0:00:02 > 0:00:04There are nearly a million homes lying lost and abandoned
0:00:04 > 0:00:08in the UK just waiting for someone to come along and breathe life back into them.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13Whether it's a tired semi or a rambling mansion, we're on the search for Britain's empty homes.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25There are abandoned properties all around us.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28So we're going to show you how to spot them
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and maybe even make one of them your next dream home.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Today I'm out to persuade these house-hunters
0:00:34 > 0:00:37that a disused dwelling could be the doorway to their ideal home.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40I'm quite happy to lose a bedroom to get an en suite.
0:00:40 > 0:00:46We follow the UK's empty-property officers, bringing forgotten buildings back into occupancy.
0:00:46 > 0:00:52And we'll be looking around once-neglected buildings that have been restored to their former glory.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58Taking on an old empty building may not be the first thing that pops into a home buyer's mind,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02but it could be exactly what they're looking for.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Fiona Power moved to London seven years ago after her husband died,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11but now she's ready to return to the countryside.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15This flat suited me while I was working, but I've retired now,
0:01:15 > 0:01:21and it doesn't do it for me in the same way as it did then.
0:01:21 > 0:01:28My dream house, it would have to have big rooms, or the potential to create big rooms.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31A lovely kitchen-breakfast area.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35My luxury item would be a conservatory or a sunroom.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Fiona's daughter, Caroline, and her husband
0:01:38 > 0:01:43currently live ten minutes round the corner, and she's helping her mum with the search.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I'd really like to be with my mum to offer the support and also stop her
0:01:47 > 0:01:51doing anything impulsive, because she's quite an impulsive person.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55I think it would be good to have someone to bounce ideas off.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59I think an empty home with locked-up potential might be exactly what they're looking for.
0:01:59 > 0:02:06- Hi, Fiona. Hi, Caroline. Nice to see you.- You too.- You're moving from a very flash riverside dwelling,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08and you're looking for something...
0:02:08 > 0:02:11What, exactly?
0:02:11 > 0:02:15I am looking for something that is bigger.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18I actually moved from a rambling five-bedroom house
0:02:18 > 0:02:22which I had no problem furnishing and filling,
0:02:22 > 0:02:27and I'm looking forward to the challenge of the project of doing that again.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29And where do you want to be?
0:02:29 > 0:02:32I'd like to be somewhere in the vicinity of Chichester.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34I know the area reasonably well.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38But I also want somewhere that has got very good rail links to London.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Budget wise, what would you ideally like to spend?
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Taking into account all the refurbishment
0:02:44 > 0:02:49and any rebuilding work that might need doing, I've got a budget of half-a-million pounds.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51That's offers around.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53- But maximum? All in?- Maximum.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Maximum £500,000.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59- We'll have to have a look and see what we can find you.- OK.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04OK, so Fiona wants a minimum of three bedrooms, so Caroline can come and stay.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08A good-sized garden with enough room for a conservatory.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12And somewhere on the south coast, preferably in the Chichester area.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16And all for a total budget of £500,000.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Now, Chichester is pricey, so I think a property lying vacant
0:03:19 > 0:03:24and ready to be loved again might give Fiona much more for her money.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Which is why I've brought her here.
0:03:26 > 0:03:32Eleven miles down the coast in Havant is this large detached house
0:03:32 > 0:03:34sitting on a quarter of an acre of mature gardens.
0:03:34 > 0:03:40It's on the market currently for £475,000.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44- Right.- Let's see what you think.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47As vacant houses can be harder to sell than those that are occupied,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51this 1930s house has been lying empty for four months.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56It has four bedrooms, one large reception room at the front, and another at the back.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01You could open it all up, have this as a bit of a snug. But it would be quite a cosy space.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02Mmm.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04And these curious little round windows.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07They are a little bit hello sailor, though,
0:04:07 > 0:04:12- aren't they?- Well, you're down by the coast. Come on, Fiona! But no, I think there are possibilities here.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14But next door is the kitchen.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Come and have a look at this.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Maybe put your creative hat on.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Right, Fiona.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24It's very reminiscent of the kitchen I had in 1970!
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Well, yeah. There are probably collectors that would go for that.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31It's a bit small, really.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36I have visions of having a nice kitchen-breakfast room, sort of thing.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39You could go that way with the whole thing.
0:04:39 > 0:04:45A sunroom-type breakfast room, going out across the back.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Yes. Loads of light.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Upstairs, as well as the four bedrooms,
0:04:50 > 0:04:55there's a small bathroom and shower room, but plenty of space for something much grander.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Right, now. This is the biggest, bedroom wise.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03But of course it doesn't have the en suite.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Yeah, I noticed that immediately.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08But it could have one very easily.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Knocking through there?
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Knocking through there. Come and have a look at this.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- That's quite a good size.- It would be a great size, for an en suite.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21In here, what about this as a dressing room? Currently a sort of sewing area.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I'm quite happy to lose a bedroom to get an en suite.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28And certainly when she comes I don't get a look-in in the bathroom!
0:05:28 > 0:05:32To give Fiona a clear idea of costs, we asked a local architect
0:05:32 > 0:05:35to pop round and look at some of the things we discussed.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38She priced up knocking through from the master to create an en suite,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42and extending the kitchen out into the garden.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- To give you a rough idea, around about £25,000 to £30,000.- Oh!
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- I thought it would be more than that. - It's a pretty good ballpark figure.
0:05:49 > 0:05:55So that's £30,000 on top of the 475 asking price.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00But that is, like everything else...up for negotiation, exactly.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04So, what do you think now you have had a look around inside?
0:06:04 > 0:06:08I can see it would make a super kitchen breakfast-room, yeah.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It's exactly the sort of property I'm looking for.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- There you go. The only obvious thing to point out is I suppose... - TRAFFIC NOISE
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Yes, exactly. I was being a bit polite there.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21- You can't avoid it. - I can see it would be a lot more expensive in a quiet location.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Well, exactly. So, the search isn't over yet. Let's go inside.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30I'm glad Fiona isn't put off by the prospect of taking on a bit of a project,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33as the rewards can be immense both financially and aesthetically.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38Interior designer Georgina Cave found this out for herself
0:06:38 > 0:06:42when she took on the restoration of this Victorian garden flat in west London
0:06:42 > 0:06:45that had been lying empty for some months.
0:06:45 > 0:06:51By the time we came to buy it, it was a better price, so that was nice.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53It was empty. Even better.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58And I walked in and I thought, "Yes, I can make this work."
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I could see exactly what needed to be done.
0:07:02 > 0:07:09Georgina had to be very creative with the layout to maximise the living space for her two teenagers.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14I wanted them to have really good-sized bedrooms. And their own bathrooms.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21I like the fact that I can shut off spaces so if the kids have got friends over
0:07:21 > 0:07:26they can just get away from us as much as we can get away from them,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and that everyone has got their freedom within the property.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31It's not even that big.
0:07:31 > 0:07:37Our bedroom is just sort of quite intense and dark, but really cosy and lovely.
0:07:37 > 0:07:43And I love to bath, and my husband loves to shower, so we made the walk-in bathroom.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44It's just gorgeous.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47The outlook over the garden, that's what I love the most.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51And being able to work here in the day
0:07:51 > 0:07:55and just have daylight coming in at me is just glorious.
0:07:55 > 0:08:02All the living space, I realised, could be overlooking the garden and the lovely monastery beyond.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07I think if we'd bought the property fully renovated like this,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11we'd have been spending at least another £250,000.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17It was absolutely everything I thought it would be, and if not better.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22It reflects my personality and I hope my family's personality really well.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25And it's a real home.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Tracing the owners of empty homes and getting them to do something about them
0:08:34 > 0:08:38is the job of the local council's empty property officer.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43Dave Carter's beat is the 30 square miles of Enfield, north London,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45where there are over 1,000 long-term empty properties.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Today he's paying a visit to one of his longest ongoing cases.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54We are going to a property which has been very problematic for me for a number of years.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00It's been subject to arson attacks and local youths have been breaking in.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03The neighbours are getting exasperated
0:09:03 > 0:09:06and we need to try and sort this problem out as soon as we can.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10The property in question is this large three-bedroom semi.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12The owner, Vince Marciano
0:09:12 > 0:09:16bought it 17 years ago for £85,000,
0:09:16 > 0:09:21and despite spending about the same on renovations, has never finished it or moved in.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25Initially I thought I'd buy a house that needed some work doing to it.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29But you don't realise how much time and money you actually need.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I've got a family to bring up as well, you know, and I've got to work.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36I've got to pay the bills there and have got to try and pay bills here.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39What starts off as a good idea ends up being an absolute nightmare.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Dave has given Vince plenty of time to fix the house up himself,
0:09:43 > 0:09:51but unfortunately, after 17 years of good intentions and broken promises, his patience is now at an end.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Given that he's got four weeks left,
0:09:53 > 0:09:57it's about time I paid him a visit just to see what progress he has made.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01I'm going to really have to go through the house piece by piece
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and see whether I think he is going to meet that time frame.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Hello?
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Because the work has been dragging on so long,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Dave has been forced to reluctantly take action and issue a deadline.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16If Vince doesn't finish the house in a month, the council will take it off him.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- Are you busy?- Yeah, always.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Nice to see you again. What have you got to show me?
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- Loads.- Loads? Come on, then.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26I've had all the ceilings taken down.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- All replastered.- You're still working on the electrics.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33The electrics are done, there are just a few bits we are trying to tidy up.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38- What about the walls?- They're going to be skimmed next week.
0:10:38 > 0:10:44- And the floorboards?- The floorboards will be the last thing to go down. - Can we have a look outside?
0:10:44 > 0:10:49- All the rendering is being done in one go, once the windows are in. - That guttering's not pretty, is it?
0:10:49 > 0:10:52And your flat roof, have you got new felting up there?
0:10:52 > 0:10:56- That's started. That's just got another layer to go on it. - And the tiling as well?
0:10:56 > 0:11:01That's just got to be repaired, yeah. Cos the lead flashing was stolen from the roof.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04OK, let's go upstairs, then.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Right. So it's still exposed up here.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16We've pulled this down because it got quite bad, with that downpour of rain.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20If you look, that's where the lead has been taken out.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I'm going to be honest with you, Vince. I'm not happy.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40I can see you have made progress, but I think there's an awful lot of work still to be done.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Do you think you're going to get this done in a month?
0:11:43 > 0:11:45The decorating will be done.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48It will get to the stage of just being decorated. It will be done.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- Are you sure?- It will be done.- As it stands at the moment, I think...
0:11:52 > 0:11:54I would certainly advise
0:11:54 > 0:11:58that we can't give you any more discretion.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Get help to finish it off quick.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02I can get help. I can get 20 people down here.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06Probably get it done overnight. I haven't got the money to cover that.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11But I don't want you to force me into a position where ... I don't want to take the house off you.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16I don't like coming down hard. We've got on well over the years, but if it's not done,
0:12:16 > 0:12:21I'm going to have to make some serious decisions, and they may be decisions that you don't like.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24So, the ball's in your court. Let's see if we can get it done.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30At the end of the day, it's got to be down to the last minute.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32We're going to come back and make a decision on
0:12:32 > 0:12:39the day as to whether we're going to give him a little bit of extra time which he is saying is all he needs.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41I hope the council don't take it off us.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44We've got this far and I've put quite a lot of money into it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48I'd rather get it finished rather than close it up again and leave it.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52So, with just four weeks left and the clock ticking,
0:12:52 > 0:12:57will Vince be able to at long last finish his house, or will Dave have to reluctantly take it over?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00We'll find out later.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05If you think you live near a building that could be vacant, then why not contact your local council?
0:13:05 > 0:13:10They in turn can notify the empty-property officer, who will investigate further.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Fiona Power is quitting her riverside flat in London
0:13:18 > 0:13:22and wants to upsize in her retirement and moved to the coast.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24She's looking for a house with a minimum of three bedrooms
0:13:24 > 0:13:26so her daughter, Caroline, can come and stay.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30She wants a good-sized garden with enough room for a conservatory,
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and somewhere probably on the south coast, close to Chichester.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38She's got a budget of £500,000,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42but as she's looking in a prime area, I'm showing her houses in need of a bit of TLC
0:13:42 > 0:13:44in the hope we can clinch a good deal.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49The first house was close to the sea and seemed full of promise.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51They are a little bit hello sailor, though, aren't they?
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Well, you're down by the coast. Come on, Fiona!
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Let's hope this next one is just as inspiring.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03Seven miles from Chichester, it's a 1930s semi with a very big twist.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Right, then, here we are, in the rain.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11- What do you think?- It's a semi. - It is a semi.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16- But, you get both halves of it.- Oh!
0:14:16 > 0:14:21So in fact, you get two semis, and it becomes a detached property.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- How about that?- OK, yes, it's getting more interesting.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27It's on the market for £500,000.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30What, for both?
0:14:30 > 0:14:35For both. But there is a twist. I shall reveal all later, as to how you may afford the whole thing.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39OK. And we've got a few ideas for you. I'll be patient.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Bear with me, Fiona. Bear with me. Come on, let's get out of the rain.
0:14:42 > 0:14:48It's been empty for seven months, ever since it got too much for the elderly lady who lived here.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53But her daughter still lives next door, and is now keen to sell them both.
0:14:55 > 0:14:56Come on in.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Now, then. 1938, this was built.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03These doors are absolutely original to it.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05- Actually, I like those.- Yeah?
0:15:05 > 0:15:11Now we have to remember that all that we see in here is duplicated next door.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16- It's like one of those kiddies' inkblot pictures.- Think twice.
0:15:16 > 0:15:23- Exactly.- I can't quite imagine these doubled up, unless that chimney goes all together.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Mum is clearly struggling a bit, what do you think, Caroline?
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I just think the garden is amazing as you walk in, so I can imagine it
0:15:30 > 0:15:33might be quite nice to sit with your gin and tonic and look out...
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Well, wait until you see the back garden.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Because the back garden is very similarly kept.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- Bearing in mind this has been in the same family for- ..ages.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46Yes, pretty much. Let's go through and see what you make of the rest of it.
0:15:46 > 0:15:51Now, the lobby area, obviously, again you've two of them.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53And, you don't need two sets of stairs.
0:15:53 > 0:15:59So that would mean that you could extend the living room out, and have that bigger living room?
0:15:59 > 0:16:06It would answer your question in terms of it not being a thin box. Because all this could go.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Yeah, I can see that would work.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Losing all this would also create a lot more space upstairs,
0:16:12 > 0:16:17so the current twin bedrooms could possibly be made bigger, or even benefit from an en suite.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Add the two identical bedrooms from the other side of the semi,
0:16:21 > 0:16:25and Fiona could end up with a large, three to four-bedroom detached house.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Now, this is currently something of a dining area, I suppose.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I'm sure you're going to show me the kitchen in a minute,
0:16:31 > 0:16:37but it looks small, and I could see it being knocked in and possibly even into the room on the other side.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- Yeah?- Have a really big kitchen breakfast room.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45Well, let's have a look at the kitchen, it's right through here. You're right, it's very small,
0:16:45 > 0:16:52but a fantastic example, if you're into historic kitchens, of a very early, fitted kitchen.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- SHE LAUGHS - But you don't want a historic kitchen.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56No, this would be a perfect utility room.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Yeah, well, if you went for a kitchen area here.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03But, when we get outside, you'll see there are two wings -
0:17:03 > 0:17:06this is one of them, and on the other side there's another one that pushes out.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10- There's a lot of wasted space in between the two.- Sunroom?
0:17:10 > 0:17:18- Could be.- Or extend...- Extend out and up. Again, we can think about how much that might cost you.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21But, there are all kinds of possibilities with this.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24But it's where it is and the plot that it's on which is quite exciting.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26I'm just seeing pounds signs at the moment.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Yeah, there are a few of those to contend with, but we'll see.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36To price up for a sunroom extension and combining the two halves
0:17:36 > 0:17:43of the house into one big one, we asked a local architect to measure up and give us some costings.
0:17:43 > 0:17:49He also suggested another little scheme that could potentially pay for the whole lot - and more.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54In terms of trying to afford any work on this one, here's the clever bit.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59Behind that old shed there, the garden goes round,
0:17:59 > 0:18:05incorporating a very old farm outbuilding, effectively.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Now, our architect has suggested that, because of the premium on
0:18:08 > 0:18:13building plots, that could, potentially, become a building plot.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Now, the idea, and again, it's local knowledge and I can't vouch for it personally,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19but what he's suggesting is that,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22because you'd effectively convert two properties in to one,
0:18:22 > 0:18:29the idea is that there's still potentially scope for one other dwelling on this site.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33He's saying it could be worth in excess of £200,000 as a plot.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Which would pay for all of that.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40More than. He's saying around 100,000 to do that.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46- I would have actually said a bit more.- Depending on what you wanted to do with it. But, that's the idea.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Yes, it's asking price is £500,000, it's at the very top end
0:18:50 > 0:18:57of the budget, but, if the plot idea is feasible and viable,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00you could well be within striking distance of having
0:19:00 > 0:19:03the money to convert it, and actually making some on the side.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06So, plenty of food for thought there,
0:19:06 > 0:19:11but will it prove a bit too much for Fiona to take on as her retirement project?
0:19:11 > 0:19:13We'll find out later.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Back in Enfield, one of Dave Carter's longest running cases
0:19:17 > 0:19:20is about to be resolved after 17 tortuous years.
0:19:20 > 0:19:26Four weeks ago, he paid a visit to Vince Marciano, and gave him a final deadline to get his house finished.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32I don't want you to force me into a position where I've got to take... I don't want to take the house of you.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36The month is now up, and there have been some obvious developments.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Well, I've moved in,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44I'm living here. It's causing me a lot of problems at home, put it that way.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47This just needs decorating and a bit of skirting and flooring.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Four weeks ago, the house was still practically derelict.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55This is one of the bedrooms, which is all prepared.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00This is going to require plastering of the ceiling and painting of the walls and a bit of skirting board
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and some floor covering. This is the front room.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08This is going to need a bit more work as far as plastering the front bay.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10This just needs decorating as well.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13They should see quite a difference, because we've been working day and night.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17And we've been finishing about 12, 1 o'clock.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21It's only decorating, the heating system will take probably
0:20:21 > 0:20:23four or five days to put in.
0:20:23 > 0:20:30The kitchen, once it's here, will be placed and fixed into position.
0:20:30 > 0:20:36But despite the improvements, it's still far from finished and Dave is clearly expecting much more.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Ideally, we're hoping it's going to be all ready and furnished and occupied.
0:20:40 > 0:20:47The bare minimum is a fully functioning kitchen, bathroom and heating system, really.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50But we're expecting a lot more than that.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Vince is hoping that he's done enough to earn a stay of execution.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58But after 17 years, will it be too little, too late?
0:20:58 > 0:21:04I'd like them to give me three months and that way, I guarantee they'll be done.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08But whether they will or not, I don't know.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- Hello. - Hi, Vince, nice to see you again.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Because this visit is so crucial,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Dave is joined today by a council senior surveyor and an enforcement officer.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23- You've got to bring all the plumbing into here, haven't you? - It is actually on, though.- Is it?
0:21:23 > 0:21:27They meticulously tour the house, ticking off everything against the schedule of works
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Vince agreed to complete by this date.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35- This isn't fixed, is it?- Yeah, they're on.- They're not connected.- I know that.- Be careful of the plaster.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40Having finished the tour, the three head off to make their final decision.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- Bye.- Bye.
0:21:44 > 0:21:50I'm just lost for words, really, because I was hoping I would be able to come out of the house and say,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54well, in my mind, I'd be able to say one way or the other.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58And I still haven't got that. There's still no kitchen in there, there's no bathroom.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04He's claiming that he's living there, he says he's working on it 24 hours.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08It's just such an enormous decision, taking somebody's house away from them.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14I'm hoping it's just not a final decision and they'll say, "Yeah, you're OK to finish it."
0:22:14 > 0:22:15I just hope they don't take it off me.
0:22:15 > 0:22:22The authorities have given Mr Marciano a schedule of works to complete within three months.
0:22:22 > 0:22:29If he falls behind at any point, the building will be purchased from him and become council property.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34Dave hopes for a favourable outcome and will continue his mission to take on other neglected properties,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38irrespective of what state they're in, and bring them back to occupancy.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48Angel Guerra did exactly that when he fell in love with this 200 year-old church in Uxbridge
0:22:48 > 0:22:51that had been abandoned for nine years.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54I never got any keys, there were no keys.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56It was all boarded up, it was a derelict building.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59There was even a safe in here with no keys
0:22:59 > 0:23:04and I couldn't throw it away without opening it, so I became a safe-cracker for a day!
0:23:07 > 0:23:11As with any renovation, he first had to submit plans.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Only this was no ordinary project.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19We had to wait for the Church Commissioners to deconsecrate the ground.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23It took over a year to actually complete the deal.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28The restoration, basically, started with the roof.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33I thought I'd put a new roof on because obviously I don't want any water coming in.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37A lot of stuff had been taken away.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42The original features. But whatever was left here, I've kept.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46I've saved all the pews, used them for different things.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Hand rails going up to the bedrooms, that's made out of the tops of pews.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55The font was a really interesting piece which I didn't really know what to do with.
0:23:55 > 0:24:01So I decided to have half of it in the passageway and half of it in the toilet as a sink.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03So I made a little water feature on one side
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and a sink on the other side, which seems to have worked out quite well.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11It took him nearly 10 years to finish, and he has no real idea
0:24:11 > 0:24:14of how much it's now worth, as he's no intention of selling.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18In central London, you calculate stuff by square feet.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24If you calculate this place five square feet, compared with the house
0:24:24 > 0:24:28across the road, it would be worth over £2 million.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30It's just a lovely place to live.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34I don't think I am the owner, I'm the keeper.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39The only problem I have is when I go to other people's houses, I think, this is a bit small!
0:24:39 > 0:24:43But actually coming here, I feel like I've come home.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46So it's taken a while to get there,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48but it's a lovely feeling.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56So if you long to turn an empty building into your future home,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59here are a few pointers as to how to get started.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04If you spot somewhere that looks vacant, check it with the council's empty-property officer,
0:25:04 > 0:25:08who may be able to contact the owner on your behalf.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12And check online for dates of forthcoming property actions,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15as bargain empty houses often go under the hammer.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Fiona Power and her daughter, Caroline,
0:25:23 > 0:25:29have been looking for a large detached house in the Chichester area for Mum to retire to.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34Despite her generous £500,000 budget, the area we've been looking in is very expensive.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38So I've shown them two empty properties to give her a chance of getting more house for her money.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41The question is, did either of them capture Fiona's heart?
0:25:41 > 0:25:46Well, the property in Havant, I thought offered a few possibilities.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50I loved that house - if you could have picked it up and dropped it down somewhere else.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- I was really quite excited about the house itself. - What about you, Caroline?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Yeah, the property in Havant, I absolutely loved the garden.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00I thought it was a lovely space and a really nice property.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04But I know that that's not really where you're looking to live.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08It's not so much that, it was the fact that you went out into the garden and the noise
0:26:08 > 0:26:09from the motorway hit you straightaway.
0:26:09 > 0:26:15The A3. Yes. Well, we do need them, but they are a pain if you're living next to one, it has to be said.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17OK, well, then we tried something a little bit different.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Further north, up in Midhurst.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Quite a challenge to figure out how it would look
0:26:23 > 0:26:29at the end of the day, with the two semis that could become a big family home. Was it such a challenge?
0:26:29 > 0:26:36I think the problem with that one is that you had used up all the budget just to buy the property.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41And I thought it was probably a bit too high risk to assume you're going to get planning permission.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- OK, so what have you really learned, do you think?- First of all, it's opened my eyes
0:26:45 > 0:26:48to not being too confined to one particular area.
0:26:48 > 0:26:54I've also found that the advice about what you could do and what it would cost
0:26:54 > 0:27:00has given me a much better idea when I go to look at other properties, which I will do in the future.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Now, it can often seem like a frustrating journey
0:27:06 > 0:27:09that will eventually take you to the front door of an empty building
0:27:09 > 0:27:12that may indeed satisfy all of your needs.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16But take it from me, if you get it right, it really is well worth it.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:34 > 0:27:37E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk