0:00:02 > 0:00:05Wales is facing a housing crisis,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08with more and more people being forced to rent.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11In our window display, I would hazard to guess
0:00:11 > 0:00:15that at least 80% of those properties were rented last week.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20Demand is high and so are the rents, pushing some out of their homes.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24He's applied for us to be evicted, as well as the rent arrears.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29If I don't laugh, I'm going to cry, really, so that's where I am.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34We follow Sallie and her young family as they face becoming homeless,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and visit the other residents of a street that's seen
0:00:36 > 0:00:40the ebb and flow of the housing market.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45Paying the rent, it is really hard. The youngsters don't stand a chance.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50Dramatic change to the way we live is coming to a street near you.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55I don't think everyone understands quite how serious this could become.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24This is Tintern Street in Cardiff, a typical terraced street
0:01:24 > 0:01:27you could find anywhere in Wales, from Bangor to Barry.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31On the face of it, nothing much has changed here for years.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34The post is still delivered, the kids still go to school,
0:01:34 > 0:01:39people go about their daily routine much as they've always done.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42But the stories behind these doors tell a different tale,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46because Tintern Street is at the front of a housing revolution
0:01:46 > 0:01:50that's going to affect every community in Wales.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Some people have lived here all their lives.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Some are new owners but don't live here.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05And there are young families moving in with hopes
0:02:05 > 0:02:07and dreams for the future.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Come on then, Master Morse.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Sallie Morse and her family are one of them.
0:02:13 > 0:02:19The street, out the way and cute, really. Everyone's friendly.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22Canton's a nice place to live.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Sallie moved here after the breakdown of her relationship.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Ideally, she'd have bought a house but she's had to rent.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39To me, I think it's dead money anyway.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I think, for anyone to rent, it's quite soul destroying
0:02:43 > 0:02:46if there's a chance of them being able to buy.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49But it's impossible.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Sallie's got two children to provide for.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58The cost of renting this house is stretching her financially.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02It started off 750 a month.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08Basically, it's rent and not much food.
0:03:08 > 0:03:09That's what really is the case.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Plus the fact, with my job, I do care support work
0:03:12 > 0:03:16and I need petrol money and that's a big, big problem.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18But I'm not prepared to give my job up.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Everything's based from your home.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Like they say, home is where your heart is.
0:03:28 > 0:03:35And I haven't got one, nor have my children. It's just so sad, really.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Sad for them, cos it's the last thing I wanted for my children,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42to not have a home, a family home.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48They are the best, honestly.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Sallie agreed to let us film her over six months.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00At the other end of the street, and the housing market,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03is landlord Colin Emery.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07I bought this house in Tintern Street,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10probably three and a half years ago.
0:04:10 > 0:04:16It needed fully restoring, the place was an absolute dump.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19So we came in, had a quick survey around, made an offer,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21it was accepted,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25and we've had the current tenants in now who are absolutely fantastic.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Colin's a builder by trade
0:04:29 > 0:04:31but like an increasing number of people in Wales,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35he became a landlord unintentionally.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42We had an option of buying a property on Cowbridge Road. There was a flat
0:04:42 > 0:04:47upstairs and it went for 25 grand which was cheap, even them days.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49That was the first one we bought.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Once you've got one, you tend to get the inkling to get another in.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56So you sort of save a bit of money from the rent you're getting in
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and you buy the next one and next one and it snowballs on.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03He's now got 20 properties he rents out, and over the eight years
0:05:03 > 0:05:07he's been a landlord, Colin's noticed a number of changes.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09When we first started renting,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11it was single people who were renting the properties.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Now it's families,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16more and more families are taking the properties off us.
0:05:16 > 0:05:17We're looking to get more
0:05:17 > 0:05:20two and three-bed properties on board
0:05:20 > 0:05:23just because there's people after them.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32The days of every Tintern Street resident owning their own home
0:05:32 > 0:05:33are long gone.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Nowadays, about a third of households rent their homes,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41which is a huge change for a community that 20 years ago
0:05:41 > 0:05:44would've been almost entirely owner-occupier.
0:05:49 > 0:05:55OK, I think this property is about average monthly rent
0:05:55 > 0:05:57across Wales, £625 a month.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02'Another empty house awaiting tenants.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04'Is it just Tintern Street or is everyone renting now?'
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Each year, the statistics coming out from the Welsh Government,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10owner-occupation's gone up again a little bit,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12everything else has stayed roughly the same.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15That's shifted massively.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20When we look forward from now, there are predictions saying
0:06:20 > 0:06:24by 2020, we're looking at possibly an average of 20% of households
0:06:24 > 0:06:26renting in the private rented sector.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29That's an average across Wales,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33so for different areas you could be looking at more than that.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Cardiff, I think, probably already is around 20%.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37On this street, I understand there's already
0:06:37 > 0:06:40a third of houses in this street that are rented privately.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46A third of the houses in Tintern Street are rented out.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50That trend is heading for a street near you.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56In 1997, just 7% of households rented.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00That figure increased steadily over the next ten years,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02but then renting shot up.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06By 2011, 14% of households were renting,
0:07:06 > 0:07:10and by the end of this decade, that figure is heading for 25%.
0:07:10 > 0:07:17So that is a quarter of all households living in a rented house.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Here in Cardiff, that figure is set to be even higher.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25The Morse family moved into a rented house in Tintern Street
0:07:25 > 0:07:27after a relationship breakdown.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30The rent is crippling them.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Last Christmas was the time I thought this is ridiculous,
0:07:33 > 0:07:39I cannot carry on having hardly any food in the house.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44Constantly feeling sick cos I didn't have any money.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Quite often I'd wait till the Monday morning, get my child benefit
0:07:48 > 0:07:53and go up to the school and take my son's lunch up
0:07:53 > 0:07:56because I didn't have anything on the Sunday.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58That's happened quite a few times.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02They think he's probably forgotten his lunch, but that's not the case.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08Sallie's fallen behind with her rent.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12The landlord lowered it to £700, but even though she's working,
0:08:12 > 0:08:13she still can't afford it.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16I have a court case on the 31st,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20to see about how I can repay my debt to the landlord.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24So, how much do you owe the landlord?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26We're talking about 3,000.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Are you expecting that
0:08:29 > 0:08:32you and the children will be evicted from the house?
0:08:32 > 0:08:35We are going to, definitely. Definitely.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40He's applied for us to be evicted, as well as the rent arrears.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48It doesn't get much more serious than losing your home
0:08:48 > 0:08:53and renting means less security, so why are so many choosing to rent?
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Well, there's one major reason,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58the collapse of a once booming housing market.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05House prices in Wales increased for decades but, hey, so did our wages.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09We should've woken up and smelt the coffee in the mid-'90s.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11House prices went up and up,
0:09:11 > 0:09:17on average from 58,000 to 170,000 in just ten years.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Meanwhile, our pay didn't and house prices have stayed out of reach.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- Come on in. Come and have a look. - Lovely and warm.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32'Jackie's showing me round a house in Tintern Street that's for sale.'
0:09:32 > 0:09:37You can really tell that this house is well loved, can't you?
0:09:37 > 0:09:38Yes, it's been very well loved.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42I did suggest she could rent it out and she'd get a good rent for it,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45but she said it'd break her heart if anybody damaged it.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It's been a labour of love.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I've got a lot more rentals now than I ever had
0:09:50 > 0:09:52because that's the way the market has gone.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I think we've probably encouraged that market a lot more than
0:09:55 > 0:09:56we would've before.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Ten years ago, we wouldn't have thought of talking you
0:09:59 > 0:10:01out of selling your house - suicide.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04But once we went into rentals
0:10:04 > 0:10:08there's two coins now, we play both cos we can't lose.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Who's walking through your doors these days to buy houses?
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Well, believe it or not, I've got a lot of first-time and second-time buyers
0:10:15 > 0:10:18desperate to find a property, but I haven't got the properties
0:10:18 > 0:10:20because, unfortunately, a lot of people,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23because of what's going on, are sitting tight.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26They're thinking, "We'll ride the storm, we'll build an extension,
0:10:26 > 0:10:27"put a dormer on,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30"do whatever we've got to do to make life comfortable."
0:10:30 > 0:10:33So I have the buyers, don't have the stock.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37And how financially are people managing to buy houses?
0:10:37 > 0:10:38Bank Of Mummy And Daddy.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48A few doors down, the latest house move on Tintern Street
0:10:48 > 0:10:50is a classic example.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54We basically had help
0:10:54 > 0:10:56and most of the people I know of my age
0:10:56 > 0:11:00that, again, have good jobs, you know,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03they earn not a fortune, but they earn plenty of money.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06If you don't have some support and mostly family support
0:11:06 > 0:11:10from somewhere, I think it's really, really difficult for people to move.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Bethan and her family are moving from Tintern Street
0:11:15 > 0:11:16to somewhere larger.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19This was their first family home and they've sold it
0:11:19 > 0:11:22to another young couple.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26# It's just a little street
0:11:27 > 0:11:29# Where old friends meet... #
0:11:29 > 0:11:32- How long have you lived here, then?- 65 years.- Have you?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Now, you'd think Tintern Street would be the perfect place
0:11:37 > 0:11:38to settle a family.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42It's tucked away in a traditionally working-class part of Cardiff
0:11:42 > 0:11:44and over it's hundred years of history,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46scores of children have called it home.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Some of them are still here.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54This is me and my cousin Sheila.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57This one's about my grandfather, who was a runner.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59He was captain of the Cardiff Harriers.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04He moved in in 1914, and my family have lived in the street ever since.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06So I'm the last survivor,
0:12:06 > 0:12:11and our family have lived in the street for 96 years.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14I've taken over the longest now.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I've only been here 65 years.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18A youngster.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27The Tintern Street of today is adorned with For Rent
0:12:27 > 0:12:29and For Sale signs.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33But dig a bit deeper and you're in for a bit of a surprise.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35In the days that Graham was growing up here,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39most of the families on Tintern Street didn't own their own homes.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42They rented them.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44The houses were rented years ago.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47I mean, my mother used to pay rent to a landlord...
0:12:48 > 0:12:53..for several years, and the rents in those days,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56I think the last time we paid rent, it was £1.50 a week.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59# Come on to my house, my house
0:12:59 > 0:13:01# I'm going to give you candy... #
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Time to go visiting in Tintern Street.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08A few doors down from Graham, Doreen and Hazel share some memories
0:13:08 > 0:13:11of the good old days of renting.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- So this is Tintern Street, then. - Yes.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20- How long have you lived here for, then?- 52 years.- 52 years?- Yes.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Hello.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26The first thing to go up on the dresser would be the rent
0:13:26 > 0:13:27with the rent book.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34- Yes, you can remember him. Tall. Mr Thomas.- Can you?- Yeah.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36You knew what time he would be here,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39and you'd only have to look out the street
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and you'd see him go from one house to the other.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Until it came to your turn.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48And then he'd carry on again and back up the other side.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02Renting's back in fashion in Tintern Street, but it's expensive.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07Sallie's rent costs £700, and that's reduced.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11With eviction looming, she needs to find somewhere cheaper.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17That one's 750. This one's 775.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21But the local letting agent's window offers slim pickings.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24This is the same street I live in.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27And it's 750 again.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33So...that's a definite no-no.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- It's really the price that's the problem.- OK.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Because I've got two children
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- and I would like three bedrooms initially.- Mm-hm.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47But they all start at 700 upwards and I need somewhere cheaper.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52- What is your budget, then? - Would be 600 max.- £600 maximum?
0:14:52 > 0:14:55It's highly unlikely that we'll get anything like a three-bedroom house
0:14:55 > 0:14:58for 600, unfortunately.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- Just to manage your expectations. - Yeah, OK.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Letting agent Adrian's been set a tough task.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Find a house or a flat that Sallie can afford that's available
0:15:12 > 0:15:16- anywhere in Cardiff.- So if you are looking at curbing your expenses...
0:15:16 > 0:15:19In our window display here, I would hazard to guess
0:15:19 > 0:15:23that at least 80% of those properties were rented last week.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26For every property that comes onto the market,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29we would ideally be able to line up probably six viewings
0:15:29 > 0:15:31within one day, within a slot.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34And on that day, that property would rent.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37I do feel that it's a lot to ask for a mum of two
0:15:37 > 0:15:43to expect the two children, ages between ten and 15, to share a bedroom
0:15:43 > 0:15:46but that is the way in which the private market
0:15:46 > 0:15:49is pushing tenants like Sallie.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01With a quarter of households likely to be renting by 2025,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03landlords like Colin are busy.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Every time a property comes up for sale, he's ready to check it out.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08Always interested in a deal,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11depending on what the property's going for.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15We prefer to find them where they need a bit of work doing,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17because obviously, like we said before, we are builders
0:16:17 > 0:16:20as well as landlords. There's a property for sale
0:16:20 > 0:16:24sort of behind me, it looks like it could do with some work,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27so I might be having a little look round later, a little mooch round
0:16:27 > 0:16:30on the internet and see what it's actually on the market for.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35His property portfolio is his pension,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40and many of us have been buying houses as savings for a rainy day.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42But with the trend towards renting,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45more of us won't have any sort of nest egg to pass on.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48So what does all that add up to?
0:16:48 > 0:16:53We've got very used to thinking of home as investment
0:16:53 > 0:16:55as well as home as somewhere to live.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58If you look at the debates around social care,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01if you look at the debates around how people pay
0:17:01 > 0:17:03to support their youngsters going to university,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07there is an expectation that you draw equity out of your home.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11If we see a big increase in those renting rather than those owning,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14those debates around how things are paid for by individuals
0:17:14 > 0:17:16will need to shift in recognition of that.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24First floor, as mentioned. So please be careful going up the steps.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26A former businesswoman and homeowner,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Sallie's now house-hunting on a budget.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31It's a really nice size living area.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Letting agent Adrian's managed to find a three-bedroom flat
0:17:34 > 0:17:37that Sallie might be able to rent.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I quite like where it's situated.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43But it's small, this is.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48But it's still above her £600 budget.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52And on the way back to the letting office,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55there's another, bigger problem.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58He'll go to your previous landlord and one of the questions is,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00"Has Sallie ever been in arrears?"
0:18:00 > 0:18:01And immediately...
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Sallie has to declare she owes her landlord over £3,000.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08It doesn't make her a desirable tenant.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Especially if you've put in all the work that she has...
0:18:16 > 0:18:21'High rents mean more and more families struggle financially.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25'Estate agent Jackie says high rents mean potential house-buyers
0:18:25 > 0:18:26'are getting trapped.'
0:18:26 > 0:18:29The trouble is, you pay your £700-a-month rent.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32How can you save a deposit?
0:18:32 > 0:18:34It's the catch-22 situation.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40But it is very hard if you're in rental and you can't save
0:18:40 > 0:18:44and you can't even exist, because you can't not pay your rent,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47because the landlord will get you out and then where can you go?
0:18:47 > 0:18:49If you can't pay the rent,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53you're then blacklisted, exactly the same as if you get repossessed.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Renting in places like Tintern Street used to be affordable.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00What about today?
0:19:00 > 0:19:04There's a general consensus that in order to be affordable,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06housing costs, whether that be mortgage or rent,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09shouldn't be more than 25% of a gross income.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12If you're on average income, you're already over that...
0:19:12 > 0:19:14that affordability definition, if you like,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17of 25% of your gross household income.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19If you're on a lower wage again,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22then obviously you're moving up from a third, possibly up to 40%
0:19:22 > 0:19:25of your gross monthly income.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Is this just a problem in Cardiff, the capital city?
0:19:29 > 0:19:33No, because in areas, for instance Heads Of The Valleys areas
0:19:33 > 0:19:35such as Merthyr and Blaenau Gwent,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38where the rents are lower, people's incomes are lower as well.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43It's December.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Today Sallie's in court facing eviction,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47because of her missed rent.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Her plans to go to college and start up her own business
0:19:50 > 0:19:54have been shelved. She feels she's hit rock bottom.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57It is an embarrassment to be evicted.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58Well, I feel embarrassed, anyway.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03Obviously, the landlords are losing money
0:20:03 > 0:20:08and that is their livelihood, so I do feel bad about it.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10I suppose there are some people
0:20:10 > 0:20:15that have no respect for the landlords but...
0:20:16 > 0:20:18..I did.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22But the case is adjourned once more without resolution for Sallie
0:20:22 > 0:20:24or her landlord.
0:20:24 > 0:20:30I'm in the same position. In limbo yet again. Oh, I don't know.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37If I don't laugh, I'm going to cry really. So that's where I am.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Sorry.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Sallie knows she's going to be evicted from her home,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48it's just a matter of when.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50But that's not her only problem.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54She owes her landlord at least £3,000 in unpaid rent
0:20:54 > 0:20:57and she's likely to be blacklisted
0:20:57 > 0:21:00so renting privately is no longer an option.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04What she really needs is a council house.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Finding one of those these days is a tough job.
0:21:11 > 0:21:17In 1981, there were almost 300,000 council homes in Wales.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Today, there is just 88,000.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23In Cardiff alone,
0:21:23 > 0:21:2810,000 people have put their name on the waiting list for a council home.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39It sounds a bit crazy but I didn't expect people to be nice to me.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I was expecting them to be, you know...
0:21:42 > 0:21:48Sallie has to be considered homeless before she'll qualify for a council house.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51I've just got to wait for this letter now
0:21:51 > 0:21:56to see if they've accepted my application of homelessness.
0:21:56 > 0:22:03They vet the interview and...
0:22:03 > 0:22:08if they think that you haven't made yourself intentionally homeless...
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- Well, you haven't, have you? - I know but they don't know that.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14They have to do their job.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Welsh councils simply can't house all those who apply for help
0:22:23 > 0:22:25so those on the waiting lists,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28along with all the frustrated first-time buyers,
0:22:28 > 0:22:30are competing for homes to rent.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34The private rented sector is not going to address
0:22:34 > 0:22:38all the underlying problems behind the housing crisis.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40We simply don't have enough homes.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43To meet demand, Wales needs to build
0:22:43 > 0:22:49over 280,000 new homes in the next 15 years.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52So is that feasible?
0:22:52 > 0:22:57Well, last year, only 5,000 new homes were built.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01To meet the demand it should've been 14,000.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09It looks like more of us are going to have to rent houses for a bit longer.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12But if renting was good enough in the good old days,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14what is the problem with it now?
0:23:14 > 0:23:18What has changed is security of tenure.
0:23:18 > 0:23:2440 years ago, private rented tenants knew that as long as they kept paying the rent
0:23:24 > 0:23:26they were protected by the law.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30They could effectively rent the same property for as long as they wanted.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Today the rules have changed
0:23:33 > 0:23:37and it is now landlords who have the right to take their properties back,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41whether the tenants want to stay or not.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Most tenants will tell you they want more rights
0:23:45 > 0:23:48but will landlords be happy about that?
0:23:53 > 0:23:57These days, Colin Emery isn't just fixing up old properties,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59he's building new homes for rent as well.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02We're not earning loads of money.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05The money we make on the rent is covered in the mortgage we have to pay.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07'He's in it for the long-term,
0:24:07 > 0:24:11'so how would he feel if his tenants got better protection?'
0:24:11 > 0:24:14If somebody wanted a six-year tenancy agreement with us,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17it would be beneficial to us
0:24:17 > 0:24:19because then we've got fixed income on that property
0:24:19 > 0:24:20for the next six years.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23And we don't have to worry about them going in a month's time
0:24:23 > 0:24:26and us having to advertise to fill the property again.
0:24:27 > 0:24:32It would certainly benefit families like Sallie's if tenants had more security.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35The Welsh government is looking at this
0:24:35 > 0:24:38and the man in the hotseat is Huw Lewis.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42A lot of families out there would shy away from the private rented sector
0:24:42 > 0:24:44because they perceive it to be insecure.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47We need to shift that perception and that reality
0:24:47 > 0:24:50to a much more continental-style attitude
0:24:50 > 0:24:53where people will be quite relaxed about the idea that, well,
0:24:53 > 0:24:59"Privately renting may be an option for me over the next decade or so while my kids are at school."
0:24:59 > 0:25:00Why not?
0:25:00 > 0:25:05Are we looking at four-year tenancy agreements or...
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Am I being a tad too optimistic?
0:25:07 > 0:25:13I think it would be a mistake for me to sit here and pontificate on that level of detail actually.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17It is very important we get it right and we get it right first time.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19We need that consultation.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23No diktat from me on the length of tenure at the moment.
0:25:25 > 0:25:31In fact, the Housing Act planned for next year will not be changing tenancy law.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35It was seen as too complicated and will be looked at separately.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37So for now the rules stay the same.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Landlords can evict tenants whenever they want.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45It is the end of January.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Sallie has been accepted as homeless
0:25:47 > 0:25:50and the council has found her a house.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- Hi, Sal.- Hi. You know the housing association?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- They just offered me a place round the corner.- Don't lie. Oh, my God!
0:25:57 > 0:25:59That is amazing!
0:26:00 > 0:26:02When can you move?
0:26:02 > 0:26:06Well, the lady wants me to go and view it but I'll wait
0:26:06 > 0:26:11till the court finishes and see what time...
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Maybe I can go Wednesday, something like that.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Let me know and I'll come with you. Definitely.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23When I move, what did I promise you? That you could sleep over, didn't I?
0:26:23 > 0:26:28- Yeah?- Not the cat.- I don't mind, you can bring the cat if you want.
0:26:28 > 0:26:34- He's freezing. I can feel him shaking.- OK, shall we take him indoors then?- Yeah.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44The next day, Sallie gets to see her new house.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46- It's too small.- It does go bigger.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49But it is not the end of her search for a secure home.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54This house is just temporary accommodation.
0:26:54 > 0:27:00It's leased for the council by a housing association from a private landlord.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04- Where do you want this one, Sallie? - That can all go in there.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Back in Tintern Street, day-to-day life goes on.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16But, with almost a third already renting, some can't help but worry
0:27:16 > 0:27:20about the cost the next generations will pay to live here.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24You've got to have a roof over your head, whichever way you look at it.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26I'm glad I'm not going through it again.
0:27:28 > 0:27:36Having that kind of mortgage or even paying the rent. It is really hard.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40I mean, jobs as they are, the youngsters don't stand a chance.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43And what about the rest of us in Wales?
0:27:43 > 0:27:45I think the overall message
0:27:45 > 0:27:49is that for households on a low income
0:27:49 > 0:27:52there are very, very few housing options.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57And with tough times ahead, those in charge admit
0:27:57 > 0:28:02they can't offer any easy answers to the Welsh housing crisis.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05The size of the problems that face us
0:28:05 > 0:28:08are not on everyone's radar at the moment.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13I don't think everyone understands quite how serious this could become.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Pressures upon people in the coming period
0:28:15 > 0:28:18over the next two, three, four years are only going to grow.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21The pressure on the sector is going to grow.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23The whole question of affordability is going to be
0:28:23 > 0:28:27at the forefront of the minds of hundreds of thousands of families up and down Wales.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29We're moving to react to that.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Sallie is packing up at Tintern Street.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36She's lost this house
0:28:36 > 0:28:40but is determined to try and make a new home for her and her children.
0:28:40 > 0:28:45It's a bit strange. Some good memories, some bad memories,
0:28:45 > 0:28:53but hopefully we'll be going to have better ones in the future.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd