0:00:02 > 0:00:05contains some strong language
0:00:05 > 0:00:08An estimated one-in-six people in Britain live in social housing.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Britain's housing officers are at the sharp end.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Hello?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18There's not enough social housing, there's not enough to meet demand.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22They deal with around ten million people day in, day out.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24There's your keys.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25This is the good part.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30Most are good tenants, but some risk everything with their antisocial behaviour.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Right, what are you lot doing?
0:00:34 > 0:00:35We have a problem.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38This week, one difficult tenant causes problems.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Just evict me! Is that what you want? Is that what you want?
0:00:41 > 0:00:43And another is in desperate need.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47We're not always in a position to help, we can't help everybody.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I just need a place, I'll be happy to get anything.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And the enforcement team take a tough line on drugs.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Police!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57It's like somebody's taking the mickey!
0:00:57 > 0:01:01So we have no choice but to take serious action against them.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15To the east of Manchester, one housing association houses almost 30,000 people.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19The vast majority of their residents are good tenants, but a minority cause problems for everyone else.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Come on!
0:01:21 > 0:01:23This way!
0:01:23 > 0:01:28Trouble started on this estate when Stephen moved in with his family and pets.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34This way!
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Stephen's neighbours have been complaining about loud music and abusive behaviour,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- his exotic pets... - Get here now!
0:01:42 > 0:01:44- ..And his dog. - Get it away!
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Get off, get here now! Get here!
0:01:47 > 0:01:49It's supposed to be on a lead!
0:01:52 > 0:01:53Fuck off!
0:01:55 > 0:01:57We have to put up you old grannies complaining!
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Be quiet now!
0:02:01 > 0:02:03No, the person behind you!
0:02:03 > 0:02:04Grow up!
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Bye-bye, Grandma!
0:02:06 > 0:02:10We don't have to put up with things like this. And why should we?
0:02:10 > 0:02:12That's what we've got to put up with.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19This morning, Ivan Wright from Enforcement has been called out by housing officer Anne Jackson
0:02:19 > 0:02:21to confront Stephen.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26There's lots of noise at the address, mainly in the form of music playing very loud
0:02:26 > 0:02:28till the early hours of the morning.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33They haven't been living there that long, they've only been there about six weeks, I think,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37so it's quite early on for this kind of activity to start up
0:02:37 > 0:02:41which is an indication of what kind of tenants they're likely to be.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45As Stephen is new, he's classed as a starter tenant,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48which means he has less rights
0:02:48 > 0:02:52and can be evicted without lengthy legal proceedings if he causes serious problems.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58Many of Stephen's neighbours have been disturbed by the noise and goings-on from his flat,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00including John, who lives nearby.
0:03:00 > 0:03:07It started off with the music... and the music, you know, the whole estate must hear the music.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12What we've seen is three lads, two girls and a baby.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16And then they have a dog, they have three lizards...
0:03:16 > 0:03:23they have a parrot in a cage... or whatever they call it, and now they've got a snake.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25It must be like a zoo.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29It's only a one-bedroomed flat, you know,
0:03:29 > 0:03:34and I really don't know how they've got all that in one flat.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41Hi, pal.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45We've had quite a few complaints about noise from the property...
0:03:45 > 0:03:47mainly loud music.
0:03:47 > 0:03:53- Not that loud.- Well, you might not think it's loud, but it must be for them to complain.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57The other issue we've got is the number of people staying here.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- So how many people live here now? - There's just me that lives here...
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Well, technically on paper you live here, but obviously people do stay here.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09- So how many people stay here?- My brother now and then, my girlfriend but she's got her own flat.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14You can't have that many people living here. The other thing, the third thing, is the animals.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- How many lizards have you got?- Four. - There's four lizards...
0:04:17 > 0:04:19a dog...
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Anything else?
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- But my brother...- I heard a bird, didn't I, as I came in?
0:04:25 > 0:04:31You're only allowed one pet as per the tenancy agreement which you signed and said you were happy with.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35And they're the animals that you're allowed, just one domesticated animal.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Well, I can't see what harm they're doing.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Other people might have different views to yourself
0:04:41 > 0:04:47about how dangerous or how pleasant it is to have other types of animals in an address.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52If there was anywhere else your pets could stay, then, I'd be happy for you to stay here.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- I'm not leaving my pets.- If you're not moving your pets we'll have to start taking action to...
0:04:59 > 0:05:03The interview ends abruptly and Ivan is shown the door.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05This is a load of shit!
0:05:11 > 0:05:13It's just the way it is, isn't it?
0:05:13 > 0:05:15As Ivan leaves, Stephen's brother joins in.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20No, it's not.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25It's not. Come into New Charter and we'll have a conversation, but I can't talk to you like this.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30- What?- I can't talk to you like this. I'll come into the building if you want.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- INAUDIBLE - I've got to go now.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37I don't want to end up in a big screaming row in the street.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41It's going to disturb the neighbours.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47We've got, like, four lizards, one snake, one bird and one dog,
0:05:47 > 0:05:53but that dog caused no trouble and then we've got to get rid of them. Hang on a minute!
0:05:53 > 0:05:59You know what I mean? It's victimisation, that's what it is. Cos we're young.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I don't know how they can cause any trouble.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07So these neighbours can go and fuck off! BABY CRIES
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Back in the office, Ivan examines the starter tenancy agreement that Stephen signed up to.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18"At the time of signing this agreement, you have our consent to keep the following animals...
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- "lizard kept in a tank." So just that?- Yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- That means that the dog and everything else has to go.- Yeah.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Cos that's all he's been allowed to keep.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31They're allowed three persons to live in that flat.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36And that includes a baby or children. So that has to be addressed as well,
0:06:36 > 0:06:42in addition to the antisocial behaviour...and the language he uses to his elderly neighbours.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47So what'll happen now is he'll get what's called a tenancy caution...
0:06:47 > 0:06:52for his actions...for telling his neighbour to fuck off.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54And that's like a final warning.
0:06:54 > 0:07:00Er...but the crux of it is he's been given 28 days to get rid of the pets.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03And if he doesn't, he'll be in breach of contract...
0:07:03 > 0:07:09which means that it would be easier for us just to apply for possession,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12based on the fact that he's not kept his side of the contract.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19We don't actually decide who lives where.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21What happens is a person would apply to us
0:07:21 > 0:07:25and would be allocated points according to their circumstances.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30What then happens is a person has to choose where to live. We don't put people into properties.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32They have to choose themselves where to live,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36so, in effect, the onus is on the person to make sure they are quite happy
0:07:36 > 0:07:39with the property in the area where they expressed an interest.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44One housing association in Ashton-under-Lyne
0:07:44 > 0:07:49has over 8,000 applications for new homes, and, each week, another 100 are added to the list.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Sometimes it's quite heart-wrenching when you read some of the things that people put
0:07:53 > 0:07:57and the conditions and circumstances that people find themselves in,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01and we're not always in a position to help, we can't help everybody,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05because, unfortunately, we just don't have enough properties.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09One recent application on lettings manager Shonna Hildersley's desk
0:08:09 > 0:08:12is from a single man who is desperate for a home.
0:08:12 > 0:08:18What is written is that... "I'm currently living in homeless accommodation
0:08:18 > 0:08:20"and I've nowhere to live for now.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24"The situation is not good for me because I live with drug addicts.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28"I don't have enough sleep because they always make noise, whether it's in the afternoon or at night.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32"The condition is unbearable." Which is very sad, really.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44Owen arrived in the UK eight years ago, seeking asylum from Zimbabwe,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47and in the last three months was granted the legal right to live in Britain.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51This is my bed and this is for my roommate.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55He is currently living in a hostel for the homeless.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59This is our sink, it's very small, but I don't usually use it anyway.
0:08:59 > 0:09:06And this is our cupboard. Part of this is mine, because I'm supposed to use half of this.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11Owen's official status is that he has indefinite leave to remain,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15which now qualifies him for social housing like every other British citizen,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17and he's keen to make a fresh start.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23You can see my passport here. See? That's my occupation.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25I used to be a teacher...
0:09:27 > 0:09:29..teaching young kids in primary school.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37This is me in the black shirt here. This is me and my friend.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40We used to wear similar things, you know, as friends.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I had a good life, anyway.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47In Zimbabwe, Owen's father was heavily involved in the opposition party
0:09:47 > 0:09:50at a time of deep unrest in the country.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54We ended up being targeted.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56They intimidate you through your family.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59My uncle was killed.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02They came and took him at night.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06That's when you realise that this thing is serious now.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11Owen escaped from Zimbabwe with his partner and their two children.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13This is my daughter...
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Valentine.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19This is my son Junior.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25When Owen came to Britain, Valentine and Junior went into hiding with their mother,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29but, sadly, she's since died from pneumonia.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37Valentine and Junior will remain in hiding until Owen can afford to bring them to Britain.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39He hasn't seen them for eight years.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42I can't come and sit here
0:10:42 > 0:10:46and give myself stress, and then I'll be thinking about my life now.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50So I prefer to be out, you know...
0:10:51 > 0:10:55All of Owen's days are spent looking for work and somewhere more suitable to live.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58The most important thing is my documents now.
0:10:58 > 0:11:04What this means is that wherever I go, I must always go with them.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08At the moment, I just need a place, I'll be happy to get anything.
0:11:08 > 0:11:14Owen's best chance is his local housing association, but they run a points system.
0:11:14 > 0:11:20Points are allocated on need and every flat he's bid for so far has gone to someone with more points.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25Each week, Owen has to bid on flats as they come up.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28There's not much today. There's only two of them,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31so I just put them for the sake, in case...
0:11:31 > 0:11:36Owen isn't only looking for a home. He's also looking hard for a job.
0:11:37 > 0:11:43I've applied for fork lift, warehouse, general...
0:11:43 > 0:11:48also cleaning jobs so that I can get a place of my own and pay rent...
0:11:48 > 0:11:52pay taxes like everyone, you know?
0:11:59 > 0:12:04Near Ashton-under-Lyne, Ivan's rowdy, animal-loving tenant has been given 28 days
0:12:04 > 0:12:07to cut down the number of animals and people in his flat.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15This morning, enforcement manager Alan Kibble is joining Ivan to pay a surprise visit.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21We're in the period now of the 28 days' notice that we've given this person
0:12:21 > 0:12:27to get rid of the animals and bring them down to a number that's in line with the tenancy agreement.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31And we're not sure whether they've done that yet.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35However, this morning the estate seemed eerily quiet.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- The light's on.- Well, that's a... - It's just the landing light, yeah. - Landing light, yeah.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Give it another bang and see if they're in.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- That's this week's, isn't it? - Yeah, it's the same one.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Stephen and his family and pets are nowhere to be seen.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05Alan and Ivan approach the neighbours to try and solve the mystery.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- Been like a graveyard.- All right. - They've not been here. - Like a graveyard.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10What day did the removal van come?
0:13:10 > 0:13:16- It was either Monday or Tuesday, wasn't it?- Monday or Tuesday, a removal van came and took stuff...
0:13:16 > 0:13:21- What kind of things did they take? - Cot.- Right.- Suite. - So the baby's not there any more.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- Did it look like they were just moving her and the baby out?- Well, I don't know.- Well, I don't know.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Because there's a still a lot of stuff, you can see from here.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34If they are determined not to get rid of the animals from that property,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36and they realise they can't keep them there,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39then it's quite likely that they might have just left the property themselves
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and have found alternative accommodation.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Because sometimes we find that that happens, but the last thing they will think of doing is telling us,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48saying, "Oh, we've left. There's your keys. We're terminating our tenancy."
0:13:48 > 0:13:50They'll just leave it for us to find out.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58After more failed attempts to get hold of Stephen, Ivan believes he has abandoned the flat.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01The added concern is that by leaving a window open
0:14:01 > 0:14:05the flat is currently insecure and could fall prey to squatters.
0:14:07 > 0:14:13In cases like this, the association have emergency powers of entry to secure their properties.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18I want to see what's potentially missing, like microwaves...
0:14:18 > 0:14:20the fridge is gone.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22It looks like Stephen left in a hurry.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26The pets have gone, but the lizard tanks are still there, with the heat lamps still on.
0:14:26 > 0:14:32Well, we've certainly got all the evidence we need to suggest they've abandoned the property.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35I don't understand why he's moved in such a hurry because he wasn't being evicted.
0:14:35 > 0:14:41He had the notice to get rid of the pets and the number of occupants,
0:14:41 > 0:14:46but he's obviously chosen to go sooner than he's needed to.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53With its new lock.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56They will continue to try and reach Stephen
0:14:56 > 0:15:01as he needs to officially end his tenancy before the flat can be re-let.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Most of our tenants are wonderful people, but in our estates
0:15:08 > 0:15:10there's always an element
0:15:10 > 0:15:12in some areas of this yob culture
0:15:12 > 0:15:15or antisocial behaviour or neighbours from hell,
0:15:15 > 0:15:16whichever way you want to describe it,
0:15:16 > 0:15:21and we will deal with that, because antisocial behaviour can ruin people's lives,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25can lead people to committing suicide, can lead to families breaking up,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28can lead to people moving out of the area and that's not what we want to happen.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39A few miles away in Ashton-under-Lyne, Owen is still looking for a home.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44This is my place, this is where I live, this is my second home.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47I spend most of my time here. This is the public library.
0:15:47 > 0:15:53I'd rather keep my brains busy, come and do some research and read in the library.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56So now I just come today to come and bid for the house.
0:15:56 > 0:16:03In an effort to find a flat, Owen is widening his search for social housing out of his area.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05At the library, he can bid online.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13The system of bidding for flats means that people only bid for what they want.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16However, it also means all the better properties are heavily oversubscribed.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20I spoke to somebody who was sitting here again.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25When I asked them, they said they had been bidding for a year, you know?
0:16:32 > 0:16:36This morning, Owen's visiting his local housing association.
0:16:36 > 0:16:43As part of the housing process, he's allowed to ask for advice about his application.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46And today he's meeting Shonna, the lettings manager.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50- Where are you living at the moment? - It's a homeless place.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55- It's a bed-and-breakfast.- Do you share your room with anybody?
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Yes, I do share with somebody.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02- So how many are in your bedroom at the moment? - There's two of us in the bedroom.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07Your application at the moment isn't reflecting the fact you're sharing a bedroom with another person.
0:17:07 > 0:17:13- So I need to get that altered for you. That will give you 325.- Yeah.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Now, 325 points is a reasonable amount of points.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22I can't tell you how long you're going to have to wait before you're successful for something,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25but you must carry on placing your bids each week.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- And just keep my fingers crossed. - Yeah.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- Bye.- Bye.- Cheers.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37He is sharing a bedroom with a person who's not a relative or family member,
0:17:37 > 0:17:42and what that actually means is that he's entitled to overcrowding points
0:17:42 > 0:17:46which should assist him with being placed higher on the bidding cycle.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50The extra overcrowding points will help Owen,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53but there are no guarantees that he'll get a property.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59He'll only be awarded a new home if he has more points than anyone else bidding at that time.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Over a third of all properties with the main housing association in Ashton-under-Lyne
0:18:06 > 0:18:08are one-bedroomed flats.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13And Cavendish Mill has the largest number in a single building.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19In the past, the mill's had many issues with antisocial behaviour.
0:18:31 > 0:18:37Following thousands of pounds of renovations and safety improvements, things have calmed down,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39but there are still problems.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44To keep a firm grip on the flats, they have their own enforcement officer, Linda Chapman.
0:18:44 > 0:18:50We've got approximately 64 cameras around the building
0:18:50 > 0:18:54just to tackle the antisocial behaviour and to make people feel safer.
0:18:54 > 0:19:00The building was seen as a sort of last-resort tenure for people in Tameside,
0:19:00 > 0:19:06you know, that came here, and we inherited all the tenants from the previous landlord.
0:19:06 > 0:19:13And, unfortunately, some of those tenants caused us some problems when we first took over.
0:19:13 > 0:19:19This is a safety shutter in case anybody tries to climb over or attack the staff.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23And it's just a case of pressing the button and it goes up very quickly.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36When the problems are serious, Linda works closely with the police.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40This morning, she's at the mill for an early-morning raid
0:19:40 > 0:19:43on a flat in the annex building next door.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48Highly suspicious smells have been reported by the caretakers coming from one front door.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Linda is concerned that inside the flat they may be growing cannabis.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56It's looks like they're going to actually put the door in, so they want a quick entry.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Police!
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Cheers! The tenant's decent, then?
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Inside they quickly seize a man in his 20s.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18The specialist search team begin to scour the flat for evidence.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25Within minutes, they find large quantities of cannabis drying in boxes.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32He's drying the plants there... to cultivate, to sell.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36There's more in there.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39It's more than just for his own use, that.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44In the bedroom, they find the centre of operations.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49It looks just like a big zip-up wardrobe, you know?
0:20:49 > 0:20:54It looks like the sort of thing you could just nip to Wilkinson's and buy, but obviously it's not.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- Is this a specialist piece of equipment?- It is, yeah.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03That's to circulate, the fan's to circulate, that's the extractor there,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07and that's the heat source. These plants have only just been started,
0:21:07 > 0:21:12but, as you can see, they're quite thick stems, so he's been at this for quite a while.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16He's taken the harvest off the plants, he's drying out the plants
0:21:16 > 0:21:18and now he's recycling what he's already got.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22As they search the flat they discover evidence of cannabis everywhere.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27They've actually found some further cannabis leaves in the kitchen cupboard,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and, as you can see on the side there, there's quite a lot more cannabis.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34Any drugs seized by the police are removed and will be destroyed.
0:21:34 > 0:21:41It's 7.35 now. And we're arresting you on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, all right?
0:21:41 > 0:21:43You don't have to say anything but it may harm your defence...
0:21:43 > 0:21:47But as the man is arrested, Linda discovers that he is not in fact her tenant.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50What I need to do is just establish who the guy is that's been arrested,
0:21:50 > 0:21:55because I've just heard the police mention his name and that doesn't match with the name of the tenant.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58He says that he's a visitor to the property and not the tenant.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08After the man is taken away, the drugs dog makes a final search.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21Right, this is what we've been looking for. It's the dog that found them.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22There are called snap bags.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25As you can see there's a bit of cannabis in there.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29They put the individual amount in there, they weigh it out and then they're sold.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33This proves that he's got the drugs with the intent to supply them.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39As a landlord, it's really frustrating because people come to us for housing,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43you know, and people only get housing when they're in need of a home,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and he's obviously taken advantage of that situation.
0:22:48 > 0:22:49Linda needs to find the tenant.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55Despite the raid and the overwhelming evidence, the law says she can't just seize the flat.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58She needs to question the tenant in person.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Drugs are a problem in social housing,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07both the use of drugs
0:23:07 > 0:23:09and obviously supply or cultivation.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12We've found that
0:23:12 > 0:23:18taking a firm line in dealing with drug cases, and dealing with all cases that we come across,
0:23:18 > 0:23:25is hopefully having a knock-on effect of mitigating any associated activities in the community,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28antisocial behaviour, people hanging around, crime and so on.
0:23:28 > 0:23:34That's following on from the Supreme Court who have also demonstrated a hard line in drugs cases
0:23:34 > 0:23:39and said, "If you use social housing and also use or supply drugs from that housing,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42"you should not get the benefit of that social housing."
0:23:44 > 0:23:48It's a week since the locks were changed on starter tenant Stephen's flat,
0:23:48 > 0:23:52and he's called up and wants to meet a housing officer.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55What are your intentions for the property? Are you staying here?
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Well, yeah.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00It turns out Stephen hasn't abandoned the flat after all.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03He says that he's been looking after his dad who's been ill.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Your animals aren't here?
0:24:08 > 0:24:11The good news is that most of his animals have gone.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15All I've got now, I'm not lying to you, is the two bearded dragons.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20- but they only grow about that big. - If they're in the same cage, I can't see too much of a problem,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22as long as you don't go any further than that.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24To me, it looked like you was moving out.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32You can promise that you're living here. You've just been caring for your mum and things like that,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34looking after your dad?
0:24:36 > 0:24:41Stephen has returned most of his exotic pets to the pet shop and found a new home for his dog.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45His girlfriend and her baby have also left him.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59His brother Mark is still around.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15MUSIC: "Mockingbird" by Eminem
0:25:47 > 0:25:52At the office, they've received some information about Stephen's previous tenancy
0:25:52 > 0:25:56with a different housing association, and Alan is concerned.
0:25:56 > 0:26:03Prior to them actually taking up a tenancy with us, they were actually a tenant of another social landlord.
0:26:03 > 0:26:10They were hardly the best of tenants there and, in fact, were evicted from their tenancy there.
0:26:10 > 0:26:17Now, they were overcrowded, they had an excessive number of animals, again it was lizards...
0:26:17 > 0:26:21they damaged the flat, there were threats of violence from the tenant.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24I don't think we were made aware of that at the time,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28so this could have an impact... the fact that they've potentially made a false declaration
0:26:28 > 0:26:31when they actually applied for the tenancy,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34so we really need to just discuss this issue with Legal
0:26:34 > 0:26:37to see if it's going to make a major impact on where we go from here.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45At the homeless hostel, Owen is calling home in Africa with some news.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Yes, I've got a job, Mama. I start on Monday.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55Yes, I'm starting... Yes, Mama. I'm starting on Monday.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57All right, bye-bye, Mama, I love you.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Bye, Mama.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07It is very important. I've been waiting for this for a long time.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I'm buzzing!
0:27:09 > 0:27:11I'm buzzing...
0:27:16 > 0:27:22It's two steps forward. Since I've got a job now, it's going to be much easier.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24So the next thing now is a house.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30I went for a bidding today, so I hope something will come out, out of my bidding.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36Owen's new part-time job is on a production line at the local cake factory.
0:27:36 > 0:27:42With some money in his pocket, Owen can now afford to send presents home to his kids.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46It's going to be his birthday next month.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51Two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53I've got twelve of them...
0:27:53 > 0:27:58you know. These were going for 50p in the charity shop.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Those are the things that make always think about me.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05What I'm doing is, like, I'm buying love now...
0:28:06 > 0:28:08..to my son.
0:28:09 > 0:28:15I mean, it's been a long time now. It's been eight years now without seeing him.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17I left him when he was two...
0:28:17 > 0:28:23which, I don't know now whether I can... You see some photos, but is he going to remember me?
0:28:28 > 0:28:32Of course sometimes they ask me, "When are you coming to take us?"
0:28:32 > 0:28:36That's when the pain comes, that's when the pain comes.
0:28:37 > 0:28:46I feel angry for myself... and the only thing that I do is I come here and I sit down and I cry,
0:28:46 > 0:28:51on my own. Even if I can try not to think about it,
0:28:51 > 0:28:57it keeps on coming, so it's quite hard, it's quite hard, I know...
0:29:11 > 0:29:15This morning, Ivan is returning to the flat of starter tenant Stephen.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19There's been more antisocial behaviour,
0:29:19 > 0:29:22and that, coupled with the failure to disclose the trouble at his previous flat,
0:29:22 > 0:29:27means the housing association are now considering eviction proceedings.
0:29:27 > 0:29:34Since we last spoke to him, there's been a number of issues surrounding antisocial behaviour.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36He's told...
0:29:37 > 0:29:42..a neighbour to fuck off...again... the same lady.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Once I've spoken to him about the antisocial behaviour issues,
0:29:45 > 0:29:51I'll then ask him about this previous tenancy that he hasn't been completely upfront about.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56You've had a written warning and a tenancy caution about your behaviour at the address.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01These things I'm going to speak to you about now obviously follow on from that, all right?
0:30:01 > 0:30:06The first one... Now, this follows somebody calling the RSPCA.
0:30:06 > 0:30:12- I know who that was.- You shouted to a female resident across the way...
0:30:12 > 0:30:15"You fucking bitch! You called the RSPCA."
0:30:16 > 0:30:18Do you remember saying that?
0:30:23 > 0:30:27Obviously I'll have to go back and speak to our legal department about what happens next,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31because obviously these are alleged breaches of your tenancy.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33You've made a partial admission to some.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38- Tell me about your previous tenancy. - What's that got to do with this?
0:30:38 > 0:30:43Well, when you applied to us, you should have declared certain things.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45I didn't know.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49- Is this going to carry on?- This is the last...- I'm getting sick of it.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Just evict me! Is that what you want? Is that what you want?
0:30:52 > 0:30:56- I want...- Is that what you want? - ..There to be no more problems here. - Do you want to evict me?
0:30:56 > 0:31:01- I want there to be no more problems. - Just go ahead and do it, cos I'm getting sick of all this bullshit!
0:31:01 > 0:31:05- I've got to ask you about...- I'm not answering no more questions, cos I'm getting sick of it all now, right?
0:31:05 > 0:31:10I suffer from anxiety, I suffer panic attacks and all this is fucking doing my head in!
0:31:10 > 0:31:13I asked you to come in for a meeting last week, didn't I?
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Yeah, well, I forgot, all right?
0:31:16 > 0:31:21So that's why I'm here today, because you didn't turn up, so I've got to ask you about it...
0:31:21 > 0:31:23I'm sorting my life out now.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27As before, the interview is prematurely ended by Stephen,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30who doesn't want to talk about the problems at his previous flat.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32Thanks for letting us in anyway.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36'The Department of Work and Pensions...'
0:31:38 > 0:31:41The interesting bit was obviously when I mentioned the previous flat.
0:31:41 > 0:31:46His first answer was, "What's that got to do with anything?"
0:31:46 > 0:31:51He knows exactly that he's been found out.
0:31:51 > 0:31:57I've instructed him that it's because when he applied to us he should have disclosed that to us...
0:31:57 > 0:32:01and at that point he's decided he's not going to answer any more questions...
0:32:01 > 0:32:07so I can go back to my legal team and say he's well aware of it,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09but he's not going to tell us anything about it.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16What everyone's got to realise at New Charter,
0:32:16 > 0:32:21and when I was applying for the property I told them, that I suffered from anxiety...
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and the medication's right there on the floor to prove it.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28All it takes is for them to upset me and I fly, I can't help it.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32It's been difficult all the way though my life. I've been in care.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34I come out of care when I was 16.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37I've had no help, I've just fended for myself.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42- Is it important for you to keep this flat?- It is at the moment cos I haven't got nowhere else to say,
0:32:42 > 0:32:45you know what I mean? So, at the moment, yeah.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Despite Stephen's need to keep his home,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53if he fails to take this situation seriously, he will be evicted.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06At Cavendish Mill, Linda still needs to talk to her missing tenant.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09If she doesn't, it could take months to get the flat back.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12This morning she's arranged a meeting.
0:33:12 > 0:33:18She needs to prove that the tenant knew about the cannabis to begin eviction proceedings.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20We want to ask him about his involvement,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23whether he had any knowledge of what was happening at the property,
0:33:23 > 0:33:27and that will help us decide what action we're going to take against him as the tenant.
0:33:27 > 0:33:33So it's not really an ideal interview room, but it's a case of what's more convenient to him.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37It's on his doorstep, so hopefully there's a better chance of him turning up.
0:33:37 > 0:33:38KNOCKING
0:33:47 > 0:33:51- Some books for the book drive.- All right, then. Thank you.- OK.- See you.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Books for the book drive.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00After waiting and waiting, the tenant fails to show up.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05He appears to be keeping a low profile,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08but the caretaker did have a brief discussion with him a week ago.
0:34:08 > 0:34:14- I've seen him about three or four times in the last six, seven weeks. - Right.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18So if, as the police say, the plants are eight to nine weeks old,
0:34:18 > 0:34:23and he's been at the address, you've seen him at the address, or the cleaner has,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27in the last six to seven weeks, that suggests that he knows about the cultivation of cannabis.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30I would have thought so, yeah. When I was talking to him about it,
0:34:30 > 0:34:34he was actually using the phrases a drug dealer would use.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39- "I didn't know he was having a grow there." The terminology came out then.- Right.
0:34:44 > 0:34:49Despite repeated attempts to find Linda's missing tenant, he appears to have gone to ground.
0:34:55 > 0:35:00Today Linda's going back to his flat for one last attempt to catch the missing tenant at home.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06BANG!
0:35:06 > 0:35:08He's home!
0:35:13 > 0:35:16The door's opened.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19He's either gone out and left it unlocked or he's in.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24With anyone involved in drugs, Linda has to approach the situation extremely carefully.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27- Hiya, Mr- BLEEP.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33- Mr- BLEEP?
0:35:35 > 0:35:37Hello?
0:35:41 > 0:35:44I am going to go in because the property's been left insecure,
0:35:44 > 0:35:48so we might need to secure it if he's abandoned it, so...
0:36:08 > 0:36:10I would say he's abandoned.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18The furniture's gone that was here when we came and did the drugs raid,
0:36:18 > 0:36:22and all his stuff's gone out of the kitchen.
0:36:23 > 0:36:24Er...
0:36:28 > 0:36:32And there you go! That's my letter inviting him to the interview.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34So he's definitely had the letter...
0:36:35 > 0:36:38..er...and failed to turn up.
0:36:38 > 0:36:44The letter, him receiving that letter could have resulted in him deciding to move out.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49He's probably realised that he's at risk of losing the tenancy and given it up.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53It's shame because there's such a shortage of housing,
0:36:53 > 0:36:57and people treat it like, you know, this tenant has,
0:36:57 > 0:37:02and has abused the fact that, you know, social housing have given him a home.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10Er...once this tenancy has ended...
0:37:10 > 0:37:14I'll fill in what's called a "suspended applicant form",
0:37:14 > 0:37:22and that will make sure that he is suspended from applying for any further properties with us
0:37:22 > 0:37:25for at least a period of two years.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30Following Linda's visit, the tenant later handed in the keys, ending his tenancy.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35The police took no further action and neither did the housing association,
0:37:35 > 0:37:36as they had the flat back.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43Re-letting the flat in Cavendish Mill falls to Shonna's department in the housing association.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48What we don't want to do is reverse all the good work we've already carried out down there
0:37:48 > 0:37:52and end up back in the same position we were in when we took the mill on.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56All new tenants in Cavendish Mill are carefully considered,
0:37:56 > 0:38:01and former asylum seeker Owen is one of the names on the list for a different flat in the mill.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Owen's expressed an interest to live in Cavendish Mill,
0:38:04 > 0:38:08and given his current circumstances, he's got quite a lot of points.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11So he'll have been high on the list,
0:38:11 > 0:38:16and what we tend to do is vet and check as many people as possible who apply for the mill,
0:38:16 > 0:38:23and we've managed to reach Owen, and that's how he's come up for this offer.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28PHONE RINGS
0:38:33 > 0:38:38- Hello?- Hello? Is that Owen? - Yes, Owen.- Hi, Owen, it's Shonna from New Charter Housing.
0:38:38 > 0:38:44The reason I'm calling you is you've been successful with one of your bids for Cavendish Mill in Ashton.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48- Wow!- Now, if possible, I'd like to meet you there to show you round the property.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51- OK, when do you want to meet me? Now? - Could you do it today?
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Yes, today!
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Er...could you do 12 o'clock?
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Yes, I can.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01All right, then, so I'll see you at dinner time.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08I don't care what the building looks like.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11I don't mind, I don't care,
0:39:11 > 0:39:15as long as I'm going to see myself out of this place.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19If she says I move tonight, I'm moving in!
0:39:23 > 0:39:27- Hello!- How are you?- Fine. How are you?- Fine, thanks.- Good.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37Start here. This is your living area.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41- And, obviously, your kitchen.- Yeah.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43This is what I've been waiting for now.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48This is it! This is it!
0:39:54 > 0:39:56- This is the bedroom.- All right.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Then we've got the bathroom here.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01Ah! Perfect!
0:40:01 > 0:40:06- This is...- Do you like it? - I like it. I like it.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08- Would you like to take it?- Yes.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12- Yes? Come on, then, and we'll do the paperwork.- Thank you.
0:40:12 > 0:40:18This is what I wanted most before I even got the job.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21I wanted a house, a place of my own,
0:40:21 > 0:40:25so now I've got it now. What else do I need?
0:40:28 > 0:40:32Legal proceedings against Ivan's problem starter tenant are underway,
0:40:32 > 0:40:36but Stephen still believes he's doing nothing wrong.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40I don't have music on, I'm out Monday to Friday.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44I'm only here at weekends with my girlfriend and then I get all this trouble.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47At the end of the day it's my flat, I live here.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50The Government pays the rent, they get the money, so what's their problem?
0:40:52 > 0:40:58Further investigations reveal that, apart from not declaring problems about his previous tenancy,
0:40:58 > 0:41:01he's also not declared his many criminal offences on his application form.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04This, combined with all the complaints,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08has led the housing association to apply to the courts to evict him.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11So this is an eviction notice.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15He's got two months to vacate the tenancy,
0:41:15 > 0:41:20which is plenty of time for him to find another residence and to move his belongings.
0:41:20 > 0:41:26We've got a whole number of things. We've got previous criminality not declared,
0:41:26 > 0:41:30we've got previous addresses not declared, and on top of all that we've got the antisocial behaviour,
0:41:30 > 0:41:35so it's very unusual. In fact, the legal officer who's dealt with it said he's never done one...
0:41:35 > 0:41:40He only realised after he'd finished that the covering letter was nine pages long,
0:41:40 > 0:41:45which is very, very rare. I will be glad to see him gone.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Because they don't deserve it.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Because he's lied, he's managed to slip through the net.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55But it's because he's lied that he's been able to do it.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Hopefully he knows that if he carries on behaving like this, he'll never be able to settle anywhere.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22He's been evicted from one property within the last 12 months.
0:42:22 > 0:42:23He's now been evicted from another.
0:42:23 > 0:42:29He's got to realise at some point that he can't carry on the way he has.
0:42:29 > 0:42:34CAR DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES
0:42:37 > 0:42:42Three days after looking around the flat in Cavendish Mill, Owen is moving in.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46I can't wait until I open the door!
0:42:46 > 0:42:48This is a new chapter for me!
0:42:50 > 0:42:51This is a new chapter now.
0:42:54 > 0:43:00This one-bedroomed flat is the first place Owen has been able to call home for eight years,
0:43:00 > 0:43:02even though he doesn't have a bed.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05This is my duvet for tonight, down there on the floor.
0:43:05 > 0:43:10Finally, I am here! That's a happy ending now.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15That's a happy ending now, with a big smile!
0:43:22 > 0:43:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:26 > 0:43:30E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk