Episode 2 The Housing Enforcers


Episode 2

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Now it's time for The Housing

Enforcers, with Matt Allwright.

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Can you imagine living

in these conditions?

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So you started with mice?

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Yeah.

And now they're rats?

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Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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Security's very poor at

the back of this property.

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But with the pressure on

housing greater than ever,

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finding a safe place to live

is getting harder and harder.

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It's just terrible.

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It gets me the most, this place.

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Oh, my God. Can you see

what's going on here?

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I'm Matt Allwright, and

I'm back on the front line

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with the Housing Enforcers.

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So what you've got is a very,

very quick way to dispatch yourself.

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This series tackles downright

dangerous houses head-on.

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Really worryingly, there's no

mains gas supply here at all.

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From life-endangering firetraps...

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They wouldn't even know that the

place was on fire before they

were dead.

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You can see these plugs here,

they've blown.

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Worst case scenario,

the house could have burnt down.

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..to health hazards...

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It's at a stage where it

really needs to be dealt with now.

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..to accidents waiting to happen...

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Actually, you're not talking about

a fire, you're talking about

an explosion.

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..making sure we all have a safe

and secure place to call home.

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There are things here that could

seriously shorten your life.

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Today, a dangerously unsafe property

takes housing officer Richard

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by surprise.

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This is unreal.

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This ceiling's going to

come down any time soon.

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In Margate, a young family's

health is being put at risk.

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Knowing that my son is in here,

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my newborn son and my older son,

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and that could cause a

lot of health risks...

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Sorry, I'm...

That's all right.

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And we find out what happens

when a home is overrun by rats.

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I find myself quite often

on edge in my own home.

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You can see them running

on top of the pipes

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and going through right

into your main building.

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You'd like to think you'd know if

you were safe in your own home,

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wouldn't you?

But if you're a tenant,

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you may have to rely

on your landlord

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to provide a safe and

secure place to live.

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I'm working alongside the men and

women whose job it is to ensure

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we're not living in lethal homes,

and they are the Housing Enforcers.

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Home safety is very important.

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Very important.

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We take care of all our appliances

and make sure that everything is

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working correctly.

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I think the adults

in the home should

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keep all the dangerous objects

away from children,

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especially the kitchen

is a dangerous place.

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We've got a burglar alarm,

because we were broke into.

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SHE CHUCKLES

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We've got smoke alarms.

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My home's safe. Every window has

got double locking on.

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Front door's got two deadlocks on it

and a deadlocking night latch.

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So I don't worry about it.

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In the West Midlands,

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housing officer Richard Hawkins

has had a call-out to an abandoned

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building after reports there might

be people living in it.

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There's a potential that we've

got an empty pub with people

living upstairs.

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Could be an illegal conversion.

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There's also work going on on site

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where we've got people

doing hand car washing.

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It could be a very

dangerous situation.

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As well as being a fire risk,

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derelict buildings can quickly

become a dumping ground

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for rubbish and illegal activities.

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There's going to be a lot of

different agencies

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all working together today to try

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and unpick it all and resolve

everything that we can and make sure

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that the people that are living

on the site are safe

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and the building's up to regulations

and that it's safe to live in.

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First impressions aren't reassuring.

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The pub has obviously been

empty for some time.

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West Midlands Fire Service

officers are already on site.

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Let's go in, try our luck,

and see where we go from there.

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OK?

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It doesn't seem like the guy

washing cars round the back

was expecting visitors.

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Hello.

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Sandwell Council...

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..and West Midlands Fire Service.

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We need access to this building,

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where people are living.

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There's one living upstairs.

There's one living upstairs?

Yeah.

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Although the man clearly

knows how to get in,

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he wants Richard to

wait by a side door.

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Well, we know now, obviously

the game's been given away that

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there is somebody living up here.

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It's pretty grim, isn't it?

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We've got what looks like some kind

of obviously informal car washing

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operation going on at the back.

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A bit of fly-tipping

going on, obviously.

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Not very pleasant grime and that,

but if we've got people

living upstairs,

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obviously, where's

the bins being emptied?

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It's obviously not very safe.

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I mean, look at this.

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I think I can hear something inside.

HE KNOCKS ON DOOR

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It looks like there is someone in.

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Richard has no idea what

awaits him inside.

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Hello. From Sandwell Council.

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Are you living here?

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Yeah.

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My friend, how long have

you been living here?

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Nearly a year.

Nearly a year?

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Are you here alone?

Yeah,

but people live, they've gone.

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OK, so we've got other

people living here as well?

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Locked. Locked.

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OK, so we've got a HMO.

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By law, conditions in houses of

multiple occupancy, or HMOs,

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must be safe and secure.

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Who's responsible for this

place is anyone's guess,

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but if there's an

immediate threat to safety,

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Richard could order a prohibition

order and get it shut down.

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Oh, you're joking. What's this?

This is meant to be

your living room, is it?

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You're sleeping on the floor?

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They don't care.

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They just collect money, that's it.

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This property really is ringing all

sorts of alarm bells for Richard.

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I've just been told by the

tenant that they're paying,

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yeah, weekly rent.

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So, yeah, they're paying

rent to basically

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doss on a floor

in a derelict pub.

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Kids break into derelict buildings.

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Kids set fire to derelict buildings.

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There's no fire doors.

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There's no smoke detection.

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There's not even any

proper lighting.

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People could burn alive in this

place. They wouldn't even know.

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They wouldn't even know that the

place was on fire before

they were dead.

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The list of serious safety

issues is growing.

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This place is a disaster

waiting to happen.

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It's hard to believe someone's

actually taking money from people

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to live in conditions like this.

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What's even more disturbing is that

it appears there's a parent with

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children living in here, too.

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Jules.

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So there has been

children living in this.

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Yes.

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That's really worrying, isn't it?

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So there's a little girl

that's been living in this.

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It's shocking, but Richard has

seen this sort of thing before.

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The problem is that we're getting

more and more and more of these.

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Every day, we're coming across more

of these cases where you've just got

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a commercial building, and they've

just stuck a load of people in it.

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There are so many ways in which this

building is unfit for people to live

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in, that it's difficult

to know where to start.

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Remember, they're paying

for the privilege.

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Have you got any heating?

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Nothing.

No heating?

Nothing.

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How much are you paying,

dare I ask?

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Each person, 60 a week.

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£60 a week?

240 a month.

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So, 240 a month.

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There's no lights, actually.

They've all been pulled down.

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There's no emergency lights.

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There's no window. So you've got

all the doors shut at night,

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and something happens, you're going

to be fumbling around in the dark.

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So, no lighting means

a risk of falls.

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There's an absence of heating, too.

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But just when Richard thinks

conditions can't get any worse,

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he's faced with this -

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a shocking level of damp and mould.

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You're breathing it all the time,

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and these are people

that have got no heating.

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They're at the much

poorer end of society.

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They're already probably going to

have health implications anyway.

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And then you've

got this compounding it.

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You know, it's just going to

shorten your life expectancy,

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it puts pressure on the NHS.

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It's endless.

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The kitchen is also in a

seriously dangerous condition,

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with broken windows and some

worrying structural damage.

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This is unreal.

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Broken windows.

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Unreal.

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This ceiling's going to

come down any time soon.

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Eventually, then the floor is going

to saturate and come through.

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This is what you expect to see in

an abandoned building ready

for demolition.

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This isn't what you expect to see

in a property that's being

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rented to people to live in.

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So far in this property,

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Richard has identified six serious

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safety contraventions.

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With a prohibition order from

Richard on the cards, downstairs,

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the fire safety officer

is also assessing

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what steps he needs to take.

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It's in a dangerous condition for

the people living there,

no doubt about it.

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They've got no means

of giving warning.

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There's no lighting in there to

be able to see your way out.

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PHONE RINGS

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I'll have to take this call.

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That's the duty officer.

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OK, sorry about that.

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This is the key moment.

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It's whether the

Fire Service prohibit it,

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or we have to go down a much harder

route of prohibiting it.

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Later, we'll find out whether it's

the last gasp for the Puffing Billy,

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and what's going to

happen to those tenants.

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What we basically don't want to do

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is shut this building

down and then we get a mum come back

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with her daughter at eight o'clock

tonight and find

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that they've got no home.

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It's thought that over a million

rented properties across the UK

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are suffering with serious

damp and mould.

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It can cause major health issues,

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and it's older people and kids

who are particularly at risk.

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We've got a bit of damp

in our bathroom.

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And I know that if you inhale

it for a long period of time,

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it can have some harmful

effects to the human body.

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We've lived in old places in

the past, and you can get mould,

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and we are worried that

it has made us ill.

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Yeah, I've got asthma,

so I've got to be careful, innit?

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So we're always...

It's the number one priority,

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when the council do come over,

we do make sure we tell them.

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We used to have some damp in our

previous house, not very much.

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We did have some. But this house

we've got now is fully insulated,

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and it's got vents in

the double glazing as well.

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In the windows, yeah.

So there's

air circulation all the time.

Mm.

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In Thanet,

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nearly one in four homes fails

to meet decent housing standards.

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I'm with housing

officers Steve O'Shea

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and Bethan Thistle on their way to

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meet a young family struggling

with chronic damp in their flat.

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I've been told the

situation is a desperate one.

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SHE KNOCKS ON DOOR

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Hi there.

Hello.

We're from the council.

Yeah.

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Yeah? How are you?

I'm good, thank you.

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Are we OK to come in?

Yeah, excuse the mess.

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Don't worry. I'm Matt, by the way.

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Hiya.

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Hi, there.

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Keith, Kimberly and their

toddler son, Jayden,

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moved into the flat over a year ago.

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But a catastrophic water leak soon

resulted in a serious damp problem.

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More worryingly, just days ago,

Kimberly gave birth to baby Riley.

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That's a very pink little baby.

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How old is he now?

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Three days.

Just three days?

Yeah.

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It seems the new arrival makes

sorting out the problems here

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even more pressing.

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Beginning here, what do you notice?

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Well, there's tea staining

which suggests there is a leak

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coming through from the roof

that's on the top of this bay.

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The tenant tells us that when

it rains, it come through.

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But I think it's maybe

travelling as well,

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through the ceiling surface as well.

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Yeah. If that's continuous,

as you say,

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part of that ceiling could start

to collapse and drop down,

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so there's a number of hazards

associated with this.

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We've got the damp penetration,

we've got falling elements.

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Look what we've got here,

right underneath this.

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We can't have this.

You need to be protected.

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You can't be getting wet

if the rain comes down.

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That's funny!

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MATT LAUGHS

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We've got loads of mould down there.

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Yeah.

Oh, my God.

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Mould definitely isn't what

you want to see around kids.

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You know, we've got mould there and

it looks like it's the product of

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condensation. We've got

kids sleeping in this room

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and occupying it for

a big part of the day.

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I mean, that can't be good for them.

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That's not going to be too good,

breathing that in.

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Young children and newborns

are the most at risk from mould.

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Weak immune systems and growing

lungs make them especially

susceptible to

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life-threatening infections,

pneumonia and respiratory failure.

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Keith shows me footage he recorded

of the leak that developed

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soon after they moved in.

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This was a few months ago

when we had heavy rain.

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If you watch the jug carefully,

you'll see the splashing.

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We went through about 38 bowls

of water, just in one day.

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And then it gradually got worse.

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It started off as just

a tiny crack in the ceiling,

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and then, more recently,

it was three weeks nonstop leaking.

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It's really sad to see the state of

this family's home and what they've

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had to deal with. But the problems

don't stop here.

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OK, so, we've

got another issue here.

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Can you see?

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Well, we've got the consumer unit.

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We've got the meter and

the main fuse all here

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and they're all completely exposed

in a house with two kids.

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And all of that just

looks fascinating.

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It's got flashing lights.

It's got these wires.

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It looks like an activity

centre, doesn't it?

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Yeah, and particularly

with it being at low level,

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it's quite attractive

to young children.

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They could easily put their fingers

in places they shouldn't or

pull the wires.

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The risk of electrocution is

a terrifying thought for any parent,

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especially when you consider around

70 people are killed every year

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by electrical accidents in the home.

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Next door doesn't prove

any less hazardous.

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Right, so, this is

the kitchen.

Yeah.

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So there's one obvious

thing that's missing.

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There is no kitchen door.

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Yeah, exactly.

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So, over 65% of fires

start within the kitchen,

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so it's really important

that we have a door on here

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to stop the spread of fire,

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so we would ask for a solid,

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well-fitting door

to be fitted on here.

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OK. So that just gives you enough

time, if your toaster goes off,

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you will be able to close the door,

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get everybody else out and call

somebody else to deal with it.

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Yes, exactly.

0:14:280:14:29

The absence of door is yet another

safety concern in this place.

0:14:300:14:34

It's really not a good situation.

0:14:340:14:36

Keith has been doing his best

to support his young family

0:14:380:14:40

for over a year in

their first home together.

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But it looks like

he's at breaking point.

0:14:430:14:45

And what were your choices when

you moved into this place?

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It was pretty much

the only option we had.

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When we first came to see the place,

it was a dream home.

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Nothing was made aware to us,

like, damage wise.

0:14:550:14:58

Then we moved in and

everything just changed.

0:14:580:15:01

This problem sounds like

the one that you had...

0:15:010:15:03

This has been going on from the

beginning.

..very soon after.

0:15:030:15:06

That's not been resolved at all?

No, not at all. I've sent messages,

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and all I get is,

"I'll speak to someone."

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"I'll send someone out

to look at it."

0:15:120:15:14

But still we've had nothing.

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You're staying here because you

haven't got many other options,

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is that the case?

No, we haven't

got any options at all.

0:15:190:15:21

We've been wanting to get out

of here for almost a year now,

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and knowing that my son is in here,

my newborn son, and my older son,

0:15:240:15:28

and that could cause a

lot of health risks...

0:15:280:15:30

..and I'm not supporting...

0:15:310:15:33

Sorry.

It's all right.

0:15:340:15:36

I've been wanting to support

my partner for a long time.

0:15:430:15:47

I've really been trying, but this

flat has just been knocking me down,

0:15:470:15:50

down further and further.

0:15:500:15:51

OK. I mean, when you've got a new

baby, or new babies, it is hard,

0:15:520:15:57

but they are supposed

to be happy times.

0:15:570:16:00

Yeah.

Are you able to enjoy that?

0:16:000:16:02

How's it been?

The happiest moment

of my son being born was being

0:16:020:16:05

in that hospital

cos we weren't here.

0:16:050:16:08

I haven't had sleep for almost

two nights because I've been

0:16:080:16:10

up all night watching him, making

sure he's still, you know,

0:16:100:16:13

breathing, and not

coughing or anything,

0:16:130:16:16

because I don't know what is

in the air here any more.

0:16:160:16:19

It feels to me like you feel a

bit trapped here at the moment.

0:16:190:16:22

Yeah.

I hope you find a way

out of that.

0:16:220:16:25

Thank you.

0:16:250:16:26

I think it's important that we get

the landlord to fix the problem with

0:16:280:16:32

the roof because, obviously,

clearly, every time it rains,

0:16:320:16:34

it's just going to keep coming

through and make matters worse.

0:16:340:16:37

It's going to become more of

an issue if we don't get

it resolved quickly.

0:16:370:16:40

In every sense of the word,

0:16:420:16:43

trying to make the best of

the situation they're in,

0:16:430:16:46

two tiny children,

0:16:460:16:48

and a house where it doesn't

matter where you put yourself,

0:16:480:16:52

you're going to be

exposing yourself to...

0:16:520:16:55

There's some risks. There's the

damp, electrics, the kitchen door.

0:16:550:17:01

All of those things.

0:17:010:17:02

What they really need is a break.

0:17:020:17:04

They need someone to sort

their house out,

0:17:040:17:06

allow them to make it into a home.

0:17:060:17:09

And that person, of course,

0:17:090:17:11

should be the person

responsible for the property.

0:17:110:17:13

Let's hope that's what happens.

0:17:150:17:17

The landlord tells us that he didn't

know about the damp issues before

0:17:210:17:25

Keith moved in but that he'll now

look into the cause of the leak.

0:17:250:17:30

He says the electrical consumer unit

is at a normal height,

0:17:300:17:33

but he will replace the door.

0:17:330:17:35

He says the kitchen door

isn't necessary, though,

0:17:350:17:38

as it's a ground-floor flat.

0:17:380:17:40

He's keen to stress that he's

not a slum landlord

0:17:400:17:43

and his tenants usually

stay with him

0:17:430:17:46

before moving on to bigger

properties when they can.

0:17:460:17:49

In the West Midlands,

0:17:520:17:53

housing officer Richard Hawkins

0:17:530:17:55

is on the brink of

issuing a prohibition order

0:17:550:17:57

on tenants living above

an unsafe derelict pub.

0:17:570:18:00

As well as damp, mould and

collapsing ceilings

0:18:020:18:05

that are putting tenants at risk,

0:18:050:18:07

the building could

easily go up in smoke.

0:18:070:18:09

Outside, West Midlands Fire Service

inspectors are making an urgent

0:18:110:18:14

assessment of the

possible risks to life.

0:18:140:18:16

Flat roof, we've got no control

on what's underneath.

0:18:160:18:18

We can't actually get

in to have a look round.

0:18:180:18:21

There's definitely

separation issues.

0:18:210:18:23

Yeah.

You could always have someone

come along, an arsonist -

0:18:230:18:26

that window's broke over there -

start a fire. That roof...

0:18:260:18:28

The empty bar area means there's a

risk of fire beneath the

tenants' rooms.

0:18:280:18:32

The team has the power to shut it

down immediately, but first,

0:18:320:18:35

they need to do a thorough check

inside the building.

0:18:350:18:38

What I'm looking at is to just

0:18:380:18:40

ensure that if we do serve

a prohibition notice,

0:18:400:18:42

it's because we've got

no other choice,

0:18:420:18:45

that the situation's so serious

that we've got no choice to do it.

0:18:450:18:49

Straight away, there's

cause for concern.

0:18:490:18:52

There's not a self-closing door

on your high-risk room.

0:18:520:18:57

We believe there's

two people in here,

0:18:570:18:59

one of them a pregnant woman.

0:18:590:19:01

It's truly shocking.

0:19:010:19:03

There are children living here and

the lack of any decent fire safety

0:19:030:19:06

equipment means this

place is a death trap.

0:19:060:19:09

We're seeing if we can

reduce the risk

0:19:100:19:12

cos the consequence of serving

the prohibition notice is that

0:19:120:19:15

people have to be rehoused.

0:19:150:19:16

If we've got no choice,

then I have to serve the notice.

0:19:160:19:19

But I just want to ensure

that, from our point of view,

0:19:190:19:21

we've considered all options.

0:19:210:19:23

With locks on some of the rooms,

0:19:230:19:25

it's been difficult to work out

for sure exactly who lives here.

0:19:250:19:29

But for Richard, it's not a safe and

secure environment for anyone on

any level.

0:19:290:19:34

The lock doesn't work,

so when the tenants go out,

0:19:340:19:37

they have to leave the door open.

0:19:370:19:39

And when they're in, the only way

of locking it is a bolt at the top.

0:19:390:19:42

Round the back,

0:19:430:19:45

the tenants have created another

huge health and safety hazard.

0:19:450:19:48

Wow.

0:19:480:19:49

I mean, the smell's horrible.

0:19:490:19:51

Got soft mattresses here.

0:19:510:19:53

Again, we're in that situation where

you're going to get rats and rodents

0:19:530:19:57

that can burrow into these

types of places,

0:19:570:19:59

get in what we call harbourage.

0:19:590:20:02

It's a nice, cosy place for

a rat to sleep, isn't it?

0:20:020:20:05

Vermin like rats carry all sorts of

diseases and bugs that can be passed

0:20:050:20:08

to people, including

tuberculosis and E coli.

0:20:080:20:12

The last thing you want to do is

give them a comfortable habitat

to live in.

0:20:120:20:15

It's a big rotting,

stinking pile of filth.

0:20:150:20:19

The list of serious safety

hazards keeps growing.

0:20:210:20:24

But however bad things are,

0:20:240:20:26

the team has to consider

that this is a place

0:20:260:20:28

that people still call home.

0:20:280:20:30

It is a tough decision to make.

0:20:300:20:32

We'll go to the station,

write out all the different ones,

0:20:320:20:35

they'll have my signature

on it, and then

0:20:350:20:37

you can send them out at leisure.

0:20:370:20:39

The Fire Service are going to shut

this building down with

a probation order.

0:20:390:20:43

Then we're going to do is serve

another notice saying that if you

0:20:430:20:45

want people to live

in this building,

0:20:450:20:47

you've got to do these things

to make sure that it's safe.

0:20:470:20:50

It's now down to Richard to start

the ball rolling and get the tenants

0:20:510:20:54

into a home fit

for human habitation.

0:20:540:20:57

Are you able to get

yourself to an office now?

Yeah.

0:20:570:20:59

Are you able to up and go?

0:20:590:21:00

I'm going to make some phone calls

to let them know you're coming

0:21:000:21:03

and I'm going to get you a status,

0:21:030:21:05

so that we can get

you rehoused today.

OK.

0:21:050:21:07

Does that make sense?

Thank you.

0:21:070:21:09

Come back and collect it, you

just can't sleep here. All right?

0:21:120:21:15

What we basically don't want to do

0:21:160:21:18

is shut this building

down and we get a mum

0:21:180:21:20

come back with her daughter at eight

o'clock tonight and find they've

0:21:200:21:23

got no home. If they

phone this number,

0:21:230:21:26

they will have a roof

over their head tonight.

0:21:260:21:29

With everyone safely

off the premises,

0:21:310:21:33

the building will be locked to

ensure no-one else can sleep there.

0:21:330:21:37

The existing tenants

can call the council

0:21:370:21:39

to arrange to pick up

their belongings.

0:21:390:21:41

Brilliant. So, that's fantastic.

0:21:450:21:48

Thanks for your help, Carl.

Appreciate it, mate.

0:21:480:21:51

Our priority here is to

get the people out

0:21:510:21:53

and to get the building safe.

0:21:530:21:54

We've done that by getting the Fire

Service to serve a probation order

0:21:540:21:57

and then the council's

going to rehouse people.

0:21:570:21:59

The others, unfortunately,

we don't know who they are,

0:21:590:22:02

so all that we can really do is put

a notice on the door for the time

0:22:020:22:05

being, hope that they see it and

that they pay attention to that.

0:22:050:22:08

We're going to have to keep coming

back here to make sure that it's not

0:22:080:22:11

lived in and that the people

in there have moved.

0:22:110:22:13

The owners of the Puffing Billy told

us that it was due to be developed

0:22:180:22:22

and that they hadn't known

that people were living there.

0:22:220:22:24

Once they found out,

they boarded the building up.

0:22:240:22:28

The property will now

stay under lock and key

0:22:280:22:31

until its future is decided.

0:22:310:22:33

Oh, and the council have given

the owners a deadline

0:22:330:22:35

to clear up that pile

of rubbish too.

0:22:350:22:38

By law, rented properties must

be safe and fit to live in.

0:22:410:22:45

The trouble is, many aren't,

0:22:450:22:47

due to a minority of landlords

ignoring their obligations.

0:22:470:22:52

If you think your landlord is

breaking the law or acting unfairly,

0:22:520:22:56

what can you do?

Well, for a start,

0:22:560:22:58

you could call your

local council housing officer.

0:22:580:23:02

Tenant safety is a key

responsibility of landlords.

0:23:020:23:06

I do think they should be

responsible because, I mean,

0:23:060:23:09

they're making money

from that property.

0:23:090:23:11

They should be using the money,

or some of the money,

0:23:110:23:13

to keep the property

to a good standard.

0:23:130:23:16

I definitely think the landlord

should take responsibility

0:23:160:23:18

for any issues that are inside

the building or even outside

0:23:180:23:22

the flat or the building

that you live in.

0:23:220:23:25

You have to inform them.

0:23:250:23:26

If they don't know what

is going on in your house,

0:23:260:23:29

how can they just pop in

to come in and mend things?

0:23:290:23:34

In Peterborough, I'm out with

housing officers Pete and Stuart.

0:23:340:23:38

They're off to meet a landlord who

has been warned he must do vital

0:23:380:23:42

safety works on one of

his rental properties.

0:23:420:23:44

Any idea what we're going

to see when we get there?

0:23:440:23:48

Yeah, we're looking at...

0:23:480:23:50

The landlord is under notice,

0:23:500:23:52

so we've served a legal notice

on him to do repairs.

0:23:520:23:54

Yeah.

0:23:540:23:56

So we've come to check...

0:23:560:23:58

We've come to check

progress more than completion.

0:23:590:24:02

It's not unusual for the council to

keep up the pressure on landlords

0:24:030:24:06

to make their properties

safe for tenants,

0:24:060:24:09

with home security a key issue.

0:24:090:24:11

One of the things was

to sort the door out.

0:24:110:24:14

What? The way it is at the moment?

0:24:140:24:15

The door that they had

locked with a spoon.

0:24:150:24:18

Yes.

A spoon?

With a spoon.

0:24:180:24:21

Not sure anyone's in.

We'll go round the back.

Shall we?

0:24:210:24:23

Yes, he did say the door

had been locked with a spoon.

0:24:250:24:29

It's anyone's guess what the rest

of the property is like though.

0:24:290:24:32

Just to put you in the picture,

0:24:320:24:34

we've arrived and the landlord is

taking us on a little guided tour

0:24:340:24:37

to show us the work,

the improvements

0:24:370:24:39

that he's made to the property,

0:24:390:24:41

which is the stuff that

Pete was insisting upon.

0:24:410:24:43

But it's still not looking good.

0:24:450:24:48

We're not even through the door yet.

0:24:480:24:50

That looks a bit wonky.

0:24:500:24:52

Everything looks a bit wonky.

0:24:520:24:53

Homes don't look like

you imagine homes always look.

0:24:580:25:03

You know that picture you drew when

you were a kid at primary school?

0:25:030:25:06

They don't always look like that.

0:25:060:25:08

And this place really doesn't.

0:25:090:25:11

Pete and Stuart have gone off

to check the work

0:25:110:25:14

the landlord has done,

0:25:140:25:15

but tenant Yvonna is frustrated

at how long it's taken.

0:25:150:25:19

He just does this yesterday.

0:25:190:25:21

Right.

This door,

the man just fixed it now.

0:25:210:25:23

So it's just literally

the last two days, today even?

0:25:230:25:27

Yeah, today.

0:25:270:25:28

One of the measures of a home

that's fit to live in

0:25:280:25:31

is that you can keep it secure.

0:25:310:25:33

To hear that's not always been

the case here is worrying.

0:25:330:25:36

I'm wondering how much rent

Yvonna has been paying.

0:25:360:25:39

For a month, I pay £600.

OK.

0:25:390:25:42

£600 a month for this property?

For this property.

0:25:420:25:44

And do you live...? Is it two of you

or do you have,

0:25:440:25:47

is there anybody else?

I've got my mum.

0:25:470:25:49

I live with my mum...

Yeah.

..my dad and my older brother,

0:25:490:25:52

he sleeps upstairs.

So, at the

moment, there's five of you,

0:25:520:25:55

including baby?

There's only two bedrooms

0:25:550:25:58

and me and my baby

have to sleep with...

0:25:580:25:59

It turns out the family have been

living in this cramped property

0:25:590:26:02

for almost a year,

0:26:020:26:04

but Yvonna says the landlord didn't

respond to most of her complaints

0:26:040:26:07

until just hours before we arrived.

0:26:070:26:10

This, he just fixed it now.

0:26:100:26:12

So there was no handrail?

No, he just put it now.

0:26:120:26:14

So, the handrail's just gone in,

still got the price on it.

Yeah.

0:26:140:26:18

Upstairs, Yvonna's keen to show me

0:26:180:26:20

what else she's been

putting up with.

0:26:200:26:22

When it's raining, it came from

that one, it came from this one,

0:26:220:26:26

and all the carpet is wet.

0:26:260:26:28

So, when it rains,

it comes through the ceiling?

0:26:280:26:30

Yeah, and from this one.

0:26:300:26:32

Water getting in can cause

structural damage and damp.

0:26:320:26:36

It's not a good situation,

0:26:360:26:37

particularly when you've got kids

in the house.

0:26:370:26:41

And this one...

Yeah?

Sometimes the water's hot,

0:26:410:26:44

sometimes it isn't hot.

So you've got a boiler in here?

0:26:440:26:46

Yeah, and then it's leaking.

0:26:460:26:48

Sometimes not hot,

0:26:480:26:50

the water's leaking

and all the carpet is wet.

0:26:500:26:52

And this room is really cold.

0:26:520:26:54

A leaking boiler can be

a serious problem

0:26:540:26:57

and it definitely needs to be

professionally repaired.

0:26:570:27:00

So, you and the baby are next door.

0:27:000:27:02

Yes, sleeping with my mum.

With your mum?

Yes.

0:27:020:27:05

So, whilst the door that was locked

with a spoon

0:27:050:27:07

and the handrail

have both been fixed,

0:27:070:27:10

it looks like Yvonna and her family

are still in a difficult situation.

0:27:100:27:13

Wow, that's one of

the most disturbing things

0:27:150:27:17

I've seen in a while.

You know, Yvonna is trying to...

0:27:170:27:21

..has brought home her child to

a house that leaks,

0:27:210:27:25

which is cold,

0:27:250:27:28

which is draughty,

0:27:280:27:31

which appears dangerous,

neglected, insecure.

0:27:310:27:36

I'd say they're not asking

for very much.

0:27:380:27:41

But even that, the landlord has,

over months, failed to provide.

0:27:410:27:47

So, there is still work to be done

in the house, as well as outside.

0:27:490:27:53

But sadly, it seems Yvonna's family

aren't alone in struggling

0:27:530:27:56

with substandard accommodation

in the city.

0:27:560:27:58

How common is what we saw in

there in Peterborough right now,

0:28:000:28:04

would you say?

In this area,

very common. Very common.

0:28:040:28:08

We could spend a week

just knocking on the door,

0:28:100:28:12

five minutes in the house,

we'll find...

0:28:120:28:15

..most houses like that.

0:28:150:28:17

So, Pete and his colleagues see

conditions like this every day.

0:28:170:28:21

That doesn't make it right

for tenants like Yvonna

0:28:210:28:23

who are having to deal with it.

0:28:230:28:24

It's now down to the housing

officers to make sure the landlord

0:28:240:28:28

sorts things out

as soon as possible.

0:28:280:28:31

The job that Pete and David,

that we have seen them doing,

0:28:310:28:35

they have to build a relationship

with this guy to try

0:28:350:28:37

and get some improvement.

0:28:370:28:40

Absolute shocker.

Absolute shocker, this one.

0:28:400:28:42

Since we filmed,

Peterborough housing officers

0:28:450:28:47

say the landlord has completed most

of the work required by the council.

0:28:470:28:51

They'll be keeping a close eye on

him to make sure the rest of the

0:28:510:28:54

repairs are done.

0:28:540:28:55

They say that in any major city

in the UK,

0:28:580:29:01

you are never more than

20 feet from a rat.

0:29:010:29:04

But having rats invade your home

is not only upsetting,

0:29:040:29:07

it's a health risk and can cause

potentially dangerous damage

0:29:070:29:12

to the property.

0:29:120:29:14

If I found a rat or even finding

a mouse in my house,

0:29:140:29:17

I would, like, die.

0:29:170:29:19

I don't think

they're very desirable.

0:29:190:29:21

You don't want vermin in your home

0:29:210:29:23

and you would contact

a pest controller

0:29:230:29:25

or the local council and ask

for advice, I would've thought.

0:29:250:29:28

They carry a lot of disease and

if you have a bad sewer system,

0:29:280:29:32

it's bad. It's really unhygienic.

0:29:320:29:34

We used to get some rats

in the back garden,

0:29:340:29:37

but we don't now

because we've got cats.

0:29:370:29:39

In Cromer, in Norfolk,

0:29:430:29:45

town centre residents Anne and Mike

are proud of the home

0:29:450:29:48

they've had for the past 25 years.

0:29:480:29:51

When we first bought it, we walked

in and the first time we saw it,

0:29:510:29:54

we fell in love with it,

0:29:540:29:56

we knew this was a house

where we were going to be happy.

0:29:560:30:00

But recently, they've had

their home life shattered

0:30:000:30:02

by some very unwelcome visitors.

0:30:020:30:05

I think it was probably

about eight weeks ago,

0:30:050:30:08

we started hearing noises.

0:30:080:30:11

I was sewing and

I heard something rustling.

0:30:110:30:15

We thought it was a mouse

and so we set traps.

0:30:150:30:20

The couple then went away

for the weekend,

0:30:200:30:22

leaving their daughter, Sally,

and her baby staying in the house.

0:30:220:30:26

My daughter, she was in the

living room, feeding the baby,

0:30:260:30:29

late at night, and she heard

the snap trap go bang.

0:30:290:30:32

To her horror, she was met not by

a mouse but by a large dead rat.

0:30:340:30:40

But that wasn't the end

of the problem.

0:30:400:30:42

More rats were getting in.

0:30:420:30:44

Our little granddaughter

could be very vulnerable.

0:30:450:30:48

It made me feel very uncomfortable.

0:30:480:30:51

I find myself quite often

on edge in my own home,

0:30:510:30:54

particularly in the evenings.

0:30:540:30:56

Exterminator Tony Bennett has been

in pest control for 35 years.

0:30:560:31:02

Rodents are here for a reason,

they need food,

0:31:020:31:04

they need water and

somewhere to live.

0:31:040:31:05

Obviously we've got quite a bit

of ground control in here,

0:31:050:31:08

which is generally tidy, but we've

also got bird feeders over the back.

0:31:080:31:12

Bird feeders will entice

all the rodents in,

0:31:120:31:15

so what we've got to do is deter

them from the restaurant

0:31:150:31:17

they're eating in, so they

start controlling the poison,

0:31:170:31:20

which we call the beans on toast,

on the bait stations.

0:31:200:31:23

Controlling rodents is

a growing problem in the UK.

0:31:250:31:29

It's thought they might even be

developing immunity to some poisons.

0:31:290:31:32

Tony wants to find out how the

rats are getting into the house

0:31:340:31:38

and where they might be living.

0:31:380:31:39

Just going to do a survey of the

kitchen, underneath the kick plates,

0:31:400:31:43

which is the most common place

for rodents to harbour.

0:31:430:31:47

There's not much of a smear mark

so it shows you

0:31:480:31:50

they haven't been using it

for a long time.

0:31:500:31:53

Well, the rats will most commonly

come in a hole through pipework

0:31:530:31:57

at the back of the doors

in the yard or kitchen

0:31:570:31:59

or gnawing through doors.

0:31:590:32:01

If there's no issues

with proofing low-level,

0:32:010:32:03

they will climb up the drainpipes,

0:32:030:32:05

go through the gutter and underneath

the eaves, and go into the loft.

0:32:050:32:09

And a quick check of the loft

shows he's right.

0:32:110:32:14

We've definitely had rats up here

0:32:150:32:16

because I can smell the aroma

of the urine.

0:32:160:32:19

As you can see, the pest control

person dealing with this property

0:32:190:32:22

has put some bait, tethered bait.

0:32:220:32:25

You can see all the holes in the top

0:32:250:32:27

and as I go around you'll see the

holes going through the pipework.

0:32:270:32:30

And you can see a couple of

little nibbles on the lagging.

0:32:320:32:36

They've definitely come in

from one of the corners,

0:32:360:32:38

either this side or that side,

and they're running down,

0:32:380:32:40

over the top of the joists,

0:32:400:32:42

you can see them running

on top of the pipes

0:32:420:32:44

and going through right into

your main building.

0:32:440:32:47

If the rats have

established a colony,

0:32:470:32:49

they'll be more difficult

to get rid of,

0:32:490:32:51

but Tony's got at least

a little bit of good news.

0:32:510:32:54

There's no evidence

of juvenile droppings.

0:32:550:32:57

If it had been going on

for quite a while,

0:32:570:32:59

one rat will lay 40 droppings a day

0:32:590:33:01

and there'd be quite a bit

of evidence and a bit of aroma,

0:33:010:33:03

so it's really early stages.

0:33:030:33:05

Just looks like the beginning of

summer, they found your food source,

0:33:050:33:08

now they're looking for somewhere

to live over the winter.

0:33:080:33:12

As rats reproduce so rapidly

over just one year,

0:33:120:33:15

it's important to track the rodents

down and stop them settling in.

0:33:150:33:19

Oh, here we go, we've got some

rat droppings down here.

0:33:210:33:23

This'll be a good place

to put a trap or some bait

0:33:230:33:25

because they've been

using it regular.

0:33:250:33:27

You can see another

larger one there, so...

0:33:270:33:30

It's not as mad, bad as it

might be, I think,

0:33:300:33:32

from what Tony's been saying.

0:33:320:33:34

It looks as if it's, you know, as he

says, early stages, but it's just...

0:33:340:33:38

Erm...

0:33:400:33:41

Can you switch that off, please?

0:33:430:33:45

You can see why Anne's upset.

0:33:450:33:47

It's not only having vermin

in her home -

0:33:470:33:49

rats can carry nasty diseases

which can be passed on to humans

0:33:490:33:53

through urine and faeces, including

salmonella and Weil's disease.

0:33:530:33:57

You've got no holes going through.

0:33:580:34:00

No smear marks, no droppings,

no tail swipes or footprints.

0:34:000:34:04

Absolutely great. Peace of mind,

you're safe in that one.

0:34:040:34:07

At least their bedroom is clear.

0:34:070:34:09

To deter rats it's important to keep

your home and garden free of clutter

0:34:100:34:15

and store food and pet food

in containers.

0:34:150:34:17

Oh, and rubbish should always

be put in secure bins.

0:34:170:34:21

The bung holes are normally in

the middle.

0:34:210:34:23

If there's no bung hole

there'll be a hole in the bottom...

0:34:230:34:27

..where rats come through

and have a feed.

0:34:270:34:29

To us this is rubbish,

but this is gold dust for a rodent

0:34:290:34:32

and if they're eating here

at this lovely restaurant,

0:34:320:34:35

they're not going to touch

the beans on toast.

OK.

OK.

0:34:350:34:37

The best thing to do is obviously

to fix some 5ml mesh at the base.

0:34:370:34:41

Yeah.

That'll prevent any rodent

getting through, mice or rats,

0:34:410:34:44

and then we can start

controlling them. OK?

0:34:440:34:47

It's going to go.

0:34:470:34:48

The rat is not going to win.

The rat is not going to win.

No.

0:34:480:34:51

Neighbourly disputes are one of the

biggest causes of complaints

0:34:550:34:58

to councils in the UK.

0:34:580:35:01

In Suffolk, housing officer

Andrew Weavers

0:35:010:35:03

has had a call from a council tenant

0:35:030:35:05

who's very unhappy

with his neighbour.

0:35:050:35:08

What have you got for me today?

0:35:080:35:09

OK. I've got a complaint about

somebody with a very overgrown...

0:35:090:35:13

Well, not overgrown garden,

a very messy garden.

0:35:130:35:15

The neighbour has rung me and said

0:35:150:35:19

that the garden is really

in a bad state.

0:35:190:35:22

He's obviously worried about rats.

0:35:220:35:24

Also there's some dogs

at the property,

0:35:240:35:26

the neighbour's a bit worried

about them,

0:35:260:35:28

noise and the fact that they

may be a little bit dangerous.

0:35:280:35:32

I don't know. I hope not cos I'm not

really very good at dangerous dogs.

0:35:320:35:35

No. I don't think anyone's very good

at dangerous dogs...

No.

..really.

0:35:350:35:38

Well, that's exciting...

Yep.

0:35:380:35:40

..so a cluttered garden

and maybe some dogs thrown

0:35:400:35:43

into the mix as well.

Yeah.

That's a challenge.

Yeah.

0:35:430:35:46

Let's go.

OK.

0:35:460:35:47

Council tenants are expected

to maintain their homes

0:35:490:35:51

in a reasonable condition

0:35:510:35:53

and not cause a nuisance or

danger to nearby residents.

0:35:530:35:56

Any anti-social behaviour

could put them in breach

0:35:560:35:59

of their tenancy agreement.

0:35:590:36:01

I don't know what we're going to see

0:36:010:36:03

but if there's a lot of

clutter outside,

0:36:030:36:06

then it's going to be an eyesore,

isn't it?

0:36:060:36:08

If he lives the same way indoors...

0:36:080:36:11

..it's a fire risk in there.

0:36:110:36:13

What sort of thing

is cluttering the house?

0:36:130:36:16

Will he be able to get out

if there is a problem?

0:36:160:36:20

So, the outside symptoms give you

a good reason to go in

0:36:200:36:25

and have a look inside and work out

0:36:250:36:27

whether that in itself

presents a risk.

0:36:270:36:29

We will see.

All will be revealed.

Unless he kicks us out.

0:36:290:36:32

Unless he sets the dogs on us.

Yeah.

We don't want that.

0:36:320:36:35

BARKING

0:36:400:36:41

Sure enough, the dogs are certainly

keen to make themselves heard.

0:36:410:36:45

You'd think when the dogs go off,

he'd know that someone's around.

0:36:450:36:48

Yeah.

0:36:480:36:50

And Andrew wasn't exaggerating

about the clutter either.

0:36:500:36:53

That is one garden that is

completely out of control.

0:36:530:36:56

It's part timber yard, it's part

agricultural plant hire.

0:36:560:37:01

In amidst all of that,

there are lots of chickens,

0:37:010:37:04

there's a duck

0:37:040:37:06

and inside the house there

are several very large dogs.

0:37:060:37:09

However, there is no occupant,

there's no resident at the moment.

0:37:090:37:13

But it's a sight to see,

I'll say that much.

0:37:130:37:16

It really is. If I was living

next door to it,

0:37:160:37:19

I would be asking

some serious questions.

0:37:190:37:22

It's looking like the tenant

isn't at home,

0:37:220:37:24

so we're going to have to try to get

some answers from other neighbours.

0:37:240:37:28

Hey, sunshine. Hello!

0:37:280:37:30

The dogs here are

much more friendly.

0:37:300:37:32

Hello, Daisy!

0:37:320:37:34

These are my kind of dogs.

0:37:340:37:36

Look at that.

0:37:360:37:38

If you can't see your neighbour,

it don't affect you,

0:37:380:37:40

so you'll obviously get on OK

with him, it's just, I think...

0:37:400:37:42

Yeah, I don't have any problems.

0:37:420:37:44

Yeah, I think we've had complaints

from other people about, obviously,

0:37:440:37:48

the condition of the garden,

0:37:480:37:49

maybe what's going on inside,

I don't know.

0:37:490:37:52

Yeah, I don't...

But...

I don't have that much contact.

0:37:520:37:55

Yeah.

No.

So...

But that's why I'm here.

Yeah.

0:37:550:37:58

Obviously had the complaint but...

No, no, he's no problem to me.

0:37:580:38:02

Good.

The only problems we do

get is with the rats.

0:38:020:38:06

There are rats there, then.

0:38:060:38:07

When he took down the old buildings,

we found there was lots of rats.

0:38:070:38:10

Uh-huh.

Because I have got a

few chickens at the back there

0:38:100:38:14

and I get problems

with the rats coming in.

OK.

0:38:140:38:18

Neighbours are very tolerant,

actually, of the way

0:38:180:38:22

that gentleman is choosing

to live his life and,

0:38:220:38:24

you know, if you look

at that back garden,

0:38:240:38:27

it seems to me there's a guy

that's been very,

0:38:270:38:28

very busy in his life and maybe,

for one reason or another,

0:38:280:38:32

hasn't been able to keep up

that level of activity

0:38:320:38:35

and keep up this property.

0:38:350:38:38

But that doesn't mean

you sort of wade in there

0:38:380:38:41

and punish or enforce or sanction

0:38:410:38:45

and that's what Andrew's

very good at,

0:38:450:38:47

is working out what that guy needs

to be able to live his life as well

0:38:470:38:51

as he can without

affecting neighbours.

0:38:510:38:54

It looks like this might be

a case of six of one,

0:38:540:38:56

half a dozen of the other.

0:38:560:38:58

But Andrew will need to talk to

the tenant about his garden

0:38:580:39:01

and check his dogs aren't a threat.

0:39:010:39:03

We've got one neighbour

says they're fine.

0:39:030:39:06

Yeah.

Looked after,

got no problem with him.

0:39:060:39:08

Got another neighbour saying

they're barking all the time

0:39:080:39:11

and they're vicious.

0:39:110:39:12

It does need a tidy up,

front and back.

0:39:120:39:16

I'm not saying it's got to be a

palace, cos I'm no gardener.

0:39:160:39:19

I do agree, really, people should

be able to live a little bit

0:39:190:39:22

out of the ordinary.

0:39:220:39:23

You know, we've all got our own

personalities, haven't we?

0:39:230:39:26

And then the dogs,

is that a job for you?

0:39:260:39:29

I'd only refer it on if

it was a noise nuisance.

0:39:290:39:31

As far as the tenancy's concerned,

0:39:310:39:33

he probably has been a tenant

here for quite some time,

0:39:330:39:36

so he's probably been...

0:39:360:39:38

He's come from a time

when the tenancy agreement

0:39:380:39:40

didn't really specify any

numbers of dogs, so, you know,

0:39:400:39:44

our sort of attitude, if they're

looked after and well-behaved,

0:39:440:39:49

then we let it go.

0:39:490:39:52

But if they're not,

0:39:520:39:54

then we can withdraw any permissions

that he might have had.

0:39:540:39:58

At the end of the day,

they are our properties

0:39:580:40:00

and we need to make sure

they're looked after.

0:40:000:40:02

Two weeks later, Andrew's come back

to meet with the dog-owning tenant,

0:40:070:40:11

Mr Roach.

0:40:110:40:12

Hello, mate.

Hello.

Are you all right?

Yeah, you?

0:40:130:40:16

Yeah. Spoke on the phone, didn't we?

Yeah.

0:40:160:40:20

Obviously, the first thing on my

list was obviously the allegation

0:40:200:40:23

that dogs were a nuisance

and, obviously, I was told

0:40:230:40:25

there was four dogs, or was led to

believe there was for four dogs.

0:40:250:40:28

No, there's two.

But there's only

two, isn't it?

Two dogs.

0:40:280:40:31

Yeah. Is that one of them in the

van, is it?

Yeah, yeah.

0:40:310:40:33

Where's the other one?

0:40:330:40:35

Oh.

0:40:350:40:37

You're all right.

I was bitten as a paperboy

0:40:370:40:39

and I've never forgotten it.

0:40:390:40:42

HE LAUGHS

0:40:390:40:42

So, only two dogs and

this one seems calm enough.

0:40:430:40:47

It looks like the front garden's

been tidied up too.

0:40:470:40:50

As for the back garden,

well, it's getting there.

0:40:500:40:54

So, really, we've got a work in

progress, haven't we? So...

0:40:540:40:56

Yeah, well, this...

So how

many chickens did you have?

0:40:560:41:00

I haven't got a clue.

But most of them have gone.

0:41:000:41:02

Oh, they're all gone.

Just the ones you can't catch.

0:41:020:41:04

It's not going to be an overnight...

0:41:040:41:07

No, as I say, I'm not into sort of,

you know, starting to serve notices,

0:41:070:41:12

I'm not into that. I like to sort

of try and work with you a bit.

0:41:120:41:16

You know, the other part of the

complaint was the noise and...

0:41:160:41:19

Which is totally rubbish.

..you say that's wrong.

0:41:190:41:23

Mr Roach says he doesn't think

his dogs are excessively noisy.

0:41:230:41:26

Obviously, the noise part of

it you sort of dispute, so...

0:41:260:41:30

Yeah.

..I promised I'd mention it

and I have.

Yep.

OK.

0:41:300:41:34

Before he goes,

0:41:340:41:36

Andrew's still keen to check

conditions inside the property.

0:41:360:41:40

I've only just done this but

haven't finished the paintwork yet.

0:41:400:41:44

No.

I'm not an interior designer.

No.

You know what I mean?

OK.

0:41:440:41:49

I'll come back in a month

0:41:490:41:51

and we'll see how well

you've got on, and hopefully

0:41:510:41:54

the garden will be a bit straighter

and you've made a start in here.

0:41:540:41:58

Yeah.

0:41:580:41:59

Rome wasn't built in a day,

0:41:590:42:00

certainly hasn't been built

in the last four years.

0:42:000:42:02

HE LAUGHS

0:42:020:42:04

So far, so good.

0:42:040:42:05

The garden, he's...

0:42:050:42:07

..he's now focusing on that.

0:42:070:42:09

Once that's sort of cleared,

0:42:090:42:10

I'll start pushing him on a

few other little things as well,

0:42:100:42:13

but he knows now that once

I've got something,

0:42:130:42:16

I don't sort of go away until we

can sort of sign it off and say,

0:42:160:42:19

"Right, well, we're happy

with this."

0:42:190:42:20

So, for the time being, he's

cooperating and I thought he would.

0:42:200:42:24

So that's it for now, anyway, I'm

off your back for a little while,

0:42:240:42:27

but that's all I'm looking for,

is continued improvement,

0:42:270:42:29

so see you in about four weeks.

0:42:290:42:32

Yeah, OK.

All right, fella.

Take it easy.

Cheers.

0:42:320:42:35

Well, it's not going

to be an overnight thing.

0:42:350:42:37

It's going to be a month or so,

but we'll progress.

0:42:370:42:41

It's been a successful visit

for Andrew.

0:42:420:42:45

The tenant's happy, and hopefully

the neighbours will see

0:42:450:42:47

those improvements soon.

0:42:470:42:48

That's all for today.

Join me next time,

0:42:520:42:54

when I'll be working

with the men and women

0:42:540:42:57

who are fighting to keep

you safe in your home.

0:42:570:43:00

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