0:00:02 > 0:00:04You could be down there for a while without anybody knowing.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Everyone deserves a safe place to live.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09If your home is falling apart, you're going to fall apart.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11But with rents rising and demand increasing,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15it's getting harder and harder to find a secure place to call home.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18- It's a stinky little hole. - It is indeed.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21I'm Matt Allwright, and I'm back with the housing enforcers.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26- Poo! It stinks.- If I'm honest with you, I'm not sure whether
0:00:26 > 0:00:28I would want Grace going into that house.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31I'm on the front line with those fighting for
0:00:31 > 0:00:32the right to decent housing...
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Oh! This place is a bit of a mess.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Is there anyone in there?
0:00:35 > 0:00:39..as local councils and housing associations battle problem
0:00:39 > 0:00:41properties and slum conditions...
0:00:41 > 0:00:44The smell in there, everything just reeks.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46..as they deal with dodgy landlords...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And probably here is about as far as it's safe to go.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50..nightmare neighbours...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- What, she's been kicking you?- Yeah.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54..and everything in-between...
0:00:54 > 0:00:56OK!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59..to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Behind every door is a little bit of a detective story.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Today, I help a grandfather with a new move that proves bittersweet.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16It must be quite sad in a way because that was your family home.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It was.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21I'm very sad to leave it because the every time you're in there
0:01:21 > 0:01:23you remember the kids when they were small,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25running up and down the stairs.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28In Lewisham, one housing association is helping residents tackle
0:01:28 > 0:01:31a significant blot on their landscape.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35When we first come to live here it was beautiful.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39It was...you know, good.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I meet a mum and her family facing eviction from a property
0:01:42 > 0:01:44that's already a health hazard.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Do you get damp on the walls at all?
0:01:46 > 0:01:50- Yeah, on that wall. - Up in that corner?- It's really bad.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52And one man's antisocial behaviour forces
0:01:52 > 0:01:54the council into direct action.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58I'm about to serve an injunction, so he's not allowed in the area.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02He will get arrested if he's seen in the area and we'll go from there.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Finding a suitable place to call home for you and your family
0:02:11 > 0:02:16has never been harder, especially for those on a restricted budget.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20But low rent shouldn't mean your house doesn't live up to
0:02:20 > 0:02:24the same basic standards as everyone else's.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Fortunately, there is a group of men and women
0:02:27 > 0:02:31who are out on the front line battling on your behalf
0:02:31 > 0:02:34against bad and dangerous living conditions -
0:02:34 > 0:02:37they are the housing enforcers.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Whether you call it the occupancy charge, spare room subsidy,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53or bedroom tax, its introduction in 2013 was supposed to free up
0:02:53 > 0:02:55social housing space for families.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Controversially, it also left those tenants with spare bedrooms
0:02:59 > 0:03:02having to downsize or lose some of their benefits.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05But, in Somerset,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08the tenant of this rambling home is more than ready to move.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I'm on the way to meet him,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16with housing association officer Belinda Eastland.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23The house is so big that he's just using a fraction of the rooms
0:03:23 > 0:03:25and the others are just shut up.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29So we've spoken to him about his wish to move
0:03:29 > 0:03:31and a property has come up,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35which we're going to meet him at today to show him around.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38So he's made the decision himself, then?
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It's his idea.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43You know, he wants fewer rooms to heat,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46fewer rooms to manage and, you know,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- wants a cosier home to spend the rest of his life in.- Good.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53- Hopefully this is going to be the one then.- I hope so.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00After the death of his wife, and his kids leaving home,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I'm not surprised 70-year-old Greek Cypriot Michalis
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- is ready for a change.- Hello.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Good to see you. Hi, I'm Matt. Nice to meet you.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11This recently refurnished two-bedroom house
0:04:11 > 0:04:12has now become available.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Let's just hope it's the sort of thing he's looking for.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Tell me how this compares to where you've just come from.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Actually, the other one is very, very lush. It's about 12 rooms.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26It was fantastic when we first moved in, when the kids were small.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It was a family home. I was left on my own.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Susan died. She left me with the kids.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38My son joined the Royal Marines, so he was off to Iraq and Afghanistan,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41my daughter went to study and it's a big house.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44And, to tell you the truth, first of all,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47a big house with one person is very, very lonely place.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49It's also not very ethical
0:04:49 > 0:04:52because you've got one person and you've got 12 rooms.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55The place now is deteriorating
0:04:55 > 0:04:59and, the whole thing, you just cannot catch up.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02It sounds like Michalis has had a really tough time of it,
0:05:02 > 0:05:07but leaving the home he's raised a family in can't be easy.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10It must be quite sad, in a way, because that was your family home.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12It was. And, I mean,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15I will be very sad to leave it because every time you are in there
0:05:15 > 0:05:17you remember the kids when they were small,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20running up and down the stairs, so you remember that.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24But, on the other hand, it's also sad memories.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29You know, the death of Susan.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32You remember all the goings on.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35You remember... So, it is a mixture.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38It can be pretty sad.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40So, it's a good thing. But I think the best thing,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43is it's a big house and it needs a family in there.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I'm pleased to hear that, despite his situation,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Michalis is still thinking about the needs of others.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Shall we see the rest of the house?
0:05:54 > 0:05:55I think it's important.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57'I'm hoping this new place will provide him
0:05:57 > 0:05:59'with everything he needs.'
0:05:59 > 0:06:01This is great. Split level.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- Yeah, yeah.- That's great. - It's really nice.
0:06:06 > 0:06:07From what you're saying,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10it sounds like you appreciate quite simple things in life.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Yeah. Yeah, of course.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14The more things you add to your life
0:06:14 > 0:06:16and the more things you want,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19the more pressure you put yourself under.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21In actual fact, the more stressed you get.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26The fact is you can live quite nicely with the simple things.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Upstairs, there's no shortage of space.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35And that's a really lovely bathroom.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Look at the size of that. You've got loads of space.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Luckily there's also a spare room
0:06:39 > 0:06:42for when Michalis' children come to stay,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44but he's well aware not every tenant is so lucky.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48As you're getting older...
0:06:49 > 0:06:53..you put so much work, as they say in England, you know,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56sweat and tears, to raise a family
0:06:56 > 0:06:58and it comes to the age where you're actually
0:06:58 > 0:07:01the age where you're going to enjoy the family.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05And what they did with the bedroom tax, they actually deprived
0:07:05 > 0:07:11the very people that need to enjoy the fruit of their labour
0:07:11 > 0:07:12of those years raising their family.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14They deprive them now cos they said,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17"If you have more than one bedroom, we're going to tax you."
0:07:17 > 0:07:19The argument against that is, of course,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22if you've got a resource, if you've got capacity,
0:07:22 > 0:07:24trying to allocate that to the people that need it most.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26So, if people are overcrowded,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28you've got to free up those properties.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33Yeah, but you've got to think also, an old man, say 70 or 75, or 65,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37or whatever, sitting all alone in that one-bedroom house...
0:07:39 > 0:07:44..you know, he might have three or four kids with grandkids,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47but he cannot have them to come and stay with him to keep him company,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49to see his family, I think it's wrong.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So to have your family around you, you're saying a necessity,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- not a luxury. - No, no, it is a necessity.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00Be surrounded by the offsprings of the fruits of your labour.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05The spare room subsidy is certainly controversial,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08but there's no denying the desperate need for social housing
0:08:08 > 0:08:10that can accommodate families.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12For family man Michalis though,
0:08:12 > 0:08:17the extra room here will prevent him from feeling quite so isolated.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It's time to let Belinda know the verdict.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22You've seen the property. What do you think?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- It's brilliant. - Are you happy to take it?
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- Oh, yeah.- This is the tenancy agreement for you to take.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- That's brilliant. - Just a sample one.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34So it's an assured tenancy,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36so it's a lifetime tenancy.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40The assured tenancy means Michalis is free to enjoy this property for
0:08:40 > 0:08:42the rest of his days,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46but it looks like he's not wasting any time making himself at home.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51Now, Michalis hasn't signed the tenancy agreement yet
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- and yet his cooker is outside the back door.- I know!
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Is it too soon or can I give him a hand bringing it in?
0:08:58 > 0:09:00No, let's put it in.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02It doesn't take...
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- How can I say no? I shouldn't really allow...- I know.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I know. Like I said, we're not in the middle of a city
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- with people we don't know. - It won't be insured.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14No, no.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19To tell you the truth, it doesn't really matter to me at all.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Let's go and grab your cooker.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23This is very important, actually.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Well, you know, I like to help out where I can. Bend the knees!
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Yeah, he's done a proper job. Yeah.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- It's brilliant. - Yeah, they've done a proper job.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Just don't tell anyone I let you put it in
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- before you signed the tenancy agreement.- Of course.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44That's right. Like I said, you know...
0:09:46 > 0:09:48It's very hard to refuse Michalis anything.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51What can you do?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55How could you possibly say no? Seriously. Poor old Belinda.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57The cooker's in.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I have a feeling Michalis' life here
0:10:03 > 0:10:05will be a happy and fruitful one,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08in a property that now, I think, suits him perfectly.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Michalis has really expressed there very quickly
0:10:12 > 0:10:15a lot of the things that have run through
0:10:15 > 0:10:18every series we've done so far of Housing Enforcers,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22just how important a good home can be,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25the difference that it's made to him through his life
0:10:25 > 0:10:27and why he feels it's right now to step away from a house
0:10:27 > 0:10:31that's not right for him and find somewhere that is
0:10:31 > 0:10:32so he can live simply but well.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36That seems to be the essence of what he was saying there.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40What a lovely chap. What a pleasure.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57Fly-tipping - unsightly, dangerous and on the increase.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Illegally dumped waste presents a health hazard for local residents
0:11:00 > 0:11:03and a huge and costly headache for councils
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and housing associations across the UK.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09You have to feel for tenants when your room with a view
0:11:09 > 0:11:10ends up like this.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Here in Lewisham, London,
0:11:15 > 0:11:17these challenges can land on
0:11:17 > 0:11:20the desk of housing officers like Grace Briody.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22This is a problematic area.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Probably once a week I'm having to arrange
0:11:24 > 0:11:27quite large hoards of fly-tipping to be removed.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30As soon as one lot gets removed, there's a new lot
0:11:30 > 0:11:32immediately within two or three days.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35And every time we get this removed it's going on the service charges,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37which is obviously really unfair for those that aren't fly-tipping
0:11:37 > 0:11:40because they're the ones paying for it.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Grace has been tipped off that one of her estates
0:11:42 > 0:11:44has become a target for fly-tippers
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and, as there are families living there,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49getting it cleared is a high priority.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51We need to get it done as quickly as possible.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Fly-tipping, obviously, it's going to attract rats,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56but also it's a massive fire risk, particularly when it's furniture,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and it's right next to residential houses,
0:11:59 > 0:12:01so need to take quick action. I was notified yesterday,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04so obviously get out first thing this morning, take some photos.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Grace is keen to get to the scene of the crime as quickly as she can.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11She knows what can happen if the problem isn't nipped in the bud.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12One person will start the fly-tipping,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15then other people think, "Well, do you know what?
0:12:15 > 0:12:16"Fine if they're doing it, I'll do it.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18"We're going to have pay for it anyway."
0:12:18 > 0:12:22And it just creates a bit of a problem, and I think for those
0:12:22 > 0:12:25that really want to take pride in their estate and look after it,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27it's really frustrating for them.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29There's not a lot they can do to stop it.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34When she arrives, she can see the problem is much worse than expected.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36These bins are for resident use only,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38meant for the disposal of household waste.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40I'm not sure how or where those sofas
0:12:40 > 0:12:43and furnishings would fit into that description.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Furniture seems to be the biggest problem -
0:12:45 > 0:12:48I'm not entirely sure why. But I would say that I find
0:12:48 > 0:12:51a new set of table and chairs that have been thrown out
0:12:51 > 0:12:54probably at least every two weeks at the moment.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58So, this has obviously come out of somebody's house.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Somebody's taken the time to very neatly stack their fly-tipping,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04which is really convenient.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07It's almost funny when people actually stack it all nice
0:13:07 > 0:13:09and neatly because that doesn't change
0:13:09 > 0:13:12the fact that's still fly-tipping, that is still illegal
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and that is something now that we're going to have removed.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18And, again, somebody has to pay for this to be done.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22And it's sad because a small number of residents impact
0:13:22 > 0:13:24the whole estate.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Grace suspects the waste hasn't come from residents here and,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30open the door, look at that, the bins are overflowing.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33The items that are in here, as you can see, that's a suitcase.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35We've got a lot of household items.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37I'm going to have a quick look in the next one.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40I think this one's even worse.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Wow! OK.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47So, again, as you can see, we've got... I'm not sure what that is.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48We've got drawers.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50We've got wooden...cardboard boxes,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52household garden waste,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55all these things, none of which are meant to be in the rubbish.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58This illegal build-up of waste is not only dangerous,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01it's having a serious impact on the quality of life for residents here -
0:14:01 > 0:14:03for long-term tenants like Alice.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06It smells...I mean, shocking.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09We're... This is what we're trying to get on top of.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12This bin shed seems to be the worst for some reason.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14My husband's dead,
0:14:14 > 0:14:19but when we first come to live here, it was beautiful.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21It was...you know, good.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Now...
0:14:24 > 0:14:26The thing is they can't get into the bin shed
0:14:26 > 0:14:28because there's so much rubbish in there,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31so we need to get on top of the rubbish issue first.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36I only had the fly-tipping removed five days ago and it's back again.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39These sofas are new. They were only there since yesterday.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41I'm going to take some photos of the rubbish
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and try and get it removed in the next couple of days, OK?
0:14:44 > 0:14:48- Oh, that would be good. - Yeah? OK.- That would be good.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Alice shouldn't have to put up with this eyesore
0:14:51 > 0:14:54and the authorities have promised to get tough
0:14:54 > 0:14:57with fly-tipping offenders. It's a criminal offence,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01punishable with a prison sentence or a £50,000 fine and Lewisham Council
0:15:01 > 0:15:06has been handing out fixed penalties of £250 for even minor offences.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Grace is keen to do her bit to track down the perpetrators,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12even if it means getting her hands dirty.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Quite often you'll find, if there's bits of paperwork hanging out...
0:15:16 > 0:15:18I'm going to do it more so in this one.
0:15:18 > 0:15:23But, no, it's not uncommon for me to have a nosey through
0:15:23 > 0:15:24and see if there's letters here.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Often... I'm not going to obviously do it right this second
0:15:27 > 0:15:28because I've not got any gloves on me,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31but you will find, if you open these bags,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34that there'll be something with people's addresses on.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35And if she does find a lead,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Grace is in little doubt what her message will be.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41These are items that you could ask the council to come and collect.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43The cost of which would be minuscule
0:15:43 > 0:15:46compared to what we're going to have to pay a contractor
0:15:46 > 0:15:47to get these items removed.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Maybe £20 out of their own pocket to have their furniture removed
0:15:51 > 0:15:54from their home. Instead, they've dumped it in a communal bin,
0:15:54 > 0:15:56which is really not fair and you can understand
0:15:56 > 0:15:58why people get so frustrated.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01The risk of it is that, when some neighbours start doing this,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04other neighbours think, "Fine, they're doing it,
0:16:04 > 0:16:05"I'm just going to do it as well."
0:16:05 > 0:16:08And it spirals, becomes a bit of a snowball effect
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and then pride in the estate is completely lost.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Tackling fly-tipping costs local authorities in England
0:16:13 > 0:16:16£50m a year -
0:16:16 > 0:16:18that cost has to go somewhere.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21We're going to have to pay our contractors to come and remove
0:16:21 > 0:16:24all of this, to get the bin at a level where it can be emptied.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26I would imagine, to get this removed,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29we're looking at about £500-£600 just for this bin shed,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32just for this bit that I'm looking at right now.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37What's actually really upsetting as well is I can see a lot of recycling
0:16:37 > 0:16:40in here and we do have recycling bins on the estate,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42so I can see cans, bottles,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44plastic things that could easily go into recycling -
0:16:44 > 0:16:47things that, in theory, probably make up half of this waste.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50And then if you take off the furniture and the garden goods
0:16:50 > 0:16:52that shouldn't be in here as well,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55the bins would be as full as you would expect them to be
0:16:55 > 0:16:57this close to collection.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59So, when the binmen arrive and they look at this,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01they're going to close the door again
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and drive on to the next bin shed, and sadly they're going to do that
0:17:04 > 0:17:06for every bin shed on this street by the looks of it today.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07This is the worst I've seen it.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12And if you think of just for today,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15that's now six bins I need to get cleared,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18three lots...four lots of fly-tipping
0:17:18 > 0:17:19and this bin shed cleared.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22You're talking a couple of thousand pounds, potentially,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24just from today, just to get all of this removed.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32I'm pleased to say that, after that visit,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Grace arranged to the fly-tipping to be removed by contractors.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39But she's continuing to keep an eye out for any more unsightly
0:17:39 > 0:17:44and illegal dumping, as fly-tipping continues to be an on going problem
0:17:44 > 0:17:47and the work to educate and inform all residents on
0:17:47 > 0:17:50the correct ways to dispose of their waste continues.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00It's been estimated that every 15 minutes a family in England
0:18:00 > 0:18:02becomes homeless - it's a staggering statistic
0:18:02 > 0:18:06and an illustration of the desperate situation facing both tenants and
0:18:06 > 0:18:10housing providers as the nation's housing crisis continues to bite.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15Often cases can become so desperate they can end up at places like
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Shelter, who look to confront homelessness in all its forms.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Today, I'm with Gill from Shelter Merseyside,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24who's particularly worried about a single mum who,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26along with her four children,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29is facing the real possibility of eviction.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32The case that we're going to look at, the referral that we've had,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36where did it come from and what are the details?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39It was referred through to us from children's services...
0:18:41 > 0:18:44..because the landlord has told the family
0:18:44 > 0:18:47they need to leave the property by the end of July.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- Right. So, he said out by the end of July.- Yeah.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- I mean, it is now the end of July. - Yes.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56So...this feels a bit urgent then,
0:18:56 > 0:18:59but we realise that this is a family that could be homeless very shortly.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Very shortly. The end of the week.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06The landlord says he can no longer afford to repair the property,
0:19:06 > 0:19:08so the family has to go.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11With time running out, it's Gill's job to advise them on
0:19:11 > 0:19:12the best course of action
0:19:12 > 0:19:15to help prevent them becoming part of that very worrying statistic.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19But when we arrive, there are even bigger problems.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22You can see where the plaster's fallen away
0:19:22 > 0:19:25and then you can actually see the floorboards.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26It looks very wet underneath,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28as though there's water getting through,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30which would have brought all this we can see.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32It's all black round there,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34so it would have brought it all down with it.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36With four children living in this property,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38it's no wonder the tenant is worried.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I'm concerned how she's coping with the stress,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43not just of the hole in the floor,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45but the prospect of losing the roof over their heads.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47She's asked for her identity to be concealed.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50So, you've been living here since April last year?
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- Yeah.- Have you ever been evicted from a property before?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- No.- Do you have any rent arrears from any of the other properties?
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- No.- OK. Do you have any rent arrears for this property?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05But money is still tight,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08even more so after this mum lost her job.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14So, what are your prospects for finding work now?
0:20:20 > 0:20:22All right. OK. Would you go back to doing the same thing?
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Not clear what the reason is right now though.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40It will be very clear later, at some point. So, in your mind,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42are you just trying to get through this year
0:20:42 > 0:20:46until you can start work again? Is it just surviving, effectively?
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Until you can get back to work again
0:20:48 > 0:20:50and then get back to that steady...
0:20:50 > 0:20:51that routine you had before?
0:20:56 > 0:21:00But with the landlord unable to afford the repairs on the property
0:21:00 > 0:21:01and wanting to sell, the tenant
0:21:01 > 0:21:05and her four kids could find themselves homeless within days.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11When did he tell you that?
0:21:14 > 0:21:16And did he just come to the property and tell you?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20They've been living here for over a year and,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23by the looks of it, in pretty cramped conditions.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- It's really small.- Wow!
0:21:30 > 0:21:32How do you do that, then? How does that work?
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- You can't use the oven. - You've got a cocker.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37You can't really use the cooker, can you?
0:21:37 > 0:21:40To get in there to cook, round the fridge...
0:21:40 > 0:21:42How does this work with...?
0:21:44 > 0:21:47So every time you have to cook, you push the fridge into the...?
0:21:47 > 0:21:49You move that big fridge by yourself?
0:21:55 > 0:21:57So you wiggle the fridge out towards the back door,
0:21:57 > 0:22:01cook and then, when you're finished cooking, push the fridge back in.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04OK. How is that working for you?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Not only is the kitchen cramped, it's potentially dangerous, too.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11What's that?
0:22:12 > 0:22:17You've got a plug, the plug's in here, it goes outside...
0:22:19 > 0:22:21- Oh, is it?- Yeah.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22This one here...?
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Oh, is it?
0:22:27 > 0:22:30So, that wire that's hanging out there, it just sticks out,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32that's for the drier?
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Cooking anything in here would be hard enough,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40but with four kids it must be near impossible.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43As a home for a family of five,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45it's clear this place leaves a lot to be desired.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Later on, I find something potentially even more dangerous in
0:22:48 > 0:22:50the kids' bedroom.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Do you get damp on the walls at all?
0:22:58 > 0:22:59In that corner?
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Defending our right to a safe place to live is
0:23:08 > 0:23:11the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13This is how they live.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It's almost like he's declared war on everybody
0:23:15 > 0:23:18that's living here, it's not just you guys.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that...
0:23:21 > 0:23:24It looks like whoever was here had their last couple of parties
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and then decided to give it up.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27..hitting the streets,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:23:29 > 0:23:33This is a good example of a good old waste of council time.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37..as we make sure a house is a fit place to call a home.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38There's a strong smell of damp
0:23:38 > 0:23:40and you can notice it as soon as you come in the property.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43We're going to have no choice but to take them to court.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Job well done.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56With the number of people sleeping rough in the UK rising
0:23:56 > 0:23:58by a third in the last year alone,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01it's an issue that continues to challenge housing professionals.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08And, in Havering, it's community wardens
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Gael Gateson and Liam Knight who are on the front line.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15For the past couple of years, they've been trying
0:24:15 > 0:24:20to get rough sleeper Max off the streets and into accommodation.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21But since walking out of a hostel,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25he's been sleeping in this housing block and now his drinking
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and antisocial behaviour are pushing things to breaking point.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32This is evidence of Max, where he's yanking the door,
0:24:32 > 0:24:33he's breaking the magnets.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36These magnets have been replaced many a times.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39This is the stuff that we have to deal with, where he's damaging,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42criminal damage, just to get in the block.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Criminal damage like this is bad enough, but Max's activities
0:24:45 > 0:24:48are also causing distress for other residents.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Max is not just a problem on the street.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Obviously, he's a problem in our blocks
0:24:55 > 0:24:58because our residents will then call us out
0:24:58 > 0:25:00if Max is laying on the floor.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03He usually sleeps under here over night-time,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05if he can get in the block, and he usually urinates in that corner.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Every day, we always...
0:25:07 > 0:25:11the caretakers come in on a daily basis just to clean up his mess.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15This is where, as you can smell, it's not the nicest of smells!
0:25:17 > 0:25:22We've tried to help him for the past two or three years,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25but I don't know if he just doesn't want any help, really.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28We've tried really hard to help him.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33We did give him a hostel for five weeks and he just left.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36He doesn't actually like staying there,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39so don't really know what to do with him.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41We need to get him off the streets.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46We'll try to get Max into a hostel, first of all,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50but it just depends how many times we can keep taking him there,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52taking him there, taking him there.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54But we're going to really try and get an order
0:25:54 > 0:25:56to keep him off this particular estate.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00It's a very difficult situation.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Because Max constantly refuses the housing he's offered,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07he's slipping further down the council's priority list.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10For Liam and Gael, it's now becoming an enforcement issue
0:26:10 > 0:26:14to ensure he's no longer a nuisance to other residents.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17They're heading into town to find him.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19We're going down there on a daily basis now speaking to him,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21seeing if he's sober, what he's up to,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24then we're going back and reporting back to the ASB team.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28It's a shame, but we have to do what we have to do in this job, so...
0:26:29 > 0:26:31He'll probably be in front of us, outside the toilets,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34or down towards the right, towards the off-licence,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36that would be his normal hang-out spot.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Oh, there he is, look.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Liam and Gael will have to thread carefully.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Because he's lived on the streets so long,
0:26:42 > 0:26:44often under the influence of alcohol,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46they're not sure quite how Max will react.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- Hello, Max.- Hello, Max. How are you?
0:26:49 > 0:26:52You OK? How you doing?
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Just sitting here.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57You ain't causing no nuisance, no? You being good, yeah?
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Keeping yourself out of trouble.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00You sure?
0:27:00 > 0:27:03No worries. You not been drinking today, no?
0:27:04 > 0:27:06You staying off it? For how long?
0:27:08 > 0:27:10- You ain't drunk for three days? Really?- Yeah.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Trying to slow down?
0:27:12 > 0:27:13You need to. You need to.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15You need to slow down. It's no good for you, you know?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18It's estimated that nearly half of all rough sleepers
0:27:18 > 0:27:20have a dependency on alcohol in some form,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24but Liam needs to be clear about the impact Max's drinking is having
0:27:24 > 0:27:26on other members of the community, too.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Being here, you're causing trouble, you know.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30You get drunk, and when you're drunk,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33you know what you're like when you're drunk. You do things.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36At the end of it, you won't be able to come here no more
0:27:36 > 0:27:39because the police and the council are getting to a point where
0:27:39 > 0:27:40they don't want you here,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43so you need to think about moving and getting somewhere to live.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Despite the antisocial behaviour,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Liam and Gael are still keen to try and help Max however they can.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Winter's coming now, Max, isn't it?
0:27:53 > 0:27:55It's nice when you've been sitting out here
0:27:55 > 0:27:56and it's been lovely and sunny.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01But the winter will be coming and you'll be cold.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Ain't you thought about doing anything, no?
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Ain't you got nothing, nothing at all?
0:28:07 > 0:28:09You got just what you're wearing now? It's all you have?
0:28:09 > 0:28:13Would you like to go back into a hostel...
0:28:14 > 0:28:16..for the winter?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18But you went before and then you left, didn't you?
0:28:18 > 0:28:20You didn't want to stay there.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22But you've got to work with us, Max.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25You can't, you know, if we're going to help you,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27you've got to help us as well.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31We really need to help you, Max,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34get you sorted out.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38It's a difficult line for Liam and Gael to tread.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40You have to admire their patience.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Right, Max, see you soon.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Don't forget, we're going to sort out, you help us,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47we help you.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50- OK? See you soon, Max. - Speak to you soon, Max.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Later on, we'll see what happens when that patience wears thin.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01You are not allowed here no more, in this area.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Back on Merseyside...
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Have you ever been evicted from a property before?
0:29:12 > 0:29:15..a landlord claims he can't afford to repair a property
0:29:15 > 0:29:18and so a mum and her four kids are now facing eviction.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I'm with support officer Gill from housing charity Shelter Merseyside,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28who are trying to help. But after the mum lost her job,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31the family's options have got a lot narrower
0:29:31 > 0:29:34and the poor state of the property is adding to the misery.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37Well, this plaster's falling away
0:29:37 > 0:29:39and then you can actually see the floorboards.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43Must be the floorboards of the bathroom there.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Upstairs, the condition of the bedrooms is even more depressing.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55So that's where the roof's been leaking.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00And even though you decorate it, it keeps coming through?
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Oh, yeah. Do you get damp on the walls at all?
0:30:09 > 0:30:11In that corner.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18Damp and mould in a house can have serious effects and it's kids who
0:30:18 > 0:30:20are amongst the most susceptible.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Nobody wants to be evicted, but I'm beginning to think
0:30:26 > 0:30:28the quicker this family can get out of here, the better.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32It's a lot, isn't it, three kids in here?
0:30:35 > 0:30:36Do they get on?
0:30:38 > 0:30:40Yeah. Three together, when there are
0:30:40 > 0:30:44quite big differences in the ages, it's quite tricky, isn't it?
0:30:44 > 0:30:45When he gets to ten,
0:30:45 > 0:30:47it's recommended that he has his own bedroom -
0:30:47 > 0:30:50but you've got a year to wait for that, really.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53You'll be eligible for four bedrooms.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55So you can share up till ten.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Then it's recommended for opposite sexes to have their own rooms.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Things don't improve in the mum's room,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05which she shares with her youngest daughter.
0:31:06 > 0:31:07It must be coming from the loft.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Have you been up in the loft at all?
0:31:11 > 0:31:13So you don't know whether there's...
0:31:13 > 0:31:16- You can't see daylight or anything. - No.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18What's your plan going to be then? Would you like to move from here?
0:31:20 > 0:31:22You don't like the area?
0:31:23 > 0:31:24It's hardly surprising.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27This house is no place to raise a family
0:31:27 > 0:31:30and a recent altercation with a local resident means the mum
0:31:30 > 0:31:32is now worried for her safety.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34She was shouting at you or physically attacking you?
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Right.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41What, she's been kicking you?
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Have you got a chain on the door?
0:31:49 > 0:31:51Whatever their circumstances,
0:31:51 > 0:31:53everyone has to right to a safe place to live,
0:31:53 > 0:31:57so I'm keen to hear what Shelter Merseyside can do to help.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59In terms of bad luck...
0:31:59 > 0:32:02- I know, you couldn't get much worse. - ..she had a bucket full, didn't she?
0:32:02 > 0:32:05It feels like homelessness is just one of the risks that
0:32:05 > 0:32:07that family is facing at the moment.
0:32:08 > 0:32:09What's the first step then?
0:32:09 > 0:32:11What's the first thing you're going to do?
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Getting the landlord's details and getting the section notice,
0:32:15 > 0:32:17or finding out what the situation is with that,
0:32:17 > 0:32:19and addressing the property pool
0:32:19 > 0:32:23to find a new property within a housing association for her.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28It feels to me as though the right house for that family could start to
0:32:28 > 0:32:33solve a lot of their problems, so she's back with her main family,
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- you know.- She's got a support network around her.- Close to that.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41Actually achieving that might mean that a lot of the other problems...
0:32:41 > 0:32:44go away. You know, there's childcare then,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47and when she does go back to work, eventually,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50- she's got that family network.- Yes.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Well, since that visit, unfortunately the tenant
0:32:52 > 0:32:56and her family are still continuing to face the prospect of eviction,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59as the landlord still wants to sell the property.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02But the family have now been matched to a housing association property in
0:33:02 > 0:33:07the area of their choice and Shelter Merseyside is continuing to support
0:33:07 > 0:33:10them to resettle. Returning to the job she loves remains a goal
0:33:10 > 0:33:13for the mum once she and her children are settled
0:33:13 > 0:33:15in their new home and community.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23Back in Havering,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27rough sleeper Max's public drinking and serious antisocial behaviour
0:33:27 > 0:33:30has been causing problems for the borough's residents.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33He usually sleeps under here over night-time,
0:33:33 > 0:33:34if he can get in the block,
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and he usually urinates in that corner, like, every day.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40Max has resisted numerous attempts to get him off the streets
0:33:40 > 0:33:43and into a hostel, and now there's been new reports that he's been
0:33:43 > 0:33:46drunkenly harassing shopkeepers and members of the public.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50That's forced the council into a difficult decision
0:33:50 > 0:33:54that community warden Liam has to deliver personally.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57I'm about to serve an injunction, so he's not allowed in the area.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01He'll get arrested if he's seen in the area
0:34:01 > 0:34:04and we'll go from there.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06The injunction is a last resort,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09but reports of Max drunkenly harassing shopkeepers
0:34:09 > 0:34:13and members of the public have left the council with little choice.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Now all Liam has to do is to find him.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Check and see if he's in the block.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24If he's going to be anywhere,
0:34:24 > 0:34:26he could be round the back, sitting around.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Sometimes he sits on the sofas or...
0:34:29 > 0:34:31The thing is, usually he's here, like, every day.
0:34:31 > 0:34:32I could tell you just, like,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35we'll turn up and he'll be here, guaranteed.
0:34:35 > 0:34:36Trust my luck, today is the day,
0:34:36 > 0:34:40when I've got the injunction, he'll go missing.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Once the injunction is served on Max,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45it will make it an offence for him to be in this area,
0:34:45 > 0:34:47but Liam's beginning to wonder
0:34:47 > 0:34:49if Max may have already got the message.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53It's usually that block. I don't usually go in the other block.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00We're still trying to hunt down Max.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03He's not to be seen in the area - first time in months.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06I can't find him today, for some reason. It's just my luck.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08But I wanted to speak to him sober,
0:35:08 > 0:35:10but by the time we see him he'll probably be drunk,
0:35:10 > 0:35:12but there's nothing I can do about that.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15I still have to serve it, so I'll serve it drunk or sober.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18It looks like Liam's quest is about to end without a result.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22But just as he's about to give up and return to the office...
0:35:24 > 0:35:26Max, I need to speak to you.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Come here. I need to speak to you.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30This is... You've got an injunction here.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33You're not allowed to be here no more.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36This here is a court case.
0:35:36 > 0:35:41You need to read this. This is yours. Look, it says your name.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43This is for you.
0:35:43 > 0:35:44You need to read this.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46You're not allowed to be here no more.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48You'll get arrested. This area - no more.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51No, no, you have to listen.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54Truthfully because the police will come and arrest you.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55Yeah.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58Listen, court case,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01it's gone to court. It's been to court, today.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04You are not allowed here no more, in this area.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07You have to go to court if you want to appeal against it.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09You are not allowed in the area.
0:36:09 > 0:36:10Look, you need to read this. This is yours.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13I've just come to give this to you.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15What do you mean, "No"?
0:36:15 > 0:36:17Look, it says your name on it.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19Look, read it.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21Yeah, it is you. I'm telling you the truth,
0:36:21 > 0:36:22you need to leave the area now.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25If you don't leave the area, you'll get arrested.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27You're going to get arrested.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30You need to take this.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- No?- It's a difficult job for Liam,
0:36:33 > 0:36:36but being faced with someone who's refused help for so long
0:36:36 > 0:36:39and is causing so many problems for other residents,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42it seems things have simply come to the end of the line.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Well, Max has denied the paperwork.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48He won't take it. I can't force it upon him.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51Now we have to go down the route of just waiting.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53We'll go to court in seven days' time.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Wait to see if he appeals.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57I very much doubt he'll appeal.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59From then onwards it will be enforceable,
0:36:59 > 0:37:01so they will be able to arrest him if he's in the area.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09Well, sadly, Max has continued to breach the injunction
0:37:09 > 0:37:13that was intended to keep him from causing problems in the area.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16The council now, as a last resort, has gone back to the courts
0:37:16 > 0:37:20for the power to arrest him for any further breaches.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30With 1.2 million households on the waiting list for a social home
0:37:30 > 0:37:33in England alone, one of the most important jobs for housing officers
0:37:33 > 0:37:37is to get unused properties back into use as soon as possible
0:37:37 > 0:37:41and, with figures showing more than 600,000 homes
0:37:41 > 0:37:44standing empty in England, you can see the scale of the problem.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48It's a frustration felt by councils and housing associations as they
0:37:48 > 0:37:52battle to provide safe and secure homes for those who need them.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55On the south coast,
0:37:55 > 0:37:57housing officers Corinne Clark and Laura Bond
0:37:57 > 0:37:59are on a mission to investigate a number of
0:37:59 > 0:38:01empty properties on their patch.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05The idea is to try and get these homes back in action,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07but the former tenants don't always make it that straightforward.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Sometimes they move counties, districts and they just think that
0:38:11 > 0:38:12they don't need to give notice and just
0:38:12 > 0:38:15leave the keys, put the keys through the letterbox and go.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18There can be personal reasons that they've just taken off and just
0:38:18 > 0:38:21forgotten or chose not to give notice - one or the other.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25The first property on the list is vacant not because it was abandoned,
0:38:25 > 0:38:27but due to the tenant's ill health.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29I've got this property in Chichester,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31on one of our estates there.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Tenancy of a gentleman who unfortunately had an accident
0:38:36 > 0:38:38and was unable to return to the property.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40There's a lot of belongings in there still,
0:38:40 > 0:38:43so we need to go and do a full inventory - as we've done previously.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45OK, and then we pass it back to Boyds.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48And once that's done, Boyds will go in and do the clearance
0:38:48 > 0:38:51and it will be passed over to be re-let, as per the housing register.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55A tort notice is a legal document that allows landlords to sell
0:38:55 > 0:38:59or dispose of goods once reasonable efforts to trace the owner fail.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02This allows the property to be cleared as soon as possible
0:39:02 > 0:39:05and there's no shortage of people looking to find a home.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07We don't control the waiting list,
0:39:07 > 0:39:09it's controlled by the local district council,
0:39:09 > 0:39:10so they send lists through.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13People bid on the properties on a fortnightly basis.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16If they're interesting in moving to that particular property,
0:39:16 > 0:39:17they'll place a bid on it.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20The lists come through to our lettings team and they process
0:39:20 > 0:39:23that in order of priority for homes, for how long,
0:39:23 > 0:39:25what their need is for a home
0:39:25 > 0:39:27and also how long they've been waiting for.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Before anyone gets the chance to bid for this flat,
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Laura and Corinne need to check on its condition.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35- Flatscreen TV.- Flatscreen telly.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Microwave. Fan.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42The property doesn't seem to be in too bad a condition.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45But looking around at the items left behind,
0:39:45 > 0:39:48it's hard not to think of the tenant who once called this place home.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50- Videos.- Records.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52- Yeah.- Christmas tree.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53Another Christmas tree.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56It's clear the former tenant looked after the property -
0:39:56 > 0:39:58that's good news for what comes next.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03- Great. All done. - That wasn't too bad at all.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06The property was quite clean, wasn't it?
0:40:06 > 0:40:07Very few belongings left...
0:40:07 > 0:40:10especially taking into account the circumstances.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13So, yeah, I think it will be a quick turn around getting this one back
0:40:13 > 0:40:17into the advert cycle so we can get a new resident in quite quickly.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21This first property was vacated due to ill health.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Sadly, at the next property on the list,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27the possessions left behind are due to a personal tragedy.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31We're here today as one of the residents has sadly passed away
0:40:31 > 0:40:34and the property is empty, but there are some belongings in there,
0:40:34 > 0:40:36so we have to serve a tort notice,
0:40:36 > 0:40:38along with an inventory of any goods left in the property,
0:40:38 > 0:40:42to enable anyone who has a claim to those goods to notify us
0:40:42 > 0:40:44and collect the belongings.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46It's a poignant scene.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49This flat was once someone's cherished home and these belongings
0:40:49 > 0:40:52are the reflection of a life that was lived here.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Laura and Corinne must be respectful of the former tenant's possessions
0:40:55 > 0:40:58while making a property ready for the next tenant.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00- Ready?- Start from that side.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- So, table.- Small table.
0:41:04 > 0:41:05The tenant's family have already
0:41:05 > 0:41:08removed the most treasured possessions.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11The rest will be logged and then prepared for removal.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15Smaller items like this, we can identify as miscellaneous items.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17We don't have to itemise every single thing because
0:41:17 > 0:41:20they wouldn't have any monetary value.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- What's in this room? Microwave? - Microwave and a small fridge.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Although the list doesn't present too many surprises,
0:41:26 > 0:41:28for experienced professionals,
0:41:28 > 0:41:32the usual rules of investigating an empty property still apply.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33Sometimes there can be a lot worse.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35This is quite clean.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37And just don't open the fridge.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42I done it once and that was the biggest mistake I've ever done.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44It was hideous!
0:41:44 > 0:41:48The smell just went through the whole house.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52The role of the housing officer presents many varied challenges,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55but ultimately all leading in the same direction,
0:41:55 > 0:41:58helping to find homes for people in need -
0:41:58 > 0:41:59a home like this one.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03OK, so the team will come in and just clear all that.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06OK. Put the tort notice on the door again.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Take a picture of it in here.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15Right, perfect. Done.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23- That wasn't too bad...was it? - No. That was OK.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25So, we'll hand it over, get it sorted.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30Now the tort notice has been served, hand it back over to Boyds.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32It won't take long for this property
0:42:32 > 0:42:34to begin its new life with a new family.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Well, as we've just seen, being a housing officer
0:42:42 > 0:42:47means a daily dose of tough choices and difficult decisions,
0:42:47 > 0:42:50but it's all in a day's work for the men and women fighting
0:42:50 > 0:42:53to ensure we can enjoy a safe place to call home.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56That's it for today. But join me again next time,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00when I'll be back on the front line with the housing enforcers.