Reality TV follows housing officers

Readers' comments (4)

• John Gray | 06/08/2009 10:44 pm

  I’ve just watched on BBC IPlayer this excellent new Reality TV documentary on the working lives of “front line” Housing Association staff in North West England. It is interesting that “Inside Housing” describe the staff as being “Front Line”. I must admit it is a term that I catch myself using as well but I don’t think is really that appropriate a term. Housing staff are not “at war” with their residents. Even though admittedly it can seem like that at times.
  
  The first part of the programme must have driven the image conscious Press & Media sections of the Housing Associations featured to despair. Since it was a very bleak and dispiriting account of endless and mindless anti-social behaviour from aggressive yobs and their massive fighting dogs; a seemingly completely hopeless textbook dysfunctional family who are surely bound to be evicted; sudden death; fly tips with the obligatory decomposing dead rat as well as the stereotypical (pardon the pun) young “heavy metal fan” who thought that playing music “24/7” in his flat at a level that needed TV subtitles to make out what he was saying was somehow “normal”?
  
  However as the programme progressed the real stars of the show helped turn it around. The “ordinary” housing officers dealing with extraordinary and difficult situations with incredible calm determination and perseverance. The foul mouthed threatening thug with the dogs was forced to move his animals (I hope he was reported to the Police for public order offences towards Julie – I suspect probably not), the “family from hell” were cautioned but ended up helping out with an estate gardening project and I think the wannabe “bat out of hell” is now listening to his music on headphones after being most severely told off. Local residents being prepared to publicly “tell us as it is” reminded me why ordinary working people are pro active on policing and very tough on crime in housings estates. Since it is ordinary working class people not the rich or the middle classes who by far suffer the most from crime and disorder. We should never ever forget this.
  
  This is the first of 4 programmes – you can see this programme on BBC I Player (this is the first time I have used this service and was most impressed how easy it was and how good quality the service was) until the next episode which is on Tuesday 11 August 22.35 (not Northern Ireland or Wales).
  
  I do hope that the programme in the future will include the back office “stars” of housing services that provide the often unnoticed crucial call centre, admin and reception services. Without them supporting us we can’t do nothing.

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• Ernie Gray | 07/08/2009 12:03 pm

  The first issue that worried me about this programme is when the narrator announced to everybody that all social housing was managed by housing associations. A bit worrying this and fairly fundamental to those of us who still work for local authorities in either a strategic or operational role.
  
  You also worried a bit about the way in which the property that was being prepared for reletting, which had the interesting dog kennel next door was described as being available. The condition of the garden was appalling together with the internal decoration. One assumes the decoration allowances were very generous.
  
  The anti social behaviour family scenes in the home appeared to have been carefully scripted. For those of us old enough to remember the 1970s first reality programme - The Family this must've been a reminder of how times have changed. The apparent " Saul of Tarsus " experience that the family appeared to have following the " final warning" with either miraculous or at the end of a very long road of management action. Sorry, but it just did not seem believable to those of us who've worked in front-line housing management.
  
  I am not decrying the staff with the respective housing associations, who are clearly passionate about their work, however the editing I believe created an uncomfortable picture for many people within the housing world.

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• AC Preston | 11/08/2009 3:52 pm

  As a Prestoner I didn't worry much about the condition of that luxury Preston apartment.

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• Jane Harrad-Roberts | 12/08/2009 12:30 pm

  Having watched both episodes so far and being nervous about how how they would portray this challenging area I am more reassured. It is always a risk, we know because we were recently approached by Panorama to help with a programme, as we work on public relations for Chester & District Housing Trust.
  
  In balance, I believe the benefits of greater understanding by the general public of the issues, responsibilities and dedication of these front-line staff outweighs the negatives. Hats off to everyone involved in the programme and credit to the brave souls who gave permission for filming.
  
  This programme should be compulsory viewing for anyone involved in politics, education, crime and housing, especially MPs.
  
  I do hope the programme continues beyond its four episodes, perhaps focusing on other areas of housing; resident engagement, repairs, rent collection etc.

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