0:00:02 > 0:00:05An estimated one in six people in Britain live in social housing.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09And in the current economic climate, the waiting lists are growing every week.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11For every person you make happy,
0:00:11 > 0:00:15there's probably going to be three or four times as many who are disappointed.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19- Britain's housing officers are on the front line. - Janette, can you let me in?
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It's just like nothing like you've ever smelt before.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26They deal with over 11 million tenants day in, day out.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- I don't believe you've let him out! - Most are good tenants.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33But a few risk everything with their antisocial behaviour.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36His tenancy is on a knife-edge.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40If they want to try and take it, they'll have to take it with me on it.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Eviction is the last thing that we want to do.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45And we've got to do it for the sake of the community.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Every week there's a different set of problems.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53The information this morning from the caretaker
0:00:53 > 0:00:56was that he hasn't been seen for around four weeks.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00It's the first dead body I've had, so an insight for me as well, really.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04They've been in such distress from race hate abuse
0:01:04 > 0:01:06and screaming obscenities at them.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11It's clearly targeting that garden.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13It just seems to be growing,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15the amount of tubs that we've got in the kitchen.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20It's like a Japanese concept to achieve a Zen atmosphere, Zen effect.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23In another six months, it's going to be up to the window sills.
0:01:44 > 0:01:4827-year-old Cat Towl has only been a housing officer for two years.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53She looks after nearly 1,000 properties in Salford, west of Manchester.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55And most of them are flats.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Cat's been called out to an emergency in one of her high-rise blocks,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04where over half the residents live on their own.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09- Hello, Catherine from City West, hi. - Hi, I'm Rob, this is Phil, my partner.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13- Who have you received the call from this morning? - We're from the Coroner's Service.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16OK, if we head up to the sixth then and I can let you know...
0:02:16 > 0:02:19what's gone on this morning.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23I received a call from the caretaker, um, to advise that there was a smell coming from um,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26one of the floors in the high rise,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30and the police have put the door through and advised us that they have, er, recovered a dead body.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32It's been confirmed by paramedics,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36so I presume the cause now comes to yourselves.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Yes, to effect a removal.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43It's the first dead body I've had, so an insight for me as well, really.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45LIFT: 'Mind the doors.'
0:02:45 > 0:02:49- The information that we got is that we're going to need extra men. - Right.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53We've no idea what we're going to find, until we get there...
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- What would, what would that suggest? - It could be a large person. It could be decomposed.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58- Yeah.- It could be breaking up,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01so there could be quite a lot of issues we may have to deal with.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05They did advise me that they felt that the body had been in there for a number of weeks
0:03:05 > 0:03:11and was very badly decomposed. Is that why you need more people to help you to remove the body?
0:03:11 > 0:03:17It may be, it may be, but maybe not. It depends, cos we just act on the scant information.
0:03:17 > 0:03:23And we can't tell what we need till we get on site and do our own risk assessment.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26OK, I think I'll wait here and I'll catch up with you.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28- Thank you. - I'll get you some feedback later.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35He's badly decomposed.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38So he's got to go into a body bag
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and then he has to go into another bag,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45so we can actually manage him down to our ambulance,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47- and then take him from there. - OK.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51So we've just got to go in there and put disaster suits on.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- So you'll be in all white... - Disposable suit, yeah.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Yeah, just like you see on the TV.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00All Cat knows at the moment is that the flat was rented by a man
0:04:00 > 0:04:02called John Leigh.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04And that he is probably the deceased.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09Before I came out to the flat, I did a background check on our systems in the office.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12He's been a tenant with us since 1988, um,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and I checked the date of birth just to see
0:04:14 > 0:04:16if that could help with identifying the body.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Um, the gentleman's 65 years old, um, I'd imagine that's why CID come out
0:04:21 > 0:04:25and do the investigations and make sure there's nothing untoward.
0:04:27 > 0:04:33I don't know what it smells like. It's just like nothing like you've ever smelt before.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38I'm not particularly looking forward to going into the property
0:04:38 > 0:04:41once the police have handed back to us.
0:04:41 > 0:04:47I'm sure you can see some of the flies that have filled the communal areas now the doors are open.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53- So you're going to follow us? - Yeah.- We'll just close the flat up then?- Yeah.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It's been four weeks since Mr Leigh was last seen.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00And one of Cat's first jobs will be to try and find any relatives.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Obviously with it being the first death that I've come across, it's quite upsetting.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11One of the things that's upsetting me is that
0:05:11 > 0:05:17somebody's lived so closely to other people, living in high rise, um,
0:05:17 > 0:05:22it is shared, it is communal living and it's thrown me, I think,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26to realise that these people still live very private and separate lives.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29It makes me wonder what I would be like with my neighbours
0:05:29 > 0:05:33if I thought I hadn't seen my neighbour for four weeks.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36I don't know whether I would just ignore that.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Whether they're housed in a high-rise flat,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52a maisonette or a family home,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55those that make it to the top of the social housing list
0:05:55 > 0:05:57rarely get to choose their neighbours.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05On a pre-war estate west of Manchester,
0:06:05 > 0:06:09one new family from Poland are having problems being accepted.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14For the last two months,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18they've been the victims of a hate campaign by a gang of local youths.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57This is the second time the family have been victimised.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Jill Swann-Hunter is their housing officer.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07She took on their case after they were moved off their last estate.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11They subjected them to a horrific and quite long attack -
0:07:11 > 0:07:15both physically and mentally.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19They...they threw lit paper through the letterbox.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23They er, taunted them, they threw eggs at the house.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27They, er, surrounded the car with our Polish father in,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31and threw bottles at it, taunting him, of the nature, "I'm going to kill you."
0:07:32 > 0:07:36The family were forced to flee in the middle of the night
0:07:36 > 0:07:38and were re-housed in a new area.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Dad Tomas had hoped this move would be a new start.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52But with new attacks starting up, he has gone to the extraordinary measure
0:07:52 > 0:07:55of installing six of his own CCTV cameras.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Because they're very dangerous situation,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03four camera on the front and the two cameras on the back.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Now I'm seeing everything, now I'm recording everything.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11This new spate of attacks are particularly worrying.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16It's exhibiting the symptoms of what happened last time.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20We have to look at it immediately with the attitude
0:08:20 > 0:08:23of zero tolerance to these actions.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27To nip them in the bud and ensure that the family
0:08:27 > 0:08:29are able to continue their lives without fear.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- Hello. Eva. Can we come in? - Yes, of course.- Thank you.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42You're welcome.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- Are we in here today?- Hi.- Hi, Tomas, OK?- Yeah, all right.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49OK, well, I've e-mailed the police.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- Yeah.- I'm just waiting for them to get back to me.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Obviously you do have the fireworks coming in,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58you've had quite a few incidences, haven't you,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02where the fireworks have come in via the front and also your back garden.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09So you think that they feel that they are doing it because you can't retaliate.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- Attack.- What's she's sure about. - Yeah.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20- And they think they can do anything cos they know they're not going to get done for that.- Yeah.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23The problem, as you both are aware, is that your CCTV cameras
0:09:23 > 0:09:26have picked up who they are,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29but it's in the dark and they have hoods on.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34- Yeah, that's why.- So positive identification is very difficult.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Um, do you think that it is deliberately targeting
0:09:37 > 0:09:40the family because you aren't from England?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- Yeah.- Right, OK.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It's terrible that people still...
0:09:56 > 0:09:59We're not ready to move again, we don't want to
0:09:59 > 0:10:02cos we're not going to run away for ages, all our lives.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05We just want to, to sit down and have a normal life.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15More than 20,000 over-65-year-olds
0:10:15 > 0:10:18die alone in England every year.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21It's an issue housing associations can't ignore.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32It's been two weeks since John Leigh's body was discovered.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37The purpose of today is to look at what actually happened
0:10:37 > 0:10:42and is there any way in which we could have noticed that that he'd died earlier.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45So far, the housing association haven't found a next of kin.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50And today they are carrying out an internal investigation.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54So currently what we've got is in January, that was the last known contact on the 19th.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57So is there anything else that happened?
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Yeah, then between the week beginning the 24th October
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and ending the 28th, um,
0:11:04 > 0:11:05CCTV was installed
0:11:05 > 0:11:09which would have meant the caretaker was allowed access.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14So was he on our list of priority customers to visit for current tenancy visits, then?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Was he identified?- Yes,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20um, he is one that hasn't yet had the access.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- But we'd attempted visits, presumably.- Yes.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27Is there anything else that we need to put as an action?
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I think that we need to be looking to encourage neighbours or
0:11:30 > 0:11:37staff or anyone who thinks something is unusual to be advising us.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41And if we recognise that we've not managed to contact someone
0:11:41 > 0:11:43through that whole chain of formal processes,
0:11:43 > 0:11:49the chances are they're vulnerable, they require support and they haven't got it.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52It's an opportunity to see whether there was something that we missed,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55whether anything should have been picked up.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Well, thank you very much, everybody. Thank you, really appreciate your input.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03It's also important towards ensuring that things like this don't happen
0:12:03 > 0:12:05and there is always a degree of contact with our customers,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09particularly the ones that are vulnerable and the ones that live alone.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15When somebody rents a home from us,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19it is their home, they're free to come and go as they will.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21We want to engage with our customers and want them
0:12:21 > 0:12:23to be involved with us.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26But it's up to them whether they choose to do that or not.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28And for us, it's a balancing act between
0:12:28 > 0:12:32engaging with our customers and making sure that they are safe,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35and invading their privacy.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47Mum of two Sarah Chilton has been a housing officer for the last 11 years
0:12:47 > 0:12:50in one of Greater Manchester's biggest housing associations.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55She looks after over 300 homes in the remote rural area of Mossley.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01She's been called out to one of her estates to investigate
0:13:01 > 0:13:05a suspected case of fraudulent activity.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09We're going to a property where we received reports that
0:13:09 > 0:13:13the tenant wasn't living at the property any more, and was possibly living in Manchester.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18We have to go and check that the property is still furnished
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and there is evidence to suggest that he is still living there.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28Some people will use the property um, for benefit purposes, um,
0:13:28 > 0:13:29and claim from that property.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Um, and then just not live there.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Sarah and her assistant Matthew have arranged to visit the tenant.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Hello. You all right?
0:13:46 > 0:13:49The reason that I've had to come today
0:13:49 > 0:13:54is because, um, we got reports that you wasn't living at this property, OK...
0:13:54 > 0:13:58and that you was living somewhere in Manchester. Are you staying with friends or anything?
0:13:58 > 0:14:04Er, because it's easier to get... jobs near the city.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Right, that's fine. Are you working at the moment?
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Um...
0:14:09 > 0:14:10No more.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14So, obviously there's no furniture.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17There's no belongings as such, here, is there?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20If you know what I mean - it's all rubbish, in't it, really?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Er...
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Do you mind if I just have a quick look in the kitchen?
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Yeah, have you not got a fridge?
0:14:29 > 0:14:30Um, not yet.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33What do you do to store your food items in?
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Er, normally...er, I eat out.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40You eat out a lot? And you've got your microwave.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- Yeah. - All right, OK. Um, right.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Of course the rubbish thing, you know...
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Right, the rubbish is easily dealt with.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Are you not having your heating on at all?
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Um, not for the moment.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- So you've capped your gas meter off?- Yes.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Is this to keep your feet dry, these bags on your feet?
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- Sort of like a... - A waterproof thing?
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- Yeah. - Yeah, OK. Thanks.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- Is this your bed?- Er, yeah.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12So where's, like, your bedding and things that you use to keep warm,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16where's your bedding and your duvet and things like that?
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- Er, blankets there, but er, I just...- Well, they're still in the wrappers.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23What are you using to keep warm at night when you sleep here?
0:15:23 > 0:15:26That's all - just the blanket and...
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- The lack of furniture...- Yeah.- And the way that you're living...- Yeah.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34..Indicates to me that you may not be staying here on a permanent basis.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35Um, I am staying here.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I'm a bit concerned if you are staying here in these conditions.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40You've got no heating to keep you warm at night,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43so it can't be very pleasant staying here in these conditions...
0:15:43 > 0:15:45- Uh-huh.- ..for you.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- I think what we're going to have to do...- Yeah.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- ..is come and see you on a regular basis.- All right.- OK.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02I wasn't expecting to find this, to be honest, when I got here.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10As part of your tenancy conditions,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14it's not acceptable to keep your property in this condition, OK?
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- Definite.- So you, you're in breach of your tenancy
0:16:17 > 0:16:21by allowing it to accumulate this much rubbish in your property, OK?
0:16:24 > 0:16:26It's a bit of a can of worms for me
0:16:26 > 0:16:28now it's a bit half and half when he's living there
0:16:28 > 0:16:32and the flat's full of rubbish. So, I don't know at this stage, really.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35It's, it's a difficult one to call on this one.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45It's been two months since John Leigh's body was discovered.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48But despite efforts from Cat, the police and the Coroner,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51there's still no sign of any relatives.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53I'm on my way to Cawdor House,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55the keys have just been received in our office,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57been released from the police.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01It's my first opportunity for myself to go into the property.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07So perhaps we might be able to, you know, discover any items
0:17:07 > 0:17:09that are in there that may lead us to a next of kin.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Mr Leigh's tenancy will be officially ended in 28 days' time.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21If no family members are found before then,
0:17:21 > 0:17:25the property will be cleared out and his belongings will be disposed of.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01There's obviously a lot of what appear to be records, vinyls.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Books,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07paintings.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19A retiring card that's out on the table...
0:18:19 > 0:18:23perhaps suggests that it's a recent retirement, really.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25Um, I don't honestly know,
0:18:25 > 0:18:29but it doesn't appear to be in the same condition as some of the belongings,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32in the property. Whether or not he's been having a look at it recently
0:18:32 > 0:18:35is something that's quite sad, really.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46There are lots of concerns and issues that I feel
0:18:46 > 0:18:49I would have been able to maybe help with
0:18:49 > 0:18:52or make a bit of a difference about if I'd have known.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02I think it's always going to be something hard to deal with,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04and everybody deals with it differently.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07But it's not one of those deaths where family come in
0:19:07 > 0:19:09and the family have notified and the family are there
0:19:09 > 0:19:11and they can do the clear-out.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16This is me and the police trying to work out as much as we can do.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22You can see that there's somebody who's into so many different things -
0:19:22 > 0:19:26reading and music and radios, and that would have been the character
0:19:26 > 0:19:29that the family would have been able to tell me about.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32And I find that sad, as well.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56With no clues to any relatives at his flat,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Cat is going back over the archives.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Our systems hold a certain amount of information and when we sign up
0:20:02 > 0:20:05our properties, we do get as much information as we can.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09However, there's no next of kin unfortunately,
0:20:09 > 0:20:10no contact number that we can use
0:20:10 > 0:20:12to try and get in contact with a family member.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17The records show very little contact between John
0:20:17 > 0:20:18and the housing association.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23Her only lead is the retirement card. So Cat is also searching
0:20:23 > 0:20:25for any information about an employer.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29It goes all the way back to 1987.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31All of the paperwork that we hold.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Looking through the documentation we've got from when he signed up
0:20:35 > 0:20:38for the tenancy, unfortunately there's nothing on here
0:20:38 > 0:20:41to say who his employer was.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44But it's always good to just use that as, as I say,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47another route to try and get next of kin details or to get in contact
0:20:47 > 0:20:51with somebody that knew him. But there's nothing on there.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Jill has received footage from the Polish family's CCTV cameras.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12And she needs to find out if it matches their statements.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14I can marry up the times of her statement
0:21:14 > 0:21:16with what we've got on here.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Can just about see now that children are walking across the road,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22but they're not doing anything wrong at this stage,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25so I just wanted to see if they are the same ones
0:21:25 > 0:21:28that occur later on in the tape, actually throwing the fireworks.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31There's five there.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34They're not very identifiable because of the hoods,
0:21:34 > 0:21:39which is where the police have had the problem doing anything about it.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Because they're not very clear.
0:21:44 > 0:21:457:10.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Oh, there you go.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Three youths standing on the canal bank.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54We've also heard from another neighbour
0:21:54 > 0:21:57that named one of the boys that is regularly seen doing that
0:21:57 > 0:22:01down the back of the canal, so we have a name.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04It's clearly targeting that particular garden.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11The CCTV evidence will be sent to the police
0:22:11 > 0:22:13to help confirm the identity of the boys.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17But while CCTV is helping the investigation,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21the cameras are causing tension in the street.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Directly across the road is neighbour, Debbie.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26You know, it is a little bit much.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29The cameras look like they're pointing in.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Would you mind if I showed you?
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Bearing in mind I only got the blinds up yesterday.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42I don't know if you can see.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44I mean you've got that that's definitely pointing here.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46And there, under the front door.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49That's not in their garden, that's right over here.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53It feels like you're living in a goldfish bowl. As soon as you walk out the house,
0:22:53 > 0:22:58it really, really does my head in, it does. I just felt like, God, me head's going,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01so I thought, "Is it me, can they see?"
0:23:01 > 0:23:07Anyway, um, so I went and I borrowed these off, er,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09off Sammy Fisher from Budget.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12And then I gets a letter,
0:23:12 > 0:23:13"I've received notification
0:23:13 > 0:23:16"you are viewing your neighbour's property with binoculars.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20"Your actions however are invasion of privacy
0:23:20 > 0:23:23"and I would like to speak to you about it."
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Invasion of privacy, with that lot going on(!)
0:23:32 > 0:23:36It's estimated that tenancy fraud in social housing
0:23:36 > 0:23:40costs the Government around £900 million every year.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Housing officer Sarah has been investigating whether her tenant,
0:23:44 > 0:23:48Steven, has been fraudulently using his tenancy.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52He hasn't got the usual things that somebody would have, you know -
0:23:52 > 0:23:56fridge, cooker, bed - but there is evidence to suggest
0:23:56 > 0:23:59that he's living at the property. He's got food there, he's got,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01well, could well be a sort of camping-style bed,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04but he's got somewhere to sleep and belongings at the property.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08And since we visited, we've then been notified
0:24:08 > 0:24:12that his benefit is being claimed at the right address.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15So we, we have to kind of accept that he is living there.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19There's not much more we can do to prove otherwise, really.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Steven was a teacher in Malaysia.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29He came to Britain looking for a better future
0:24:29 > 0:24:32and has been a tenant with the housing association
0:24:32 > 0:24:34for the last two years.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40As you can see, um, I haven't got much furnishings.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44It's because of the Zen Buddhist concept,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47we know about er, meditation, it, sort of like helps you
0:24:47 > 0:24:49to clear up your mind.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Wisdom tells me
0:24:51 > 0:24:56that if I were to maybe buy a bulky piece of furniture,
0:24:56 > 0:25:02I might really regret it, because if things are not that spacious,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I can't look forward to making it the Zen,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08to achieve the Zen atmosphere, the Zen effect, you see.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Zen or not, the condition of the flat
0:25:15 > 0:25:18is a breach of Steven's tenancy.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22- Hello.- Hello.- You all right?- Yeah. - Can I come in?- Yeah, yeah.- Thank you.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Now Sarah has established Steven IS living at the flat,
0:25:27 > 0:25:28and not committing benefit fraud,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31she'll need to make sure he improves it.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34She's using an estate clear-up day to encourage him.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- Are you OK?- Started, just a bit.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40You've sort of separated it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42So you need to get rid of it all today.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- There's one.- One.- No, you'll need a few.- Er, no - just one will be...
0:25:46 > 0:25:49- I'll give you a few.- Er...
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Take a few because you've got all the cans in the kitchen as well,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- ain't you?- Er, I managed to clear some of them.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Big plastic bag. I managed to clear...
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- Just get rid of it.- Right...
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Just, just, just clear all your empty cans, all your empty bottles.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- Yeah. Anything you don't want to keep...- Yeah.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12- bag up for me...- Yeah, no problem.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15..and then take it down to the skips.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19I think he's quite attached to his rubbish, but it just needs to go,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21so I'll, I'll keep coming back
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and checking how he's progressing with it.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35It's a good thing to recycle.
0:26:35 > 0:26:40A bowl or recyclable...
0:26:40 > 0:26:43..and microwaveable packagings, er,
0:26:43 > 0:26:48definitely it's a good thing to, to reuse them whenever possible.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Some residents can sustain a tenancy quite easily and independently,
0:26:53 > 0:26:57and other residents need a little bit of support.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Steven's going to be one that needs
0:26:59 > 0:27:03a little bit more support. I'm quite happy to do that,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06um, and that's just part of my job.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- Is that enough for now? - Yeah, that'll do, great - thank you.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I'm just coming to see how you're getting on.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Brilliant, right.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18So you've cleared a bit more.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Is this what you're keeping in the middle?
0:27:20 > 0:27:22- Er, yeah.- Right, OK. - Those are the...
0:27:22 > 0:27:26All right, well at least it's a bit, a bit clearer.
0:27:26 > 0:27:32- You done anything in the bedroom? - I haven't done anything much, really.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Right. Um...
0:27:37 > 0:27:40..well you see, he needs to sort through it.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Do you want to walk down with me, now?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50What are these jars er, what are...
0:27:50 > 0:27:52- Er, leave it out. - Are you keeping them?
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Yeah. I'll just throw them in, into my bag.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- That's fine...- Yeah.- ..if you want to put them in your bag.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01You know it might appear that we're being a bit forceful
0:28:01 > 0:28:04about a little bit of rubbish in a flat,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08but my concern is that if he was left and it wasn't monitored,
0:28:08 > 0:28:13then potentially it could be a serious sort of hoarding issue.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16He's got nowhere to store papers, he's got nowhere to store anything.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19So I think we need to get him a bit more comfortable and then see how he,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21how he sort of lives after that.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Jill has been working with the police to track down the youths
0:28:35 > 0:28:39targeting the Polish family. And the police think they've found them.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43Jill's on her way to the station to question them.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Their parents will also be invited, and so they should be there as well,
0:28:47 > 0:28:49so if they don't know what their kids are up to,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51then they will after today.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53The police can't charge the boys,
0:28:53 > 0:28:57as the CCTV evidence is not high enough quality.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59But under housing law,
0:28:59 > 0:29:03Jill is able to issue them with acceptable behaviour agreements.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05OK, City West has brought you here today
0:29:05 > 0:29:10because you seem to be part of a gang or part of a group of youths
0:29:10 > 0:29:13that are causing problems on the estate. I understand
0:29:13 > 0:29:15there was threats to kill the daughter,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18allegedly, that came from you?
0:29:18 > 0:29:22I didn't threaten to kill, just shouting at her
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- and telling her to get out me face. - Is that all you said?- Yeah.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28- What do you think about all this? - It's stupid really, isn't it?
0:29:28 > 0:29:31- Stupid.- It shouldn't have happened, what I did.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33We don't want to meet you again on an ASBO warning interview,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36which will be the next stage.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39If the boys don't adhere to the conditions they sign up to,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42then they'll be in line for more severe punishments.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44It says that you'll not act in an antisocial manner,
0:29:44 > 0:29:46intimidate, harass persons,
0:29:46 > 0:29:51or not throw fireworks into private or public properties.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Now, do you have any idea why you might be in here today?
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Fireworks.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59You have been seen on the canal bank
0:29:59 > 0:30:01throwing fireworks into people's gardens.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- Why have you done that? - I don't know.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- You don't know, just seemed like a good idea t the time?- Hm.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Like that would be a bit of fun?
0:30:09 > 0:30:11If that firework was to enter a building with people inside,
0:30:11 > 0:30:15you could be arrested for arson with intent to endanger life.
0:30:15 > 0:30:21The other offence that we've been notified of is, 3oth of October,
0:30:21 > 0:30:25you were seen running up to the door and giving it a hefty thwack
0:30:25 > 0:30:28with your foot. That's also not behaviour that's acceptable. OK?
0:30:28 > 0:30:33So I'm going to hand you over this, and it just basically says,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37you're not going to do certain things and if you do, there's repercussions.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41What I will have to do is issue a tenancy warning against your mum,
0:30:41 > 0:30:45and if you continue to act in a way which means that we go down the route
0:30:45 > 0:30:49of further prevention against you, then she may end up homeless.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52We're doing this now to stop it before it gets too far,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55before it gets too late to do anything with it.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- Thanks very much.- Cheers. - See ya.- Bye.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02What I'm hoping is that those that were represented here today
0:31:02 > 0:31:06will cascade it back to those that we've not been able to identify.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10That will then lead to the attacks ceasing completely.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Youth antisocial behaviour is quite a big issue on our estates.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25It makes people feel unsafe and frightened.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Ultimately should the behaviour continue and be serious enough
0:31:28 > 0:31:32they may lose their home. That would be a last resort for us,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36because what we want to do is keep communities together
0:31:36 > 0:31:39and we want to make sure that those communities are strong and vibrant.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43But it's important that people have respect for each other.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53I bet your feet are nice and toastie warm today.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57Sarah has arranged for Steven to visit a furniture charity
0:31:57 > 0:32:00to encourage him to introduce some order into his life.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03- This is Steven. - Hi, Steven, nice to meet you.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05He's one of my tenants on Mossley, and he's um,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08you've got nothing, basically, have you, Steven?
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- Hiya.- Hello.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15And this is all purely donated.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Ideally you, you just wanted maybe like a table?
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- Yeah, just, just one table. - And a...- Probably.- And some chairs.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Do you want to consider a bed yet, or are you happy with your...
0:32:25 > 0:32:27your camp-style set up?
0:32:27 > 0:32:30For the time being, I think a table will do.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33Cos at the moment, Steven, you've got nothing, have you? Let's face it.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- You've just got...- Yeah. - ..a living room shell.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38Have you got pots, pans?
0:32:38 > 0:32:44Yeah, you've got pots and pans, things like that, haven't you? Do you want a fridge?
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Er...
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- I think just what I need would be chairs.- Just chairs.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53Let's just go and look at some chairs. We have some tables up here.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56There's a little one here, just a small one.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59With maybe two chairs like that, if you've got them.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01I don't know.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04- There is a nice little drop-leaf one if you want that.- Oh, is there?
0:33:04 > 0:33:06A drop-leaf one that folds down?
0:33:06 > 0:33:10It's nice, it folds down there, you see and if he has any company...
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Do you get how it works? That the two sides come up.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- Save space.- Yes, space saver.- OK.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20- Would you like to take that? - Yeah, yeah, I think, er...
0:33:20 > 0:33:24- And maybe two chairs if they've got them?- Yeah, if...
0:33:24 > 0:33:28- Do you have two chairs?- We might have, but they might not match. - Don't think it matters, does it?
0:33:28 > 0:33:31You're not bothered if they don't match, are you?
0:33:31 > 0:33:32If it's not a matching pair.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34- Do you want to have a look? - Then just one, maybe.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37Oh, Steven, there's some couple of chairs here, they match.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42- Yeah.- I'm now turning into your interior designer, OK?!
0:33:51 > 0:33:55If we didn't intervene, we'd have tenants with bags and bags of rubbish
0:33:55 > 0:33:58in the property, we'd have children running riot on the estate
0:33:58 > 0:34:03when they should be in school. You just wouldn't have a happy community.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05You know, we've got to think that we are more than just housing,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08and we have got to... we do play a role
0:34:08 > 0:34:10where we have to look after people a bit more
0:34:10 > 0:34:12and provide a level of support.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Most of the time they will, they will accept it
0:34:15 > 0:34:18and engage. But then there's a small percentage
0:34:18 > 0:34:20who just will not accept that they need support.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29The consequences of tenants not asking for help
0:34:29 > 0:34:31are all too apparent in Salford,
0:34:31 > 0:34:35where Cat is still searching for answers about John Leigh.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37I'm wondering if I can just go over
0:34:37 > 0:34:40a few quick questions with you with regards...
0:34:40 > 0:34:43She's trying a last line of enquiry before the flat is cleared.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Another call to the Coroner's liaison officer.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49To date there's still not been any next of kin
0:34:49 > 0:34:52that have come forward to your department?
0:34:53 > 0:34:54No.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59There has been a burial.
0:34:59 > 0:35:00Oh, Wolfgang.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Oh, did he? Do you know when that was, Paul?
0:35:05 > 0:35:09So, Wolfgang might be able to tell me where it was and when it was?
0:35:09 > 0:35:11Finally, Cat's got a lead.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16There's been a funeral and Wolfgang, the former caretaker, attended.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19So going to see Wolfgang just to see if we can get more details.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23He might be able to advise me of a family member there
0:35:23 > 0:35:28or someone with some more information. Hopefully maybe even identify a next of kin.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45- Morning. How're you doing, all right?- How are you?
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- Good morning, come in.- Thank you.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51What I'm really hoping for
0:35:51 > 0:35:55is that you can tell me that there was a next of kin?
0:35:55 > 0:35:58No, there was nobody there, only me on me own,
0:35:58 > 0:36:00I never been a funeral like that.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Was there no family members or anybody?
0:36:02 > 0:36:05No there was only me there with a bunch of flower,
0:36:05 > 0:36:07and then the hearse is come up,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10and I expected somebody from the building, the whole building,
0:36:10 > 0:36:15we are 58 flats, and surely one should go there with me,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- you know.- Yeah.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21Er, I was heartbroken because was only me there, you know.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25- I was really angry to be honest, me dear.- Yeah.- You know?
0:36:25 > 0:36:28When I was in the property, I'd seen a retirement card.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30Hm.
0:36:30 > 0:36:35It appeared he had quite a few friends he worked with, and it looked fairly recent.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Do you know when he retired?
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- What I think is maybe eight years back where he worked.- Oh, really?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Three months after the firework attacks started
0:36:52 > 0:36:54on the Polish family, Jill is back with news.
0:36:54 > 0:37:00We had three boys at the police station, OK?
0:37:00 > 0:37:03One was the boy that kicked your door.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05SHE TRANSLATES
0:37:07 > 0:37:11Other neighbours have also seen him throwing fireworks into gardens.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14You mean we not be alone, but we thinking for that moment
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- that we only alone and we fighting with...- You're not.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Neighbours a few doors down also named him.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21Thank you, God.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24So because of that we could also do the same with him.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27And he came in and we sat him down.
0:37:27 > 0:37:33You happy now? You don't feel so isolated now that it's not just you.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37These youths are silly to not just you, they're silly to other people.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41OK? So you've had a bit of help.
0:37:47 > 0:37:48I understand, it's...
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- I think if everybody be closer don't say nothing.- No.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55Sometimes people do say nothing and they do nothing,
0:37:55 > 0:37:57but they suffer as well.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02Cross fingers, there will be no more problems from them.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Six weeks after his furniture was delivered,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Sarah is back to see Steven
0:38:20 > 0:38:22and there's been a new incident.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25Items of food have been thrown from one of the windows
0:38:25 > 0:38:27which sounds like Steven's flat.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31To have thrown it out of the back window onto the communal area
0:38:31 > 0:38:34at the back, and some of it's liquid form,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37so it's splattered against other residents' windows.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Can you see on the window sill there, and on the one next to it.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48I can't see the ones above.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52Obviously, it's not pleasant for the two residents below him
0:38:52 > 0:38:56to have food flying past their window. And I think the resident
0:38:56 > 0:39:00that complained said, one of the things was a whole swede,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03he said he didn't know what it was, but it hit the floor
0:39:03 > 0:39:05with a massive bang. He said to me,
0:39:05 > 0:39:07"I thought it was a head coming out the window!"
0:39:07 > 0:39:10He said this whole swede just splattered on the floor.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19Well, there is some things in the bin.
0:39:19 > 0:39:24So we'll see what, er, what he says, like.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29- Yeah, hello.- Hello, you all right? - I'm OK.- Good.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33How you getting on?
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Er, not bad.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- I've had a complaint from another resident in the area...- Right.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43That you're throwing food out of the back windows, is that right?
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Well, not true, that's not true. The thing is that, um,
0:39:46 > 0:39:52sometimes when I buy milk products or dairy products, um...
0:39:53 > 0:39:58I can't... I don't have a fridge yet, I can't store them overnight.
0:39:58 > 0:40:04It's not fresh. So I put those dairy products at the window ledge.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09- To keep cool?- Are they falling out the window?- Yes, they've fallen out.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14- So, er, but I try not to do that now.- No. If you can not do that.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Well, when I see out I just have to apologise to them if they...
0:40:17 > 0:40:19No, that's fine.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22If you see them and you want to apologise, that's up to you.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- Yeah.- You see all those tubs on your draining board?
0:40:24 > 0:40:28- Yeah.- We don't seem to be getting anywhere, really.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30It just, it just seems to be growing, the amount of tubs
0:40:30 > 0:40:32that we've got in the kitchen.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37Yeah, because of more food that I'm buying.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43- So you got some Easter eggs.- Yeah.
0:40:43 > 0:40:44Who are they for? You?
0:40:44 > 0:40:49Er, not really, visitors or whoever. Er, do you want some?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52No, I don't, thank you. I wasn't hinting.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Right, so, as I've said to you before, I'm going to keep coming back
0:40:55 > 0:40:57- to see how you're getting on with things.- OK.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- But we need to see a difference really, don't we?- Er, yeah.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Keep on top of the amount of things that are coming into the property
0:41:04 > 0:41:06and going out, really.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13It seems to have got worse again.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19My concern is in another six months, it's going to be
0:41:19 > 0:41:23up to the window sills, we'll have to keep monitoring and coming back
0:41:23 > 0:41:26and checking on him and giving him encouragement to try and clear
0:41:26 > 0:41:27the property a little bit.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30But yeah, only time will tell and hopefully
0:41:30 > 0:41:33one day, we'll get somewhere with it.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39Over the following weeks,
0:41:39 > 0:41:44there were some minor incidents on Eva and Tomas's estate.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47But after three months, the case was finally closed.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Now starting new life, quiet and nice.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02Chill outs, my nerves and, er, you know.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07I don't expect hello on the street or "how are you?",
0:42:07 > 0:42:09I'm not expect that, really. I don't need that.
0:42:09 > 0:42:14Just I want to say leave us alone, that's what I want.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Just leave us alone, that's it.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36With all investigations exhausted,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39John Leigh's possessions are being disposed of.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42It's just quite sad to see somebody's entire life
0:42:42 > 0:42:47being taken out of the property. Taken to a landfill.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50And disposed of, really.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57We do build relationships with these people, they're not just customers,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59it's not just a landlord/customer relationship,
0:42:59 > 0:43:00it's much more than that.
0:43:02 > 0:43:07It does make me want to make sure a little bit more that everyone's OK.
0:43:55 > 0:43:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd