair access,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06'but he's discovered a much bigger problem.'
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Obviously, we do want to put your ramp in,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13but the difficulty we've got is you've got a very overgrown garden.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Right. Have you got the ability to pay for a gardener?
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Not really. If I could try and find someone to do it for you,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29would you be able to find someone to maintain it and keep it cut back?
0:07:31 > 0:07:33What sort of dog have you got?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38You've got to keep on top of the clearing up after the dog.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40It's not been done for a while.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42- Do you have any family?- No.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- No? Anyone that can help you?- No.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- No?- No.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48No? No friends?
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Have you not?
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- Yeah.- Long time to be without anybody.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59'With no friends or family to help,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02'Andrew has to question whether keeping Mr Peck in his own home
0:08:02 > 0:08:04'is really an option.'
0:08:05 > 0:08:07The other thought I had,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10which you'll probably chuck me out the room for,
0:08:10 > 0:08:15but is, you know, would a sheltered property be better for you?
0:08:15 > 0:08:18You'll have all the ramps in place
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and it'll have communal gardens, which we cut back for the residents.
0:08:22 > 0:08:23I just wondered...
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Well, there might be some sheltered bungalows
0:08:27 > 0:08:29that are attached to these places.
0:08:29 > 0:08:30MR PECK SOBS
0:08:30 > 0:08:33No, no, no, I'm not asking you to lose your dog, you know,
0:08:33 > 0:08:34but that's your choice.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37I'm trying to think of other ways of dealing with this, you know?
0:08:37 > 0:08:42- So we're going to have to do this together, yeah?- Yeah.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44We'll try and meet you halfway.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47'It's a really difficult line for Andrew to walk.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48'He has to balance
0:08:48 > 0:08:51'keeping the tenant in their own familiar surroundings
0:08:51 > 0:08:54'against considering the impact on their health.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57'It's a problem even more acute with Mr Peck.'
0:08:57 > 0:08:58- OK.- What we might do...
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I think it's probably wise, if it's all right with you, Andrew,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05if we just leave for a bit, let Mr Peck come back down.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10'It's at times like this that I really don't envy Andrew's role
0:09:10 > 0:09:12'as housing officer at all.'
0:09:12 > 0:09:14So was that what you were expecting?
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Oh, no. No, I didn't quite expect that.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18It's a scene of...
0:09:18 > 0:09:21to be honest with you, Dickensian misery.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22It's horrible, isn't it?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Somebody who's not been out of that room for five years.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27So upsetting, really, do you know what I mean? It's, er...
0:09:27 > 0:09:30She's not well, he's not well.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34The dog that they both clearly love to bits is only making things worse,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37because he's a health hazard, because they can't pick up,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39or they're not picking up after him,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42and yet that's... what he got most upset about,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45was the idea that he wouldn't be able to live with his dog
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and he doesn't want to go anywhere just in case the dog's taken away.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- Yeah.- I think the reality is
0:09:50 > 0:09:53that if you showed that to anybody, you know,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55with a pair of shears and the ability to help,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57they'd want to fix it,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01but because it stays behind a locked door until you come in,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04or until the guys who want to fit the ramp point it out to you,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07then it stays like that for five years.
0:10:07 > 0:10:08- Yeah.- It over grows.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14I'm sure we can... There must be a way we can just get that cleared
0:10:14 > 0:10:15and give them a start.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- I mean, we're in the middle of summer right now.- Yeah.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20And this is the point at which
0:10:20 > 0:10:22he could really do with getting some fresh air,
0:10:22 > 0:10:27- getting out into the open. - Yeah.- After five years.
0:10:27 > 0:10:28It's five summers like this,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31worse than this and he's not been able to get out.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- It's more a prison sentence, isn't it?- It really is.- Yeah.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38'Coming up - Andrew lets his green fingers do the walking.'
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Yeah, that's me done. Phew! That's hard work, isn't it? Huh?
0:10:41 > 0:10:42HE LAUGHS
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Look, I've got a sweat on!
0:10:50 > 0:10:52They say that death and taxes
0:10:52 > 0:10:54are the two things that are impossible to avoid,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57but that doesn't stop some people from trying.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Owning or renting a property comes with certain responsibilities
0:11:01 > 0:11:03and paying your council tax is one of them.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Councils can't do their jobs properly if it isn't collected.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10So, here in the London Borough of Havering,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12when some residents refuse to cough up,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14they call in the enforcement team.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16People like John and Shane.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21And today, they're on an early morning mission
0:11:21 > 0:11:23to call in some particularly large debts
0:11:23 > 0:11:27that the council have been chasing for quite some time.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28Let's get going.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32We're going to a traveller site.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35There's a few sites, they're all sort of close together
0:11:35 > 0:11:39and, to be honest, they've not paid any council tax for about 13 years.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45The amount of money they owe is in excess of £100,000,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49so the council's had enough. They've issued warrants.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51We're the enforcement agents who are off there today
0:11:51 > 0:11:52to enforce the warrants.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Ideally, we're there to recover the debt in full,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58but, to be honest with you, if we can just get some of it, you know,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01it's a start. Sometimes you can get a lot of trouble,
0:12:01 > 0:12:03especially when you're on your own,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05but because we've got the police with us,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07hopefully things should go well.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12The guys are here to enforce warrants
0:12:12 > 0:12:15against a number of suspected individuals.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19I think we'll try this one, because it looks more like the main address.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25These are the main buildings.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29But, despite the early hour,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33finding the culprits is proving a little tougher than they'd hoped.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Thankfully, the boys do finally manage to find a tenant at home.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43The resident has confirmed they're in the right place.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Even though this tenant isn't on the warrant list for today,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48it's possible he might be in the future.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50You've been here four years,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52- but you're not registered with the council?- No.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53It's meant to be done properly.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55You're supposed to have a tenancy agreement,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57you're supposed to be registered with the council,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00because otherwise enforcement agents come in and start snooping about
0:13:00 > 0:13:02- and start taking people's goods away, yeah?- All right.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04You need to do that today, sir, yeah?
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Cheers. Thanks very much.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Just spoke to that guy. Apparently he's a tenant,
0:13:08 > 0:13:09he's been here four years.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12No tenancy agreement, not registered with the council,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15has confirmed the landlord is one of the guys that we're after,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18but unfortunately doesn't know which caravan he lives in, so, er...
0:13:18 > 0:13:20But I gave him information, told him he needs to register
0:13:20 > 0:13:22with the council today, otherwise, you know,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25we'll end up coming back for him as well.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Although it's not strictly a legal requirement
0:13:27 > 0:13:29to have a tenancy agreement,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31possessing one provides a greater degree of protection
0:13:31 > 0:13:33and security for the tenant,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36something John and Shane are keen to bring up with the landlord,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39if only they could find him.
0:13:39 > 0:13:40PHONE RINGS
0:13:40 > 0:13:41We've had confirmation...
0:13:41 > 0:13:42Hello?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48OK. Can I ask your name, please, sir?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Could it be the elusive landlord himself?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Unfortunately, though, warrants have been issued
0:13:53 > 0:13:56and they can be enforced, whether these people are at the site or not.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57So we have no choice but to continue
0:13:57 > 0:14:00with recovery action, sir, I'm afraid.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06He just said take whatever we want to take.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Apparently everyone that we're after is in Canada or America.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It turns out the man on the phone
0:14:10 > 0:14:13claims he isn't the landlord they're looking for,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15so the search continues.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18It's pretty much what you expect when you come to a site like this.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Everyone that you're after has gone away, you know?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22They're on holiday or they don't live here,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24and they're not known at the address.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27It's been a frustrating morning so far.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Later on, though, John and Shane make a dash and grab.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32This is a good tool that we have, you know.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35We are able to take control of people's vehicles
0:14:35 > 0:14:36and remove them if necessary.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Down in Essex, on the east coast, is a beautiful stretch of seaside.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48With its golden sands and stunning coastline,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51it's an almost idyllic British scene.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53So it's quite a shock when you find out
0:14:53 > 0:14:56it's home to one of the most deprived areas in the country.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Many of Jaywick's coastal accommodations
0:14:59 > 0:15:01are temporary holiday homes that were never meant to provide
0:15:01 > 0:15:04a permanent solution to the local housing problems,
0:15:04 > 0:15:09but with demand outstripping supply, many people now call them home,
0:15:09 > 0:15:11and that presents challenges to both tenants
0:15:11 > 0:15:15and Tendring Council's housing officer, Rob Goswell.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18So what's the specific reason that we're going down today?
0:15:18 > 0:15:23Why we're going down today is we've had a complaint from the occupant
0:15:23 > 0:15:25regarding rats within the property.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30They've recently put some internal flood measures
0:15:30 > 0:15:33to help prevent the flooding and what that's done is
0:15:33 > 0:15:35all the rats have come out of the ditches.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38So they've now, basically, gone into people's houses.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43There's nothing like the mention of rats to make your skin crawl,
0:15:43 > 0:15:44although it hasn't put Rob off.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49'He grew up in this area
0:15:49 > 0:15:53'and I'm guessing he's worried that given Jaywick's geography,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56'with the houses so close together, the presence of rats in one home
0:15:56 > 0:16:00'could soon lead to problems for the rest of the street.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01'The tenant has lived at this address
0:16:01 > 0:16:03'with her partner for three years.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06'She's asked us to hide her identity.'
0:16:06 > 0:16:09What are the problems then in this room, in this house as a whole?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- Just rat holes.- Rat holes?- Yes.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Can you show me the rat holes? Where would they be?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16That's a hole you've covered up with a brick
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- to try and stop the rats getting in? - Yes.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21So you've got... This is a wooden floor, suspended floor,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24and you've got rats coming in through the wooden floors here.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Er...
0:16:26 > 0:16:28And then what? Do you see them on the floor of the kitchen?
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Yeah, they just run everywhere.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32Right.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'Rats in the house are nobody's idea of fun,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37'made all the worse by what comes along
0:16:37 > 0:16:39'with an infestation of vermin.'
0:16:40 > 0:16:41Also noticed your house...
0:16:41 > 0:16:43You seem to have a problem with a lot of flies.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Do you know what that's from? Do you know where that's coming from?
0:16:46 > 0:16:50I don't know, but there's a smell underneath the house.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53'It's clearly a terrible situation for the tenant.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55'I'm getting worried not just about the house,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57'but also about her wellbeing, too.'
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Your situation, your health...
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Yeah, I'm not healthy.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04What is your condition? What is it?
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- I've got cerebral palsy.- Right.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08So you've got cerebral palsy,
0:17:08 > 0:17:12and I noticed that you've got big steps coming up here to the house.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14How do you find those?
0:17:14 > 0:17:17My partner has to lift me up and down.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20So you have to be carried into your house and out your house every day?
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Yes, and I recently had my wheelchair nicked.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Someone nicked your wheelchair?
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- Yeah, someone nicked my wheelchair from outside.- Right.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30'I really should've learned
0:17:30 > 0:17:33'from my couple of years following the work of housing officers
0:17:33 > 0:17:35'that they rarely encounter a situation
0:17:35 > 0:17:37'that can't somehow be made worse.'
0:17:38 > 0:17:40This just does feel like the wrong house for you.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Wrong house.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43'The tenant here is clearly struggling
0:17:43 > 0:17:45'and I want to get to the bottom
0:17:45 > 0:17:47'of where the flies might be coming from,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49'but outside I'm facing a struggle of my own.'
0:17:51 > 0:17:54All white goods. I used to work for Currys, you know.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56'After following my nose, I think I may have found the answer.'
0:17:56 > 0:17:58(Oh, dear.) HE SNIFFS
0:17:58 > 0:18:00The smell round here is...
0:18:00 > 0:18:02is really strong.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04This is where part of the problem is, it seems,
0:18:04 > 0:18:08with these houses in Jaywick, is that they're all on stilts.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12They're all suspended, so you get this space under the houses, which...
0:18:12 > 0:18:19is home to anything that likes dark, warm spaces.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22'It's another illustration of why these temporary accommodations
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'aren't really well-suited for permanent residence.'
0:18:27 > 0:18:29(Oh, Christ, it stinks.)
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I can't see one, mate.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Oh, yeah. Oh, God, yeah.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36Yeah, yeah.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38So that's a dead rat.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42So it's been baited under here
0:18:42 > 0:18:44and that's killed the rats,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47but then the rats just stay there and then they rot
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and so that could well be...
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Wow. God, it stinks!
0:18:52 > 0:18:56I'm not kidding. It absolutely pen and inks under there.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59So there's a good chance that that's the rats dying under there
0:18:59 > 0:19:01and then rotting. So you get flies,
0:19:01 > 0:19:03you get the smell and everything else.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06'The rat poison has clearly done its job below,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09'but I'm not sure it's really improved things much
0:19:09 > 0:19:10'for the tenant above.'
0:19:10 > 0:19:12This is one of the most, um...
0:19:12 > 0:19:16difficult, desperate situations I've come across.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17The tenant here...
0:19:18 > 0:19:23..has a disability which means that she finds it difficult to walk
0:19:23 > 0:19:24and yet she has to get up and down stairs,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27so her partner's carrying her up and down the stairs,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and that's before you get to the problems with the house.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33A lot of which you, you know,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36struggle to see how you're going to solve them.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40I do not envy Rob this job at all.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44I would keep your dog away from the back,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46because there are poisons under there
0:19:46 > 0:19:48and I've seen evidence your dog has been under there,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51because he's left a little present, but there are rats there.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53'Although the landlord can't be held responsible
0:19:53 > 0:19:55'for the rats under the floorboards,
0:19:55 > 0:19:59'the property still seems to be a poor fit for this tenant.'
0:19:59 > 0:20:01That felt like we were close to the bottom rung
0:20:01 > 0:20:03- of the housing ladder there.- Mm.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06You know, there was a tenant who didn't really have any choices left.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08The house really wasn't adequate for her,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12but we've got such an issue with housing, you take what you can get,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15you know, and I've got real concerns with her being in there.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17It's very difficult for us.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Nine times out of ten, I think a lot of officers
0:20:19 > 0:20:20would love to get these people
0:20:20 > 0:20:22and put them into somewhere a bit more adequate, but we can't.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24It must be frustrating for you.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26It is frustrating, you know, we will go, we'll inspect
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and we'll come back in a few months' time for a similar issue
0:20:29 > 0:20:31or a different issue.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35We go and see individual problems in Jaywick, but actually,
0:20:35 > 0:20:37a lot of the stuff that's happening is affecting all of them
0:20:37 > 0:20:39just because it's a tight community.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41The houses are right on top of each other
0:20:41 > 0:20:45and something like rats is not going to be limited to one house, is it?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Yeah, we've seen a prime example. We have had one complaint, you know,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51but I'm almost certain that the rest of them are dealing with it,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54the issues as well. What you'd love to do is go in there,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56that's the problem, get it done and you never have to go back there
0:20:56 > 0:20:58and you've got a happy tenant and a happy landlord
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and that really is an ideal situation, which we can't have here.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05We can only deal with very small little bits as it's presented
0:21:05 > 0:21:07and hopefully, over that time,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10we can make their housing conditions better in the short-term
0:21:10 > 0:21:11and, in the long-term,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14the big strategic minds can work out a way forward.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Well, since that visit, Rob's been busy looking into rehousing
0:21:19 > 0:21:22the unfortunate tenant into council accommodation.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25He's hoping to find her somewhere much more practical for her needs,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed
0:21:28 > 0:21:31that she doesn't get any more unwanted visitors in the meantime.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:21:38 > 0:21:41is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46It is unusual for us to find a tenanted property in this condition.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- You can smell that rubbish still, can't you? Even from here.- Yeah.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52'I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that.'
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- You got insulted, we got kicked out. - Yep.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57A bit of a red letter day, really, isn't it?
0:21:57 > 0:21:58'Hitting the streets,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00'finding out what's happening on the front line...'
0:22:00 > 0:22:01You've done a great thing,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03you've done a superb thing, you really have.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07..as we make sure a house is a fit place to call home.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- The place is clearly being plagued by rats.- Yeah.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Raw sewage in the back garden.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16It's just apparent that this is not an OK environment...
0:22:16 > 0:22:18- No.- ..for ANYONE to live in.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Back in Havering, enforcement agents John and Shane
0:22:25 > 0:22:28are on the hunt for unpaid council tax.
0:22:28 > 0:22:29They've got a number of warrants
0:22:29 > 0:22:32for people registered to three local traveller sites.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33It's all supposed to be done properly.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35You're supposed to have a tenancy agreement,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37supposed to be registered with the council.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Between them, they owe more than £100,000.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44But, so far, the boys haven't had much joy finding the culprits.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Just keep an eye out, see how big the dogs are.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51They're hoping for more luck at site number two.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Hello?
0:22:55 > 0:22:56But they don't seem to be winning
0:22:56 > 0:22:59at what is a particularly challenging game of hide-and-seek.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Someone... There's someone lying on the sofa.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08We're enforcement agents, sir. Havering Council.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Can we just ask, do you know who your landlord is?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14He lives next door?
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Although John and Shane are here as part of an enforcement team,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19they're also keen to make sure these residents are offered
0:23:19 > 0:23:22the same security as others in the borough.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24You should be on a tenancy agreement.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28OK? It's an agreement, a contract, to say you live here
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and you pay the landlord X amount of money every week or month.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34You need to register yourself with Havering Council.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Right, so you make sure you contact the council today
0:23:37 > 0:23:38and register yourself with council tax.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Also you need to get a tenancy agreement off your landlord.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Cheers, thank you.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46For the guys, this is a depressingly familiar scene.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49They'll get told to pay rent, all bills included,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51they'll pay the rent and, as far as they're concerned,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- everything's included.- Yeah.- But they don't include the council tax.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- This is exactly the problem. - No tenancy agreement,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59so it's just money in the landlord's pocket.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02And at the second site, one of the accompanying police team
0:24:02 > 0:24:05has discovered someone else who could need protection.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08So we've got a horse in the trailer there.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10What we're basically looking to do is get the wildlife officer
0:24:10 > 0:24:12to come down so he can have a look at the horse
0:24:12 > 0:24:14and make sure it's got enough space inside the trailer,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16and also got enough space to graze.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Obviously, it's enclosed a bit there.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19So we'll get him to come down, have a look
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and then, if needs be, we'll refer it onto the RSPCA
0:24:22 > 0:24:24to come down as well.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26While the call is placed with animal welfare,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29John and Shane have decided to get a little bit more creative
0:24:29 > 0:24:31in their methods of collecting funds.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35That vehicle there, in the windscreen, there's a schoolbook.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Belonging to a dad, mum, that wouldn't be there for no reason.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44We DVLA-checked the van.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46It's not registered to the person that we're after.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48However, they are on the insurance,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50so therefore we have reason to believe
0:24:50 > 0:24:52the vehicle is owned by the person.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54John and Shane have powers to collect
0:24:54 > 0:24:57the unpaid council tax arrears by impounding possessions
0:24:57 > 0:24:59of suspected perpetrators.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03This is a good tool that we have, you know,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05we are able to take control of people's vehicles
0:25:05 > 0:25:09and remove them if necessary. You can't get in the buildings,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11they're in there, looking at you through the window.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13They don't have to open the door and they know that.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17But the one thing they can't do is put their van in their front room.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18So, yeah...
0:25:18 > 0:25:2197% of the people pay their council tax.
0:25:21 > 0:25:223% don't.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And out of that 3%, there's the ones that don't want to pay it,
0:25:25 > 0:25:29can't pay it and the ones that just don't think they have to pay it
0:25:29 > 0:25:31and, unfortunately, this is the place
0:25:31 > 0:25:33where they don't think they have to pay it, so...
0:25:33 > 0:25:37But, yeah, we should be getting something today with the van.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42It's been a tricky one. It's common when you go to places like this.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46You will get some people saying they've moved on,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48they're travelling,
0:25:48 > 0:25:49tenants coming and going,
0:25:49 > 0:25:53not finding out official agreements with the council,
0:25:53 > 0:25:57so it is a bit difficult, but we will get there.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59We will make visits onto the other site.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02If it takes a few hours, then it will,
0:26:02 > 0:26:03but we are here to do a job today.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Well, the boys seem satisfied they've got something
0:26:06 > 0:26:08out of their first couple of stops, but coming up,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12their quest for unpaid council tax hits a bit of a wall.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15We've got the council with us, we've got the police with us,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17we're here today to enforce it.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Meanwhile, back in Suffolk, housing officer Andrew Weavers,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28found himself facing one of the biggest challenges of his career
0:26:28 > 0:26:32when he discovered a trapped tenant in a Stowmarket bungalow.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- He hasn't been able to get out. - Haven't you been out?- No.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38I didn't realise you'd been in here, not able to get out for five years.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Mr Peck's predicament was clearly a desperate one,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43so Andrew has sprung into action.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46It hit a nerve with me, really, because...
0:26:47 > 0:26:51..it was quite grim and to know that he's off our radar
0:26:51 > 0:26:54and the only reason that I'd actually got to meet him
0:26:54 > 0:26:57was because we were going to put a ramp in,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I think that upset me a little bit.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Andrew's returned a few days later and this time he's not alone.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12He's got some good news for Mr Peck and his niece, Mrs Howard.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15All right, fella? How are you doing today?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- We're all right to do this, aren't we?- Yes.- Yeah.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21So I've pulled in a few favours
0:27:21 > 0:27:25and someone's going to cut back the stinging nettles, yeah?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28So we can see what we've got. But I don't know
0:27:28 > 0:27:30what your capabilities are going in a wheelchair,
0:27:30 > 0:27:34but you said you want to self-propel, don't you?
0:27:34 > 0:27:37But you can't always do it, can you, push him?
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Yes, can you manage that?
0:27:47 > 0:27:49You've never tried one. OK.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- 13 years.- That's right.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55So do you go out of this room?
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Yeah. But you've not been out of the bungalow...
0:28:00 > 0:28:01for 13 years?
0:28:03 > 0:28:05With Mr Peck confined to the room for five years
0:28:05 > 0:28:08and not able to leave the house for 13 years,
0:28:08 > 0:28:12access to the garden is clearly going to make a huge difference
0:28:12 > 0:28:16to his life, so the guys get busy making short work of the long grass.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Fortunately, much of the dog muck has been removed,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23leaving the path clear for Andrew and the team.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Don't tell everyone. Look at this, look at that, look.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Yeah, that's me done. Phew! That's hard work, isn't it? Huh?
0:28:30 > 0:28:31HE LAUGHS
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Look, I've got a sweat on, a right sweat on.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38What do you think of it so far, then?
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Yeah? You can see what they're going to do.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43What they're going to do is they're going to weed-kill all this, yeah?
0:28:43 > 0:28:45They're going to try and find some slabs,
0:28:45 > 0:28:49because it's pointless us putting in all of these ramps and things
0:28:49 > 0:28:51if this gets overgrown again,
0:28:51 > 0:28:53and then we'll see what we can do
0:28:53 > 0:28:57about how we get Mr Peck into the garden,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00so we're trying to figure out now where we can...
0:29:00 > 0:29:01how we can get him out.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03With the garden looking more like somewhere
0:29:03 > 0:29:07you could now sit out and enjoy, Andrew's next task is to work out
0:29:07 > 0:29:10how to sort out the wheelchair access.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Right, the path is going to...
0:29:14 > 0:29:16We're going to get rid of the shrubbery here
0:29:16 > 0:29:19and the path will come along the side of the bungalow...
0:29:24 > 0:29:28..out to about here and then cut in along here,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32to the flat part of this path here.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36Unfortunately, my idea of getting it out the back door isn't possible,
0:29:36 > 0:29:40so it's got to be the plan B, which is go out the front.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43LEAF BLOWER REVS
0:29:43 > 0:29:46My worry is Mr Peck hasn't been out for 13 years,
0:29:46 > 0:29:50so I don't quite know what he's capable of, so, you know...
0:29:52 > 0:29:54..we can only hope that he does...
0:29:54 > 0:29:58is able to get into that wheelchair and get into the garden.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Well, then, Mr Peck. Are you all right?
0:30:03 > 0:30:05All done.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08I've done all that garden for you myself.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12Yeah, I got a bit sweaty, but I cleared that all by myself.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16I do, don't I? If you believe that, you'll believe anything.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18Yeah?
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Yeah. There's a couple, two or three chaps out there,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23but I did a very good job at pointing what needs to be done.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25That was hard work.
0:30:26 > 0:30:27I did crack the whip, yeah.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30It's got a nice bit of garden there now.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32- Thank you very much. - It's really nice.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36So the next thing is to try and plan for this pathway.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41You could be sitting out there in a month's time, in a wheelchair.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43In some fresh air. What do you think?
0:30:45 > 0:30:46Yeah? I've got everything crossed,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49but I obviously can't make any major promises,
0:30:49 > 0:30:54but if I keep watching it, hopefully we'll get it done, all right?
0:30:54 > 0:30:56OK.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Andrew's clearly feeling much more optimistic
0:30:58 > 0:31:00than after our first visit.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03There's still some way to go before Mr Peck has the chance
0:31:03 > 0:31:07to return to the simple pleasures of a life outside his four walls.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15My objective here today was to get the garden cut back
0:31:15 > 0:31:18to see what we've got. We've done that today.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21We've had the place measured, we can see what we need to do,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24so the next job is to get that path put in
0:31:24 > 0:31:26and get the garden...
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Get those slabs in the garden.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32So, in theory...
0:31:32 > 0:31:34what I'm hoping to achieve now
0:31:34 > 0:31:38is to go and sit in the garden with Mr Peck.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41There's not many job satisfaction days like this,
0:31:41 > 0:31:43but you've got to grab them when you can and, er...
0:31:45 > 0:31:46..it'll be nice if he can get out
0:31:46 > 0:31:49and get some fresh air for the first time in 13 years.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Well, a few weeks later and Andrew's returned.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01The good news is the work is now complete,
0:32:01 > 0:32:05allowing Mr Peck safe access to the garden.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08After 13 long years confined to his bungalow,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12he now has the chance to feel the sunshine on his face.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I'll tell you what, this isn't in my job description.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17You're all right, don't you worry.
0:32:17 > 0:32:18And he's nearly there.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23Right, full steam ahead.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28Yep, that's wide enough.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33That is warm, look. There's your gate, look.
0:32:35 > 0:32:36Here we go.
0:32:36 > 0:32:37Well, well, well.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41It's clearly an emotional moment.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45You've got to get a bit used to it, won't you, fella, huh?
0:32:45 > 0:32:46Hey?
0:32:49 > 0:32:53And it's another example of how the life of a housing officer
0:32:53 > 0:32:54can be anything but ordinary.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58There you go, fella. Let's celebrate, shall we?
0:32:58 > 0:33:00There you go, cheers.
0:33:00 > 0:33:01Good health.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06Yeah, it's a shandy. I've got the same as you.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Happy days.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Here's going out into the garden, yeah?
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Oh, dear. Better not have too much of that!
0:33:17 > 0:33:19HE LAUGHS
0:33:27 > 0:33:29Cheerio, Mr Peck.
0:33:29 > 0:33:30Bye, thanks.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32All the best, yeah? Thank you.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39It was all a bit too much for Mr Peck.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41I think he's quite pleased.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43He's not been out for 13 years,
0:33:43 > 0:33:46so I think it probably got to him a little bit.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53I just hope he can make use of it, I really do.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03In the north-east of England, just before you hit Scotland,
0:34:03 > 0:34:06lies the beautiful county of Northumberland.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08It's a gorgeous setting
0:34:08 > 0:34:10and you can't blame local residents for wanting to capture
0:34:10 > 0:34:15a unique slice of this outdoor heaven in their own back yard.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19But, today, housing officers Laura Barnett and Lindsay Jones
0:34:19 > 0:34:22are out on their rounds, forced into the role of garden inspectors,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25as one of their housing association tenants
0:34:25 > 0:34:28may be guilty of letting her taste for the tranquil
0:34:28 > 0:34:29go a little bit too far.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33We're going to visit a lady who we've been working with
0:34:33 > 0:34:35over the last couple of months
0:34:35 > 0:34:37and there's been a number of issues in her garden -
0:34:37 > 0:34:40grass, branches, trees, etc.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44As well as a rather large structure.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49Mrs Crisp has lived in her property for more than 30 years
0:34:49 > 0:34:51and is clearly very house-proud.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53But it's her plans to add an outdoor fish tank
0:34:53 > 0:34:56that are the cause of today's trip.
0:34:56 > 0:34:57I mean, a fish tank -
0:34:57 > 0:35:00what could possibly be wrong with that?
0:35:02 > 0:35:06It is just literally like a skip just in her garden.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09It's not been filled with anything as yet...
0:35:10 > 0:35:13..but she insists she wants to put koi carp in it.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15It is a bit of an eyesore.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18I mean, no, it doesn't quite blend in with the rest of the surroundings,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21but surely it's Mrs Crisp's back garden,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24and it should be up to her what she puts in it.
0:35:24 > 0:35:25Well, yes and no.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27As it's a housing association property,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29they still remain the landlord,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32which means Laura and Lindsay have a responsibility
0:35:32 > 0:35:36to check all the correct safety and planning measures are put in place.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Mrs Crisp is joined by her neighbour, Craig,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42who's keen to see his friend is given a fair hearing
0:35:42 > 0:35:45when it comes to retaining her own private fishing rights.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47The main concern is it doesn't look great at the minute.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49It's been there since October or something
0:35:49 > 0:35:52and you've not really done anything with it.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54No, because you said we couldn't have the fish,
0:35:54 > 0:35:55so that's why the fish aren't there.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58But it was there for a good couple of months before we...
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Oh, yes, it was there.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05I just want to understand from a health and safety perspective,
0:36:05 > 0:36:09I live next door and I have an ornamental pond in my garden...
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Ah, but the rules are different for Craig next door.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14But we're a landlord, it's different for private.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17It's different to a private resident to a landlord,
0:36:17 > 0:36:18because we have different things.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Like, if somebody comes into the garden,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24was to climb in the tank and fall and drown...
0:36:24 > 0:36:26That's the main reason why we're asking all these questions.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28We've got trip hazards, you've got trees,
0:36:28 > 0:36:32you've got any number of items in this garden
0:36:32 > 0:36:34that could potentially injure somebody.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37You're not telling me that all of those aspects
0:36:37 > 0:36:40have got to be mitigated under health and safety?
0:36:40 > 0:36:41The questions that we've asked...
0:36:41 > 0:36:43In the same way that I next door have an ornamental pond,
0:36:43 > 0:36:45which is a risk,
0:36:45 > 0:36:47but I control who goes in and out of my garden
0:36:47 > 0:36:50and if there are young children, I would warn them of the risk.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52That's why we're saying at the moment,
0:36:52 > 0:36:54- we're not out here today to give you an answer, yes or no.- Right.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57What we could be saying is that could be seen as an eyesore.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00It's clear Lindsay and Laura are still keeping an open mind
0:37:00 > 0:37:03on whether the fish tank gets the thumbs up or not,
0:37:03 > 0:37:07but they are suggesting other ways Mrs Crisp could proceed.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10If we were to actually grant permission,
0:37:10 > 0:37:13one of the conditions is we would be asking you to fully submerge it.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Wouldn't that make it more of a risk?
0:37:15 > 0:37:16No, because when it's submerged,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19the cover is what we're saying is not an eyesore.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21It's not an eyesore then.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24But it's not an eyesore to me, I don't mind that tank here.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27That's where we are on the realms of what is in the tenancy agreement.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31So submerging the tank might be one way around the problem.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Mrs Crisp might have another.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38If it was fenced up, you know, if it was done properly,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42not just an eyesore, is that not classed as my garden furniture?
0:37:42 > 0:37:46We could take that back and see if that would be acceptable,
0:37:46 > 0:37:50whether there would be an acceptable approach to it.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53If you don't mind, am I all right to measure it up?
0:37:53 > 0:37:55So there are a couple of options for Mrs Crisp
0:37:55 > 0:37:58which Lindsay and Laura promise to look into.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00- Thank you.- Thank you for coming out.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02- Thank you.- As long as I know how we stand.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Buried underground or disguised with cladding -
0:38:05 > 0:38:07either way the decision could finally be an answer
0:38:07 > 0:38:09to that age-old question,
0:38:09 > 0:38:11fish pond or fish tank?
0:38:11 > 0:38:13It's quite a large tank!
0:38:13 > 0:38:16And I think that is our issue at the moment,
0:38:16 > 0:38:18as is it a pond or is it a tank?
0:38:20 > 0:38:23We would certainly say at the moment, yeah, that is a tank.
0:38:23 > 0:38:24If it was a private property,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27you would only have to deal with planning permission,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30so that's a lot different to being a local tenant, I would guess,
0:38:30 > 0:38:32to social housing.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34We will obviously go back with the information that we've got
0:38:34 > 0:38:36and go back to our health and safety officer again,
0:38:36 > 0:38:39and we obviously have to go with whatever advice he gives us.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42Obviously, we want the tenants to, you know, enjoy their home
0:38:42 > 0:38:44and have the use of their garden,
0:38:44 > 0:38:47but they signed a tenancy agreement at the start of their tenancy
0:38:47 > 0:38:50and they do have to comply with what is in that, unfortunately.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53Well, Mrs Crisp was granted permission for the tank to remain,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56as long as it was clad to make it less obtrusive,
0:38:56 > 0:39:00and a new fence was erected to prevent access to the garden
0:39:00 > 0:39:01from the side of the house.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10We're in the London Borough of Havering.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12John and Shane are part of the council's enforcement team
0:39:12 > 0:39:17who are looking to recover more than £100,000 in unpaid council tax.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21After finding a creative way of recovering part of the debt...
0:39:21 > 0:39:24The one thing they can't do is put their van in the front rooms.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28..the boys are now at their third and final location for the day.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Unfortunately, getting inside is proving a problem.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36The resident is a little bit camera-shy,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39but John and Shane believe he is one of the people on their list.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42It's not an arrest warrant, it's a warrant for us to remove goods
0:39:42 > 0:39:43for not paying the council tax.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45The thing is, sir, if you refuse access,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47we can apply to the courts for a warrant to break it.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50If you want to come out, we'll talk to you, fine, it's not a problem.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53At the moment, he is refusing access.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56He's asking us to go back to the court to get a warrant to enter.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59He's not going to allow us in, but he's going to come out now
0:39:59 > 0:40:01and we're going to try and discuss some sort of...
0:40:01 > 0:40:03Stop pointing the camera at me.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05He's here to video us, sir, so that's fine.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06Don't point it at me.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08All my council tax affairs are in order.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11I've paid it. I know it is.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13The man might not be keen to show his face,
0:40:13 > 0:40:16but he does want John and Shane to know that, today,
0:40:16 > 0:40:18it's a case of mistaken identity.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21We've got one mobile home at Hogbar Farm West.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24This isn't Hogbar Farm, you jackass. Hogbar Farm is up there.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27No, I appreciate... Please, you don't have to call me a jackass.
0:40:27 > 0:40:28I'm just explaining this to you.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Have you got some ID I can have a quick look at, please?
0:40:31 > 0:40:32Want to see the spelling of your name,
0:40:32 > 0:40:34make sure they've got it right, that's all.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Well, they definitely have issued warrants in your name...
0:40:38 > 0:40:41..for a mobile home at Hogbar Farm West.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43That's the wrong...
0:40:43 > 0:40:46- I don't live in Hogbar Farm. - Sorry, let me give you that back.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48But these have been issued by the court.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50I don't care who's issued them. I'll go to court with you.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53I don't live in Hogbar Farm, I've nothing to do with Hogbar Farm.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- Have you ever lived on Hogbar Farm? - No, never did.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59- But you still are liable. - I'm not liable.
0:40:59 > 0:41:00That's what the council is saying.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01Take me to court.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04You have been taken to court. There is a warrant issued...
0:41:04 > 0:41:06The next stage, sir, would be committal proceedings,
0:41:06 > 0:41:08arrest warrants and things like that.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10- That's what they'd be looking at, yeah?- Arrest me.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12I'll come down to the council office with you.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14We've got no choice, we have to enforce it, sir, I'm afraid,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16so we do need to come in and...
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- You're not coming in here. - Can I have a look?
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- You, yourself, come in. You stay there.- OK.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25With John at least allowed inside, but not Shane or our cameras,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27it's a chance to find out the whereabouts
0:41:27 > 0:41:29of the other names on the warrant.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33He's registered for council tax. Gone? Gone?
0:41:33 > 0:41:35John's clearly not having much luck
0:41:35 > 0:41:37and eventually Shane's allowed in to help,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39but it seems the result is the same.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Not really getting much response.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49He has shown me identification that showed the spelling of his name
0:41:49 > 0:41:51is different to the one that we've got,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53but we haven't actually got any warrants
0:41:53 > 0:41:55for his name at this address,
0:41:55 > 0:41:57so the other people that we're after,
0:41:57 > 0:41:59apparently they don't live there.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01We can't break into any of the flats,
0:42:01 > 0:42:03we can't DVLA check the cars,
0:42:03 > 0:42:05so there's pretty much not much we can do,
0:42:05 > 0:42:09so we'll leave all the details and hopefully, you know,
0:42:09 > 0:42:12we'll contact them and, you know, get the matter resolved.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14It'll start the process,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17it'll start the ball rolling of eventually getting it sorted out,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20because they know, at the end of the day now, we're not messing about.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22If they don't pay it,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24we'll just come back with warrants to gain entry.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26To be honest with you, we've come out alive, so we're all right.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28It's not been too bad.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30We didn't get any payments, but I'm pretty confident
0:42:30 > 0:42:33that the council will get some phone calls
0:42:33 > 0:42:36and payments will start getting made.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Well, the good news is that it seems that John and Shane's day out
0:42:39 > 0:42:43wasn't a wasted trip. After their little run-around,
0:42:43 > 0:42:45council tax for two of the properties
0:42:45 > 0:42:47was paid in full for this year,
0:42:47 > 0:42:51as well as a direct debit put in place to reduce the arrears.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55In addition, the owners of the site are now working with the council
0:42:55 > 0:42:58so that the occupants of the homes are identified
0:42:58 > 0:43:02to ensure that council tax demands are made to the correct people.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06This should lead to regular payments being monitored by the council
0:43:06 > 0:43:09and will allow remaining arrears to be recouped,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11which is a great result for John and Shane,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14and for the other 97% of people in Havering
0:43:14 > 0:43:16who DO pay their council tax.