0:00:02 > 0:00:03Just doesn't quite feel safe.
0:00:03 > 0:00:04Everyone deserves a safe place to live...
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Someone nicked your wheelchair?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09..but with rents rising and demand increasing
0:00:09 > 0:00:11it's getting harder and harder
0:00:11 > 0:00:13to find a secure place to call home.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Passers-by have used these as toilets.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Out she pops, brandishing a bottle above her head.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22I'm Matt Allwright and I'm back with the Housing Enforcers.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25There are definitely fleas here, an infestation.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27He was trying to make this into a home
0:00:27 > 0:00:30and then it just all went horribly wrong.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31I'm on the front line
0:00:31 > 0:00:33with those fighting for the right to decent housing...
0:00:33 > 0:00:35You can actually see the floorboards.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38..as local councils and housing associations
0:00:38 > 0:00:41battle problem properties and slum conditions...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- You're ready for this, are you? - I don't know.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45..as they deal with dodgy landlords...
0:00:45 > 0:00:46So that's a dead rat.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48What am I going to do?
0:00:48 > 0:00:50..nightmare neighbours...
0:00:50 > 0:00:54All hell broke loose and I could hear somebody screaming in agony.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55..and everything in between...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57- I think that's referred to as a bong.- A bong? Right, OK.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- A makeshift bong. - Yeah. A makeshift bong.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03..to help those in need of a happy and healthy home.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07If there's something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call?
0:01:11 > 0:01:16Today, I meet the tenant overwhelmed with her garden...
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It has upset me. It's why I keep the blinds shut.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20I don't like being able to see out of it.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24..a seaside hoarder reaches crisis point...
0:01:24 > 0:01:26I imagine this is quite a monumental task.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28There may be some things that may be able to help you
0:01:28 > 0:01:31sort through your possessions.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35..the emotional impact of evictions hit home for housing officer Joe...
0:01:35 > 0:01:39You try and leave the job with the job as much as you can but,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42you know, I've got children myself.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I don't think anyone would want their kids to be made homeless.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49..and a seriously ill mum wants to safeguard her son's future home.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52I could be here today, I could be gone tomorrow.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54That's, you know, what I face, but I'm a determined person.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57You don't want your illness stopping you.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Finding a suitable place to call home for you and your family
0:02:05 > 0:02:10has never been harder, especially for those on a restricted budget.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14But low rent shouldn't mean your house doesn't live up to
0:02:14 > 0:02:18the same basic standards as everyone else's.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Fortunately, there is a group of men and women
0:02:21 > 0:02:25who are out on the front line battling on your behalf
0:02:25 > 0:02:29against bad and dangerous living conditions.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31They are The Housing Enforcers.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36The work of a housing officer is as much about the tenants
0:02:36 > 0:02:38as it is about bricks and mortar.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40But sometimes those tenants need a helping hand,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43or gentle nudge, to keep up the maintenance on their property.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49In Southampton,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53I'm working with housing association officer Stephen Key,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55on the way to see a tenant whose home
0:02:55 > 0:02:58might be in danger of becoming a little overgrown.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00It's one of those where the garden
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- is starting to make the house look small...- Yeah.- ..really.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04It's taking over a bit.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07It looks as if it's not been managed correctly,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10or it's become to the point where it isn't manageable for that person
0:03:10 > 0:03:13to keep up with it and look after the garden properly.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15So, it is the tenant's responsibility?
0:03:15 > 0:03:16It is fully their responsibility.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19And at what point do you say, "You've got to do it but,
0:03:19 > 0:03:20- "is there any help we can give you?"- Yeah.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23It's more trying to help them sustain their tenancy
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and sustain their property so it doesn't become overrun.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29So it's a lot of different options we can look at
0:03:29 > 0:03:31after we've met with the resident.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Hello.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Yvonne moved into this property ten years ago
0:03:36 > 0:03:37and she's keen to show us,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40back then, the garden looked very different.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45But, over the years, the outdoor space seems to have taken on
0:03:45 > 0:03:50a life of its own, leaving it unrecognisable and unusable.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55It's a state of affairs that is clearly very painful for Yvonne.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I loved my garden. I loved working in it, sitting in it.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59The kids playing.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02I miss not being able to sit out here
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and to watch it gradually get like this, it has upset me.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07It's why I keep the blinds shut.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11If I'm in the kitchen or dining area, I don't like to see out of it.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The blinds in the back room's always shut.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16- I just don't like seeing it.- OK.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Yvonne claims the neighbours' ash tree
0:04:18 > 0:04:20has blown seeds onto her garden,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23resulting in the jungle we see before us.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26I've had this all cut down.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Time after time, I've cut this down, treated it with root killer.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33There's brambles, and it just comes back so quickly
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Looking at the pictures of how it was ten years ago,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I can't believe this is the same garden.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43- It's pretty wild, isn't it?- It is.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- So, as they were growing, did you realise...- No.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- You didn't realise they were ever going to this...- No.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52I'd just given up.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55In fact, it seems, the garden is in danger of taking over the property
0:04:55 > 0:04:57and affecting the properties around it.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01These two and all these round the edge,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03where I had flower borders...
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- Yeah.- ..have self seeded. So, that one twisted the shed that way.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09There's one over there which twisted that way.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11The whole lot collapsed and branches came down and took the roof down.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Is that looking over the back there, that back fence there?
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Yvonne says ill health in recent years
0:05:18 > 0:05:20has prevented her from tackling the problem.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24But although she now lives alone, she does have two sons.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26I'm wondering if they could help out.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- So, you've got family nearby, Yvonne?- My son's in Winchester.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35- Right.- I've got another one in Eastleigh. And my dad's 87.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- Unfortunately, we do spend what time we can helping him out.- Yeah.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41What are you, ideally, hoping is going to happen next?
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I'd love those trees to go. This one's the main problem.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46This one produces the most.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49I think because these are younger, they don't produce so much seed.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54With so much on Yvonne's plate, it's not hard to see how things have got
0:05:54 > 0:05:58out of control but it's clear her garden need some serious attention.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01What's the chances of you being able to afford
0:06:01 > 0:06:03someone to do this privately?
0:06:03 > 0:06:07No way. No way. I mean, I barely get by each month, as it is.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It's not looking good for Yvonne.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13The garden is a mess but will the housing association help,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15or insist she sorts out herself?
0:06:17 > 0:06:19This is totally out of control, isn't it?
0:06:19 > 0:06:22It's the same resident for all of that time,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24so she's watched it get to this state.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26You've got to draw a line at some point
0:06:26 > 0:06:28between personal responsibility
0:06:28 > 0:06:30and the welfare of everybody else around it.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33I don't know what's under there. There could be a car there,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36for all we know. Look at that.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38I think, there's possibly a sleeping princess,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42about to be awakened by true love's kiss.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- Good luck with that, Steve. - It's not in the job description.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52We'll see how the housing association helps to tackle
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Yvonne's less than secret garden a bit later on.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59She's saying this is what has to go. This tree has to go.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01She might be missing the point a little bit there.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03The resident's responsibility is to look after their own garden
0:07:03 > 0:07:05and that one just isn't.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Next, we're at the seaside.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Clacton on Sea is a classic British holiday resort
0:07:17 > 0:07:21with sandy beaches, funfairs, and fish and chips.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25But, behind closed doors, this place presents plenty of challenges
0:07:25 > 0:07:28for housing offices Rob Goswell and Ian Kavanagh.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34HMOs, or houses in multiple occupancy,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36are properties that are shared
0:07:36 > 0:07:39by a number of tenants in separate bedsits
0:07:39 > 0:07:41and this street is full of them.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46This is probably where we have our greatest concentration of HMOs.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50There's one there. That is one. That's one. That's one.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52There's another one there.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Another one on the end and another one around the corner.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57That's just in this street alone.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00With so many people concentrated in such a small area,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04the council is aware that the actions of just one tenant
0:08:04 > 0:08:07can have a big impact on the other residents.
0:08:07 > 0:08:08They've come to this HMO
0:08:08 > 0:08:11to investigate allegations that a tenant here, Jason,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13may have a hoarding problem.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16That could present a major health hazard
0:08:16 > 0:08:18to those sharing the property,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21which is obviously a concern for both Rob and Ian.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- Right. If we pop in, then... - Right. Brilliant.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28And it looks like their fears are justified.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33The flat is crammed floor-to-ceiling.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35It's hoarding on a massive scale.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Jason claims the place was trashed while he was in hospital
0:08:42 > 0:08:45but you wonder if there's a larger, underlying problem here.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46It can't be easy to live like this
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and it is clearly having an emotional effect.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55I'm here just doing my job. Yeah. That's fine.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- I can understand your agitation, sir. Yeah.- Coming back to this.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It's clear the hoarding needs to be addressed but with the tenant
0:09:02 > 0:09:06in such a volatile state, Rob and Ian will have to tread carefully.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08You're going to try and clean it up? OK, sir.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10So, I appreciate you've just come back.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12What we may well do is pop back, maybe in a couple of weeks,
0:09:12 > 0:09:13make sure everything's fine.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16I appreciate you're in complete disorder at the moment.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18It is a difficult situation.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Rob and Ian must balance the needs of the other tenants,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25while ensuring that Jason's case is sensitively handled.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I think it's important that we do try and work the best we can
0:09:28 > 0:09:31with him without having to go down the enforcement route
0:09:31 > 0:09:33because that's not going to help anyone.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35We still have to be mindful, though,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37that there are other people living in that block.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39That's why I'm going to give him a week.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Enough time to try and get himself in order.
0:09:43 > 0:09:44When I come back in a week's time,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47I'm hoping that he's made some sort of impact on the rubbish.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49If not, then I'll have to consider my options,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53looking at enforcement, various other things.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56With Jason in such a fragile state,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58eviction will be the very last resort,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02but it is a situation Rob and Ian can't ignore.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Later, I'll be joining the boys to check on Jason's progress.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12What's it like for you living here? The way it is at the moment?
0:10:12 > 0:10:14It's OK at the moment. I can move in here now.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- You couldn't move here the other week.- Yeah.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I couldn't even walk through here.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20There was stuff everywhere.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Although the role of a housing officer is usually
0:10:27 > 0:10:29to get people into a home,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32unfortunately, sometimes they have no option
0:10:32 > 0:10:34but to try and remove a tenant.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Evictions are always a last resort.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40It's never a pleasant experience for anyone involved.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44But, with the demand for properties on the rise, it's vital
0:10:44 > 0:10:48the housing teams get the home back as quickly as possible.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Sometimes, that's easier said than done.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55In Stroud, housing officer Joe Phillips
0:10:55 > 0:10:56has a busy day ahead of him,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59inspecting not one but five properties
0:10:59 > 0:11:02whose tenants have recently been evicted.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06The fact that we've got five is something I've never seen before.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11To give you an example of how unlikely that is,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14we aim to do fewer than ten evictions a year.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18With the rising rents and benefit cuts,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21the number of evictions in England and Wales
0:11:21 > 0:11:24reached a record high of 42,000 last year alone.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29With a long list of tenants waiting for homes, time is of the essence
0:11:29 > 0:11:33but Joe doesn't look forward to days like these.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35An eviction day is always a failure, in our eyes,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38because, our idea, when we're doing housing,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40we're trying to give people homes to live in,
0:11:40 > 0:11:41not take them away from them.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44So, being here today is very disappointing.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49It's going to be quite sad, as well, that someone's lost their home.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50Yeah. Not a good day.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Councils will always try to find a way to keep people in their homes.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59But, sadly, sometimes moving them on is unavoidable.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04The tenants of this property owed nearly £4,000 in rent arrears
0:12:04 > 0:12:07but, despite repeated efforts to find a solution,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09the tenants never made any payments
0:12:09 > 0:12:12and have disappeared off the council's radar.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Obviously, got a few items they didn't want to take with them
0:12:16 > 0:12:18that have been left outside the back door.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Here we are. We've got the kitchen here. Looks to be quite clean.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27One of our newer kitchens, as well, which is nice to see.
0:12:27 > 0:12:28Pretty strange scenario, actually.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31The front room looks pretty well decorated and looked after.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33It's one of those situations that's strange.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36That someone has obviously made this place their home
0:12:36 > 0:12:39and then they decided not to engage with us and try
0:12:39 > 0:12:42and sort out what's going on to keep it, really.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46When the rent isn't being paid, the council will try to work out
0:12:46 > 0:12:49a payment plan that's affordable for the resident.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51But, sometimes, the debt just keeps mounting.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56So, the arrears were just shy of £4,000 at this property,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59which is a huge amount of money to owe.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Properties, like this, we rent
0:13:01 > 0:13:03anywhere between £90 and £100 per week.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05So, if you think about that,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09that's a good few weeks they are behind on their rent.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10Yeah. Sad, really.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14This may have been a happy family home once
0:13:14 > 0:13:17but, with so many people desperately in need somewhere to live,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21the council still needs to turn it around as quickly as possible.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Nobody likes an empty house. This could be used for a home.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27We've got a huge waiting list of tenants wanting properties.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30More importantly, wanting to pay their rent to stay
0:13:30 > 0:13:32in a property and make somewhere their home.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34So, hopefully, this place, at the moment,
0:13:34 > 0:13:35it's a bit of a sad note
0:13:35 > 0:13:37where somebody's obviously had to lose their home
0:13:37 > 0:13:39but, hopefully, we'll turn it into a positive
0:13:39 > 0:13:41just a little way down the line.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43On to the next property.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45This is not a normal day by any means.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47It's quite a lot to get done in one day.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50So, yeah, it's going to be a long day.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58The next one is one that we've already got keys for, actually.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01We gained entry to protect the property damage
0:14:01 > 0:14:03and found that the property was empty.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Changed the locks, left a notice on the door,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08saying, "Could the tenant please contact us to get his keys?"
0:14:08 > 0:14:10And he hasn't contacted us.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14So, I'm guessing that he's not going to be here today.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18It's Joe's job to try and get this abandoned property back on track
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and ready for a new set of tenants.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24Although he's got other occupants to contend with first.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Just having some flea spray put on my shoes and trousers.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33There were fleas in this property when we last were in here.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37We've had a flea bomb done, however, just extra precaution.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Like to keep ourselves flea-free.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42And it looks like the human occupant
0:14:42 > 0:14:44left this property in a bit of a hurry.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Obviously, a lot of possessions left.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I'm not sure what the circumstances are that someone would leave
0:14:49 > 0:14:51a place with all their belongings.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I'm guessing the items they've left, they can't be interested in,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56it does look like someone's been back here for a while.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Joe's theory is soon confirmed.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03It's quite mouldy here. Not very nice at all.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06There is a strong smell of damp and you can notice it
0:15:06 > 0:15:07as soon as you come in the property.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09The property just smells damp.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15And no vent in the walls to stop that from causing you problems.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Surprisingly, he left after doing his washing-up, though.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25It appears the tenant's brief clean-up didn't carry on upstairs.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Ooh, wow. OK. Lots of items left.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32A drink that's been left for some time,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35by the looks of the organisms growing on top of it.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Obviously, keen to smoke while in bed.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Yeah. With a nice little box saying "Legalise".
0:15:41 > 0:15:44I can only imagine what he wants us to legalise.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Anyone who gets one of these houses is someone who has had
0:15:47 > 0:15:49a genuine housing need, at some point.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52You think that they'd understand the frustration of not being able
0:15:52 > 0:15:55to get a house and then, by extending that problem
0:15:55 > 0:15:58by not looking after the place they get given,
0:15:58 > 0:15:59yeah, it is frustrating.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01It is a sad situation.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03You imagine things must have been pretty desperate
0:16:03 > 0:16:06for someone to leave so many personal belongings behind.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Unfortunately, it now falls to the council to get rid of it all
0:16:11 > 0:16:13and that doesn't come cheap.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18There is a big cost here for clearing this sort of thing.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Most of it, we will just dump it, it will go into landfill,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25the majority of it, which is really sad.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Obviously, we try to be a green council
0:16:27 > 0:16:30who's keen on the environment and recycling, things like that.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33So, the fact that we're going to have to put all this in landfill
0:16:33 > 0:16:35is against our principles as a council,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37let alone how frustrating it is as a housing officer
0:16:37 > 0:16:39trying to get people in new properties.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41You want to have the properties clear,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43so you can turn them around as quickly as possible.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46This just adds a time element to it that we just don't want.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Later, an evicted family's home gives Joe pause for thought.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52I shudder to think what, you know,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55the child whose house this is will be thinking
0:16:55 > 0:16:58when they are told they can't come back home.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59Yeah. It's pretty horrible.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05Earlier, in Clacton in Essex,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08we saw housing officers Rob and Ian
0:17:08 > 0:17:11deal with tenant Jason whose hoarding had reached crisis point.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15He was given a week to clean up his act.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Now, I'm joining the boys to check on his progress.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21But when we arrive at the property...
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Hello, sir. I popped over last week. Tendring Council.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25DOG BARKS
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- Hello, dog.- Hello, dog.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33..it appears Jason's made little impact on this massive mess.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35This is supposed to be an improvement
0:17:35 > 0:17:37but I'm still shocked to see it in this condition.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42What's it like for you living here the way it is at the moment?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45It's OK at the moment. I can move in here now.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- You couldn't move in here the other week.- Yeah.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49I couldn't even walk through here.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51There was stuff everywhere.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54I came back here one day, and all my suitcases,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57sugar all over the floor, everything.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Popcorn, crisps, chucked everywhere.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- Do you know what you've got in there?- Yes.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- You know what it is you got?- Yeah.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07I generally know every screw in the book, mate.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Despite his claims to have cleared up,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12I'm finding it hard to imagine how anyone can live like this.
0:18:14 > 0:18:15But, rather than threaten eviction,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Rob's keen to offer help.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20I imagine this is quite a monumental task.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23There may be some things that might be able to help you
0:18:23 > 0:18:25sort through your possessions.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29I'd rather work with you to try and clear all your stuff.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- Do you think you'd do better if it was clean?- I'm going to do it.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34One less thing to worry about.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36It's what I'm doing at the moment.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37I'll give you some time to carry on with this.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39I know you're soldiering on with this.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Meanwhile, I'll look for ways I can try and see
0:18:42 > 0:18:44anything that can support you and help you.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47OK, Jason, listen, thanks for letting us in.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49- Thanks for talking to us. - Thank you.- It's nice to meet you.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52- Thank you. - Hope you get yourself sorted out.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01So, that's Jason's place, which I hadn't seen before,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and, apparently, we're making some progress,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08erm, but it's slow.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11And, yes, there are lots of things standing in the way
0:19:11 > 0:19:13of getting that room the way it should be.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Erm, yeah.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Yeah.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Jason's hoarding is clearly just the tip of the iceberg.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I'm concerned he'll struggle to straighten things out.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29If they're going to tackle the hoarding,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33it looks like Rob and Ian may need to start with Jason himself.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37It felt like he really needed help if he was going to,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39long-term, hold on to that property, I felt.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43From our perspective, enforcement action's not going to work here.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It really has left us with only really one option
0:19:46 > 0:19:49which is try to find ways to support him and his, sort of, needs
0:19:49 > 0:19:52because it's clear there that he needed help.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54But we will try and push as best as we can
0:19:54 > 0:19:56to get him the support he needs.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Well, since Rob and Ian's last visit to the property,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08the tenant has now been referred to a local support organisation.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11So, hopefully, it's a big step on the road to recovery.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14He's also kept his word and cleared the vast majority of the clutter
0:20:14 > 0:20:18in his flat, which is great news for him and for his neighbours.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Defending our right to a safe place to live
0:20:21 > 0:20:24is the job of housing officers right across the UK.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27You've done a great thing. You've done a superb thing.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30It's like a red rag to a bull, isn't it? Doing something like that.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34I'm working alongside the men and women that do exactly that...
0:20:34 > 0:20:36There's a window open there as well.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39That's not so bad. Seen worse.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40..hitting the streets,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42finding out what's happening on the front line...
0:20:42 > 0:20:45The smell round here is... is really strong.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50..as we make sure a house is a fit place to call a home.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53- So you've got a choice. - Yeah. Tomahawk of some sort, yeah.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Choice of the Tomahawk... or the bayonet.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So that's a parting shot, basically, is it, from the tenant?
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Back in Hampshire, I'm with a team from Hyde Housing Association,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12who are trying to help Yvonne and her ever expanding garden.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I miss not being able to sit out here.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19And to watch it gradually get like this, it's... It has upset me.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22The past ten years have seen it growing out of control,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25with the finger of blame pointed at seeds from the neighbours' trees.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30But estate services supervisor Neil isn't keen to rush to judgment.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36The trees don't get that big instantly.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39There's an awful lot of trees in there that have been growing
0:21:39 > 0:21:41there for ten years or more.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43When they were really, really small,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46they could easily have just been literally pulled out.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47Now they do need a lot of work.
0:21:47 > 0:21:54But, I'm sorry, it just says to me a history of neglect, rather.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56It is a bit difficult to get your head round
0:21:56 > 0:21:59because it's not like Jack And The Beanstalk.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02And so you're watching this process happening.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05At some point, you've got to let somebody know,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07do something about it.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Because it's now expensive.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12It looks expensive, what's going to have to take place there.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Extremely, yes.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Hyde is responsible for providing a home.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18We're a landlord.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23We're not some garden company that can go and provide
0:22:23 > 0:22:25that kind of service.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28To confirm that the neighbour definitely isn't to blame,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Neil wants to take a look at their garden.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36Along here, we've got a whole row of ash trees.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41- And if I was to take that one out...- Yeah.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43..it wouldn't make a heap of the difference
0:22:43 > 0:22:45to the whole scheme of things.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48The wind, the prevailing wind is from the south west,
0:22:48 > 0:22:49which is over there.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53So, actually, the seeds off of this tree probably land in that garden.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- And the ones down there...- Yeah. - ..land in hers.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Our resident, then, I mean,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00because she's saying this is the source of the problem,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03and she's saying this is what has to go, this tree has to go.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06She might be missing the point a little bit there, do you think?
0:23:06 > 0:23:08- Completely, I'm afraid, yes. - Right, right.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11The residents' responsibility is to look after their own garden,
0:23:11 > 0:23:12and that one just isn't.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Let's go.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18It's funny, isn't it? You have to make a judgment.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Somewhere along the line, you have to make a judgment
0:23:21 > 0:23:24about people and their...deservingness?
0:23:24 > 0:23:27It's not the right word, but their ability to help themselves.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Yeah, you don't want to hand-feed the residents.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33You want to be able to support them, to maintain their properties.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35But you don't want to do all the work for them.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- Yeah. Otherwise you end up coming back a lot.- Yeah.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Whatever Yvonne's reasons for not looking after the garden,
0:23:41 > 0:23:46it's clear now is the time to sort it out before it gets any worse.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Fortunately, Steve's on hand to help find a way forward.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53- So, next step? - We'll go back to the office.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55I'll speak to my managers, show them the photos,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and obviously the support that the resident might need.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02It's going to be then looking at local authorities, charities,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05any free schemes that we might be able to get to help the resident.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07- Good luck with that.- Thank you.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11A few weeks later, and Steve has managed to get some help
0:24:11 > 0:24:14from a local charity to clear Yvonne's garden.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Now he's heading back to inspect what's been done.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Hopefully he's done enough so that this resident can
0:24:22 > 0:24:26just maintain it on a weekly, monthly basis,
0:24:26 > 0:24:31so that we wouldn't have to look at taking any action against her,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33or look at putting sanctions in place to make sure that
0:24:33 > 0:24:35she can maintain it in the future.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Ten years of neglect had left Yvonne's back garden
0:24:39 > 0:24:41in a shocking state
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and she was in danger of putting her tenancy at risk.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48But with the housing association's help,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52what was an overgrown jungle of trees, grass and brambles,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55well, now actually looks like a garden.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00It looks...
0:25:00 > 0:25:03a million times better than it was before.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06The trees that had grown up in her flower beds have now gone,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09along with all that thick grass.
0:25:14 > 0:25:21This whole centrepiece was just covered in dead tree branches.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23You couldn't walk through here
0:25:23 > 0:25:25without the grass being maybe a foot high
0:25:25 > 0:25:27and it was all the way around.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Really pleased with how it's looking now.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33And now it's just making sure that she can maintain it.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35For the resident, as she lives alone,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37it is going to be a lot more manageable for her.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40She just have to be very proactive and make sure she comes out here
0:25:40 > 0:25:43frequently and then starts to treat the trees,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47or chop them down, or have help from someone to help her get rid of it.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50And then she can bring the garden back to how it was before.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52There's still a bit of work to do
0:25:52 > 0:25:54but, thanks to the housing association,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58hopefully Yvonne can now start to enjoy her garden once again.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08Back in Stroud, housing officer Joe Phillips is having a busy day
0:26:08 > 0:26:10inspecting recently evicted properties.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Lots of items left.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Quite a lot in boxes here.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18A drink that's been left for some time,
0:26:18 > 0:26:22by the looks of the organisms growing on top of it.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25The council's usual tally is ten evictions a year
0:26:25 > 0:26:28but now, with rising rents and benefit cuts,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Joe finds himself having to oversee five in just one day.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Just going in here to have a look around.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Looks like it's a bit of a mess straightaway.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39So just going in there to have a look and assess the damage,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41see what the property's like, and then crack on.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45The tenant of this property stopped communicating with the council
0:26:45 > 0:26:47after their rent arrears got out of hand.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Although the eviction order was served today,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Joe thinks the place may have been abandoned some time ago.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Ooh, this place is a bit of a mess.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Yeah, looks like whoever was here had their last couple of parties
0:27:01 > 0:27:03and then decided to give it up.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07So this is probably one of the worse ends of the spectrum,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09where people look like they've just...
0:27:09 > 0:27:15used it as a doss house for a while, left fag ends and mouldy food out,
0:27:15 > 0:27:17beer cans,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19and then they probably knew they weren't going to be coming back,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22so they've just ditched it and left it as it is.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Not bothered to even try and tidy it up.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27The sad thing is, this actually looks like it would have been
0:27:27 > 0:27:28quite a newly done property.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31It's a shame that someone's decided to just treat it like this.
0:27:31 > 0:27:35It's not what we want at all, when we let our properties out.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39When the council repossess a property,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42the locks are changed so that it's secure for the next tenant.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49But it's the former resident that Joe is still concerned about.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Can see quite a bit post.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54A lot of post on the floor would indicate it's been a long time
0:27:54 > 0:27:57since someone was last interested in either opening post
0:27:57 > 0:27:59or coming to the property to collect it.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06Hmm.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09So going into what they must have used as their bedroom.
0:28:09 > 0:28:10Food left out.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14An ashtray that's full underneath the bed.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Ashtray on the bed.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Money, beer cans.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21It looks like it's just sort of been left in a bit of a rush,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24or a sort of a, "Oh, I've had enough of this place",
0:28:24 > 0:28:26and then just never come back.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Quite bizarre.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31And there's another clue that catches Joe's eye.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37Arrears letter I've just picked up, dated the 8th February,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39with arrears of £8.44...
0:28:41 > 0:28:45..which obviously isn't what we've come here today about.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Now they owe in the region of £2,000.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53So my guess is that's probably when they stopped paying their rent.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Once a tenant abandons their property,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58it's often difficult for housing officers to find out
0:28:58 > 0:29:02where they've moved on to, and check if they have a safe place to live.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05You do worry, especially when you don't know where they've gone,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08because you wonder about their safety to some extent.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12Yeah, it's hard not having closure for us when we're ending
0:29:12 > 0:29:17someone's tenancy, knowing that they are all right and they are safe.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19There's no rest for Joe today.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22He has to move straight on to the next evicted property.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27I'm not really sure what to expect with this one, actually.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29This one we've had no contact with...
0:29:29 > 0:29:32not seen the tenant, no rent payments coming in.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34It's a flat, so...
0:29:34 > 0:29:37I don't know. We'll go in and see.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40He doesn't have to look hard to see that this is a family home,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43and that raises a lot of troubling questions.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Everything's still here.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49There's lots of children's toys and effects around.
0:29:50 > 0:29:51Loads of kids' stuff.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56The person who lives here has obviously...
0:29:56 > 0:29:59spent a lot of time and effort making sure their children are happy
0:29:59 > 0:30:01with the amount of items that they've purchased for them,
0:30:01 > 0:30:03the amount of photos they've got up as well.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06It sort of just...
0:30:06 > 0:30:07hammers it home a bit more, actually.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11You never like evicting families,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14especially when a family is obviously still using this
0:30:14 > 0:30:17as a home right up until the day of the eviction.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21I shudder to think what the child whose house this is will be thinking
0:30:21 > 0:30:24when they're told they can't come back home.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Yeah, it's pretty horrible.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29This is what we don't like walking into, ever.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31It's a really curious situation.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33Almost as though they've just popped out.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37It's scenes like this that highlight the real impact
0:30:37 > 0:30:38an eviction can have.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43You try and leave the job with the job as much as you can.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45You know, I've got children myself
0:30:45 > 0:30:48and I wouldn't like any of my kids to go through this sort of thing.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51I don't think anyone would want their kids to be made homeless
0:30:51 > 0:30:53and have to find a new home...
0:30:53 > 0:30:56just forced upon them.
0:30:56 > 0:30:57Yeah, not very nice at all.
0:30:59 > 0:31:04Later on, Joe discovers this family flat is still occupied.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Puddy cat?
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Very growly. I think he's just scared.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18Finding secure accommodation for tenants with complex needs
0:31:18 > 0:31:21can be hard enough for housing officers at the best of times.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24But family situations can change drastically
0:31:24 > 0:31:26and to feel secure in your own home,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29you need to know what the future holds.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32In Wiltshire, White Horse Housing Association Officer
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Belinda Eastland has a tenant
0:31:35 > 0:31:37who's suffering from a serious illness.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40She fears her son won't have a stable, secure roof over his head
0:31:40 > 0:31:42if the worst happens.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50This particular tenant today is worried about her son,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52and what will happen to him,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54because she's not well,
0:31:54 > 0:31:58and if anything were to happen to her, could he stay in the property?
0:31:58 > 0:32:00It's a difficult situation made more complex
0:32:00 > 0:32:03because, although the son is 26,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06he has bipolar disorder and learning difficulties.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10There are so many different sensitivities there
0:32:10 > 0:32:14- about what's going to happen to this family...- Yes.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18..you know, in the maybe short to medium term.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20And it's all big stuff.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23It's either, you know, somebody coming, possibly,
0:32:23 > 0:32:24to the end of their life
0:32:24 > 0:32:26and somebody losing their home,
0:32:26 > 0:32:30- and all of these things happening at the same time.- Yes.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36Despite her illness, tenant Dee's main priority is her son, Shakir.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39Hello, there. I'm Belinda. Is Mum here?
0:32:39 > 0:32:41Dee's happy to discuss her worries
0:32:41 > 0:32:44while Shakir keeps busy in the garden.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47You're preparing for quite an uncertain future yourself.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Do you really know how the next few years are going to pan out?
0:32:50 > 0:32:53I could be here today, I could be gone tomorrow.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56That is, you know, what I face. But I'm a determined person.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57You don't let illness stop you.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00So, practically, then, what are the kind of challenges
0:33:00 > 0:33:03that you and Shakir face together every day?
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Like, he's just had a 11-day crisis.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10What happens during a crisis, then, for Shakir?
0:33:10 > 0:33:15He can be from up here, and come down from nought to zero
0:33:15 > 0:33:16just like that.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18He's...a big unit.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20THEY LAUGH He's a bodybuilder.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Yeah.- And, you know, with bipolar,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27we're talking about episodes where he can be very distressed,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29and physically aggressive? Does that come into it as well?
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Not so much aggressive. But when you're going through a crisis
0:33:32 > 0:33:35or someone's stressed out or someone's depressed,
0:33:35 > 0:33:36they're going to say things they don't mean.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39But it's a cry out for help.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41It's clearly a huge worry for Dee.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44She wants the best for Shakir, and she's hoping Belinda
0:33:44 > 0:33:47can give her the reassurance she so desperately needs.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50So you were particularly worried about if anything happened to you,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52cos I know you're not in good health,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55- and you explained to me a bit about that.- Yeah.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00- But it's just really that your tenancy started here in 2004.- Yeah.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04- I've got a copy of that tenancy agreement for you...- Yeah.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06..just in case you haven't still got one.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12Because this is key to the succession rights.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15While they have a chat about the tenancy, I take the opportunity
0:34:15 > 0:34:19to do a bit of serious male bonding with fitness fanatic Shakir.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- This truly is the gun show.- Yeah.
0:34:22 > 0:34:23- Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30That is just ridiculous. HE LAUGHS
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Oh, my God. I can just about...
0:34:33 > 0:34:34HE STRAINS
0:34:35 > 0:34:37How much is there?
0:34:37 > 0:34:39About...29.5 kilos.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41My God! Yeah.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43(Shakir.)
0:34:43 > 0:34:44HE GROANS
0:34:46 > 0:34:49Shakir, that's all you now. It's not me at all.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51It's just you pushing it up in the air.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56THEY LAUGH
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Outwardly, Shakir might look like he can take care of himself
0:34:59 > 0:35:03but, given his own health challenges, it's easy to see why
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Dee needs to know he'll be able to keep a stable and familiar roof
0:35:07 > 0:35:08over his head in the future.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10How has it been living here for you?
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Good, yeah. Uh...
0:35:13 > 0:35:16You mum was saying the neighbours are really cool with you?
0:35:16 > 0:35:17They are, yeah.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20And... Cos I know you have some bad times, don't you...
0:35:20 > 0:35:22- Yeah, yeah. - ..as well, with your illness?
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Yeah.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27And then, they're there for you? They kind of understand?
0:35:27 > 0:35:28They do, yeah.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32What do you think would happen if you had to move from this place?
0:35:32 > 0:35:35Um...I don't think it would be as good,
0:35:35 > 0:35:36- to be honest.- Yeah.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38I like this place, yeah.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40It's time for mum Dee
0:35:40 > 0:35:43to find out whether Shakir will be able to stay here.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Basically, he must have stayed here -
0:35:46 > 0:35:48lived here as his permanent home -
0:35:48 > 0:35:52for the 12 months preceding anything happening to you,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56and he would agree to abide by the rules of that tenancy.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59As long as he meets all that criteria,
0:35:59 > 0:36:01then he will succeed to the tenancy.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04He can have the tenancy of this property.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05OK?
0:36:05 > 0:36:07So does that put your mind at rest?
0:36:07 > 0:36:09At least it puts me more in the picture.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12I think he likes it being our house because of the garden,
0:36:12 > 0:36:14and he knows all the neighbours.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16- And he grew up here, really... - Exactly.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18- ..since junior school.- Yeah.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20It must be a huge relief.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24Dee's biggest fear has been Shakir having to deal with losing his mum
0:36:24 > 0:36:28and the only real home he has ever known at the same time.
0:36:30 > 0:36:31And I get to give him the good news.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35Today...
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Belinda came round to say that,
0:36:38 > 0:36:42you know, kind of, your future in this house is secure now.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44Oh, cool.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47- You know, if anything happens to your mum...- Yeah.- ..God forbid,
0:36:47 > 0:36:49then the tenancy will pass to you.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Yeah.- So how do you feel about that?- Really happy, yeah.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- I think you just keep doing what you're doing.- Yeah.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59- It's looking good.- Thank you. Yeah.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02- And I wish you the best of luck with it.- Well, thank you, yeah.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- OK. Lovely to meet you, Shakir. - Nice to meet you, too.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09With both mother and son facing up to significant health challenges,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12it's good to know the worry of staying in the house
0:37:12 > 0:37:13is no longer an issue.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17So tell me, what difference does it make now knowing
0:37:17 > 0:37:20that Shakir is safe, regardless what happens next?
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Big relief. The fact that, if anything happens to me,
0:37:23 > 0:37:26at least I know he's here and that's fine.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29This isn't the end of Dee's challenges.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32But hopefully Belinda's visit today means that
0:37:32 > 0:37:35she has one less very important thing to worry about.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- That was nice to give good news, wasn't it?- It was, yes.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- And it was really well received as well.- Yeah.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Obviously, when the time comes, there will be questions about
0:37:45 > 0:37:48who's going to be caring for him in the property?
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Who's going to be helping him manage the tenancy?
0:37:51 > 0:37:54But, you know, that's something that we can sort out at the time.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57At least now they've got a long-term vision of him being safe
0:37:57 > 0:38:00and secure in that property if anything happens to her.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02- Nice job for you today? - Brilliant job.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Yeah, we have good days like that.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Back in Stroud, housing officer Joe has been inspecting
0:38:14 > 0:38:17properties whose tenants have recently been evicted.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21The person who lives here has obviously spent a lot of time
0:38:21 > 0:38:23and effort making sure their children are happy,
0:38:23 > 0:38:25with the amount of items they've purchased for them.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27The amount of photos they've got up as well.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29It all just...
0:38:29 > 0:38:31hammers it home a bit more, actually.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34The family who lived in this flat may have gone,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37but it seems their cat doesn't want to leave.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41We have pets left in properties reasonably often, actually.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43More often than you might think.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45It tends to be people's last priority.
0:38:45 > 0:38:46And with cats being quite territorial,
0:38:46 > 0:38:49the cat might have gone out of the house when the people were
0:38:49 > 0:38:52trying to leave and not been back in the house until later on.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Joe has called in Alex and Josie from the animal welfare team
0:38:55 > 0:38:58to help remove the cat and take it safely into care.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Sadly, it is... There is no bulb.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06So it's going to be pretty dark finding the cat.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13Is it friendly or is it going to bolt?
0:39:13 > 0:39:14It's going to bolt...or attack you.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16THEY LAUGH
0:39:17 > 0:39:18Easy does it, then.
0:39:20 > 0:39:21Is there a light in here at all?
0:39:21 > 0:39:23There is no light in there.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25There was a torch on the desk in there, though.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Don't know if it works.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31Puddy cat?
0:39:31 > 0:39:33SHE MAKES KISSING SOUNDS
0:39:34 > 0:39:36No. Very growly. I think he's just scared.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38There's obviously been a lot of banging and clattering.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40It doesn't help it's pitch-black in there.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43There's curtains in there, isn't there? Just get the curtains open.
0:39:46 > 0:39:47That's going to be the other problem -
0:39:47 > 0:39:49there's an awful lot of stuff in here.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51If he just goes to ground...
0:39:53 > 0:39:55Oh, careful.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Are you all right if I go and get the gauntlets and the grasper?
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- Yeah.- Are you sure?
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Yeah. Unless it's a man-eater.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10With the cat not coming quietly, it's time for special measures.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14We don't want to get bitten,
0:40:14 > 0:40:16so we have the cat grasper,
0:40:16 > 0:40:18and then we have gauntlets as well
0:40:18 > 0:40:20because cat bites are very nasty,
0:40:20 > 0:40:23nastier than dog bites a lot of the time.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28He doesn't like me.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30ALEX LAUGHS
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Armed with their protective gear,
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Alex and Josie make their move.
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Be careful.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39But this resident is not keen on being evicted.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Got... Oh, hello!
0:40:42 > 0:40:44- He does not want to be caught. - He's very fast.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46And very fast.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48- Plan B?- Plan B - vets, sedative.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51- Yeah?- Yeah.- OK.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53It seems the cat has had the last laugh.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57He managed to get Josie through the gloves.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59She's got a cut on her finger.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Because the cat was quite fiery because of all the noise
0:41:04 > 0:41:07that's been going on, he wasn't happy.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10He was contained in one room and he didn't like being cornered.
0:41:10 > 0:41:11So I couldn't get a hold of him.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13There's a lot of stuff in there, he just kept going into hiding.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15And I did have big, thick gauntlets on,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and, even through that, it was able to scratch me.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Happened very quickly, but I felt it!
0:41:20 > 0:41:21THEY LAUGH
0:41:21 > 0:41:24I think I'll live to fight another day.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27The rescue attempt may not have been successful,
0:41:27 > 0:41:30but the team will be back tomorrow with another plan.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31We've left the cat tonight.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35We've not left it any food tonight, we just left it with water,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38so that we want it to be hungry tomorrow morning when we come back.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- Yeah.- And then, we'll put sedative in the food tomorrow morning.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45We'll hang around for the sedative to take effect,
0:41:45 > 0:41:46and then we'll remove the cat then.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50In a meantime, what we'll do is try getting hold of the tenants,
0:41:50 > 0:41:52because obviously that's the ideal solution,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55if the tenant can come back and sort her own cat out.
0:41:55 > 0:41:56It's less stressful on the cat,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59and it's at the least cost to the council then as well.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03With a strategy in place for the cat,
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Joe's long day is finally over.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09I think the most I've ever done in a day is two evictions.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12So this is a really extraordinary day in that regard.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13Pretty emotive day as well.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Obviously, ending people's tenancies and kicking them out their houses
0:42:17 > 0:42:19is never going to be an enjoyable day.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21So it takes a toll on you a bit.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Well, that was clearly a long and exhausting day for Joe.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31But in the end, it didn't all turn out to be bad news.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34In a rare turn of events, the tenants of the final property
0:42:34 > 0:42:36were allowed to return to their house
0:42:36 > 0:42:38after their rent arrears were cleared in full.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41So the next day, they were back as new tenants in the same property.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Great news for the family, the council,
0:42:44 > 0:42:46and I would imagine the cat's pretty relieved, too.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Well, as we've just seen, being a housing officer
0:42:55 > 0:42:59means a daily dose of tough choices and difficult decisions.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02But it's all in a day's work for the men and women
0:43:02 > 0:43:06fighting to ensure we can enjoy a safe place to call home.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09That's it for today but join me again next time,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12when I'll be back on the front line with the Housing Enforcers.