0:00:02 > 0:00:03Over the years,
0:00:03 > 0:00:05Britain's Empty Homes have been on a mission
0:00:05 > 0:00:07to show what can be done to revitalise and transform
0:00:07 > 0:00:12some of the UK's estimated one million empty properties.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Hi, it's good to see you.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18In this series, I'll be catching up with some of the people
0:00:18 > 0:00:20who took the plunge and staked everything
0:00:20 > 0:00:23on turning unloved houses into bespoke family homes.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Today, I'll be catching up with a couple from an earlier series,
0:00:30 > 0:00:34who made the brave move of taking on an empty property.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37I'll see just how far they've got with creating their dream home.
0:00:37 > 0:00:38We love being here.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41- Yeah.- Yeah.- Definitely. - It's really comfortable.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43It's a space that we can enjoy with our family.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45We'll also visit some of the derelict dwellings
0:00:45 > 0:00:47our property detectives have been working hard
0:00:47 > 0:00:49to save, in order to prevent their owners
0:00:49 > 0:00:53from leaving these buildings as a blot on the landscape.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Hey, look at this.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It's so different.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01And we'll be finding out how one man
0:01:01 > 0:01:03has made it his mission to preserve and protect
0:01:03 > 0:01:05historic buildings.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07When you buy an old building, or live in one,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09it's very much like being a custodian.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Ten months ago, I met David and Hannah Ohandjanian,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15who'd stumbled across a disused commercial property,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17right here in the heart of Rugby.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19The rundown office didn't appeal to other buyers,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23but David and Hannah saw an opportunity here to create
0:01:23 > 0:01:27a large family home, along with an office space for David.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32When we first saw it, we saw that it was in a bit of a state,
0:01:32 > 0:01:37but then we also immediately saw the opportunity to turn it
0:01:37 > 0:01:40into something beautiful and exactly what we wanted, because it
0:01:40 > 0:01:45had the space and it had the light, and also the location was perfect.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Hannah and David had outgrown their own house
0:01:48 > 0:01:50and felt that with some considered renovation,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52this period place would fit their family perfectly.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54We've got three small children.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56They're just going to be getting bigger,
0:01:56 > 0:02:01and Dave hires an office at the moment, so we kind of thought
0:02:01 > 0:02:04that we could get a house that he can have an office at the home.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06We could combine the two.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09We could have the extra space, the extra living space for a family,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11and also combine and save costs.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Following a successful application to change the status of the building
0:02:15 > 0:02:17from commercial to residential status,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21they bought the property for £174,000,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23and had plans to transform it.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25It was a lot cheaper than anything else
0:02:25 > 0:02:28we could have got for that size, and we've got the funds then
0:02:28 > 0:02:31that we can decorate it exactly how we want it.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35It's got the potential to be a really comfortable family home, right in
0:02:35 > 0:02:40the centre of town, and it's really perfect for what we were looking for.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43'When I first met up with David and Hannah at their new home,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45'I was keen to see just what their options were
0:02:45 > 0:02:48'and hear their ideas for renovation.'
0:02:48 > 0:02:49- Hello, nice to meet you. - Joe. Hi, Hannah.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51- Hi, Joe. You all right? - Hi, David.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Now, guys. This is your place. So, tell me about it.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56For a start, you got it for an absolute steal. How?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Well, it's been offices, but that was three years ago.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00It's been empty for three years.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Right, I can see a skip outside. Work's started, has it?
0:03:03 > 0:03:06We got the keys about two weeks ago, and that's actually the third skip.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08- Third skip?- Yes.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Brilliant. Let's see what you've been up to.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12OK.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14'With a budget of £50,000,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17'the couple plan to turn this three-storey building
0:03:17 > 0:03:19'into a four-bedroomed family home with an office for David.'
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Goodness me, look at this.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26So, where were things when you first came in here?
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Well, where Dave is, that would have been a little reception area,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30so there was a wall here.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Right.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32And there, so we've taken all that out.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- That's the little reception window. - Yeah.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36That's where the receptionist was.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39And once you've got a big space here,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41what do you want to do with it?
0:03:41 > 0:03:43OK, so, down here, where we're standing,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46is going to be part of my office.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48We're going to have a meeting room where we're standing around here,
0:03:48 > 0:03:51and then through here's going to be a big, open-plan office.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53So, have you done this before?
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Not really. We've done a bit of work on our current house,
0:03:57 > 0:03:58but nothing to this scale.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Brilliant. Let's continue, shall we?
0:04:00 > 0:04:02- Shall we look through there? - Yes, why not?
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Well, this is a really good space.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10So, this is, what, going to be a kitchen-diner?
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- Yeah, we're going to have the dining room table there.- Yeah.
0:04:13 > 0:04:14Galley kitchen here.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- At the back, we're going to have a couple of sofas.- Right.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19And then the back wall is going to come out,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21and we're going to have bi-fold doors.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25It's our place we're really excited about, living space for the family.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Great, and you're working on this now.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30How soon, in terms of timescale, do you need all this to be done?
0:04:30 > 0:04:32We've got six weeks.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33Six weeks?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Yeah, so we've got a lot of work to do.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37Wow. What's dictating that?
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- You've got to get out of your current place?- Yeah.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44And so, you're prepared, are you, to be living in a building site?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47You want a few areas to be nice, but you're going to just try
0:04:47 > 0:04:49and cope and get by with other work going on when you're here?
0:04:49 > 0:04:50Yeah.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55In this area and the office that we've seen, as well, it does look
0:04:55 > 0:04:58a bit of a building site, but the rest of the house is not too bad.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00- It is liveable.- OK.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05'It was a big job to tackle, and it needed a lot of hard work,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07'especially on the ground floor,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11'to make this once-commercial premises into a comfortable home.'
0:05:11 > 0:05:15When you look ahead to the six weeks and beyond, what are your worries?
0:05:15 > 0:05:17What are your concerns about this project?
0:05:17 > 0:05:20I think mainly the timescale, isn't it? We haven't got long.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24We need to get a kitchen in, we need to get a bathroom in.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Relating to that is scheduling correctly so that we have things
0:05:28 > 0:05:32in place, workmen in place that will turn up,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and also keeping it within budget.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Later, we'll see what happened
0:05:36 > 0:05:38'when I took David and Hannah to meet a couple
0:05:38 > 0:05:40'who'd also taken on an ambitious project,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44'completely renovating a boarded up a Grade II listed townhouse.'
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Just keep asking questions.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49There'll be other things where you have to fight
0:05:49 > 0:05:51because you know that's what you want.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It's not just private buyers like David and Hannah
0:05:54 > 0:05:57rising to the challenge of turning deserted properties
0:05:57 > 0:05:59into functioning family homes.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Local council Empty Property Officers work tirelessly
0:06:02 > 0:06:05to track down the owners of abandoned houses
0:06:05 > 0:06:07and use everything in their power
0:06:07 > 0:06:09to get them back into circulation.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13'Back in 2011, Empty Property Officer
0:06:13 > 0:06:15'Sue Li was on a mission
0:06:15 > 0:06:18'to save abandoned homes in Amber Valley.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22'Top of her list was an empty house in an affluent area
0:06:22 > 0:06:25'outside Derby, that she'd received some complaints about.'
0:06:25 > 0:06:26I can see why
0:06:26 > 0:06:30the neighbours are concerned about the overgrown garden at the front.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34And it all just adds to the view that it's not cared for,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36that nobody's been here for a while
0:06:36 > 0:06:39and that nobody's trying to maintain it.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43'Sue's main objective was to check if the house was secure.'
0:06:43 > 0:06:45There's a window that's been smashed here.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48The back door is open.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51So you can just wander straight into the house.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53'As Sue continued to explore,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57'it seemed that whoever had broken in, had not left empty-handed.'
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Oh, right. It looks like...
0:07:04 > 0:07:07..somebody's tried to take the copper piping at some point.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11The ceiling's obviously come down as they've ripped the piping out.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Because there's pipes still remaining,
0:07:13 > 0:07:18I really need to get this property secured and get that window boarded,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21um, so there's no access again into the house.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24'Today, over a year on, Sue Li
0:07:24 > 0:07:27'has come back to visit the house on the outskirts of Derby.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29'Since she was last here, it's been bought
0:07:29 > 0:07:32'and the renovation is finished.'
0:07:33 > 0:07:37The frontage has been completely transformed.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41It looks so different with the new windows...
0:07:41 > 0:07:42and doors.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47It's really changed how it looks.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50'Sue has kept in touch with the new owner, Mark.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52'And he's invited her round
0:07:52 > 0:07:56'to show her just how different the property now looks.'
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- Hi, Sue. Come on in.- Hi. Thank you.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01- Are you all right?- I'm well, thank you. Yourself?- Yeah, I'm fine.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04DOG BARKS
0:08:07 > 0:08:08Hey, look at this.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14- It's so different. Oh, my word.- Yeah.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- A bit different, isn't it?- Yeah. There was a big hole, here,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20where all the piping had been ripped out.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Um, there was a wall, here, dividing these two rooms.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27Yeah, that's right. Yeah.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- It's created loads of space. - Yeah, we wanted to open it up,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32you know, to create that feeling, yeah,
0:08:32 > 0:08:37- which has worked.- And the rear wall, here, you've taken out.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- That's right, yeah. - And extended further out.- Yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42We extended to have the kitchen there,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44because that was the old lean-to.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Yes.- It's given us a bit of room, a bit of light.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Um, and we've managed to put as much glass as we can.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54We're really chuffed with that. Do you want to see
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- any of the other rooms, at all?- Yes, please!
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Wow, this looks great.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05- You like it?- I do. Yeah. Wonderful room.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- And I love the fireplace.- Yeah.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10I remember the times I'd have to visit this property,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and I'd look through the window and wonder what this room
0:09:13 > 0:09:15would look like. This has far exceeded
0:09:15 > 0:09:18what I thought it would look like.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20That's good. Yeah, thanks.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25So, have you managed to meet the people around here,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27or have you been too busy?
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- They've welcomed us and I think are pleased with what we've done.- Great.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38'Mark's renovations have continued right the way through the house.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44- Good to see it back into use.- Yeah.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- And I hope you enjoy yourselves here. - Thanks for coming round.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- Thank you.- Lovely to see you. OK. - OK. Bye.- See you. Bye, Sue.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56This couple have got such a vision
0:09:56 > 0:09:59and had the appetite for taking on an empty property.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04And we've been able to address the wider community concerns about
0:10:04 > 0:10:07people poking around and breaking into properties.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Um, it's a good success story all round.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Breathing new life back into an empty property
0:10:13 > 0:10:16can be a difficult and delicate balancing act,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18particularly if you are squeezing a renovation
0:10:18 > 0:10:21around the demands of work and family life.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24But when you speak to people who've come through it
0:10:24 > 0:10:26to create their perfect home,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29then, suddenly, all that effort makes perfect sense.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Seasoned renovators Michael and Jill Willits
0:10:35 > 0:10:37stumbled upon an opportunity they could not miss
0:10:37 > 0:10:42when they spotted two rundown 17th-century mill cottages for sale.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45No-one had lived in the house for about three years - it was dark,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47it was damp.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It was falling apart, but I think we could see through that
0:10:50 > 0:10:53and with plenty of work we could turn it into something.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58This house was built in 1683, and we wanted to retain the history
0:10:58 > 0:11:02and the character of it, but bring it into the 21st century.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12The couple had spent over £600,000 buying the cottages set on two
0:11:12 > 0:11:14acres of garden and woodland.
0:11:16 > 0:11:1915 months and £300,000 later,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22they had a stunning yet sympathetic modern home.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28And the icing on the cake was that the River Rother ran right
0:11:28 > 0:11:29through the garden.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Even with four previous renovations under their belt,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38the Willits weren't immune to the trials
0:11:38 > 0:11:41and tribulations of a project of this scale.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Probably the biggest low point was on my 50th birthday, my mother,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48sister and brother-in-law had come down from York.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52My mother couldn't see or envisage what we were trying to do.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I remember we came to the back door and she said to me,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59"I can hear water running." I thought, "Yeah, isn't it wonderful.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02"We have a river running through the garden, that's what you can hear."
0:12:02 > 0:12:06She said, "No, I'm sure the water is coming from inside the house."
0:12:06 > 0:12:09I opened the door and sure enough, the ceiling had come down,
0:12:09 > 0:12:11floods everywhere, pipes had burst.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13It was a really cold winter
0:12:13 > 0:12:16and that was probably the down point on my 50th birthday.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18What have we really taken on here?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22But with the renovation behind them,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Michael and Jill couldn't have hoped for a better outcome.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28We've achieved what we set out to do.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32This house will be standing in another 350 years, most likely,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34long after we've gone.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37I think we have done our bit in its history
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and we have brought it up to date.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43It's a really beautiful family home in an absolutely stunning
0:12:43 > 0:12:46part of the world. We're very, very lucky to live here.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56Earlier we met Hannah and David who had spent £174,000 on a former
0:12:56 > 0:12:59commercial building in the centre of Rugby in Warwickshire.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02They'd secured permission to turn the offices into a family home
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and were eager to get started.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It's got the potential to be a really comfortable family home.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11It's really perfect for what we've been looking for.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15To inspire Hannah and David, I took them to see Lorraine
0:13:15 > 0:13:17and Matt Chamberlain, who faced a similar
0:13:17 > 0:13:20battle against the clock constructing their dream home.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Back in 2008, Lorraine Chamberlain and her husband Matt bought
0:13:26 > 0:13:30this impressive rundown Regency townhouse for £494,000.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34We bought the building at auction.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37It hadn't been lived in for quite a while and was boarded up.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Even when it was derelict,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41you could see it could be quite a nice building.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Also the size of the garden, because we are in the middle of town
0:13:44 > 0:13:46the size of the garden is pretty rare.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49The Grade II listed building had been divided up into four flats
0:13:49 > 0:13:51so it required a lot of reconfiguring
0:13:51 > 0:13:55and planning to turn it into one family home.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Planning was the easiest process and we didn't think
0:13:58 > 0:14:01we would get everything through planning and we did.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04They were very happy we were turning it into a family house.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07So, it was going from four flats, which were a real eyesore
0:14:07 > 0:14:10and derelict, back to what it used to be.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12The full renovation of this four-bedroom,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17three-bathroom house had taken two years and we visited Lorraine
0:14:17 > 0:14:20and Matt so they could share the benefit of their experience
0:14:20 > 0:14:22with David and Hannah.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26So, here we are. Really large, open kitchen-diner.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- What do you guys make of this? - It's wonderful.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- Similar to your vision, yeah? - It's gorgeous.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Just the kind of thing we were looking to do in our place.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Start at the beginning and tell us how this came about
0:14:37 > 0:14:40because I'm pretty sure you didn't come into
0:14:40 > 0:14:43lovely granite work surfaces in your kitchen,
0:14:43 > 0:14:44and nice range, a good space.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47What was this place like when you took it on?
0:14:47 > 0:14:49It was derelict, boarded-up, wet inside.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51It was very closed in and dark.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54The old windows at the back of the house were really small
0:14:54 > 0:14:56compared to the big ones at the front.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00We knew that we would be living in the family area at the back
0:15:00 > 0:15:03so we wanted to change the kitchen, make it more open.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08- And overlooking the garden for the kids.- And any advice?
0:15:08 > 0:15:10You must have worked for quite a long time.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- This was a long project, wasn't it? - It was, yes.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16We finally got the builders on-site March,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- with the plan of being a six-seven month project.- And how long was it?
0:15:20 > 0:15:24We were in by Christmas which was good, that was nine months.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Then it was another year until we got the outside and basement done,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30so it was very optimistic I think.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34When it comes to builders and going through that process, any advice you would pass over?
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Anything you'd want to make sure the builders did next time?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40How did you find working with them?
0:15:40 > 0:15:41The biggest problem we had
0:15:41 > 0:15:44was communication between everybody at times.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Especially when things don't always go right,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50you need to make sure the builder has a foreman on-site
0:15:50 > 0:15:53that you can actually talk one to one with rather than talking
0:15:53 > 0:15:57to six people, miscommunication, I guess, would be the thing.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Good advice there. Keep on top of the communication.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03In your case, it's going to be on slightly smaller scale
0:16:03 > 0:16:05and you will be on site all the time
0:16:05 > 0:16:08so just keeping a regular eye on exactly what's going on.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11It's hit home a little bit that we need to be there.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13We've seen the kitchen, lovely it is too.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- Can we go through and look at some of the rest of the house?- Yeah.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Lead the way.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Tell us about the money and the budget involved.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27This was such a big project. It's a big property.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32What did you budget for a total renovation on this size?
0:16:32 > 0:16:34We budgeted about 280,
0:16:34 > 0:16:39then during the project we added a few things on, found a few things.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42But not much more than that. Probably only ten per cent.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44These guys are doing it on a slightly smaller scale.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47What would be your advice on where you can cut back
0:16:47 > 0:16:51or where you can pinch the budget slightly to make it go further?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54It's really just prioritising everything.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58If you can put stuff off for a later phase, we tended to do that as well.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Keep asking questions, because when they say,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03"We can't do this because...",
0:17:03 > 0:17:06or "No, no, no, you want to do it this way."
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Just keep asking them why, because there will be some things they
0:17:10 > 0:17:12will just say categorically you can't do that,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and there'll be other things where you've got to fight
0:17:15 > 0:17:17because you know that's what you want.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20We wanted a slate floor in the kitchen. Maybe we could have
0:17:20 > 0:17:23compromised on the slate floor, but in the long run we didn't want to.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27I think it's good that you pushed through with what you wanted.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29It's a big project and one of the things
0:17:29 > 0:17:32we really wanted to do is make sure that when we do it, it's right,
0:17:32 > 0:17:37- but then also be smart about what we ask for.- Thank you, guys.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I'm pleased it's turned out so well and great advice as well.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43- Thank you for showing us around. - Thank you very much. - Thanks, guys.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Later on I'll catch up with Hannah and David
0:17:45 > 0:17:48to see if everything they learned helped them
0:17:48 > 0:17:51to put their plans for their unique renovation into practice.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Across the UK, all sorts of buildings can become derelict
0:17:57 > 0:18:00and abandoned, from office blocks to former family homes.
0:18:01 > 0:18:0312 months ago I met Douglas Kent,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07and man who was helping people protect and update listed buildings.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14This Grade I listed building in Essex dates back to the 14th century.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18It was originally a medieval hall before becoming an inn.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Despite later becoming a residential house,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24it retained its Grade I listing.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27The inn belonged to Douglas Kent, who was the technical
0:18:27 > 0:18:30director for the Society For The Protection Of Ancient Buildings
0:18:30 > 0:18:34and he had some invaluable advice about taking on a listed building.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43- This is great. Clearly a renovation in progress.- Very much so.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46When it comes to renovating a building like this,
0:18:46 > 0:18:52you have to study, learn and I suppose understand what's here
0:18:52 > 0:18:55to begin with before you can restore it or add to it or conserve it.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58That's exactly right. It's a whole extra stage.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01The idea is you work out what's important about the building
0:19:01 > 0:19:03so you can appreciate and protect it.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05It's not about fossilising a building
0:19:05 > 0:19:07or creating some kind of museum,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10but about understanding what's important about it
0:19:10 > 0:19:14and making it suitably fit for the 21st century, really.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Then when you decide to make changes,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20you have to be very sensitive with materials, don't you?
0:19:20 > 0:19:23The main thing... The absolute key thing with an old building
0:19:23 > 0:19:26is to retain as much as you can of the physical fabric
0:19:26 > 0:19:28and the overall spirit of the building.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31And you do that by carrying out only essential work
0:19:31 > 0:19:35that's essential to the life and wellbeing of the house
0:19:35 > 0:19:38and also using compatible methods and materials.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40You can't just apply new techniques to the old building?
0:19:40 > 0:19:42That's exactly right.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Old buildings don't just differ in their architectural look,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47they differ in the way they're constructed
0:19:47 > 0:19:49and in their whole performance.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Today, one year on, Douglas is still determined
0:19:53 > 0:19:57to realise his dream of making the Sun Inn his home.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00But renovating a historic building such as this
0:20:00 > 0:20:04tends to be a long and painstaking process.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Douglas quickly discovered the external plasterwork,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11or pargeting, was so delicate he was forced to rescue the exterior
0:20:11 > 0:20:14first or risk losing it for ever.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Last winter we decided that the pargeting was so fragile,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20particularly above the carriageway,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22that we boarded it over to protect it.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Sadly, it meant it was out of view and people couldn't see it.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28But then last summer scaffolding went up
0:20:28 > 0:20:31and a specialist conservator spent several months
0:20:31 > 0:20:36working on the scaffolding doing really intricate repairs.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38The gable here above the carriageway
0:20:38 > 0:20:41with the two figures and the circular motif in the middle there,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44this was where a lot of our attention had to focus.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47This is really the area that was at risk of being lost
0:20:47 > 0:20:50if we didn't get in and save it right away.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Douglas is not only passionate
0:20:51 > 0:20:54about preserving this piece of living history,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57but he also strongly believes buildings should be
0:20:57 > 0:20:59restored in the correct manner.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01To maintain that original fabric,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04it maintains the authenticity of the building.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Douglas has had to pump a great deal of money
0:21:08 > 0:21:12and time into saving this rather special place.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14The exterior alone has eaten up his reserves
0:21:14 > 0:21:18and as yet he hasn't been able to get started on the interior.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Overall, and I've not added up all the bills actually,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23I've dug deep into my savings
0:21:23 > 0:21:29and it has cost probably 20-£25,000 for all the work we have done so far
0:21:29 > 0:21:33on the building and obviously we have quite a bit more to do internally.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36The building can now be admired by the local community
0:21:36 > 0:21:39and Douglas regularly enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with
0:21:39 > 0:21:43others, including this group of students from Cambridge University.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The building itself is believed to go back to the 14th century,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50probably constructed on a site between two existing buildings.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52'Initially, when I took on the building
0:21:52 > 0:21:55'I thought one or two groups would come round and then I could get on
0:21:55 > 0:21:57'with work like lifting up floorboards and making repairs.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01'As time has gone on, I've had more and more interest from groups
0:22:01 > 0:22:04'wanting to come round and visit, which I think is great.'
0:22:04 > 0:22:07I'm really gratified there's that amount of interest locally.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12If you look carefully you can see the joists here go in at a slight angle.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Douglas has undoubtedly played his part in the story of this building
0:22:16 > 0:22:20by carefully and meticulously restoring it to its former glory.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24When you buy an old building or live in one,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26it's very much like being a custodian.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30By taking a careful and considered approach,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32a lot more of the historic fabric will survive
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and that will be to the benefit of both the building
0:22:35 > 0:22:37and future generations, at the end of the day.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Earlier in the programme we met Hannah and David.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44They'd taken on an exciting project
0:22:44 > 0:22:46when they bought a commercial property
0:22:46 > 0:22:48and got permission to turn it into a family home.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I'm back in Rugby to catch up with David and Hannah
0:22:58 > 0:23:01and first glance of their property, it certainly looks very smart.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06I can spot one or two changes. Importantly that skip has gone.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Let's go and see how they've got on.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Guys, nice to see you again. David, Hannah, how are you?
0:23:13 > 0:23:16- How have you got on? - We've been busy.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It was very ambitious, all of your plans last time,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21I'm very curious to see how it's turned out.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24But I notice the home office thing might just have come off.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Yes, it has. We are in there and working away.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- I've got to have a look, can I? - Yeah, sure.- OK, let's go.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40Oh, wow!
0:23:40 > 0:23:42This is completely different.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Hard to take it all in, it's changed so much.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Talk me through it. Before, there was a wall there, wasn't there?
0:23:47 > 0:23:49That's right, we had a wall there.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52We've removed the main part of the wall,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54gave it more space and made it more airy
0:23:54 > 0:23:57to get it to feel a bit more contemporary, like you said.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It works really well, so much space, so much light and there's what,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- three or four of you working in here?- That's right, yeah.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05The big thing I wanted to ask you is,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09you wanted to do all this in six weeks. Did that happen?
0:24:09 > 0:24:13No, it wasn't six weeks, it was five months, wasn't it?
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- Close(!)- Not too far out.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17You were a bit worried about how you'd make it all work.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20You said you were going to spend more time here as a result.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- That's right.- Did you spend a lot of time here project managing?
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Well, it's one of the things we were advised by the other couple
0:24:25 > 0:24:28that we saw last time, and it really was good advice.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32I think it helped out with both the contractors that were here
0:24:32 > 0:24:34and for also getting things done.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38It looks amazing. It's a great office, loads of light coming in,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40a really nice place to work, but it's also your home.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- Shall we have a look upstairs and see that part of it?- Yes. - Definitely.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Upstairs Hannah and David have completely transformed
0:24:49 > 0:24:54what was once office space into four cosy bedrooms and a spacious lounge.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Because it was a commercial premises before,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00what sort of issues are thrown up
0:25:00 > 0:25:03when you try and convert a place like that into a home like this?
0:25:03 > 0:25:08I suppose it's deciding what room you want to use for what purpose.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12This was a dentist's room once but we choose to make it our lounge.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Yes, it could've been a bedroom, it could have been anything,
0:25:15 > 0:25:16but with the office downstairs
0:25:16 > 0:25:19this was the obvious place to have a lounge.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21It has the nice view of the green there
0:25:21 > 0:25:25and the light comes in through that so it's good to use as a lounge.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28I know this project took a bit longer then you'd hoped.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Does that also mean the budget grew and grew
0:25:31 > 0:25:33and grew or could you keep it under control?
0:25:33 > 0:25:36We were very fortunate that we managed to keep it
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- within our set limit.- Really?
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Having that time allowed us to be a little less insistent on just
0:25:43 > 0:25:45picking the first person we could find.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48You had big, big plans for the kitchen that you were very excited about.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52- Shall we pop our heads in there? - Definitely.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59This is fantastic.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02This really has changed and it's basically how you planned it.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06You told me before you're going to have sofas and bi-fold doors
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and the kitchen going along and a table.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11It seems to have worked out really well.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14How does it actually feel at the end of the project?
0:26:14 > 0:26:15We love being here.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20One thing that we really found by taking on this project
0:26:20 > 0:26:23is because it was so run down and because it was falling apart,
0:26:23 > 0:26:24we were able to gut it,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28really think about what we wanted and design something that
0:26:28 > 0:26:31suited the needs of our family which is probably something
0:26:31 > 0:26:34we wouldn't have done if we took on a property that was almost there.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36We probably would have said, this suffices,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- and maybe not got round to doing it. - I think you've done it brilliantly.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I'm pleased it's worked out. It's very rare that people
0:26:42 > 0:26:45have no regrets at all and have got it just perfect.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47On budget, maybe a little over time,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50but here you are, you're living in it and it's going great.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Many, many congratulations. - Thank you very much.- Thanks.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57For three years, this grand old building
0:26:57 > 0:26:59lay here empty and forgotten.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03No-one could see the potential in it until David and Hannah came along,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05and somehow they've managed to transform
0:27:05 > 0:27:10quite a cold, commercial building into this lovely, warm
0:27:10 > 0:27:14family home where David also has the perfect office.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17It has worked out perfectly. I'm so pleased for them.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I don't think they could have done a better job.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd