0:00:02 > 0:00:05This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08There's your key. Thanks very much.
0:00:08 > 0:00:118.5 million of us are now renting our homes.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12Still 110?
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Would he pay £110 for a room a week like this? Would you?
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Riding this rental boom are a new army of landlords,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22who own one in every five properties.
0:00:24 > 0:00:29Bought it for 35,000, it was valued at £350,000.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33That's his thing, it's just money, money, money, money, money.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35..Been kicked out of my yard cos of you.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Rents are higher than ever, and rent arrears are spiralling too.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Let's go and do this.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47I've got an eviction notice for the rent arrears that you owe.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49It appears to me they want possession of the property.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53- For landlords and tenants... - I'm Hercules!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55..it's fine when you're getting on.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Paul, you don't know how much I'm putting myself out for you here, son!
0:00:58 > 0:01:02But when things go wrong, it's a different story.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Their property, know what I mean?
0:01:06 > 0:01:10They are the ones that are going to have to pay for it.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Morning, ladies and gentlemen. Right, I've got quite a busy day.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21An investor is supposed to be coming to see me at ten o'clock,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24I've got the vet, I've got a valuer coming in at two o'clock.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Meet landlord, Jim.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30He owns over 100 properties and his portfolio is worth 26 million.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36He specialises in HMOs - houses of multiple occupancy -
0:01:36 > 0:01:40renting them to as many tenants as he can possibly fit in.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45The latest addition to his portfolio is this modest three-bed house,
0:01:45 > 0:01:50which Jim thinks is big enough to turn into six studio flats.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53So this will be someone's lounge and bedroom.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We're just finishing it off.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02It doesn't necessarily cost a lot of money to turn a property into a shared house.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06All you need is a few smoke detectors and sometimes locks on the doors.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08The first thing the neighbours do
0:02:08 > 0:02:12when they hear I'm turning a property into multi-let is get onto
0:02:12 > 0:02:15the council complaining, because they don't like it.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19They think you're going to be filling the house full of druggies, paedophiles, criminals.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Good, good. 'We don't want that any more than the neighbours do.'
0:02:23 > 0:02:29This is my favourite. It just has a nice feel about it.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- DIRECTOR:- What would you pay for the kind of bedroom and lounge?
0:02:36 > 0:02:40- £95 all in.- A week?- Yes.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Once let, this house will rent out for over two grand a month.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50Unfortunately, people just can't afford a whole house to themselves.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55This is halfway between a hotel and having your own flat.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00Quite a few of my tenants are men whose wives have decided
0:03:00 > 0:03:02they are no longer required for purpose.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04So they end up in bedsit land.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11Extra-high strength, the favourite beverage of many of my tenants.
0:03:11 > 0:03:18You live in a bedsit land, what more do you want apart from telly, a few cans of lager, and a box of tissues?
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Tell it as it is, it's not a made-up theory.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Sorry, life can be fairly brutal.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30I've been in the business since '91.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I've got over about 102 HMOs.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34I've written a leading manual on the subject.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36It's only seven hours' reading,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40so for investment of one hour a day, you can become as wise as I am.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Jim is proud to be known as the "HMO Daddy".
0:03:45 > 0:03:47He invented the name himself.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53He wants to share the tricks of the trade with other landlords keen to move into multi-letting.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57This is the first one I bought in 1991.
0:03:57 > 0:04:04I bought it for 35,000. It was valued in 2007 at £350,000.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08That one property, in 20 years, will replace your day job.
0:04:09 > 0:04:1330 years ago, the average age between someone buying their first
0:04:13 > 0:04:18property was about 24. Now it's 40.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22There's a massive change when people can get onto the property ladder.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Where are they going to live in the meantime?
0:04:24 > 0:04:27They can't all live with mummy and daddy.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Not all of Jim's tenants are fans of the HMO Daddy.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35I've only got this to go, the George Foreman, and the telly, and then I'm done.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40Jim has charged Faye £90 a week for the past four years
0:04:40 > 0:04:43for her room in his shared house.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47It's just a dump. I wouldn't put my worst enemy in here. Look.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52- DIRECTOR:- What are you feeling about the landlord?
0:04:52 > 0:04:54I just think he's a greedy man.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57I think he's a greedy person who's out for what he can get.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58He don't care, he don't care.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Do you want to come and have a quick look at the damp in the bathroom?
0:05:02 > 0:05:06That's his thing, it's just money, money, money, money, money.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Last thing and then I'm gone.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13Now she's off. She's found somewhere else, but isn't telling Jim.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Well, I did keep it clean, but, to be honest,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21with everything that's happened, you know, why should I?
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Jim's had word that Faye has gone.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31He's not actually seen inside her room since the day she moved in.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38God, it's awful. Come on, Jay, out of there!
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Dear me.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Goodness me. Stay out, Jay.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47They've bypassed the wires here.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51It smells of rotten cats... cat's urine.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58This used to be a beautiful room.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03They've wrecked the bed, smashed up the microwave.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04Kitchen unit is a mess.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Imagine living like this.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10The place is disgusting.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Toilet seat has gone. They haven't even flushed the toilet.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Yeah, it's just awful. Absolutely awful.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Like everything, it's the 80-20 rule.
0:06:29 > 0:06:3380% are fine, but it's the 20% who cause problems. They just don't care.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38They don't care about themselves, they don't care about anyone else, and certainly not the landlord.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42They were very, very nice units.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46They'll be returned to being nice again.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Come on, Jay, get out.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Jim's empire spans the whole of the West Midlands.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02800 tenants call his houses their homes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07With so many rooms to fill, he can't afford to be too picky.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Wonderful.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16The bed's been smashed up, the mattress has gone missing,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19which seems very odd. The door has been completely smashed up.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23It's great, you've got high-security locks here.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28The pipe behind is squirting everywhere.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- So that's just been pulled apart. - Yeah.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- And I'm drenched. - OK, and you're drenched.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Fantastic.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Smashed the window. Jay, out!
0:07:37 > 0:07:40PHONE RINGS Don't know what you'd catch in a place like this.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45And has taken the...
0:07:45 > 0:07:46Bit strange.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51It's just part of the business.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55It's sad, annoying, but there's a lot more things to get upset about.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01There's no point being a landlord and moaning about it. No-one asked me to be a landlord.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05It's where I am. It's not the area I'd choose to be in.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09I'd have much rather let to professional people,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13those who like to make a thing out of their lives rather than those
0:08:13 > 0:08:17who are intent on not only destroying themselves,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20but causing harm to other people.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Unfortunately, the area I am in, they are the kind of tenants I have.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26I have got no choice but to grin and bear it.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37I feel it's grossly unfair.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40This is my home, I want my keys and I want to be back in there.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42It's been nearly a year now.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47Meet Caroline. She's also in the renting business,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51but unlike Jim, she only owns one house.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55Me and my husband worked incredibly hard for this house.
0:08:55 > 0:09:01The position we're both in now, we should be enjoying the fact that, you know, we live in London
0:09:01 > 0:09:07and we've got a house, we've got four bedrooms, three kids.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12We've worked hard for it, so we should be enjoying that.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14And that has been taken from us.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Caroline reluctantly agreed to rent out her family home
0:09:19 > 0:09:22when her husband's job took them abroad.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Now she's back, the rent they get doesn't cover the costs
0:09:26 > 0:09:27and their tenants won't leave.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34We weren't in a position to leave our property empty.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38The only people that the agent could find was a family on benefits.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The sums worked out when the council covered the tenants' rent.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52But since a cap on housing benefit was introduced last year,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54the amount has dropped dramatically.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58It's left her with an £800 a month shortfall.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02So it's quite a difference.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- DIRECTOR:- And do you cover that shortfall?- Yeah.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- Can you afford to?- Well...
0:10:13 > 0:10:17..my husband is working, and that's...
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I mean, only because we live a very limited life.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Hello, Daddy.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Dad, Jim, is still abroad.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- Can you see the kids? - 'I can see you now.'
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Instead of settling back into the family home,
0:10:31 > 0:10:37Caroline and the children are temporarily renting a small two-bed flat 200 miles away.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Life has not been easy.
0:10:42 > 0:10:48'When we were in London, it was a bigger house with more room.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51'We didn't really get under each other's feet as much.'
0:10:51 > 0:10:56- I sleep in here with Max.- Yeah. Zachary sleeps...- And Zachary...
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Well, sometimes he sleeps with Mummy.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03- Or he sleeps on the big bed. - Yes, we've got a big blow-up bed.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08'I've wanted to move back for long time.'
0:11:09 > 0:11:12And...well, we can't.
0:11:13 > 0:11:14Charlie.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22'A black motorcycle parked outside.'
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Right outside the house? That's hers. It's hers, so she's there.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29Meet Anna. She's a first-time landlord and hoped property would be a tidy investment.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30OK, we're coming now.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34But the dream's turned sour.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Her tenant has never paid a penny
0:11:36 > 0:11:39and she's racked up rent arrears of £5,000 and still won't leave.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Right, that's our house. If you can actually see the house from here.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49At the corner just right there, that's the house.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Hello, Paul, we're here. We're just parked around the corner.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- 'Are you in that silver car?' - Yes, we are, yeah.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- 'All right, I'm coming.'- OK, bye.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08OK, I can't see her car. Oh, my days, this is really making me nervous now.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I can't believe I'm doing this.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Let's go and do this and serve her.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Anna has finally called in the professionals.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19- OK, I'm going to give you a copy. - Yeah, sure.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Can I just confirm, are you the landlord or are you both landlords?
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- I'm the owner of the house. - That's fine, that's fine. I've made a notice out already.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Hi, yeah, I'm here for the landlord, Anna.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39- I've got an eviction notice for the rent arrears that you owe.- Oh, OK.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- It's for £5,000.- All right.- Yeah?
0:12:41 > 0:12:45She says, obviously, if you don't pay it, then she has to issue court proceedings and get a court order.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49- OK, no worries.- OK?- OK, cheers. - All right, thank you, bye-bye.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53A lot of landlords are very naive, yes.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57The market is very buoyant, but of course, the bigger the market,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59the more bad tenants.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02At the moment, it's predicted there's over 94,000 tenants that
0:13:02 > 0:13:05have more than two months' rent arrears. As we speak.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09'Some tenants won't pay because they don't care about their credit
0:13:09 > 0:13:11'rating and they'll just prey on vulnerable landlords.'
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Happens a lot. They just want to stay somewhere rent-free as long as possible.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- OK, I've served her personally. - Oh, so she opened the...?
0:13:20 > 0:13:23- Yeah, I got her out of bed.- Yeah? - She's just got out of bed.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28So now we've got to wait until the notice runs out, which is about 16-17 days' time.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Basically, if she doesn't pay up by 9th April,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36- we'll issue court proceedings and get a court order against her. Get a hearing date.- Yeah.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39You've got to think, right, best case scenario, I get my property
0:13:39 > 0:13:42back by the end of May, if she leaves by the hearing date.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- Worst-case scenario, it may even go to June or July.- OK.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48And I want you to think that...
0:13:48 > 0:13:51If you prepare like that mentally and financially,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53then it cushions the blow a little bit.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- Thanks a lot.- You're welcome. We're going to get her out, don't worry.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00There was a point where I just wanted to scream and shout
0:14:00 > 0:14:06and go there and just take her out of my house and put my stuff inside,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10like any human being would. The first thing is, she's owing me £5,000.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11I want her out.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15I want to go in front of the house and ask her to leave.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20And most of my friends and family, they want to do that themselves.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23"We're all going to go and tell her to leave!" No, there's no hurry.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28The law here is...make sure you don't harass your tenant,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30because it can go against you.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Anyway, I can't really blame them.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35I should have taken my own responsibility
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and chosen the tenant really carefully, you know.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41I need to choose my tenant.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45You need to choose your tenant very carefully. It's just...
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- Do you blame yourself? - Yeah, of course I do.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Who else am I... Who else am I going to blame?
0:15:03 > 0:15:06The Three Horse Shoes, Jim's biggest property.
0:15:07 > 0:15:13The Three Horse Shoes is a large property with 14 very nice units in.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17They are all self-contained, what you call studios.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20If he fills every room, the rent brings in six grand a month.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27This is my living room/bedroom/... home.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Another day in paradise(!)
0:15:30 > 0:15:31Mikey rents room two
0:15:31 > 0:15:36and has lived in the converted pub for a year and a half.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40This is all I have to cook on, one microwave, nothing else.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47Look at this. This is what I have to have to have a wash in. Look.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51I don't have a shower, just a sink, like. That's it, that is my sink.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54This is my bathroom.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58This is how wide it is. Small, ain't it?
0:15:58 > 0:16:00He's not seeing eye to eye with Jim.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04I know it's a bedsit, but on my thingy,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06I ain't paying for a bedsit,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10I'm paying for a studio flat. This ain't no studio flat.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13From your bedroom and living room, it's a bedsit, isn't it?
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Most of Mikey's rent is covered by housing benefit, but Jim asks that
0:16:19 > 0:16:25tenants pay a £15 top-up for the extras - heating, service charges.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30I ain't paid no top-ups, due to the fact my tenancy agreement states
0:16:30 > 0:16:33I have a shared kitchen and a washing machine,
0:16:33 > 0:16:35so I can wash my clothes.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37But not having a cooker and washing facilities,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39it's cost me more money to live.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43The tenancy agreement doesn't say he has a kitchen.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47All it says is that he has his own...
0:16:48 > 0:16:52..he has his own room, his own bathroom and his own kitchen.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54I mean, look at all this damp.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57What you think about the landlord?
0:16:57 > 0:17:01He don't give a monkey's fart, as long as he gets his rent.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Would he pay £110 a week for a room like this? Would you?
0:17:05 > 0:17:07That's what you got to ask yourself.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14He owes £1,546 and four pence. That's a lot of money.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16He's not paid anything,
0:17:16 > 0:17:22any top-up towards his benefit for some considerable time.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Bye-bye, and...to him.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Pleasant enough when you meet him, but not much we can do with him.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35What's this?
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Fucking joke, man. Let me read this, man.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47Right, non-payment of rent, Three Horse Shoes.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50"This is to let you know that due to non-payment of rent,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53"we intend to start proceedings through the County Court.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56"We will also require that you leave the premises."
0:17:56 > 0:18:00I'm wounded in a way, because it looks to me like they are just going
0:18:00 > 0:18:04to evict me and they ain't going to find me nowhere or nothing.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07So it looks to me, like, when I go to court,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10they'll probably issue me 14 days to get out.
0:18:10 > 0:18:1514 days I'll be out and where do I go from there?
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Know what I mean? I'll probably end up back in jail.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Do you want to end up back in jail?
0:18:20 > 0:18:22No, I don't really want to end up back in jail,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24but that's what's going to end up happening, I reckon,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28because I'll end up committing crime to survive.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Mikey is not the only tenant in trouble with his rent.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37His housemate James is also facing eviction.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41He owes landlord Jim nearly £900.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45There was a red letter for him and he's been on a downer today.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47He actually broke down earlier on to me.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I had to give him a bit of love and that.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Hug him, like. Because he's got no family and he's feeling lonely now
0:18:53 > 0:18:55and now he's going to be facing eviction.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57You don't want to be in hostels at his age.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02Do you know, he's worked all his life? He's a pensioner.
0:19:02 > 0:19:03He don't go to work no more.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06So it's broke me down.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13So...
0:19:15 > 0:19:17It got a bit too much for me, you see.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23In a months' time, the courts will decide if Mikey and James will be
0:19:23 > 0:19:27allowed to stay in their rooms, or if landlord Jim will get possession.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37First-time landlord, Anna, is also gearing up for court action.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39She is now owed five and a half grand.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- Hi, I'm here to see Paul. - 'Yes, you can come up.'
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Her tenant has lived in her house for over a year
0:19:46 > 0:19:47and still hasn't paid a penny.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52I mean, when we go to court, do you know what's going to happen?
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Am I going to be standing there? She's going to be standing there?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- We're going to be seeing each other or...?- It's not anything serious.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00It's not like the Old Bailey.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02You're not going to get locked up or anything.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06We hold your hand in that respect. It's quite a simple procedure.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- OK.- You get asked two or three questions.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10As long as we can prove to the judge
0:20:10 > 0:20:12there's more than two months' rent arrears,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15the judge has to grant a possession order. It's mandatory.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- It's going to be more than 12 months!- I know that,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20but that's why I can't see a problem getting a possession order.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Your debt at the moment, that's going to accrue.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Here we go, so when we issued proceedings for you - this is
0:20:25 > 0:20:27the court paper - it was £5,406.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29That was the rent as of 6 April.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33That 5,400 could go to 7,000.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Do you not think the government should be more strict?
0:20:35 > 0:20:38No, because it's a civil matter, it's not a criminal matter.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40It's not as if she's got to go to court
0:20:40 > 0:20:42because of a criminal activity. This is civil.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Loads of tenants will ignore it.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47A lot of tenants will stay in a property as long as possible and not pay rent.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- Do you not think that's really unfair to the landlord?- Of course it is.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54That's why I set the business up 13 years ago. We've done over 20,000 instructions.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- OK, the eviction, how long will that take?- That's about six weeks.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So I'm telling you now, and I want you to be mentally prepared...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Where am I going to get the mortgage money until then?
0:21:09 > 0:21:14The agreed rent of £1,450 a month would have been plenty for Anna,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17but without it she is struggling to cover the mortgage.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26There was much more stuff here we need to get rid of and sell.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30And we're still probably going to sell most of the stuff here.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Yeah, we're selling this as well. This is already online.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37We already put this online, so we're just waiting for somebody to call us.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Like those shoes that my partner bought me, I'm having to sell those.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Most of my bags...
0:21:42 > 0:21:45All this that you see here, that's going to go for sale.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47This month's mortgage is due.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48With money tight,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Anna is preparing to sell yet more personal possessions.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55We're also going to sell this mattress here.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57The mattress has to go.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Hopefully that will help us with the rent next month.
0:22:00 > 0:22:01My partner's going to kill me
0:22:01 > 0:22:07if I say this to you, I actually put a Gumtree ad for my dog - £1,500!
0:22:07 > 0:22:11I would never sell him now, but this was when he was one month old,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13so I didn't have time to get...
0:22:13 > 0:22:16I know it sounds funny, but I didn't have time to get used to him,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20so I was like, "I'd better sell him before I get too attached to him."
0:22:20 > 0:22:23I'd put 1,500 and people would buy him,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25because that's how much I needed for that month.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28And people were calling, people wanted to buy.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Then my partner found out on the Gumtree and deleted it and said,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33"This is not happening."
0:22:33 > 0:22:36And every day he was checking on Gumtree to check
0:22:36 > 0:22:38if I did something else on there.
0:22:39 > 0:22:40No, so...
0:22:40 > 0:22:43He's definitely not for sale now.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45How bad are finances?
0:22:45 > 0:22:49We haven't paid rent for this place, but we have to pay the mortgage
0:22:49 > 0:22:52money, so we are in arrears for where we live now.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57- Yeah.- Because you are a tenant? - Because I'm a tenant, yeah.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58Yeah.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Sometimes you would do anything to survive.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20Like, I'm sometimes thinking, "I'll do anything.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23"I will clean the toilets!" I said to my partner,
0:23:23 > 0:23:27"I will do anything right now just to be able to pay the rent."
0:23:29 > 0:23:30And...
0:23:32 > 0:23:34The government doesn't want to help me
0:23:34 > 0:23:37because I'm already having a house and...
0:23:39 > 0:23:41And she's already claiming, so...
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Which I thought could help me, but I was wrong.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54- WOMAN:- 'I've heard stories where people have abused the system terribly,
0:23:54 > 0:23:58'so it gives decent tenants a bad name.'
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Meet Nicky. She's never actually met her landlord.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08This is your room.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12She's moved three times in the past four years, which is tough,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- especially when you're a single mum. - My room!
0:24:14 > 0:24:19It took me eight months to find anything,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and this was the only place that came up.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26This is the sitting room and that's the kitchen.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32In July last year, aged just 35,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Nicky was diagnosed with breast cancer.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41- Long hair!- You want me to have long hair again? Do you?
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Last month I had a mastectomy and the removal of lymph nodes.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53I went for my results and it turned out that the chemo had obliterated
0:24:53 > 0:24:59what was in my breast, but there was still traces of cancer.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03It was quite advanced and they hadn't realised how advanced it was.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07As well as dealing with cancer,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Nicky and her son Josh are now facing homelessness.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13The landlord wants me out, end of.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17I've been told that he wants to convert this place into bedsits.
0:25:17 > 0:25:23- And you can't find another landlord? - It's impossible. It really is.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28I have had so many numbers, gone on the internet, got more numbers,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and it's, "No, we don't take DSS."
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Well, we'll have to see once I get the letter.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36What Nicky needs is stability.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40As long as they don't keep telling me different things all the time.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42With London landlords favouring working tenants, who can
0:25:42 > 0:25:46afford higher rents, she'd hoped that the council would house her.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50But they've told her they won't. She's not a high enough priority.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Hopefully, she's not just going to keep fobbing it off,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55cos that's what she's done already.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Apparently, council properties are like gold dust now.
0:26:01 > 0:26:07I'm not disabled enough to get a home from the council.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12I'm able to move around. I literally don't need help.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17I'm not wheelchair-bound or bed-bound.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24- How are you feeling at the moment? - Stressed. Yeah, stressed.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28but obviously I have to.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32I just wanted to just concentrate on the treatment,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34but I have to just...
0:26:34 > 0:26:37go with the flow. I've got no choice.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45The delights of going to court.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Today it's Jim versus Mikey in court.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Why should I have to go to court?
0:26:52 > 0:26:56It's just a long-winded system that you have, that's not necessary.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00We should be able to, as you do in some states in America,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04if someone doesn't pay their rent, within two weeks they're out.
0:27:06 > 0:27:12Mikey is still refusing to pay his top-up. He now owes over £1,500.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15You've got nothing to lose by turning up, so...
0:27:15 > 0:27:18I know, but it's just fucking humiliation, ain't it?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21I just think it's a waste of time going, to be fair.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25- Well, it's only you can make the decision.- It's a County Court.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I can't get a warrant for not going, can I?
0:27:28 > 0:27:33I think it's worthwhile going up there to find out what's going on.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36'I doubt he'll turn up. I mean, what's his story this time?'
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Not paying top-up, causing problems - sorry,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42that's the death knell as far as I'm concerned.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50I ain't paying top-up because I ain't getting no shared kitchen,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53I ain't getting no washing machine. You know what I mean?
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Don't know, man.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Come on, let's go. Fuck it!
0:28:21 > 0:28:23For professional landlords like Jim,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27an appearance in court is almost a weekly affair.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32But for first-timers like Anna, it's a daunting prospect.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Her tenant's arrears are now £7,000.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39I'm not really feeling too well, because...
0:28:39 > 0:28:43I'm actually shaking, like, because I don't like to this stuff.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45Why do I have to go to court?
0:28:45 > 0:28:49I'm a landlord, I shouldn't be doing all this. I feel like, you know...
0:28:49 > 0:28:52The stress and crying and...
0:28:52 > 0:28:56you know, losing my temper because I cannot take any more...
0:28:56 > 0:29:01And I really don't need to go to court. Why do I have to go to court?
0:29:03 > 0:29:06Represent myself in front of judges like I've done something wrong.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09I have done nothing, nothing wrong.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12And I just don't want to do this, basically.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16I don't like to go through all this stress.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20SHE CRIES
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Michael turned up 20 minutes late. We discussed what was going on.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40He became much more agreeable.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45I've agreed with Mr Halliburton to pay £52 every fortnight,
0:29:45 > 0:29:47starting Tuesday 30th April.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Basically, I'm sweet as long as I don't miss a payment.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55As long as I don't miss a payment... hunky-dory.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58If I miss a payment, not hunky-dory.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02I think he will default, in which case, as soon as he defaults,
0:30:02 > 0:30:05as I explained to him, I can ask him to leave,
0:30:05 > 0:30:07and if he doesn't the bailiffs will remove him.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10I was thinking today he was going to take the room off me
0:30:10 > 0:30:11and that would have been it.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14But it's panned out all right. I'm glad I come.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19Anna's case has also been heard.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22The judges decided she should have her property back.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27It's a 14-day possession order, but unfortunately that doesn't mean
0:30:27 > 0:30:29in 14 days Anna will have her property back.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33If the tenant doesn't leave after 14 days, then the court procedures
0:30:33 > 0:30:36are that we have to appoint a bailiff to carry out the warrant of possession.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39So it could be a further four to six weeks.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42And I have to pay for the mortgage while she's still there,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44and I have to pay for the place I'm staying in now.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47So who's going to pay all these bills? It's me!
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Very unfair, isn't it? You can't win, you can't win.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00Last year, over 36,000 landlords were granted possession orders
0:31:00 > 0:31:02to evict their tenants.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08Nicky has received a possession order from her landlord.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10She must leave her home.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15I had to leave on or before 15 March,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18which is in two days' time, so the letter came late.
0:31:18 > 0:31:24My concern is leaving here, away from the hospital.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27All my family are here as well.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31If I move somewhere else, I've got no-one to fall back on.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39Anxious not to move miles away from the hospital,
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Nicky has made another appointment with the council to plead her case.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Well, apparently, I don't have to leave on Friday now,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57because I need to wait for a bailiff's letter, which is
0:31:57 > 0:32:00going to be the one to kick me out.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03The problem is, I don't know when I'll get the letter,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05how long it's going to take.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I could get the letter next week and it could give me a few days,
0:32:07 > 0:32:11or I could get the letter and it gives me a few weeks or a few months.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12We just don't know.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15So you could say that even though the landlord wants
0:32:15 > 0:32:18her property back, you can ignore all the letters
0:32:18 > 0:32:20until the bailiffs come knocking on your door.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23So what's actually going to happen is, I'll get this letter, whatever
0:32:23 > 0:32:26it is, and if I'm not out on that day,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29the bailiffs will come knocking on my door, and I've seen it,
0:32:29 > 0:32:33and they will chuck my stuff out on the street.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35And that's what Housing is waiting for.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39- Yeah.- Why do they want it to get to that...?- I don't know.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42They just prolong it as long as they can.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Landlord Caroline is certain that the tenants in her
0:32:51 > 0:32:54family home have been given the same advice as Nicky,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56and that's why they are refusing to leave.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02I think that's wrong that they've given that advice.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05They are going to the council to ask for advice
0:33:05 > 0:33:07and that's the advice they've been given,
0:33:07 > 0:33:13and I think that's quite common for all councils to give that advice.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17I understand that councils have got nowhere to put families,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19because there's no social housing...
0:33:21 > 0:33:23So I don't know what the answer is.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29PAUL SHAMPLINA: It is shocking, but it's not the tenant's fault, it's the system's.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31We've got an ever-growing population in this country,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33coming up to 70 million or whatever it may be.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38We are an island desperately short of house-building
0:33:38 > 0:33:44and I've never known the social housing to be as bad as it is now.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52The wait for a council house has never been longer, and now
0:33:52 > 0:33:57a third of housing benefit tenants rent from private landlords.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Basically, you should be on some form of benefits
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- if you're going to be living in a property.- Yeah, I'm going down.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04All right, but I am at the end of the phone if you need us.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Bev is a branch manager of Castledene,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10- a letting agency in the north-east. - Well, have fun in your new home!
0:34:10 > 0:34:14Around 90% of their tenants are on housing benefit.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18And no wild parties, unless Castledene is invited!
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- Thanks very much.- For some landlords it's a good earner,
0:34:21 > 0:34:24with £8 billion a year lining their pockets.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27But they can't always be choosy about their tenants.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Fuck off!
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Meet Asbo tenant, Paul Simpson.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44I'm Hercules!
0:34:44 > 0:34:46WOMEN LAUGH
0:34:46 > 0:34:51"Asbo for drunken yob who phoned 999 to ask for a lift."
0:34:51 > 0:34:53I'm the man!
0:34:53 > 0:34:55I'm the daddy round here!
0:34:55 > 0:35:01He has done in the space of 12 months over 100 nuisance calls.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05He could face jail if he continues down this road.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11# I'd like to play a little game with you!
0:35:11 > 0:35:13# Especially made for you! #
0:35:14 > 0:35:17You could call us the third support.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19If that tenant there is asking me for help
0:35:19 > 0:35:24and if I think they're serious enough, I don't mind that at all.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28The police and Paul's neighbours want him out.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32They're hoping Bev will be the one to rehouse him.
0:35:32 > 0:35:38- I've been up all night!- Have you? - Aye! I've been up doing everything.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40Have you?
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Sexy lady!
0:35:47 > 0:35:51Look at these brown eyes. They're come-to-bed eyes, these.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53- BOY:- Oh, God...
0:35:53 > 0:35:56- They are!- BEV: Do you know your son is sat next to you?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Do you know what, I'm not drunk.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- I'm sex on legs.- You shouldn't have been up all night.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04- You knew you were coming here. - I didn't know.- You did know!
0:36:04 > 0:36:08I gave you four days' notice. Paul, out, come on.
0:36:08 > 0:36:09HE CHUCKLES
0:36:09 > 0:36:10Out!
0:36:10 > 0:36:15Paul, you don't know how much I'm putting myself out for you.
0:36:15 > 0:36:16I don't want...
0:36:16 > 0:36:19You could end up homeless and I'm trying to stop that,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23so the least you could do is be up and ready on time for me
0:36:23 > 0:36:27- and not be up all night drinking. - I've not been drinking all night!
0:36:27 > 0:36:31You're still drunk now, lad! Never mind you're not drinking all night.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36- I've been having sex all night, man! - Shut up! I don't want to know.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40- SHE CHUCKLES - Sexy lady!- Shut up! I've told you,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43I won't move you and I'll let you get homeless.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44HE LAUGHS
0:36:47 > 0:36:51- At least they've got nice doors, haven't they?- Aye, better than mine.
0:36:51 > 0:36:56Look how nice this property is, though. Look at your nice kitchen, man.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00I'm loving this. You've been magic!
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Thank you very much.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06Yeah, but you be magic back for me, Paul, and behave yourself here.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Right?
0:37:10 > 0:37:12Don't start!
0:37:12 > 0:37:14There is no need for that!
0:37:14 > 0:37:17You're going to get sorted, and what you're going to do, Paul,
0:37:17 > 0:37:20is take control of your life and make your sons proud of you.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23- That's what you've got to do. - You've helped me a lot.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26And I'm going to continue helping you, but you have to help yourself.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28You've got to take control of your life
0:37:28 > 0:37:31and you've got to make that lad there proud of you.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Proud to say that you're his dad.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37How nice would that be? Right?
0:37:40 > 0:37:44All right, Paul. So I'll sort out the paperwork.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46You just keep answering the phone to me
0:37:46 > 0:37:48and I'll let you know when you're moving.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50It'll be within four weeks.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Watch how you get at the stairs, cos I'm not paying compensation to you.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59Does it make financial sense for a landlord to take Paul on?
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Yes, because you're guaranteed direct payment with Paul.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05If he's got Paul in, he's getting guaranteed rent,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09he's not paying Council Tax and he's getting his mortgage paid for.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12So, yeah, it makes sense to put Paul in.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17- Sexy lady!- Paul, behave! - I'm not doing nothing!
0:38:22 > 0:38:27Landlord Jim has his own fair share of problem tenants.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30But one of his properties is pushing him to the limit.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34- MAN:- 144 Sandwell Street?
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Two tenants have turned this house into a drugs den.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41- It's a nightmare for Jim.- They've kicked the door into room one...
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Oh, God, and they've blown the door through to room 2.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48He's sent his staff in to try and shut it down.
0:38:48 > 0:38:53It's a crack room. What's all the gear doing on the table?
0:38:53 > 0:38:56- WOMAN:- There's nothing here.- You told me you weren't going to do...
0:38:57 > 0:39:01..prostitution again. But you started it again.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05I gave you the benefit of the doubt. You promised me.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08I mean, when you moved in here, it was a roof over your head,
0:39:08 > 0:39:13- you was warm, you were secure. - Yeah... I was so happy.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Yeah, and you've cocked it up.
0:39:17 > 0:39:23- It's just a vicious circle...- But it's only you can break that cycle.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25And if you don't want to help yourself,
0:39:25 > 0:39:28then nobody else is going to do it for you.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Pack your stuff and bog off!
0:39:32 > 0:39:33Can you sign this?
0:39:35 > 0:39:38It's just to say that we've been here,
0:39:38 > 0:39:41what we're doing and everything else.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44If they can persuade the tenant to give up her room,
0:39:44 > 0:39:46it will save Jim from a lengthy court battle.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49I don't voluntarily give up...
0:39:50 > 0:39:53I've nowhere to go.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57You can have £10 if you give me the keys, sign that paper and walk away.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06If I could evict quickly, I would do so.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09And usually we try and persuade these tenants to leave. We even bribe them.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12So there they are, they're causing harm, they're not paying rent.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16I have to bribe them to leave. So they are rewarded for being wrong.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21Wants a tenner. Wants a tenner.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35The damage to the house has already cost Jim three grand.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39And on top of that, the tenants haven't even been paying rent.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43It's the biggest hit, as a landlord, I have with a property,
0:40:43 > 0:40:47because you lose all your tenants, you lose the income for a few weeks
0:40:47 > 0:40:49while the place is sealed up and it's slow to let.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It takes weeks to re-let the place.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55And you don't get any support or much sympathy from the police or anything else.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58They just say to you, "You're the ones who let the property."
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Property has been Jim's route to financial independence.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14The HMO Daddy is a self-made man.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17As a boy, I was brought up in kids' homes.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Your self-esteem is battered in those places.
0:41:20 > 0:41:26I remember the first school I went to was in the children's home
0:41:26 > 0:41:30and the teachers said, "Oh, they come from the local children's home.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32"They'll never amount to anything."
0:41:33 > 0:41:36In those days when you left care, you are just out on the street, bang.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41So much is down to your mental attitude.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46So little in life is down to ability, intelligence, talent.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50It helps, don't get me wrong, but it's just down to a mindset,
0:41:50 > 0:41:51believing you can do it.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It's been two weeks since Anna's day in court.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05I can't believe she didn't let me know.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08To her surprise, her tenant has moved out.
0:42:11 > 0:42:17This... This... Must be a fire in here. And this whole kitchen was new
0:42:17 > 0:42:19when she first moved in.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22The whole unit is damaged there.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25Look at the carpet. This was brand-new.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29And here, look at this. I tried to change the locks earlier.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33I can't get in, because the screw has been damaged right here.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37I can't get it out, right?
0:42:37 > 0:42:40Because this was purposely damaged or she was trying to change it
0:42:40 > 0:42:42herself and damaged the screw and she left it.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45She may have wanted to change the locks
0:42:45 > 0:42:48or she damaged it purposely so I have to pay for the labour.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Anna has decided to put her house on the market.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57She wants out of the landlord game.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Puts me off 100%. 100%.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03I wouldn't sell the house if it didn't put me off.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05I would have rented it to somebody else to make money.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08But I don't want to. I want a peaceful life.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12She took my mirror! She stole my mirror! She...
0:43:12 > 0:43:17She took the mirror off my...! Oh, my God. That was my mirror there!
0:43:17 > 0:43:18That's mine!
0:43:26 > 0:43:28It's been ten months
0:43:28 > 0:43:31since Caroline began the fight for possession of her family home.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34We got an email from the landlord.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36Her tenant's arrears are over 15 grand
0:43:36 > 0:43:39and her case is being heard in court.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43"We are pleased to confirm the judge granted a possession order.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47"The tenant must leave the property by 25 April, 2013.
0:43:47 > 0:43:52"Should they fail to do so, it will then go to step three
0:43:52 > 0:43:55"and arrange for a bailiff to evict the tenant."
0:43:55 > 0:43:59And of course that could take 4 to 8 weeks after the date,
0:43:59 > 0:44:01which we knew anyway.
0:44:01 > 0:44:0225th of April?
0:44:02 > 0:44:04Yeah.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08- Oh...- Two weeks.
0:44:08 > 0:44:12Then we'll probably have to get the bailiffs in four or five weeks,
0:44:12 > 0:44:15but we did know that.
0:44:19 > 0:44:20That's just fantastic.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22Yeah.
0:44:22 > 0:44:23Yeah.
0:44:23 > 0:44:28We should get it back by about the end of May, beginning of June.
0:44:28 > 0:44:32That's brilliant. That just such a relief.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36It's just feels more tangible now.
0:44:36 > 0:44:38That could have gone on for ever and ever,
0:44:38 > 0:44:41but it's, like, much more in sight now
0:44:41 > 0:44:44that I'm going to get the keys back now, so it's brilliant.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47The courts have said that the people who are staying in our house
0:44:47 > 0:44:48in London have to leave,
0:44:48 > 0:44:51and they have to leave in a couple of weeks' time.
0:44:51 > 0:44:57Unfortunately, they probably still won't go then, but then we have
0:44:57 > 0:45:03got to go to another stage, which will mean that they will have to go.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05But it's one step closer to getting our keys back,
0:45:05 > 0:45:07so it's really good news.
0:45:07 > 0:45:09HE SHOUTS EXCITEDLY
0:45:09 > 0:45:12- Get your own bedroom? - Yes, yes, yes!
0:45:12 > 0:45:14I'm quite excited.
0:45:14 > 0:45:19I can remember it very well, but I haven't been there in ages.
0:45:19 > 0:45:24I suppose it's because a court has said I can have my house back.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26It's ridiculous, isn't it?
0:45:26 > 0:45:30It's my house, but a court has actually said that I can have it.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32It's a new feeling - happiness!
0:45:38 > 0:45:41In London, things are finally looking up for Nicky and Josh.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44Keys!
0:45:44 > 0:45:45Yes!
0:45:45 > 0:45:48After three months of uncertainty, the council eventually
0:45:48 > 0:45:50put Nicky in touch with another private landlord.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52My old keys!
0:45:52 > 0:45:56One who would accept them even though she's on housing benefit.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58Come on!
0:46:01 > 0:46:05- Here you are. - So, it's here!
0:46:06 > 0:46:08Ooh!
0:46:08 > 0:46:11- I like this one. - It's nice and big, isn't it?
0:46:14 > 0:46:19- In here, this is the kitchen.- Bigger kitchen.- It is a bigger kitchen!
0:46:20 > 0:46:25- Oh, you're clocked it! Do you want to have a look?- Yes, in the garden!
0:46:25 > 0:46:28There you go. Off you go!
0:46:31 > 0:46:34I have to explain something to you, though, Josh.
0:46:34 > 0:46:38This bit is ours, all this here,
0:46:38 > 0:46:41and that bit over there belongs to upstairs.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44But we might be able to have access to it.
0:46:44 > 0:46:49- I like these old toys!- Do you?
0:46:49 > 0:46:54Excited! Yeah, really excited. I can't wait now.
0:46:54 > 0:46:58So much better than where I am, isn't it? I mean, it's bigger.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02- Does it feel like it could be home? - It does, actually. It does, yes.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05Once I've got all our stuff in here and it's me and Josh
0:47:05 > 0:47:09and he's decided what he wants to do, what goes where.
0:47:09 > 0:47:11This is where we can eat!
0:47:11 > 0:47:14That's what it is, it's between me and him.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16- SHE LAUGHS - He's like the King!
0:47:16 > 0:47:21And I was thinking of putting your book shelf there outside your door.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23So I think we're looking at next week.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39- Good news, we've got your property back.- 'You got it back, have you?'
0:47:39 > 0:47:41Yeah, we've got the property back.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45You can't stress any more, yeah?
0:47:46 > 0:47:51Everything is left. There's one big issue with regard...
0:47:51 > 0:47:55I mean, it has been left in... There's a lot of rubbish left here,
0:47:55 > 0:47:58like they've left quickly, you know, everything is last-minute.
0:47:58 > 0:48:04In the lounge, are you aware of the massive problem with the ceiling?
0:48:06 > 0:48:09Just going into the kitchen. Yeah, the kitchen is a massive hole.
0:48:09 > 0:48:13For you to come and live here, Caroline, you're going to have
0:48:13 > 0:48:16to spend a few quid, obviously, to get it back up to...
0:48:16 > 0:48:18a liveable state.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20Oh, blimey.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22Right...
0:48:22 > 0:48:25There's loads of bed mattresses dumped, and clothes
0:48:25 > 0:48:30and office chairs and pine furniture dumped in the top bedroom.
0:48:30 > 0:48:32- 'Right.'- The top window is cracked.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35- 'Really?'- There's a crack in the top window.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38How much was the rent arrears in the end?
0:48:38 > 0:48:39'Just over 16,500.
0:48:39 > 0:48:44- 'Wow, £16,500.- '16,500, just over.'- Right...
0:48:44 > 0:48:45VOICE FADES
0:49:06 > 0:49:08The total portfolio is probably
0:49:08 > 0:49:10about 26 million,
0:49:10 > 0:49:13but I owe a lot of that to the lenders.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17But if you wait another ten years and property values have doubled,
0:49:17 > 0:49:22you see the big advantage in owning property.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24So it's just buy, hold,
0:49:24 > 0:49:27and cross your fingers when the next boom comes.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd