0:00:02 > 0:00:03Can you imagine living in these conditions?
0:00:03 > 0:00:06- So, you started with mice...- Yeah.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08- ..and now they're rats?- Yeah, yeah.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Security's very poor at the back of this property.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13But with the pressure on housing greater than ever,
0:00:13 > 0:00:17finding a safe place to live is getting harder and harder.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20It is just terrible. It gets me the most, this place.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Oh, my God. Can you see what's going on here?
0:00:23 > 0:00:26I'm Matt Allwright, and I'm back on the front line
0:00:26 > 0:00:28with the housing enforcers.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31So, what you've got is a very, very quick way to dispatch yourself.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35This series tackles downright dangerous houses head on...
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Really worryingly, there's no mains gas supply here at all.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40..from life-endangering fire traps...
0:00:40 > 0:00:43They wouldn't even know that the place was on fire before they were dead.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45You can see these plugs here, they've blown.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48The worst-case scenario - the house could have burned down.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49..to health hazards...
0:00:49 > 0:00:53It's at a stage where it really needs to be dealt with now.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55..to accidents waiting to happen...
0:00:55 > 0:00:56You're actually not talking about a fire.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58You're talking about an explosion.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02..making sure we all have a safe and secure place to call home.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07There are things here that could seriously shorten your life.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Today, an outbreak of mould
0:01:12 > 0:01:16is threatening the health of a young family.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19So, we've got damp and mould all around the kitchen window,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21- which you've tried to scrub off...- Yeah.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22..and it's just come back.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26And it's going all the way through the net curtains, as well.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32In the Midlands, a police crackdown reveals some lethal electrics.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34That's dangerous. Don't do that.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Basically, you've built yourself a bonfire there, my friend.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41And in Peterborough, the dangers are adding up at this rented home.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44This is about as bad as it gets, that we will see.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Desperately poor.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Damp and mould affects millions of homes in the UK,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and can seriously affect your health.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58For housing officers, it's a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01particularly when there are children involved.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03When we first moved into our current house, it's an old house,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06so there was damp and mould in one of the corners.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Obviously, that can have an effect on people's breathing and stuff.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10And one of my sons is an asthmatic,
0:02:10 > 0:02:12so we actually had that dealt with properly.
0:02:12 > 0:02:18I have suffered from damp, and it occurred from a leaking roof.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20And I called my housing association,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25and they were quite responsive and they came and they dealt with it.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I've suffered from damp and mould before,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30and I'm actually still suffering from that.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33And the landlord hasn't really done anything about it. He goes,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35it was my job to do that, my responsibility.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38In the West Midlands,
0:02:38 > 0:02:39I'm working with housing officer
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Christina Bartholomew.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- So, tell me where we're going, Christina.- A report's come in.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50They've said that there's chronic damp problems in the property.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54It absolutely reeks of damp in there.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56So, as soon as we go through the door,
0:02:56 > 0:02:59it's very likely we can smell it straightaway.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03And if another department has been in there and spotted this,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05it's more likely to be reliable,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and it's not necessarily a tenant that overestimates,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12- you know, how serious the condition is.- That's it.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- Well, we will have a look. We will see what we will see.- Yeah.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20This is a family home,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23with tenant Amy and her four young children living here.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Christina is expecting the worst.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30It soon becomes clear she was right to.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Hello. It's Christina from the council.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- Yes, come in.- Thank you very much.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40It's a truly depressing sight to behold.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44- Wow.- So, we're just going to have a look round, Amy,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46cos we've had a few reported little issues,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48like electrics and damp.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- I can smell a little bit of damp in the room.- OK.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- Yeah, OK. Thank you. - Thank you very much.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55It's quite a warm day outside,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58and it's really cold and damp in here.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00The radiators aren't on.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03And in all the corners of this front room,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05we've got black damp
0:04:05 > 0:04:09that looks like it's been scrubbed off but has grown again.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11This is a worrying discovery.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Damp and black mould can cause allergic reactions,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17and the World Health Organization say babies
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and small children should be kept well away from it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- There's quite a lot of black mould on the walls, as you can see.- Yeah.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Behind here, there's quite a lot of damp round the windows.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Cos what you really need to do is keep the airflow in here
0:04:30 > 0:04:33so that it gets rid of the smell.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- Yeah.- Ah, that's it.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37This is definitely condensation damp.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- It's spotting, isn't it...- Yeah.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41..rather than coming through with, like,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- brown staining or anything?- Yeah. - Also, there's a chimney breast,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- so the wall is the other side of that.- That's it.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Condensation damp happens when moisture in the air
0:04:49 > 0:04:53settles on cold surfaces, like walls and windows.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56If it was rising damp, you'd have a tidemark round the walls,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00but you can smell the condensation in the air. You know, the damp.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02And it's black spores, as well,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06which are quite dangerous for children to be breathing in, so...
0:05:10 > 0:05:13It's hard to believe that such young children are living here,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16surrounded by so much damp and mould.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18We need to get to the bottom of what's causing it.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Is it moisture, produced through cooking, washing or even breathing,
0:05:22 > 0:05:23without proper ventilation?
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Or is it the building itself?
0:05:28 > 0:05:32And things don't improve next door.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Yeah, it's quite extensive mould on this wall, as well.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37Behind the wardrobes is...
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Oh, mate. It's everywhere, isn't it?
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- When do you turn the heating on? - The heating? Morning.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47- Yeah?- Morning.- Yeah? Morning.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- And evening.- In the morning and evening.- Yeah, yeah.- OK.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56- And how many children do you have, Amy?- Four.- Four? Yeah.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57With the black mould spores,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00all four children will be breathing that in.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05It's a heartbreaking thought, as wherever we look in this house,
0:06:05 > 0:06:06it's the same story.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13So, we've got damp and mould all around the kitchen window,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- which you've tried to scrub off...- Yeah.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19..and it's just come back.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And it's going all the way through the net curtains, as well, there.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27The problem is clear. The cause? Anything but.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29So, this is damp that spreads
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- throughout the whole of the ground floor.- Mm.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- And yet we've got central heating here...- Yeah.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- ..there are windows that open...- Mm.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39..so what more can we really do to stop this happening?
0:06:39 > 0:06:43- It's a bit of a mystery, this one. - I can't work it out.- No.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- Because there's an extraction hood in the kitchen, as well.- Yeah.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- So, all the moisture from cooking should go out.- Yeah.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- There are no clothes downstairs...- No.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54..that I can see that are drying.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- You dry them outside, don't you? - Mm.- They dry outside?
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Often, with condensation, damp and mould,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03you can pinpoint it to tenant behaviour,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05but Amy's done everything she can.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08This is a mystery, right,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12because with the amount of damp and mould that there is in Amy's house,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16I'd expect to see, you know, clothes being dried inside,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18all that moisture coming off, hitting the cold walls,
0:07:18 > 0:07:23and then forming those black damp and mould spores.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27But, no, look at it. It's beautiful. It's out here, blowing in the wind.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Our damp detective work continues,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35but heading upstairs also reveals a dodgy handrail,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38which could easily result in a fall.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Check this out. Look at that.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44And even in the room where Amy's children sleep,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48it seems there's no escape from this proliferation of mould.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- It really reeks of damp in here.- Yeah.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- And how old are your boys in here? - 12 and six.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- Cos the damp is obviously very bad for their respiratory systems.- Yeah.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02We're starting to see, up in the corner here,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04that the paint is peeling away in the corner.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06That's how bad it's getting here.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08OK, let's have a look at the window a minute.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11I've got a friend.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Oh, that's a bit of a problem.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16See, that window has been...
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- It's just been locked. - ..bolted shut.- Yeah.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20So, that doesn't help things.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23You're not getting as much of an airflow into the room.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- And also, that's a bit of a fire hazard.- Yeah.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28As if the mould wasn't bad enough,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31the difficulty of escaping in the event of a fire
0:08:31 > 0:08:33poses a serious risk
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- to this family. - I think we've seen everywhere.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37- That's it. We've seen everything, I think.- Yeah.- OK.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39- Aw!- Are we going to go now?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- She's beautiful.- Aw!
0:08:41 > 0:08:45With my new best friend's safety at stake, we hatch a plan.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46I'll write to the landlord
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and bullet-point everything that we've gone through today -
0:08:49 > 0:08:53all the defects - and then we'll see what the landlord has to say,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and try and make it a better place for you to be living in.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- OK, thank you.- OK? - And in terms of the damp,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01I mean, we're still not sure about the source of that,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04so what advice can we give, then, to Amy?
0:09:04 > 0:09:07I'd say you need to do as you're doing -
0:09:07 > 0:09:08dry the washing outside,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11and try and open the windows as much as you can do,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13as you're already doing.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Just try and keep the airflow going in the property...
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- OK.- ..and that should help reduce the smell for the time being.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- Thank you very much.- Thank you. - Thank you, Amy.- Nice to meet you.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- Thank you for your time. - Thank you.- Thank you. Let's get out.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Amy and her family are all being exposed
0:09:27 > 0:09:28to potentially dangerous mould.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31While the root cause is not yet clear,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34the 2004 Housing Act obliges landlords to deal with damp
0:09:34 > 0:09:38and mould in their properties if it's caused by disrepair.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42It's not often that you come out
0:09:42 > 0:09:44and you say you're none the wiser, really.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46But that's how I feel after that.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50I don't understand where the source of that moisture is.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51It doesn't happen very often.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Normally, when you come into a property like this,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55there's an obvious source.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57And, of course, those kids are breathing in,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59and the adults are breathing in that all the time -
0:09:59 > 0:10:01the whole time they're sleeping,
0:10:01 > 0:10:02the whole time they're in the property.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05It's really bad for them. Does it have to be acted upon straightaway?
0:10:05 > 0:10:08There are issues in there, and maybe they shouldn't have been
0:10:08 > 0:10:11allowed into the property until these issues were resolved.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13OK. Great stuff, Christina. Let's move on. Well done.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21It's worrying to think that Amy and her kids were having to live,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23eat and sleep in those horrendous conditions
0:10:23 > 0:10:25day in and day out.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28But the landlord and the council are now talking about
0:10:28 > 0:10:32what may be causing that mystery outbreak of damp.
0:10:32 > 0:10:38So, the family may finally be able to enjoy a safe and damp-free home.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41In Sandwell, housing officers
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Neal Cooper and Richard Hawkins are joining
0:10:44 > 0:10:48the police as they raid a residential address.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51They're acting on intelligence that the tenants in a three-bed semi
0:10:51 > 0:10:54may be the victims of modern slavery.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59And because they don't know what to expect, it's stab vests on.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04OK, so, we've just run in with the police.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06As we can see, the place is full of people.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09I can hear a lot of foreign accents - Romanian and that -
0:11:09 > 0:11:11so we're just probably going to let the police now
0:11:11 > 0:11:14run through all their checks. Once the dust has settled,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17then we'll have a chance to have a proper look round the property.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21It's thought that tens of thousands of people are in forced labour
0:11:21 > 0:11:24in Great Britain, often living in overcrowded properties
0:11:24 > 0:11:27that present serious safety risks.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28I mean, on the face of it, at the minute,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31we've got a lot of men living very close together,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35all jammed into bedrooms in a three-bed semi.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It's not your normal family set-up, by any stretch of the imagination,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40so there's something wrong here.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45See, we've got a lot of shoes on the stairs,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48which is usually an indicator of a lot of people living in a property.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49All male, all adult.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- Are we OK to proceed? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.- Is that all right?
0:11:52 > 0:11:57The team needs to find out exactly what this place is being used for.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- Can you smell anything?- No.- No?
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Nothing to suggest anyone's sleeping up here.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06- There's nothing to suggest anything like that up here.- OK.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Police are checking for evidence that points to forced labour,
0:12:09 > 0:12:14including whether their passports have been withheld by a gang master.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Looking through who we've got, we'll take some details
0:12:16 > 0:12:19to see if potentially we're looking at any offences
0:12:19 > 0:12:23or if these people are being exploited or are vulnerable.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25With so many people in close quarters,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27things like cooking, washing and even breathing
0:12:27 > 0:12:29will be causing moisture
0:12:29 > 0:12:30and then damp.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33We've got a bit of mould going on. It's because there's
0:12:33 > 0:12:35two of you in this room and you're shutting the door at night
0:12:35 > 0:12:38and closing the windows. The moisture is trapped.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Just open the windows, say, in the day.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Just let some air come in and it'll just ventilate it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47The electrics are another cause for concern here.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Landlords in the UK have responsibility
0:12:50 > 0:12:53to make sure the electric system, including sockets, lights
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and all appliances that they supply, are safe.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01But judging by the state of this place, it's anything but.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04Uh-oh.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08It looks like this tenant also needs some advice about electrical safety.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11You've put a two-pin plug into a three-pin plug.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15That's dangerous. Don't do that.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16You can actually see...
0:13:16 > 0:13:19See how that's bent? You've forced it in.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I wouldn't use that again.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24See how you've put a load of clothes all round it?
0:13:24 > 0:13:28You've basically built yourself a bonfire there, my friend.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Landlords are responsible for fire safety,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35providing a safe exit route and fire alarms.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40If Rich and Neal are going to prevent a catastrophe,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43they need to get to the bottom of exactly how and why
0:13:43 > 0:13:45so many people are living here.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Later on, the team get a promising lead.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52There's a name been given us of a person
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- who has facilitated their travel over here...- Right.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58..and he's probably finding work for them.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06Now, by law, rented properties must be of a safe standard to live in,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08but with dangerous conditions
0:14:08 > 0:14:12that could affect tenants' health still a problem across the UK,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14it's down to housing officers
0:14:14 > 0:14:18to ensure that the landlord keeps their part of the bargain -
0:14:18 > 0:14:21providing safe and secure accommodation.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I think landlords should take a quick response time
0:14:24 > 0:14:25if something goes wrong in the property,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27cos it's their property at the end of the day.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29So, they should, really.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I own my property now, but before that, I've rented for many years.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36And sometimes, the problems would be ongoing
0:14:36 > 0:14:38and you'd be trying to get the landlord to sort it out.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42And I think they definitely should take more responsibility.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46If I did have tenants, I would make it my responsibility
0:14:46 > 0:14:49to make sure they get the right...
0:14:49 > 0:14:52..everything is in place for the tenant.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58In Peterborough, housing officers Gareth Brighton and David Marshall
0:14:58 > 0:15:00are heading to visit a family living
0:15:00 > 0:15:02in treacherous conditions.
0:15:02 > 0:15:09Right, we're going to a property with no electricity or gas
0:15:09 > 0:15:14cos the supply had been cut off by an engineer cos it was so dangerous.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Incredibly, it turns out the family signed for the property
0:15:17 > 0:15:20two years ago after viewing it in the dark.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22When they saw the state of it in daylight,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25they asked for their money back. Well, you would, wouldn't you?
0:15:25 > 0:15:30But the landlord told them it had already been spent on the mortgage.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32He's being very evasive.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35In fact, we've only managed to get hold of him once on the phone.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40He's hoping that the guy's sitting there without electricity or gas,
0:15:40 > 0:15:41and he'll just pack up and leave.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Despite the landlord's apparent best efforts to get them to leave,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49for now, the family is stuck in the property.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55And the conditions in here really are beyond belief.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Everywhere you look, there's potential danger,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and there are children living here, too.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05The gas and electrical installations were assessed by an engineer
0:16:05 > 0:16:08to be so unsafe that they had to be capped off.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10There was a massive drop in gas pressure,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13which suggested a leak somewhere in the system.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It's been over a week, certainly. Approaching two.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19So, we've got the new fuse board, and the new fuse carrier is in.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22A gas leak could have been dangerous.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Unsafe gas appliances can produce carbon monoxide,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28with around 20 people dying in the UK each year
0:16:28 > 0:16:30from carbon monoxide poisoning.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32The two adults and two children living here
0:16:32 > 0:16:35could have been casualties on that list.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Luckily, the dodgy gas and faulty electrics at this end of the house
0:16:38 > 0:16:40have now been dealt with,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42but there's plenty more for officers to worry about.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Further on down the line, we'll need to be looking at the remainder.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48As we come through here, you can just see
0:16:48 > 0:16:50everything's just generally tired.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53We've got windows - glazing missing.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56It's generally quite a small kitchen.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- There's not a lot of space available.- Very small.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03The cooking for a family of four is done in this tiny kitchen.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Besides the clear risk posed by the broken glass,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09there's another, less obvious danger.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Washing machine's discharging into the sink.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13You're obviously getting the dirty waste water
0:17:13 > 0:17:16into the sink where you could potentially be washing your hands,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18washing your cutlery.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21It's going on your work surfaces, on your draining boards.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23You know, it's all spread of pathogens.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Germs from soiled clothes touching food preparation surfaces
0:17:27 > 0:17:31can lead to all sorts of illnesses, including salmonella poisoning.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33The only repair that's been done
0:17:33 > 0:17:37has been carried out with a roll of sticky tape and a pair of scissors.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Normally, you'd expect that to be put through a terminal
0:17:40 > 0:17:43and covered up, if you're going to do it like that.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46But, yeah, they've basically linked and probably twisted the ends
0:17:46 > 0:17:49of the wires together to marry the cables up
0:17:49 > 0:17:51and then just Sellotaped it together.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54That's what your certified electrician would call shonky,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56and deadly.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58In all his years as a housing officer,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Gareth has never seen a place as bad as this.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05So, into the family bathroom, and, again, it's...
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Well, it's in a desperate state of repair.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10WC is cracked.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12In an environment where there's moisture,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14you should have a sealed unit on there,
0:18:14 > 0:18:18a sealed light fitting, so like a sealed globe or something like that,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20to prevent any steam, moisture getting in there.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22You know, water and electricity - they don't mix,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and you want to be doing what you can in a room like this
0:18:25 > 0:18:27to keep them separate, so...
0:18:28 > 0:18:31The list of hazards here is jaw-dropping.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36The landlord is breaking safety regulations left, right and centre.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39This is about as bad as it gets, that we will see.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42I mean, at least there are facilities in here, but...
0:18:43 > 0:18:45..desperately poor.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Although he's keen to have the house made safe,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50the tenant doesn't want to be identified.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Ask yourself - how desperate must this family be
0:19:03 > 0:19:06to pay £450 a month to live in conditions like this?
0:19:06 > 0:19:11Remember, they've had to endure two weeks without light or heat.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14And conditions outside aren't much better.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17So, again, we've got some more missing glazing here.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19This is the other side of the bathroom there.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Excess cold is arguably the most dangerous hazard,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26because it is a massive killer in Britain.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Over time, if people are subjected to excessively cold temperatures,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33they become susceptible to cardiovascular conditions
0:19:33 > 0:19:35and they can also be a lead cause
0:19:35 > 0:19:37of respiratory illness and things like that.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40So, excess cold is not just downright uncomfortable,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42it can be a threat to life.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46This property really is ticking all the boxes,
0:19:46 > 0:19:51because there's another carbon monoxide risk in the bathroom.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54And the boiler flue here, that should be 600 mil.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57So, it should be at least that far away.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58Cos what's happening is you've got fumes
0:19:58 > 0:20:01coming out from the boiler flue and then just going straight back
0:20:01 > 0:20:03into the property through the window,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05which is a massive no-no.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07That's not safe at all. I mean, fortunately,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10this is all sort of capped off and decommissioned at the moment,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14but when this was going, this is potentially carbon monoxide...
0:20:15 > 0:20:20..which we all know, again, shouldn't be present in a property.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24So, there's just more concerns everywhere we look.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Could it get any worse?
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Well, it could, if the ceiling falls in on you.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31From the rear, the building doesn't look at all sound.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Again, we've got glazing missing upstairs.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37That'll be the first-floor rear bedroom.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40So, that's going to be very, very cold in there.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43The roof is off, essentially, at the back there,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47so you're going to be having all sorts of moisture getting in
0:20:47 > 0:20:49to the structure and fabric of the building -
0:20:49 > 0:20:51damp and mould, excess cold.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55The conditions are very, very poor.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59This house falls so far below the minimum standard
0:20:59 > 0:21:02that there is going to be a lot of enforcement
0:21:02 > 0:21:05to bring it up to the standard that it needs to be at.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09But tracking down the elusive landlord could be a challenge.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12We just can't contact this landlord. He's just entirely absent.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14And the only time he makes an appearance at the address,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18by speaking to the tenant, is, of course, when the rent's due,
0:21:18 > 0:21:19when he comes to collect the cash.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Not a good place for people - a family especially -
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- to be calling home at all, is it? - No. No, it's not.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31The conditions - yeah, absolutely so far below the minimum standard
0:21:31 > 0:21:35that, yeah, serious intervention from our service is needed
0:21:35 > 0:21:38and that's obviously what will follow.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40With this one, we've just had no engagement at all,
0:21:40 > 0:21:44so I would be inclined to say we would have to move to enforcement
0:21:44 > 0:21:46to make sure that things are remedied
0:21:46 > 0:21:48in a timely fashion for these guys.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Well, the housing officers are still trying
0:21:52 > 0:21:54to find the landlord of that property,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56but the good news is, after two years,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58the family have moved out.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Let's hope they've managed to find a new home
0:22:00 > 0:22:02that's both safe and secure.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Nobody wants vermin in their home,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09and rats can be particularly hard to deal with.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13As well as damaging the fabric and fixtures of a property,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16they can carry all sorts of nasty diseases.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20So, what can you do if you find yourself facing an infestation?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22If I found any vermin in my home,
0:22:22 > 0:22:26I would probably send my cat in, I think, to sort it out!
0:22:27 > 0:22:31I wouldn't be living in a place that had mice. No way.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32You'll never eradicate them.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34They are always there. It's as simple as that.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38- But you don't want them spreading their germs in your house.- Yeah.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I swear, this one rat - as true as I'm stood here -
0:22:41 > 0:22:44looked like a giant ginger cat coming out of my shed.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47The only thing is, it had the rat tail.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48And I just stood there frozen.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I'm joining up with Richard Hawkins in the town of Smethwick,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56a few miles west of Birmingham.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58What's the adventure that we're being taken on today, Richard?
0:22:58 > 0:23:03Well, today, we are on an adventure looking at rats and damp.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05It was just a call from a tenant.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07The landlord hasn't been carrying out the repairs,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10so we're going along on the back of that they've got rats in their house
0:23:10 > 0:23:12and that they're suffering damp.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14And we're going to go and inspect it from there.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16It sounds like Housing Enforcers 101.
0:23:16 > 0:23:17It is, but we haven't got in there yet,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19- so let's see what we find.- Let's go.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Smethwick was once a hub for industrial metalwork,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27and there are loads of old Victorian houses,
0:23:27 > 0:23:28like this end-of-terrace,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31which is home to Daniel, Iona and their kids.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33- Hello. How are you?- Hello. You OK? We all right to pop in?
0:23:33 > 0:23:35From Sandwell Council.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39The family is worried about the health implications
0:23:39 > 0:23:42of living in a property with vermin.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I tried to fix all the holes.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47- Right. So, you've put some expanding foam in.- Yes.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50- Here, here, because this one, also, it's going down.- Yeah.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53And now it's coming from here and it's not...
0:23:53 > 0:23:56You're getting mice coming out of here? Rodents?
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- Yeah, but not the small one. It's bigger.- A big one.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- So, you started with mice... - Yeah.- ..and now they're rats?
0:24:01 > 0:24:06- Yeah, yeah, yeah. My wife is here and saw a big one.- Yeah.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Rats, it goes without saying, are a health and safety concern.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12They carry diseases that can transfer to humans,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15they have teeth that cut through cable,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and they've been known to bite people who are sleeping.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- Yeah, I can see the droppings. - Yeah. You see?
0:24:21 > 0:24:26- You see how he eats everything? Look.- Oh, OK. Yeah, they're big.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29That's rats, that is. That's not mice.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33With a rat infestation confirmed, we need to find the source.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37- No ratty.- No ratty.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Sometimes, if you just give things a little shake and a rattle,
0:24:44 > 0:24:45then things can emerge.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50I've seen a few rats on my time in Housing Enforcers.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I'm not a fan.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Just seen that rubbish move there. - Is there a dead...?
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- Ooh!- Oh!
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- Did you see the size of that rat? - That's just smaller than my dog!
0:25:07 > 0:25:09This is the rat superhighway.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12This is where you're going to end up finding your rats.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Oh.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18That area there is...
0:25:18 > 0:25:21It's, like, about knee-deep in rubbish.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23So, there's no point looking around there.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26They're all going to be in here. This is their playground.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27Yeah, this is their playground,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29and then that's where they go for dinner.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Do we have to establish whose this is?
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Yeah, we need to know who's responsible for it,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- and then we need to get them to clear it.- Yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41As rats reproduce so rapidly,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43it's crucial the area that's been harbouring them
0:25:43 > 0:25:46is dismantled as quickly as possible.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I think this might be the source of your rat problem, my friend.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- Whose is this?- I don't know.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55Was this like this when you moved in?
0:25:55 > 0:25:59- Yeah, it was like this. - How long have you been here?
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- November 2014.- Well, the landlord needs to clear this.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I'm surprised you haven't had rats beforehand, basically.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I wouldn't be surprised
0:26:07 > 0:26:09if your neighbours aren't suffering the same issue.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11You can reduce the risk of vermin
0:26:11 > 0:26:14by not leaving stuff in gardens or alleys,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17and by blocking small holes to sheds or outbuildings.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20If there's no shelter, food or water, they'll leave.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25But a vermin infestation isn't the only problem
0:26:25 > 0:26:28this family are living with.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30- OK, so, this is the front of the house.- Yeah.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33- That's the front corner.- Yeah. - And it's completely exposed.- Yeah.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36So, is it taking more rain than anything else?
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Yeah, it's exposed to the elements, so it's a massively cold spot.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- OK. So... - And what's this room used for?
0:26:42 > 0:26:45This is a sleeping room, so this is a bedroom.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48And is there any vents in here, or anything to make it...?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Well, there was an air brick there, but because it's too cold in here...
0:26:51 > 0:26:53- Yeah, it's cold. - ..to have an air brick...
0:26:53 > 0:26:55- It's going everywhere in the house.- Yeah.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57The problem is, is that because you're blocking that up
0:26:57 > 0:26:59and shutting the windows to keep warm,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01the moisture can't escape in the room.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04So, alongside the rampant rat problem,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06it seems there's also an issue with damp.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09You don't want either of those in a family home.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12These guys only have to be lying in here at night breathing,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15and that wall is so cold and damp, it'll all be collecting on there.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18The issues downstairs, the landlord needs to fix,
0:27:18 > 0:27:19and I will get them to do that.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22That corner there, unfortunately, it's the age of the property.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- And you can deal with that by anti-mould paint.- OK.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27But you must first clean the wall down.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29You can use a bleach solution.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32He clean it every ten days, something like that.
0:27:32 > 0:27:33Yeah, that's it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35The problem is, is that these houses are not fit for purpose,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38but half the country is living in them.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41We can get this resolved for you. I know what the problems are.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42You've basically got rats
0:27:42 > 0:27:47- because you've got a dumping ground outside your back garden.- OK, yeah.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- Yeah.- I'll speak to you soon. - Thank you.- Take care.- Bye.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Thank you.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Well, Richard is currently addressing
0:27:56 > 0:27:58the vermin infestation and the damp with the landlord
0:27:58 > 0:28:00with a view to getting those issues resolved,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03so that that young family can keep living there safely.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Next, we're in Thanet,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10and imagine living next door to this -
0:28:10 > 0:28:13a massive foliage growing out of the walls,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17broken windows and a seriously dodgy-looking balcony.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21The house was badly damaged by a fire
0:28:21 > 0:28:24at an adjoining property back in 2003.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28It's since deteriorated into a dangerous condition.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Housing officer Tom Davies is inspecting the property.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35You can see the photographs that I have here,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38the extent of the fire damage.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42You can see the smoke damage that's been happening on the property.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Probably one of the worst interiors that I've seen since I've been here.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48So, yeah, it is in very poor condition inside.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Empty houses like this present all sorts of safety hazards.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55As well as being a fire risk,
0:28:55 > 0:28:57they can attract fly-tipping and dangerous
0:28:57 > 0:29:00antisocial behaviour. And in this case, some rampant
0:29:00 > 0:29:03vegetation could be starting to affect the structure
0:29:03 > 0:29:06- of the building itself. - We've obviously got
0:29:06 > 0:29:09a fairly large sycamore tree starting to grow up on the front.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12But you can also see that people have been dumping items
0:29:12 > 0:29:15into the sub-floor level.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17If they are foodstuffs, then, obviously,
0:29:17 > 0:29:20that would encourage vermin to come to the property.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22You can see the balcony - it's fairly loose.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25So, that would obviously be a major worry.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28If that were to fall down, it could potentially kill someone.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30It's clear that the front of the house
0:29:30 > 0:29:32is becoming increasingly unstable,
0:29:32 > 0:29:35so Tom needs to check out what's happening round the back.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38This is the back of the property.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Clearly, the garden is incredibly overgrown.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45You can see, from the back here, we've got access points along here
0:29:45 > 0:29:47for anything to get in.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49There's even an old caravan through here,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51which is covered in brambles.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55We would probably have an issue with rats or mice,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58some of the smaller creatures, maybe even foxes.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00In such close proximity to neighbours,
0:30:00 > 0:30:02obviously, they do bring disease.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07They obviously pose a risk to any sort of food preparation areas.
0:30:07 > 0:30:08So, if there's restaurants nearby...
0:30:08 > 0:30:11We aren't too far away from the high street round here.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14The last thing the council needs
0:30:14 > 0:30:16is a property that's overrun with vermin
0:30:16 > 0:30:18close to the town's restaurants.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21And there's another problem in the garden.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23It's quite a large tree.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26So, obviously, we wouldn't want anything, like branches,
0:30:26 > 0:30:31to fall down on anyone using this footpath round the back here.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34So, we would obviously want to see that cleared.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38Making this property safe is now Tom's main concern.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40With no sign of the owner right now,
0:30:40 > 0:30:44he's decided to call on the next-door neighbour.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- Hello there.- Hello.- Hi. My name's Tom Davies.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49I'm from Thanet District Council.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52I'm actually here to talk about next door.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55A part of the balcony did fall off a month ago.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58My main worry - there's been a fire
0:30:58 > 0:31:00in the house next door to that, as well,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02and there was a death.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06So, fire is my main risk.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09Now the empty property could become a serious safety hazard
0:31:09 > 0:31:12to the neighbours, something needs to be done.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14We do have powers when there is a real risk
0:31:14 > 0:31:17to public health and safety in order to fix these problems
0:31:17 > 0:31:19or force people to fix them themselves.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21But in the cases where they are unable to,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24then the council can step in.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Tom's discovered the owner started renovations after the fire,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31but was unable to complete them and the house fell into disrepair.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Now he needs to get things moving.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36What we would hope with the property
0:31:36 > 0:31:40is that we are able to help the owner
0:31:40 > 0:31:42bring his property back into use.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44So, what we would probably look to encourage him to do
0:31:44 > 0:31:46is maybe look to sell that property.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50I think that would probably be the most amenable situation
0:31:50 > 0:31:53for all parties because it's likely that a new owner
0:31:53 > 0:31:56would want to bring that property back into use.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00The current owner would get a financial windfall from that.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02The property isn't doing him any favours,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04sat there empty, deteriorating.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07And, in fact, the amount of money that he may well get from a sale
0:32:07 > 0:32:11will probably decrease if the property continues to deteriorate.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13So, you want to encourage them
0:32:13 > 0:32:15to maybe think about selling that property.
0:32:15 > 0:32:16So, that would be the ultimate outcome,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19is to actually see that property brought back into use
0:32:19 > 0:32:22by potentially selling it on the open market.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Tom will do his best to work out a solution with the owner.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27If he's unable to do the major renovations needed
0:32:27 > 0:32:29to make the house safe,
0:32:29 > 0:32:33the council will have to step in and charge the owner for the works.
0:32:33 > 0:32:34The council really would like to see
0:32:34 > 0:32:37long-term empty properties brought back into use.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39We don't like to see empty homes sit there
0:32:39 > 0:32:41when we have a period...
0:32:41 > 0:32:45You know, we're in the throes of a housing crisis in the country.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48There are many people who need access to good housing,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51yet there are many properties that stand here empty,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53and that doesn't seem right to us as a council.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03Well, the council is still working with the owner of the empty house
0:33:03 > 0:33:05to find a solution which will work for everyone,
0:33:05 > 0:33:09not least the people living in the adjoining properties.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12The owner told us that the balcony isn't falling down,
0:33:12 > 0:33:14and that they've worked to secure the house.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17They also said that no mice have been found there.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20But whatever happens, it's a good example
0:33:20 > 0:33:22of the very real impact residents can have
0:33:22 > 0:33:24on the safety of their neighbours.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28In Suffolk, I'm working with
0:33:28 > 0:33:31housing officer Ian Watson investigating
0:33:31 > 0:33:33a potentially dangerous build-up of clutter
0:33:33 > 0:33:36in the hallways and stairwells of one of the council's housing blocks.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39What type of buildings are we looking at where we're going?
0:33:39 > 0:33:42- Are these tower blocks, or are they...?- No.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44There aren't a lot of tower blocks in Suffolk, to be fair.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Not in Suffolk. The particular ones
0:33:46 > 0:33:49that we're going to are only two-storey,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52so you've only got the ground floor and the first floor.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54But nevertheless, even in a small building,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57if things get out of hand and people aren't properly notified
0:33:57 > 0:34:01or aware and the exits aren't clear, it could still be very nasty.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05Oh, yes. It could still cause a real problem.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Fires can start because of items being left or stored
0:34:08 > 0:34:10in communal areas of shared buildings.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Armed with this knowledge and a stack of letters,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17Ian and I are on a clutter crackdown.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- So, Ian, we got the letters.- Yeah.
0:34:20 > 0:34:21But, presumably, we're not just going to...
0:34:21 > 0:34:24If we see something going on here, we're not just going to ignore it
0:34:24 > 0:34:26- and stick letters through the letterbox?- No.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29No. Obviously, the object of the exercise today
0:34:29 > 0:34:32is to deliver to everybody, because I will find people who are not in.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34I'll be knocking and speaking to people.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37And I've said in the letter that I'll be returning
0:34:37 > 0:34:39within the next two weeks, and, hopefully,
0:34:39 > 0:34:41the situation will be resolved.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- Shall we go?- Yeah, no problem. - All right.- Mr Postman!
0:34:46 > 0:34:48KNOCK ON DOOR
0:34:50 > 0:34:53I'm from Babergh District Council. I'm the housing officer.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55- Look at that.- Yeah, exactly.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58We've had a fire risk assessment done on the flats.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00I am your housing officer.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02No problems up there.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05I'll leave the letter and I'll come back at a later date.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06I'm reasonably happy with that.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09Ian's going to knock. KNOCK ON DOOR
0:35:09 > 0:35:12- I knew it.- Sorry to trouble you. I'm Ian Watson.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14I'm from Babergh District Council.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17OK, it may not seem like the sharp end of housing enforcement,
0:35:17 > 0:35:21but initiatives like this could help prevent life-threatening disasters
0:35:21 > 0:35:23before they happen.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26We have to do something about this here.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29It's got to go, yeah. As I say, it's combustible material.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31And at the end of the day,
0:35:31 > 0:35:35there are some people who might come and put a match to it.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38So, it is an issue.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42And with Ian, every inch of the building gets a forensic inspection.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47- Nice and clean.- Textbook. - Yeah, exactly.- Look at that.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50The residents up here have actually kept it clean, as well.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51They've clearly got the memo.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Let's hope we can find a few more like this.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Well, here's hoping.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01And it's actually a right urban jungle we come across next.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04Hello, my dear. Sorry to trouble you.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07I'm Ian Watson. I'm from Babergh District Council. I'm the housing officer.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10We've had a fire risk assessment done on all the flats,
0:36:10 > 0:36:14and they're concerned that items are stored in the communal areas.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Well, if I have to move them, I shall have to chuck them
0:36:16 > 0:36:18because I've got nowhere else to put them.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21- What are you concerned about? - Well, the plants and that.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23I mean, I just got them. I don't want to...
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- No, your plants I haven't got a problem with.- Oh, right.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Certainly aerosols and any paints and things like that,
0:36:29 > 0:36:30anything that's flammable.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32You're probably going to tell me it's been here for years.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34- Yeah.- Yeah. - We've been here 27 years.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- Have you really?- Yeah.- Blimey! - THEY LAUGH
0:36:37 > 0:36:42- OK, nice to meet you. - And you. Mind how you go.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44It's every tenant's responsibility
0:36:44 > 0:36:48to make sure communal areas are kept free from personal possessions -
0:36:48 > 0:36:51things that burn, block fire doors
0:36:51 > 0:36:54or even offer a convenient pastime for your neighbours.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00This is what I like - an outside reading area.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Look at that. It's amazing. Got a little library.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Cos why else would you put it outside?
0:37:04 > 0:37:06It's for other people to borrow.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09It's amazing some of the things you'll find being stored
0:37:09 > 0:37:11if you just know where to look.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15So, here we have a whole box of delights.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Painting supplies, DIY tools.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21- All sorts.- Not good. - It's not what we want.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24It's good if you want to start a fire,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26but not if you don't want to start a fire.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29- Hello.- Hello, Gail. How are you?- Hiya.- I'm all right.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Obviously, in the light of certain things,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35- we've had a fire risk assessment done on all the flats.- Oh, OK.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- Storage outside...- Yeah. - ..is an issue.- Is it?- Yes.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- Oh.- Especially flammable materials. - Oh, OK.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43- You've got petrol cans. - Petrol cans, yeah.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47- You've got paint pots.- Yeah. - Cos it's all combustible.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49I will leave you a letter with my contact details on
0:37:49 > 0:37:51and everything like that.
0:37:51 > 0:37:52I will come back in a couple of weeks.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57But petrol, paint, aerosols, everything else - please...
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- Get rid of.- ..get rid of, remove or whatever.- OK.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03When Ian comes round and lets you know about that sort of thing,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- how do you take that?- It's a good poke in the eye about it.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08- Yeah, definitely. - That's one way to put it.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- Yeah!- I like that. - OK, lovie.- Thank you.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12- Thank you very much. - Thanks a lot.- Bye.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Gail seems to have taken on board what Ian was saying,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19and, you know, wants to make a change.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22But nevertheless, it's a good wake-up call
0:38:22 > 0:38:25to just think really carefully about what you've got
0:38:25 > 0:38:27in your shared areas
0:38:27 > 0:38:30and how it could affect other people if things go wrong.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Earlier on, housing officers Neal and Richard
0:38:33 > 0:38:36were working with the police to investigate a possible case
0:38:36 > 0:38:39of modern slavery in an overcrowded property
0:38:39 > 0:38:42that was full of safety hazards.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Uh-oh.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Overcrowding can seriously affect your health.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51By law, an adult needs at least six-and-a-half square metres
0:38:51 > 0:38:55of living and sleeping space with no more than two to a room.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57It looks like that's not happening here.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00I think we need to go and have a look at downstairs.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04It's, like, a sofa and another three beds. It's, like, four beds.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06And they reckon they're double sleeping in them, as well,
0:39:06 > 0:39:08so you've got potentially six or seven people
0:39:08 > 0:39:11- sleeping in that one room.- Which could get up to the sort of 20...
0:39:11 > 0:39:13Yeah, that could get us up to that mark.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16It's shocking to think 20 people could be living in this tiny house
0:39:16 > 0:39:19with six or seven rammed into each room.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21One thing is clear, though -
0:39:21 > 0:39:23in a fire, they'd really struggle to get out.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29OK, so, we've got a key-operated window restrictor
0:39:29 > 0:39:32just over here again. Obviously, we want...
0:39:32 > 0:39:35There shouldn't be any tools needed to escape.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39We've got use of extension leads here again.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Trailing cables.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45So, obviously, that's going to create a fire hazard, as well.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47This isn't a house that's obviously been designed
0:39:47 > 0:39:50for shared occupancy, like it is.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52It's designed for a very small family.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54It's not designed for this type of use at all.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57It's being completely misused.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59It's just putting money before people.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Rich and Neal have found a clue
0:40:02 > 0:40:06that could tell them who the men are and what they're doing.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Yeah, they're all builders.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11- Yeah.- Yeah, building materials.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Obviously, we're still really suspicious
0:40:13 > 0:40:15just cos of the circumstances.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17I would imagine the landlord isn't aware
0:40:17 > 0:40:19of how many people are living here.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22I think we might find that the landlord is pretty shocked
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- when he realises.- Yeah.
0:40:24 > 0:40:25The question is, who's responsible
0:40:25 > 0:40:28for bringing the men here in the first place?
0:40:28 > 0:40:30There's a name been given us
0:40:30 > 0:40:33of a person who has facilitated their travel over here,
0:40:33 > 0:40:35facilitated this address for them,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38and he's probably finding work for them.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40There'll be a reason for that,
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- and that'll be profiting by means of exploitation.- Right.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46One of the men has returned to the house.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Officers need to check he's not being held against his will.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Are you guys able to leave the type of job you're doing
0:40:53 > 0:40:55and go away, or not live here, if you wish to?
0:40:55 > 0:40:56Are you free to move about?
0:40:56 > 0:40:59You're not being controlled in any way or being made to live here?
0:40:59 > 0:41:01- No, no.- You're totally free? - Totally.- That's fine.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03- We're here just to basically check that.- Yes, OK.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05We're just checking out.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07We're just making sure it's safe for you.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10A gang master is one of those types of people
0:41:10 > 0:41:13that will control those types of vulnerable people.
0:41:13 > 0:41:14So, you've got people crammed in there,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17which massively, obviously, then raises all of the safety issues,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19all of the fire issues.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21So, this property isn't safe the way it's being run.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Rich and Neal now have a clearer picture,
0:41:24 > 0:41:26but the landlord may still be unaware
0:41:26 > 0:41:30of the huge number of tenants and the risks that entails.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32We're at your property.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36We've done a visit here this morning with the West Midlands Police.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41We are currently deciding whether to shut the building down or not
0:41:41 > 0:41:43for fire safety issues.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45We have to move fast on this cos, obviously,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48there's a lot of people living in this property, it's massively overcrowded,
0:41:48 > 0:41:50so there's a lot of people that are at risk.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53Are you able to get over here rather pronto
0:41:53 > 0:41:57with seven battery smoke detectors to fit into this property?
0:41:58 > 0:42:00The landlord tells Richard they're going to fit
0:42:00 > 0:42:03the smoke detectors straightaway, but that's just the start.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06In the long term, we're going to get the landlord in
0:42:06 > 0:42:09to carry out a lot of works on the property to make it a lot more safe.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12So, it's about, today, lowering that risk and educating people,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14and then, in the long run, it's getting the landlord in
0:42:14 > 0:42:16to do the works to bring it up to standard
0:42:16 > 0:42:18and also take some of these people out
0:42:18 > 0:42:20and stop using it the way they are.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Well, the landlord told the council they had no idea
0:42:22 > 0:42:25so many people were living at the property.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28They say that everyone will be moving out
0:42:28 > 0:42:31and the house re-let to a single family.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33Although the police are still investigating the case,
0:42:33 > 0:42:37it appears the men's passports weren't being withheld.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Well, as we've just seen, being a housing enforcer means
0:42:45 > 0:42:49a daily dose of tough choices and difficult decisions.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52But it's all in a day's work for the men and women
0:42:52 > 0:42:57fighting to ensure we can enjoy safe and hazard-free places to call home.
0:42:57 > 0:42:59Join me again next time.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02I'll be back on the front line with the housing enforcers.