0:00:02 > 0:00:05This programme contains some strong language
0:00:05 > 0:00:07There is a failure to provide enough housing
0:00:07 > 0:00:10for the people of this country, but landlords haven't made this problem.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12They've just got wealthier on the back of it.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Once a nation of homeowners -
0:00:15 > 0:00:19there are now over 11 million people renting in Britain.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And most of the rent is being collected by private landlords.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28My philosophy is buy low, rent high.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33The truth is we buy property for one reason and one reason only,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35and that's to make money.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38But many landlords have no idea what it's like to live
0:00:38 > 0:00:40in the properties they profit from.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44I think the expression "let it and forget it" springs to mind.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46When you walk in the house,
0:00:46 > 0:00:48first thing you can smell is the mould from this room.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51For a pensioner to sleep in these kinds of conditions,
0:00:51 > 0:00:53I think it's just disgusting.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56And they can't always rely on the tenants to speak up.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58If I kick up that much of a fuss,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00it's going to be easy to get a new tenant, isn't it?
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I can't make it better for you till you say something.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05SHE SOBS
0:01:05 > 0:01:08So, to experience it for themselves,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12these landlords have agreed to swap their home comforts for a week in
0:01:12 > 0:01:14their tenants' shoes...
0:01:14 > 0:01:15It's very easy as a landlord
0:01:15 > 0:01:18to completely detach yourself from your property.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Not even to think about what it would be like to live there.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23I'm quite excited. It's like going on holiday.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Oh, goodness!
0:01:25 > 0:01:28To see the properties through their tenants' eyes...
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Phwoar, it smells a bit. Oh, my goodness.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32What on earth is this?
0:01:32 > 0:01:35We should have been packing for the blasted Arctic.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37..and live on their budgets.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Money, money, money.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41How are we going to eat on 54 quid?
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And once they've lived the realities of renting for themselves...
0:01:44 > 0:01:47We feel like we've lived like paupers.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Bit upset really. I think it makes me feel vulnerable.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Will it make them change their properties,
0:01:52 > 0:01:54or how they view their tenants?
0:01:54 > 0:01:57What's been building up underneath the surface
0:01:57 > 0:01:59is knowing that I'm responsible
0:01:59 > 0:02:02for somebody else's living conditions.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11HE GRUNTS
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Landlords Dan and Jamie started building their rental portfolio
0:02:15 > 0:02:17when they were just 19.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21There are two types of people - winners and losers.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25And I am a winner and I've always considered myself to be a winner.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28The money they used to buy property came from trading stocks and shares
0:02:28 > 0:02:31online while they were still at school.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33I originally wanted to become a landlord cos I wanted to,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35you know, take over the world.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38I had this idea of having 1,000+ properties,
0:02:38 > 0:02:39and build a massive empire.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42I didn't want to work for somebody else, because I didn't like the idea
0:02:42 > 0:02:45of just devoting my time to making someone else rich.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53The pair relocated their property business to Leeds four years ago,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56where Dan has moved into a city centre penthouse.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59There's just something about being high up that makes you feel good.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03In my head, I always wanted the...
0:03:04 > 0:03:07..like, 25-year-old version of me to live in a penthouse.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09It's a great asset.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I've not quite figured out how to put it on Tinder or Bumble yet,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14you know, you can't just take a picture of your apartment
0:03:14 > 0:03:16and be like, "I have a nice apartment."
0:03:17 > 0:03:20There's been several points where I've felt,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22"Life's pretty good at the minute."
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- I've never thought, - "BLEEP- me, I've made it."
0:03:25 > 0:03:26You know, like, "This is success,"
0:03:26 > 0:03:28because there's always something more you want.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Jamie and his girlfriend have bought themselves
0:03:31 > 0:03:33a semidetached family home.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36We bought the property for 310,000,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38but actually there's a house across the road,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40and it's a massive detached house,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and it's a five-bed, and I think, "Well, that's the next one."
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Their respective homes are complemented by the
0:03:45 > 0:03:49services of a cook, who prepares all the meals for them both.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51The reason we have a cook is to outsource
0:03:51 > 0:03:53the parts of life you don't enjoy.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56This is all the food that's been left for us by the cook.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Something we are quite on the ball with
0:03:59 > 0:04:01is valuing what we're worth per hour,
0:04:01 > 0:04:06so, you know, outsourcing this is something like £10 an hour,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and I think we worked out we're worth £750 an hour.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The time they save isn't just for making more money.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Jamie also uses it for his newest hobby.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22It's a really cool thing to be doing as a hobby.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Obviously it's more costly than others,
0:04:24 > 0:04:25but I love the fact that my success
0:04:25 > 0:04:27has been able to make this possible for me.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I also really like the fact that I've got the end goal of being able
0:04:37 > 0:04:40to fly my mum over to Paris for the weekend and things like that.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44This lifestyle is thanks
0:04:44 > 0:04:46to a growing property empire that includes
0:04:46 > 0:04:51developments, investments and a portfolio of 14 rental properties
0:04:51 > 0:04:53worth 1.1 million.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Worst-case scenario is, yes, this agent will be a bit hacked off.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57However, what we'll then do is
0:04:57 > 0:05:00get the property back on and sell it to someone else.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02But they only concern themselves with the numbers,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06relying on managers and local agents to take care of the tenants.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11If you want to grow your business to a large scale,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13you need to outsource.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15You cannot do everything yourself.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Alan Sugar actually has most of his wealth in property.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21And there's no way he'd be getting a call from a tenant.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23As long as they're getting looked after
0:05:23 > 0:05:25and in return we're getting our money,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27then I'm happy with that.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31This business model has enabled them to buy anywhere in the country that
0:05:31 > 0:05:34combines cheap houses and good rental returns,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36and they've targeted the north-east.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39I can't remember the last time that we went to that area.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42You know, the further away they are, the less you think about it.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44They're just sort of ticking over nicely, if you like,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47but it's not an emotional attachment really.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49It's an investment vehicle where you look at the numbers,
0:05:49 > 0:05:53you make an investment decision, and you move onto the next one.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Although they don't know it yet,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Jamie and Dan will be moving into this house in County Durham.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04This is my room, this is where I sleep.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07It's home to 33-year-old Michael.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The main thing what's wrong in here, is just I haven't got a door,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13so I've got no privacy. If anybody's ever here staying,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15going to the toilet during the night, or what have you,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17they'll just see a full view of me lying in bed.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22It's obviously cold, because I can't shut the door,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24so what I tend to do is if I have got anybody,
0:06:24 > 0:06:25or if it gets too cold...
0:06:30 > 0:06:32It's always been like that.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Michael pays £450 a month for the two-bedroom property,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39which he's lived in for just over a year.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42If you try and open these windows as well, erm...
0:06:44 > 0:06:45..that happens.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47When I first came and viewed the property,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50the letting agent said the whole window would be replaced.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53I've never had a door on here.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56And then this one here, it's rotten.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58You can't shut the door.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59It's just, like, it's irritating.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06So, here's the leftover rubbish from the previous tenants.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10There was a lot more at one point. Other people would probably think,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13"A bit of a scruff," because you pull out the drive
0:07:13 > 0:07:15and that's the first thing you see...
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Regular visitors to the house
0:07:17 > 0:07:20are friends Helen, Ricky and his son Nate.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22This one can fly.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26He can fly? Watch him, heights.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Five months ago, a faulty boiler was replaced in the kitchen,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31but the job was left incomplete.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34They haven't boxed that in, so it's a bit annoying now, cos I've got
0:07:34 > 0:07:37people over and obviously it's worrying a bit,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40the child being here, because of the hot water pipes,
0:07:40 > 0:07:41so, you're on edge all the time.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43If I'd come around to view this,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45from day one, there's no way I would have this house.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47You think it's bad now, you should have seen it
0:07:47 > 0:07:49- when I first got the keys. - I would have had a fit.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I would say I've probably spent around £400-600
0:07:56 > 0:08:00to get the house liveable and the way it is now.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02I removed the wallpaper off the walls right the way round,
0:08:02 > 0:08:07and painted the walls and then put some fresh wallpaper on.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11This is what the majority of my pay goes on, the running of the house,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15so I'd rather have somewhere decorated nice.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19But it's irritating when I come home from work and you can't really,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21like I say, enjoy it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23- INTERVIEWER:- Why don't you just move, Michael?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Cos it's the cost.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Like, removal, admin fees, bonds.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32It's not cheap to move.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Michael works as a team leader at the local Tesco's.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I live a minute and a half away from the shop,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40so I'm on call 24/7 more or less.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43If the alarm goes off during the night, I'm there.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46He spends £800 a month on rent and household bills -
0:08:46 > 0:08:48almost 70% of his pay.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52But he doesn't feel he gets good value for money.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55If I treated one of the customers the way that the landlords treat me,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58I probably wouldn't have a job.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Until now, Dan and Jamie have had no idea which of their properties
0:09:01 > 0:09:03they'll be moving into.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05MESSAGE ALERT
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Oh, God. Edmondsley.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09What do you mean, "Oh, God?"
0:09:09 > 0:09:10You don't really hear much about
0:09:10 > 0:09:15that property at all, which hopefully is a good thing.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17It means somebody's doing their job right.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20While his landlords move in for the week,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Michael will be staying in a nearby holiday let.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27Door on the kitchen, door on here.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31It's how a proper house should be, eh?
0:09:36 > 0:09:37What jobs are there here?
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Apart from the, you know,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43work in the store, working at the local bank, what do people do?
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Interesting.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- It's a bit of rubbish. - Bit of rubbish?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I'm really hoping it's not like that inside the house as well.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Yeah, it's really nice.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Oh, see, this is exactly what you want to see.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Very tastefully decorated.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13The tenant clearly takes a lot of pride
0:10:13 > 0:10:16in what he's created here, which is great.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20That's definitely a boiler that's been put in recently,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23so maybe that's something that bothers him or,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25if he's fine with it,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27some people are, personally, I like them boxed in.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It can be quite dangerous as well, actually.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35- Why is the door not on? - Yeah, that's...
0:10:37 > 0:10:39- What a strange thing. - I wonder if that's something
0:10:39 > 0:10:41that the tenant just didn't want on or something.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45It would be better if a tenant would let us know,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47just so we understand everything that's going on.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Yeah. You're seeing the mastic here.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53You do look in and go, "You know what,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57"that is not the best job someone could've done on that,"
0:10:57 > 0:11:00but we're not paying for the best job to be done on it,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04because it is not the best property and the best paying property.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Smaller things, it's probably best the tenant does it itself,
0:11:08 > 0:11:09for their sake and ours.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14200 miles away, there's another landlord
0:11:14 > 0:11:16who's agreed to try tenant life.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Oh, beautiful!
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Over the past decade, Prab and his family
0:11:23 > 0:11:27have built a property portfolio worth over £10 million.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30We have over 150 tenants, and that gives us,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34I think it's 30-40,000 rental roll every month.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Wow! I could get used to this.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I could rely on the rental income to live on,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44and one of the things about business is that, you know,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46is there ever enough?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49His 80 rental properties have provided the means
0:11:49 > 0:11:52to build his own bespoke five-bedroom house in Essex.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57I quite like the way the lighting and audio and TV is all operated
0:11:57 > 0:12:01from the phone, so if I want the dining area on and off,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04it's all done from the phone.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05The bed's got a light under it as well.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07HE LAUGHS
0:12:08 > 0:12:11It's also home to his three kids and wife, Meena.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14I've got two ovens.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17This is my funky oven door.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Prab has worked his fingers to the bone to make this house happen,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24and every part of it is just exactly what I wanted.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28This is a far cry from Prab's upbringing.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30I had very humble beginnings.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Um...my dad came over from India in '66
0:12:34 > 0:12:36and then got a job at the Royal Mail
0:12:36 > 0:12:40and, erm, it was quite tough, actually.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43I do remember, I think, when I was seven,
0:12:43 > 0:12:48we sort of baked a cake at school and we all had to contribute 17p,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and I couldn't ask my mum for 17p.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54I was so terrified, I just burst out crying.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59So most of my life has been ruled by making sure that I'm comfortable.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Until recently, Prab devoted his time to managing the entire rental
0:13:04 > 0:13:06portfolio by himself.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11I used to actually handle absolutely every aspect of the business,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13from the purchasing of the properties
0:13:13 > 0:13:16to the letting out, the management.
0:13:18 > 0:13:19It wouldn't matter, day or night.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I was driven by providing a service,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26and I often don't refer to tenants as tenants, they're customers.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28One of the things I've always tried to do
0:13:28 > 0:13:30is always put your customer first.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33But then he decided to move into property development,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37and a year ago handed all of the management of his lettings to his
0:13:37 > 0:13:3918-year-old son Rowan...
0:13:39 > 0:13:43We're dressing a room to get it ready for marketing and photos.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44..and nephew Pav.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46- Too much?- Yeah, it looks good.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Have you heard of the karate chop? It's basically a karate chop
0:13:48 > 0:13:51you can do in the pillow, just to give it some oomph.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55My mum taught me.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Rowan is now the first point of contact for all their 170 tenants.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02So, what name would you like to be on the tenancy agreement?
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Do you want the council tax to be in your name?
0:14:04 > 0:14:08One of the things I do miss is interacting with tenants.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10It keeps you connected.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15It's really easy to be detached from the world of a tenant,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18because you just look at it as numbers.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22These days, Prab's only involvement is a weekly catch-up with the boys.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25How many potential rent increases are there and what amount is it?
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Providing that every tenant's OK with the increase,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30I think minimum £2,000 a month is what we're aiming for.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32PRAB LAUGHS
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- That's great! That would be a good result!- Yeah?
0:14:35 > 0:14:39If you actually manage to even hit 2,000, let's do a trip to Vegas.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- Yeah?- Yeah?- Sounds good. I can't get into a club, though.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45- Can you gamble?- No.- Oh, you can't even gamble if you're less than 21?
0:14:45 > 0:14:46THE OTHERS LAUGH
0:14:47 > 0:14:51In order to reconnect with his tenants, Prab has agreed to spend
0:14:51 > 0:14:53a week living in their shoes with his wife, Meena,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55and their two young children.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59It's going to be an opportunity to see how our business is operating,
0:14:59 > 0:15:04how our tenants are doing, because it just sort of helps you reflect,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06a bit like when I go and do my yoga.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08My only trepidation, to be honest,
0:15:08 > 0:15:13is for Meena, because she's sort of a little bit OCD.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18So, I've got two lots of air mattresses, two lots of duvets.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20I think it's just her concern about cleanliness.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23I'm feeling quite nervous about where we're going,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26what to expect.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30I'm hoping, otherwise you'll get a kick up the backside,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33that you're looking after our tenants
0:15:33 > 0:15:35and they live in fairly decent accommodation.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Prab and Meena will be swapping their home comforts
0:15:38 > 0:15:40for this house in Leeds.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46It's home to 44-year-old IT consultant Vishal...
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Six plus one is how much?
0:15:48 > 0:15:50..his stepson, Varun...
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Six plus one is six.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- What? Six plus one is six?- Seven.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56..and his wife, Pooja.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I am house-proud. My children usually say that, you know,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02"Mummy, just give us a break," you know?
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Vishal moved to Leeds when his job brought him to the UK 13 years ago.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10My perception was, like, the UK is going to be just like in America,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14big places, big cars, big roads, then slowly you start getting used
0:16:14 > 0:16:17to the culture and what people do, the pubbing.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19People keep teasing me in my office as well,
0:16:19 > 0:16:20"You use booter, you don't say butter."
0:16:20 > 0:16:23I'm like, "Well, it makes no difference
0:16:23 > 0:16:25"because I'm a Yorkshire guy."
0:16:25 > 0:16:27He only started renting this house
0:16:27 > 0:16:30just over a year ago so his new wife, Pooja, and her son, Varun,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32could join him from India.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36I always thought that, in a foreign country, the houses are perfect.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39That's what I have been seeing in the movies.
0:16:39 > 0:16:40But when I entered this house,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I thought that this shouldn't be this way.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48As you can see, these tiles...
0:16:48 > 0:16:50They have painted, actually.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53If you look how this paint is just peeling off,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55every time you take a shower, look, there you go.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57I'm not asking to put some like,
0:16:57 > 0:16:58you know, Jacuzzis or anything like that,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01but these are some basic things.
0:17:01 > 0:17:02This is our child's bedroom.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07The moulds form very quickly, because it's really cold here.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Even if you touch, it's literally wet.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10There it goes.
0:17:10 > 0:17:16That's been cleaned since the last time, but they just form quicker.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18It's really upsetting, actually,
0:17:18 > 0:17:23because my son can't spend his time in his own bedroom, like, you know,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25playing with toys or anything like that.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Vishal thinks it might have something to do
0:17:28 > 0:17:29with the state of the back wall.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32If you look there, that's the child's bedroom.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36The paint keeps peeling and they haven't done good work at all.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40They pay £550 per month for the two-bedroom house.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44The rent that we are paying is at a stretch because Vishal is the only
0:17:44 > 0:17:46earning person in the family.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49In India I was working as a paediatrician,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52but I need a licence degree to work here as a doctor,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and here I'm preparing for my exams.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57They have to keep to a strict monthly budget.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Car insurance is 75 quid.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03And every month, we are sending money to our parents back in India.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Yeah. Parents...
0:18:05 > 0:18:06But Vishal recently discovered
0:18:06 > 0:18:09something in the house he hadn't accounted for.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13This electric meter is shared with my next-door tenant,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15which I just came to know in the last three months
0:18:15 > 0:18:18because there was an electrical inspection.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22So, my next-door neighbour is using my electricity
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and paying the bills to the landlord.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29So he owes me more than, like, £400 or £500.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32I really lost hope, actually, when I came to know that.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35When he raised this issue with Prab's office,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37they proposed giving him top-up tokens
0:18:37 > 0:18:40that he'd have to sell directly to his neighbour.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42That's not fair, because they haven't repaid
0:18:42 > 0:18:44what I have spent, actually.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49And he should have his own meter so that they have to pay
0:18:49 > 0:18:52the money to the service provider and not to me, because I don't want
0:18:52 > 0:18:53to get into that hassle, you know.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Who's used how much? Constantly keeping track.
0:18:56 > 0:18:57That's not my job to do.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I'm not the landlord here, I am just a tenant.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02So looking at this, you know, totally frankly,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04I don't trust my landlord any more at all.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06- MESSAGE ALERT - You have a text.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11We're going to the Hilton! No, we're not.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13Elland Road. OK.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17This is a great property.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20It's a building that I bought five years ago, maybe.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It was dilapidated, there were leaks everywhere,
0:19:23 > 0:19:28and I managed to split the building into a house and a flat and a shop.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Do you know the tenants that live there?
0:19:30 > 0:19:33I mean, I can hardly remember the property, to be honest.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Bye-bye, house! See you soon!
0:19:41 > 0:19:43See you soon!
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- We're going on a holiday! - Going on holiday!
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Definitely there's going to be a break from the stress
0:19:51 > 0:19:53and the problems that we're facing,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56and probably a good lesson for the landlord as well. So let's see.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01# We're all going on a winter holiday
0:20:01 > 0:20:05# We're all going to Leeds now. #
0:20:07 > 0:20:08How are you feeling about it?
0:20:08 > 0:20:10I'm sure I'll be fine once we're there.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13That's quite close to where my uncles live so...
0:20:13 > 0:20:14If all else fails...
0:20:14 > 0:20:16If all else fails, I'm going home to family.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23For the next week, Vishal and his family will be staying in a serviced
0:20:23 > 0:20:24apartment down the road.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- Wow.- Really nice house. - Really nice, very nice.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30We don't mind staying here.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Oh, we're reaching the destination road!
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- What do you think?- Mm-hm. - This is quite nice.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40What's nice about this?
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- Come on.- Just here on the left.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Oh, goodness.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49Oh, wow.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Feels a bit like in the Dark Ages, looking at these buildings.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01Quite a busy, noisy street,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04so I'm hoping the double glazing works well.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Yeah, it clearly needs a bit of work, doesn't it?
0:21:13 > 0:21:14Oh, wow.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16It smells clean and it looks clean,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20so I already feel happy about being here.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21It's an Indian family.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Yeah, I can see the pictures.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Do you want to get the envelope on the table for us?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36"Welcome. We hope you have a good stay.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38"Please be careful with the gas hob,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40"as some of the burners don't work
0:21:40 > 0:21:43"properly and they tend to go off after they are lit.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46"We have been washing the mould off
0:21:46 > 0:21:50"the wall in the children's bedroom but it keeps coming back."
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Immediately I'm sort of freaked out with the kids,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55especially if it's in the kids' bedroom.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Yeah.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Shall we go upstairs, then?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Ah, I remember it now.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Show us Mummy and Daddy's room.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Wow.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11- Nice.- Yeah.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13What's that? Is that the mould?
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I think it's perfect.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20OK, this is a little kiddies' room. Let's have a look.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25Wow. Where did they mention about the mould in here?
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Was it in the cupboard, they said? Oh, yes, it is.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Yeah, that is pretty bad.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Fortunately, it's not damp so it's obviously historical.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40That needs, er, that needs painting
0:22:40 > 0:22:43with the relevant paint to sort that out.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I remember this being an issue when we first bought the property.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49This is more decorative rather than damp.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Clearly as a mother, I'm also concerned.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Obviously it's the kids' bedroom and, you know,
0:22:55 > 0:22:56there's clearly a problem with the mould.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Let's go down.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Again, fortunately, it doesn't smell so that's...
0:23:00 > 0:23:03No, there's no smell but, no,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05obviously there's a problem there
0:23:05 > 0:23:07which I guess needs to be addressed.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Right, so we've got a welcome note.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16"Welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay in my home.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20"Sometimes it's worth opening the kitchen window when cooking because
0:23:20 > 0:23:22"the smoke alarm in the hall will go off.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24"If I'm not working,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27"I generally have friends around for food and drink as it's cheaper than
0:23:27 > 0:23:30"going out. I told them to call round on Saturday
0:23:30 > 0:23:32"to see how you're doing and settling in."
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- Oh, nice.- Nice.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38Dan and Jamie have been given Michael's weekly budget of £71.53.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40"This is for food and leisure.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42"All the best, Michael."
0:23:43 > 0:23:44£71 each.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48That's one night out.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51If I blew that going out for drinks with my mates,
0:23:51 > 0:23:53I wouldn't wake up in the morning thinking, "Oh, God,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57"I spent a lot last night." I'd be like, "That was a good night."
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Prab and Meena will also spend the
0:23:58 > 0:24:00week living on their tenants' budget.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03"Our weekly budget for food and doing other things
0:24:03 > 0:24:07"with family is £87.75.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09"Hope that is sufficient, all the best..."
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- Lovely.- "..Vishal and Pooja."
0:24:11 > 0:24:12£87.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Wow. And what was ours?
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- A bit more than that.- I don't think there was a bit more,
0:24:17 > 0:24:18I think there was a lot more.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Didn't we just work it up to about a grand a week or something?
0:24:22 > 0:24:23Mmm.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27- Wow.- If the guy's working on an average wage,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30he's got to be earning probably a couple of thousand a month,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34so I'm surprised he's only got that much as a weekly budget.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Maybe I'm missing something.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40I mean, it's not a big budget but most things in life are free.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44This is an opportunity to spend time together, which is free.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49To explore and go, you know, out and see places, which are free.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51But not everything comes for free.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53We've got to go and do our shop, have we?
0:24:53 > 0:24:54There's actually nothing in here.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Well, what is cheapest if you're not spending money?
0:24:56 > 0:24:58What's cheapest, flour?
0:24:58 > 0:25:00- Pasta's always good. - I don't like pasta.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Well, we just need to get the basics in.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Egg's not a luxury, is it?
0:25:05 > 0:25:06- No.- This is...
0:25:08 > 0:25:10This is not going to be fun, is it?
0:25:10 > 0:25:14The only thing I am going to add to this list is wine.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- That's a lot of money. - Well, one bottle is
0:25:17 > 0:25:18- normally three to four glasses. - Mm-hm.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23We can make that into eight glasses, so that's four nights of wine.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- OK.- Just when we sip it,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28we'll just keep it in the mouth for a little while, don't swallow it.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35There you go. Four chicken and vegetable pies, £1.49.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- That's all right. - It sounds healthy as well.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39- Does it?- No, it's not.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Kebab meat with chips. £1.49.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Honestly, I'd rather lick the bottom of my shoe right now.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Right, that's for you, that's for me.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Right? We'll see what happens.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Not exactly fresh veg but that'll do.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00The last time I went to a supermarket to do a full week's shop
0:26:00 > 0:26:02was about three years ago.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04This is going to last longer than just tonight,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- by the way.- Do you know what's cheaper than getting chips?
0:26:07 > 0:26:09- Potatoes.- Potatoes.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- Done, then?- Yeah.- Cool.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12Thank you.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16- Thanks very much.- Thank you so much.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22I generally feel a bit ridiculous walking around having to think like
0:26:22 > 0:26:25that, but I've just spent two pound over my daily budget...
0:26:27 > 0:26:31..and all I've done is get basic frozen food.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35It doesn't look like the best dinner in the world.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Doesn't cooking today just kind of involve microwaving?
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Is there even a microwave?
0:26:40 > 0:26:44- Microwave.- Oh, are you fucking kidding?
0:26:44 > 0:26:45There's no microwave.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49And we bought a microwavable meal.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53So in total, we spent £10.02 each.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56On track, think. I go through my budget once a month.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It's never on this kind of granular level.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01It's always more things to do with, like,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03just moving money around or playing with
0:27:03 > 0:27:06different bits and pieces. I can't remember the last time I looked the
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- individual items on a bill. - I think it's a waste of time.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12If you're the sort of person that spends so much time looking at every
0:27:12 > 0:27:13penny that you're saving,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17you could have been spending that time earning a hell of a lot more.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Oh, wow, there's not even another package in there.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23It's literally just cardboard and meat.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Wow.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Oh, Jesus Christ.
0:27:29 > 0:27:35Look at that! Right, I think I'll be having all four of them.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36- Cool.- All right.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38So what do you want, then? Do you want some chips as well?
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Chips? Haven't got chips.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- Potatoes.- Make them into chips, then.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- OK.- Do you know where chips come from?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50No, I know. 100% I know where chips come from but...
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Want some? Actually or I could just have boiled potatoes.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- Bit easier.- Sorry, the concept
0:27:55 > 0:27:57of making your own chips there just threw me.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59In fact...
0:27:59 > 0:28:00do you want to peel?
0:28:00 > 0:28:03- Can you peel?- I'll have a go, mate.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05You've never peeled potatoes?
0:28:05 > 0:28:07- No.- You've never peeled potatoes?
0:28:07 > 0:28:09I've almost definitely never peeled potatoes.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11So is there a technique to this, mate?
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- No, mate...- Surely there's machines that do that for you.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16THEY LAUGH
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I genuinely thought you were taking the piss.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24- Going to need my fingers... - Jesus!
0:28:26 > 0:28:28SMOKE DETECTOR BLARES
0:28:28 > 0:28:30You know what I'm going to do is open this window.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Oh, God.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39That's really up the creek, that.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45It's a bit embarrassing, that, actually.
0:28:50 > 0:28:51SMOKE DETECTOR CONTINUES TO BLARE
0:28:55 > 0:28:56BLARING STOPS
0:28:57 > 0:29:00We need to put that back in after we cook.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Hi, honey, I'm home!
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Oh-h!
0:29:06 > 0:29:09How much did you, er... how much did you spend?
0:29:09 > 0:29:12We spent £37.99.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Ooh! And did you throw in a bottle of wine in there?
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Oh, I didn't just throw in a bottle of wine,
0:29:17 > 0:29:19I even got myself a bottle of beer.
0:29:20 > 0:29:25I know. And I got some of the German meatball things.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27So you thought about yourself only?
0:29:27 > 0:29:29No, no, no, no. I thought about you
0:29:29 > 0:29:33because I got aloe vera toilet paper.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37- How about that?- You didn't get me organic milk?
0:29:37 > 0:29:41Well, darling, the whole point was to save money.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46Yeah, but you've bought something, two items that only you can eat.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49- Which are?- Which are those meatballs and ham.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I don't eat... I'm a vegetarian, I don't eat meat.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Anyway, just think about what you did there.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56OK, maybe I was being a bit selfish.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59Yes. Did you bring any salad stuff?
0:29:59 > 0:30:01- There's no salad.- No, no.
0:30:01 > 0:30:06- Seriously.- Because tomatoes, cucumber are a luxury.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08How much did you spend on your meatballs?
0:30:08 > 0:30:10- No, but, darling... - How much did spend on that?
0:30:10 > 0:30:13It's not about how much I spent on the meatballs,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16it's how long can they last?
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Do you understand the difference?
0:30:20 > 0:30:22You're so full of shit!
0:30:22 > 0:30:24No, listen, we can go back, honestly.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27OK, yeah, we'll be going back, definitely going back.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Oh, hang on, I just realised...
0:30:29 > 0:30:31I think I've poured too much.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34I think I'm going to need that tonight.
0:30:37 > 0:30:38Can we hide them?
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Oh! It's OK, that was daddy's fault!
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Oh, God!
0:30:47 > 0:30:52Who's going to sleep in the top bunk bed?
0:30:52 > 0:30:53- BOTH:- Me!
0:30:53 > 0:30:55- You are going there. - No, I go there.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58No, I go there.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00The kids have gone to sleep in the kids' room.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04So I'm going to leave them there tonight and see how we go.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07There was a slight concern about the mould,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10but I'm pretty sure with what Prav has mentioned it is obviously not a
0:31:10 > 0:31:14huge problem, so thankfully we're only here for a few days.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18I don't know, let's see what tomorrow brings.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Do you want breakfast first or showers?
0:31:25 > 0:31:29- Breakfast.- Right, cool, I'm going to have a shower now.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32For Dan and Jamie, the morning routine
0:31:32 > 0:31:35is bringing the issues in the house into sharper focus.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38It always makes it harder to have a shower
0:31:38 > 0:31:41when there's nothing to latch it on to.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44There's no shower rail or anything.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47Then you have to sit down, I guess.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49It should be interesting.
0:31:52 > 0:31:53You do have someone staying with you,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56and you've got to get changed in the morning,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59it's a bit odd to be putting the door back on.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01They've decided to call their property manager
0:32:01 > 0:32:02to get him up to speed.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05You know the door to his room upstairs?
0:32:05 > 0:32:07'Yes.'
0:32:07 > 0:32:10It's not attached to the door frame.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12'Right, he did mention that to me.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15'As far as I'm aware, like, the maintenance guy up there
0:32:15 > 0:32:19'was going round because he'd been to clear some rubbish from there
0:32:19 > 0:32:22'recently as well. And the rubbish got done, and I presumed that
0:32:22 > 0:32:25'the door had been done at the same time because Michael's not mentioned
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- 'it since, either.'- OK, well, it's obviously not been done,
0:32:28 > 0:32:32and there's quite a significant amount of rubbish out in the garden,
0:32:32 > 0:32:34the front garden.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36'Again, I've not heard anything from Michael.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38'I just had a text message from the
0:32:38 > 0:32:40'guy that removed it saying it is cleared.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41'And I've paid him for it.'
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Prav and Meena are also taking a closer look at the facilities.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Yeah, this needs something.
0:32:51 > 0:32:52Wow.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Have those tiles being painted, have they?
0:32:55 > 0:32:58The tiles, that's paint that's coming off.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00I was looking while I was having a shower,
0:33:00 > 0:33:04and I think the sort of beige behind the white paint is actually paint as
0:33:04 > 0:33:06well. I was actually thinking,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09"Oh, maybe we could leave it with that bottom coat."
0:33:09 > 0:33:11It looks like it's been painted twice, yeah.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Isn't that a bit of a botched job?
0:33:14 > 0:33:16No, because it's just like,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19it's just like you would do in your kitchen units.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23I'm seeing my bathroom back at home, I want to go back!
0:33:25 > 0:33:26HOB CLICKS
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Try this one now, see how we get on with that.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38That middle one isn't working well. That doesn't come on.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Well, if it's taking this long to light it up...
0:33:41 > 0:33:44I think it's that one which is temperamental.
0:33:44 > 0:33:45I can smell gas.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48- Oh, can you?- Yeah. I've just got a waft of it.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50I don't think... I mean, it's a little bit temperamental.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53These two are definitely not working effectively.
0:33:53 > 0:33:58I'll be calling just to find out if the tenant has reported
0:33:58 > 0:34:03anything in the house, and if he has, what's being done about it.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09Down the road, Vishal and Pooja have no such complaints in their kitchen.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11You want onions as well, finely chopped?
0:34:11 > 0:34:14- Yeah.- OK.
0:34:14 > 0:34:15Life is so easy with these hobs.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19It's perfect. And it has made my cooking so easy, trust me.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23The hob which we have at our home is just pathetic.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27Now they've settled in,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Prav and the family have gone out to explore the local area.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34Free parking in Morley! How about that?
0:34:35 > 0:34:38With just half their weekly budget left,
0:34:38 > 0:34:40Prav not only has to feed the family,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42but keep them entertained as well.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44- Hey.- Hi.- Hi, how are you?
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Hey, hello.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49OK, thank you.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53I didn't think it was going to be £4 each.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56£4 each to get in here? OK.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00- Chocolate, £2. - Cup of tea, £1.20.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02£1.20.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Well, a pot of tea is £2, we can share one.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07I'll get a pot of tea.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13How much? These are £3, is that all right?
0:35:13 > 0:35:16They're not £3? Each?
0:35:16 > 0:35:18- Yes.- These? - Yes, they're cheesecakes.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Being in this soft play area today was confronting for me.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31It reminded me of when I was a child where I used to not spend any money
0:35:31 > 0:35:34or not have much money, and it wasn't nice.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38And it reminded me of what drives me.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41And, you know, I never want to be without.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Having to live on a budget really makes you appreciate what tenants
0:35:47 > 0:35:49probably have to go through.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54All the things perhaps that you sort of take for granted on a day-to-day
0:35:54 > 0:35:55basis suddenly become luxuries.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Can landlords not help by making renting more affordable?
0:36:01 > 0:36:03The landlord can't determine what rent they charge.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06If a landlord wants to charge a rent which is higher than the market
0:36:06 > 0:36:10price, generally speaking tenants will have alternative,
0:36:10 > 0:36:11cheaper properties to go for.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15On the one hand, it is, you know, upsetting.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18But on the other hand, you know, it is the reality of the world.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Dan and Jamie are getting ready to host a dinner for their tenant's
0:36:24 > 0:36:29friends. And to ensure a successful evening, they've called for help...
0:36:29 > 0:36:31- 'Hello?'- Hi, you all right?
0:36:31 > 0:36:33- ..from their cook. - We've got to issues, really.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36We can't really cook for shit.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41And we have got a small budget to do it on.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44'I'd say probably a lasagne, because you can do that for about £10.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47'I can give you a recipe for it.'
0:36:47 > 0:36:49That'd be really great if you could send me a recipe, actually.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Thank you very much.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54- 'All right, thank you, bye.' - Thanks, bye.
0:36:54 > 0:36:55Well, that's spot on, isn't it?
0:36:55 > 0:37:00Their guests for the evening are Michael's friends, Ricky and Helen.
0:37:01 > 0:37:02- Hello.- Hiya.- Hiya, guys.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05Yeah, do you want to come in? Do you fancy a drink at all?
0:37:05 > 0:37:06Wine will do me just fine.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Yes, that's my favourite.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Not being, like, cheeky or anything, but, like, yous look really young.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16- Yeah, yeah.- Don't worry, that's not cheeky.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17We got ID'd for this!
0:37:17 > 0:37:19I was just saying, yeah, we actually got did for this.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Do you fancy going through to the front room? And sit down, yeah?
0:37:24 > 0:37:25There you are, quite a large...
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Oh, it looks nice.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- You've done well!- So, how is it that you guys know Michael?
0:37:30 > 0:37:33I work with him at Tesco.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35- The one down the road, or...- Yeah.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- What's he like to work with? - Really, really hard-working.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42I think there was one week he worked round about 100 hours,
0:37:42 > 0:37:46something like that. He pretty much does the job of the managers,
0:37:46 > 0:37:49but not on their wage.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Yeah, clearly got a lot of tenacity to be putting in...
0:37:52 > 0:37:55Yeah, he's got a lot of heart.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00He's that kind of person where, if he had £20,
0:38:00 > 0:38:04but you said you were skint, he'd give someone, like, the last 20.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Michael genuinely sounds like a top fella.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15His story really resonated with me, mainly because of my mum.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18She also worked in a supermarket, so she was in a salaried position,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21getting something like £17,000 per year.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25And I remember she used to work 100-hour weeks all the time.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28She was a single mum bringing up four kids.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32You know, I got to experience first-hand how hard she worked and
0:38:32 > 0:38:36how shit the money was. And it just seemed so unfair to me.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38You know, when you're working so bloody hard,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42last thing you want to do is come home and sort of think,
0:38:42 > 0:38:45more problems, or anything like that.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50Yeah, it does make me sort of feel, right, I want to do right by him.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56After Prab's recent efforts at the supermarket,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Mina has popped out to get a few extra provisions.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01I do have two bags of shopping.
0:39:01 > 0:39:02Two bags?
0:39:02 > 0:39:06Yes. But what about all the stuff we've already bought?
0:39:06 > 0:39:08I think we needed more stuff. I didn't think that was sufficient.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09Anyway, what's the amount?
0:39:18 > 0:39:19What do you mean?
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- £16.93.- Yeah.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26- That's not a lot for four of us. - Darling, on a serious note,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28are you having a laugh? I'm not, that's how much it was.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30We've got £17 left.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36I don't understand how... how those figures are done.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38It's all there in black and white.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40There's nothing to be confused about.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42It just means that there is, you know, I don't like being
0:39:42 > 0:39:45in a tight spot, that's all.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47But anyway, I'm quite happy to
0:39:47 > 0:39:50finish off that bottle of wine, really, now.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52I might have my beer tonight.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53Choices, choices.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Left a bit upset, really, for some reason.
0:40:00 > 0:40:01It's not like me.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I think it makes me feel vulnerable.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08I mean, usually we would never argue about money,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11it's not something we need to argue about.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Obviously I'm annoyed.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15I think we had this whole meatball conversation yesterday.
0:40:17 > 0:40:22And his essentials, so he's got his beer, he's had his glass of wine.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25He's gone out there and he's bought himself some stuff to have,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29and I've bought stuff for the whole family to have.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32So he'll get over it, I'm sure he'll be fine.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38Having spent the week living in Michael's home,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Dan and Jamie are going to meet
0:40:40 > 0:40:42their tenant for the very first time.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44I want to see what Michael's like.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47It should be good to have a genuine, like, normal dialogue with him,
0:40:47 > 0:40:49maybe have a beer as well.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Yeah, I'm quite excited.
0:40:51 > 0:40:52I really hope we're going to find
0:40:52 > 0:40:56someone who overall is happy with his home.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59But I think he will have some things to talk about.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01I don't know anything about them.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04'I've never met them. I don't even know their names,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06'I don't know where they're from. If I had to guess
0:41:06 > 0:41:11'I would probably say, like, the landlord's probably, like, late 40s,
0:41:11 > 0:41:15'early 50s. But I would imagine they would be quite well-to-do,
0:41:15 > 0:41:16'to be honest.'
0:41:19 > 0:41:21- Hiya, mate, you all right? - Hi.- I'm Jamie.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24- Hello, you all right there? - Yeah, nice to meet you, mate.
0:41:24 > 0:41:25- Dan.- You all right?- Take a seat.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31So, how have you been getting on this week?
0:41:31 > 0:41:33- Not too bad. Yourself? - Yeah, not too bad.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37- So, where are you from?- Originally from London, but we live in Leeds.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41What brings you to the north-east, then?
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- Why buy houses up here? - It's to do with the yields,
0:41:44 > 0:41:46the fact that you can get them at a good price
0:41:46 > 0:41:49and you get a very high return on your money, so you get higher rents.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55I don't always want to rent, do you know what I mean, like?
0:41:55 > 0:41:59I would like to think that I'd be in a position where I could
0:41:59 > 0:42:02save some money and then get a mortgage and obviously then
0:42:02 > 0:42:03better my life that way.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05How's that kind of path going for you?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- How's the savings? - At the minute, nowhere.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10You've seen the budget, like.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12I live month-to-month at the minute.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Previous to this job, I had a better paid job.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17But when I was 27, I had a stroke.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21As a result of that I actually took a year out of work.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25- Right.- Then I joined Tesco, where I am now.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27So, I started at the bottom.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30One of the first things we noticed, moving into this property,
0:42:30 > 0:42:32was how homely it felt.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34And I reckoned straightaway that was all you.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36Yeah, there was a lot of time and
0:42:36 > 0:42:38quite a bit of money went into getting
0:42:38 > 0:42:40it to where it is now.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42The other things that we sort of noticed
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- is some of the works that need to get done there.- Yeah.
0:42:45 > 0:42:46We made an assumption that it was done.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50No, no, so, I was making two or three phone calls a week.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53- Right.- And all I kept getting off them was, "Yes, somebody's coming,
0:42:53 > 0:42:54"we'll get it sorted eventually."
0:42:54 > 0:42:57I don't even know what the set-up is, you know what I mean, like?
0:42:57 > 0:43:00As far as I was aware, the manager was my landlord.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03- Yeah.- So, like, you two weren't even in the picture for me.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07Firstly, hands up, and I'm sorry for the things that haven't got done.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09And the last thing that we want is
0:43:09 > 0:43:11for you to feel that you're not valued.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13I'm going to be totally honest, like,
0:43:13 > 0:43:15if stuff doesn't happen moving forward
0:43:15 > 0:43:19then it's going to be forcing us to look somewhere else because, like...
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Yeah, that's incredibly valuable to us,
0:43:22 > 0:43:25because you can't be the only tenant of ours that's having that.
0:43:30 > 0:43:31That was kind of gutting.
0:43:32 > 0:43:34And it made me reflect on the kind of model,
0:43:34 > 0:43:40and almost how insensitive it is in that we live hundreds of miles from
0:43:40 > 0:43:45our property, the managing agent is based a few miles from the property
0:43:45 > 0:43:49'as well. There's no person down the street he can easily go to.'
0:43:49 > 0:43:51- Thank you very much. - Lovely. Speak to you later.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- Yeah, see you later. Have a great day.- You as well.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57He said that because of our neglect,
0:43:57 > 0:44:00he was going to be looking for other places to see.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03So, wow, like, I've had that negative effect on someone,
0:44:03 > 0:44:07and I feel...really fucking gutted that I've done that.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10So it shows I'm not doing business right at all,
0:44:10 > 0:44:13and I need to relook at a lot of things, I think.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17This has really made me think about the way that I see tenants on bits
0:44:17 > 0:44:19of paper as investments and return on investments, and yield,
0:44:19 > 0:44:22and this is what the property costs and that sort of thing,
0:44:22 > 0:44:25whereas this brings a much more personal aspect to it.
0:44:30 > 0:44:32What do you think when you seen the landlords?
0:44:32 > 0:44:33I was proper surprised, like.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35We were. I can't believe it.
0:44:35 > 0:44:37They look like two bits of bairns, didn't they?
0:44:37 > 0:44:39They didn't even look 25.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42Here's me renting his house and making him rich.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44- I know.- Couldn't believe it.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48So I'd asked them why they decided to, like, buy houses up here,
0:44:48 > 0:44:50because they don't live in this area.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53And I bet you can't guess what the answer was.
0:44:53 > 0:44:54- Cheaper?- Mm-hm.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57So that they'd get maximum rent for a cheaper house up here.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59If you've got a bit of money, you're going to buy a house here,
0:44:59 > 0:45:02aren't you? To rent out.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04It's shocking when you think about it, though.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07They live down there, and they are buying the cheaper houses up here.
0:45:07 > 0:45:09- We haven't got a chance. - I agree, definitely.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12I'm not, like, saying that people shouldn't be landlords.
0:45:12 > 0:45:14But a lot of them are just getting rich.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18Why can't they, like, invest some of the rent back into the properties to
0:45:18 > 0:45:20make our lives a bit easier?
0:45:22 > 0:45:27In Leeds, Prab is also preparing to meet his tenant, Vishal.
0:45:27 > 0:45:28I'm just really looking forward to
0:45:28 > 0:45:33finding out about him and his wife and his kids and his life.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36When I meet the landlord, the main things I'm going to talk about is
0:45:36 > 0:45:38the electric meter issue and
0:45:38 > 0:45:40the gas hobs, in terms of health and safety.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43I just want to know whether things have really reached up to him.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Has he really read our e-mails?
0:45:47 > 0:45:50I hope, you know, the landlord acknowledges the issues,
0:45:50 > 0:45:53what's happening in this property.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56If he's a genuine person, then he should fix it.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02- Hello. Hi.- Hi, Vishal.- Hello. - Lovely to meet you.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04- Nice to meet you. Hi. - Please, take a seat.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06- Sorry, I didn't get your name? - It's Prab.- OK.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08Hi. Have we spoken, actually?
0:46:08 > 0:46:11- I don't think so.- No, no, I don't think so. We've never spoken.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13- I don't think we have.- No.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16It's been a couple of years
0:46:16 > 0:46:19since I stopped the day-to-day involvement
0:46:19 > 0:46:21in the management of the portfolio.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24OK, so how do you feel about the property?
0:46:24 > 0:46:26Have you seen anything? Do you feel...?
0:46:26 > 0:46:28- In the house?- Yeah. - Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
0:46:28 > 0:46:32On that note, you know you mentioned on your note about the mould
0:46:32 > 0:46:36and the gas hob, how come you didn't mention them to the office?
0:46:36 > 0:46:39No, I did mention about the gas hob issue, actually, a couple of times,
0:46:39 > 0:46:42- actually.- How long ago was that?
0:46:42 > 0:46:45That was around, like, four to five months.
0:46:45 > 0:46:46Right, no, I didn't know that.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49Have you seen any difference with the electric meter?
0:46:50 > 0:46:51In terms of...?
0:46:51 > 0:46:54Do you know, the electric meter is shared between me...?
0:46:54 > 0:46:56OK, yeah, this came up, I think
0:46:56 > 0:47:00it was a week, a few weeks ago, I think about a week ago.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02It really came as a surprise for me.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04- Yeah, I can imagine.- I got to know during one of the electrical
0:47:04 > 0:47:09inspections. So basically, you guys owe me a lot of money, actually.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12- Yeah.- And that was a major issue for us, actually.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14The other thing was, the mould as well.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17- Did you report that to them? - No, I didn't report it to them.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19The reason being is because there are so many things that
0:47:19 > 0:47:21- got neglected, I was just sort of, "OK, forget it."- OK.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24- You just thought, "What's the point?"- Well, exactly.
0:47:24 > 0:47:26All right, well, look, I've been there,
0:47:26 > 0:47:30- I'm very clear that that's not the standard that we want to keep.- OK.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33And the other thing is, it's given me an opportunity
0:47:33 > 0:47:36to look at how they're operating in the office.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40- OK.- So both Pav and Rowan, they're young, my son's only 18.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44- So my objective is to learn from it, see where we can improve.- OK.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47Because it doesn't make any business sense to neglect a property because
0:47:47 > 0:47:50it's only going to cost more and cause more damage for the property.
0:47:50 > 0:47:52My wife's a doctor,
0:47:52 > 0:47:54she wants to keep as neat as possible, actually, the property.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57- She's a medical doctor? - Yes, she's a paediatrician,
0:47:57 > 0:47:58consultant paediatrician back in India,
0:47:58 > 0:48:00but she's not practising now here
0:48:00 > 0:48:03- because it's a different medical system.- She's studying a lot?
0:48:03 > 0:48:05- Yes, she's been studying. - And does she have to pay for this?
0:48:05 > 0:48:08- Yeah. It's quite expensive, as well. - We were speculating because
0:48:08 > 0:48:11obviously we'd been put on this budget for the week.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13It's a tough budget to manage, actually,
0:48:13 > 0:48:16to tell you, frankly. I need some compromises here and there.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26It was really, really insightful.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30I was disappointed that he hadn't
0:48:30 > 0:48:33had that experience of being listened to.
0:48:33 > 0:48:38And I don't want that for our tenants to ever feel that.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41I'd like to think that when I used to manage the properties,
0:48:41 > 0:48:44the personal touch was there.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46But, yeah...
0:48:48 > 0:48:50There's a responsibility that I have,
0:48:50 > 0:48:53not only to my family, but, you know, we've got tenants.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55And I do feel that I've got the
0:48:55 > 0:48:59responsibility to make other people's lives better.
0:49:02 > 0:49:03As the week draws to a close,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06it's time for Meena and the kids to head home.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09- See you, darling.- See you on Sunday.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11But Prab is staying on.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14He wants his son Rowan to come and see the house for himself.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16- Hi, are you all right?- How are you doing?
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Come on, let's get in the car.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24Were you aware that Vishal wasn't happy about things,
0:49:24 > 0:49:27or is this a complete surprise to you?
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Yeah, to an extent, Vishal had e-mailed in.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31It was nine items.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33And at that time,
0:49:33 > 0:49:36most of those were addressed.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39But even though we might have felt that we were listening to him and
0:49:39 > 0:49:44- addressing his concerns, he didn't necessarily feel that.- Yeah.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51Here we are.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53Home sweet home.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55Basically, this electric meter is
0:49:55 > 0:50:00actually running both this property and the one next door and he had to
0:50:00 > 0:50:04take it upon himself to sort of find out that that was the case.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06- Yeah.- It doesn't look well, does it, for him to find that out?
0:50:06 > 0:50:08- Definitely not.- You know, I think
0:50:08 > 0:50:10it's unfair to expect him to be selling
0:50:10 > 0:50:12the top-up cards to his neighbour anyway.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14- Yeah.- Obviously we can't expect him to do that.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17So this is where the problem is with the mould.
0:50:17 > 0:50:19Can you see it all along that wall there?
0:50:19 > 0:50:23- Yeah.- When I first arrived, I didn't want to sort of sound like I was
0:50:23 > 0:50:24brushing these matters off.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27I mean, this mould is clearly a problem that needs sorting out.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30So, when was the last time you were actually in this property?
0:50:30 > 0:50:33It was just before Vishal moved in.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36- Over a year ago.- Yeah, just over a year ago.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40Do you think that had there been a visit during that time then some of
0:50:40 > 0:50:43these things would have been picked up?
0:50:43 > 0:50:44You've not met him, have you?
0:50:44 > 0:50:49- No.- Vishal, for me, he's an ideal tenant, he's professional,
0:50:49 > 0:50:53he's kept his house like a beautiful place.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56He's the kind of tenant we not only want but want to retain.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03It was a bit upsetting to hear that Vishal felt that we were inadequate
0:51:03 > 0:51:05to address these things.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07We don't want our property to be in that condition,
0:51:07 > 0:51:10let alone one of our customers living in those conditions.
0:51:10 > 0:51:14You know, these tenants, they're paying our livelihood and we need to
0:51:14 > 0:51:16keep them happy at the end of the day.
0:51:17 > 0:51:20Rowan is young, he's only 18,
0:51:20 > 0:51:22he's only been doing this for just over a year.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25You know, whilst he's really taken it on incredibly well,
0:51:25 > 0:51:28there's obviously scope for him to learn.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30But as the business has expanded
0:51:30 > 0:51:32I've had to start letting go, and now,
0:51:32 > 0:51:35actually, in some respects,
0:51:35 > 0:51:37I sometimes think maybe I've let go too much.
0:51:40 > 0:51:44After staying in their tenants' homes...
0:51:44 > 0:51:46the landlords are about to leave...
0:51:46 > 0:51:47It feels quite sad, actually.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51..so the tenants can move back in.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54I'm feeling really excited, actually.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57Because I just want to see if anything has changed, you know?
0:51:57 > 0:51:59You feel a relaxed atmosphere back at home.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01We want to go back and settle down again.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03We have made that place our home.
0:52:06 > 0:52:11It will be interesting to see if the landlord's done any of the work.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14I'm not expecting miracles but if there's a plan,
0:52:14 > 0:52:17or at least something had started, then...
0:52:18 > 0:52:20..I suppose I'd be happy with that.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25Dan, do you want something as well, mate?
0:52:25 > 0:52:29- Sausage casserole. - Sausage casserole?- Yeah, perfect.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33What this week has made me realise is the Michaels of this world
0:52:33 > 0:52:35are incredibly important.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38The people who do go out to work hard, bring home a wage,
0:52:38 > 0:52:40pay that on rent, deserve to therefore
0:52:40 > 0:52:42have the house that they pay for.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46But I think the biggest sort of eye-opener for me is that these
0:52:46 > 0:52:50people want to make it their home and I need to help facilitate that.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54Oh, so they've managed to get rid of the rubbish, then.
0:52:54 > 0:52:55It's a lot tidier, mind, isn't it?
0:52:58 > 0:53:00My God.
0:53:00 > 0:53:01There's no pipes.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06It's better than what it was, isn't it?
0:53:06 > 0:53:10You can't see any of the ugliness.
0:53:10 > 0:53:11It's canny.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18Ah, much better.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23I'm pleased about the door actually because it opens and closes now.
0:53:23 > 0:53:24You can shut the room off.
0:53:24 > 0:53:26Result.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29That's canny, that.
0:53:29 > 0:53:30They've put the shower up.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32That wasn't something that I mentioned.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35That was just something that I just put up with.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37So I'm happy that I can actually stand
0:53:37 > 0:53:40and have a shower on a morning as well now.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43And they've tidied all the edging up.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45That's much better in here.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50"Hi, Michael.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53"It has been a privilege to live in your shoes this last week
0:53:53 > 0:53:57"and it's clear you have put time and money into the property to make
0:53:57 > 0:54:02"it your home. We enclose £400 in this envelope
0:54:02 > 0:54:05"to help repay for the investment you've put into the property.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08"See you soon and wishing you all of the best.
0:54:08 > 0:54:10"Jamie and Dan."
0:54:11 > 0:54:14I'm actually really shocked.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17I wasn't expecting that at all.
0:54:18 > 0:54:20That's actually really nice of them.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23If they're watching, thank you.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25Because I haven't got a contact number for you.
0:54:25 > 0:54:26HE LAUGHS
0:54:26 > 0:54:29We're still learning about being landlords and I want to learn about
0:54:29 > 0:54:32being a landlord until the age of 90 and beyond.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34I really think the insights that
0:54:34 > 0:54:36we've been given this week are really
0:54:36 > 0:54:38going to help the business moving forward and help us be a bit more
0:54:38 > 0:54:42compassionate, emotional, in our approach to our tenants.
0:54:42 > 0:54:45And I think that speaks for a lot of landlord-tenant relationships
0:54:45 > 0:54:47in that they're so involved in the numbers side
0:54:47 > 0:54:52that the humane side of it is ignored to a degree.
0:54:52 > 0:54:53Hey!
0:54:56 > 0:54:58Oh!
0:54:58 > 0:55:02The whole week's been really valuable for me.
0:55:03 > 0:55:08Over the last few years, I've handed down quite a lot of responsibility,
0:55:08 > 0:55:11and having spent this week at Vishal's house,
0:55:11 > 0:55:16I think it was reemphasised how important it is for me
0:55:16 > 0:55:21still to have a little bit more involvement than I have had.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24Oh, it's so good to come back home.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26Wow. Yes, there it is.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28It looks changed. That's really nice.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30- Yeah, they've changed it. - They have changed it.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33- That looks good.- Oh, that's quite massive as well.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35- It's so big.- Awesome.
0:55:37 > 0:55:38Thank you, Prab.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43Wow. He's changed the entire tiling.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46- That's good.- That's really nice.
0:55:46 > 0:55:48It looks so clean now.
0:55:48 > 0:55:50- It's all clean, yeah. - Like a different house now,
0:55:50 > 0:55:53with a different bathroom.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55As far as I can see the mould's all gone, actually.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57It is a huge improvement.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59I can see the walls are much more cleaner now.
0:55:59 > 0:56:02- It makes you feel better, isn't it, where you live?- Yeah.
0:56:04 > 0:56:05"Hi, Vishal, Pooja and Varun.
0:56:05 > 0:56:09"Welcome back. We managed to get the mould issue resolved.
0:56:09 > 0:56:13"The outside wall will get repainted as the weather improves and a few
0:56:13 > 0:56:17"other minor things will also get addressed over the next week or so."
0:56:17 > 0:56:19- That's good. That's really nice. - That's really good.- Yeah.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22"While we get the electric meter issue resolved,
0:56:22 > 0:56:27"please accept £100 as a gesture of goodwill until we can work out what
0:56:27 > 0:56:29- "we may owe you." - Can I have this money?
0:56:29 > 0:56:31VISHAL LAUGHS
0:56:31 > 0:56:35"I really do hope that we can go on to build a much better working
0:56:35 > 0:56:37"relationship moving forward and
0:56:37 > 0:56:40"have your stay with us be a pleasant one.
0:56:40 > 0:56:41"Regards, Prab."
0:56:41 > 0:56:43- OK.- OK.- That's really good of him, isn't it?
0:56:43 > 0:56:46That is really surprising for me,
0:56:46 > 0:56:47even though I'm entitled for it.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49But still, you know, sometimes, you know,
0:56:49 > 0:56:52when you lose hope and then somewhere the light shows up.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55I tell you frankly, I'm really, really happy, actually,
0:56:55 > 0:56:57about the works carried out, you know?
0:56:57 > 0:57:00It makes me more feel like a home now than, like,
0:57:00 > 0:57:03just a rented property which was always behind my mind.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06Yeah, it's good. I'm glad I'm back now.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09- Can I see what you're making? - Daddy, look. Daddy, look.
0:57:09 > 0:57:14This week's helped me appreciate that these tenants are real people
0:57:14 > 0:57:19who have real lives, you know, who have families.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22And there is a much bigger and wider responsibility
0:57:22 > 0:57:25that we carry as landlords. The decisions we make
0:57:25 > 0:57:29on a day-to-day basis impact people's lives.