0:00:02 > 0:00:04There are nearly a million homes abandoned in the UK just
0:00:04 > 0:00:08waiting for someone to come along and breathe life back into them.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Whether it's a tired semi or a rambling mansion, we're on the search for Britain's empty homes.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Wherever you live in the UK, chances are you are
0:00:26 > 0:00:30living pretty close to a property that is lying empty and unloved.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35But these abandoned houses can be turned into homes again, and we are going to show you how.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39First I will be taking a couple of property hunters round two vacant
0:00:39 > 0:00:41houses waiting to be turned back into homes.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46If you could knock through this wall, potentially make it larger, it makes it very interesting.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48We find out why some of these places are lying empty,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51and meet the people on a mission to change all that.
0:00:51 > 0:00:57I want answers as to why he has got three properties like that empty. I am going to do something about it.
0:00:58 > 0:01:03And we will be checking out the successful restoration of two formerly forgotten dwellings.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10Now, a property that has been left empty and abandoned for a while may indeed have lost its allure
0:01:10 > 0:01:14for many buyers, but with a bit of imagination, some courage and a lot
0:01:14 > 0:01:19of hard graft, they can be turned back into stunning family homes.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Martin Worsley and Louise Allhusen currently rent a two-bed flat in
0:01:24 > 0:01:28south-west London, and are looking to buy their first place together.
0:01:28 > 0:01:36We have been officially going out for about 18 months, but we have known each other for nearer eight years.
0:01:36 > 0:01:42I have been a firm believer in charity cases, supporting the needy, and looking after Lou is one of
0:01:42 > 0:01:44those opportunities to give back to society.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50When love blossomed, Louise moved from the country with her dog Meg into Martin's bachelor pad.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56Which is absolutely gorgeous, but it is underneath the flight path, which makes it a little bit noisy.
0:01:56 > 0:01:594.30 in the morning, they start.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Louise works mainly from home, but Martin works in the City, so
0:02:02 > 0:02:08they are also looking for something close to London, putting them in expensive commuter-belt territory.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Not that this has lowered their sights.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15I have always been a fan of Victorian and Georgian houses,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17similar to the ones in Pride and Prejudice.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Something that has a lot of character.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23The main thing is space. We both love just big, open-plan houses.
0:02:23 > 0:02:30And either have a big garden, or have a small garden but access straight into fields.
0:02:30 > 0:02:36OK, so they want a period property, lots of space inside and out, and within an hour's commute of London.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Which means even with their generous budget,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41it is going to be a challenge.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44I am hoping to convince them that an abandoned property
0:02:44 > 0:02:50they can spend money turning into their dream home is the way to go. Which is why I've brought them here.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55Crossways House is a rather dilapidated property in the idyllic Hampshire village of Grayshott.
0:02:55 > 0:03:02It is Victorian, and at just under an hour from London by train, it is perfect for Martin's commute.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07This place is one of the oldest buildings in the village, about 200 years old.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11That aside, it hasn't really been touched since the '30s.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15So there are loads and loads and loads of beautiful original features in here.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20The previous occupant was a protected tenant who lived here all their life.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23It has now been standing empty for seven months, and is on the market
0:03:23 > 0:03:28for £300,000, exactly half Martin and Louise's budget.
0:03:28 > 0:03:34So I am hoping its potential and its colourful history will be enough to win them over.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39In terms of history, the Post Office right next door was frequented by Arthur Conan Doyle.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Bernard Shaw used to live just down the road. So you would be following in some quite
0:03:43 > 0:03:48illustrious footsteps if you became residents of Grayshott, there is no doubt about that.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51I like it. I like the features in particular, the fireplace.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54It is bigger than it looks from the outside.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57And it is great seeing the natural light coming in.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00High ceilings. On the right tracks.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03On the right tracks, brilliant! There is lots more to explore.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Come and have a look through here.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10Now, back through the hallway, a very interesting cellar down there, guys. That is quite interesting.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Very damp, but full height.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Come into here, Louise, because I am thinking this would be the kitchen.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19You have lovely brick reveals around the doorway here.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21This place has been all kinds of things.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26It has been a laundry, it's been a cafe, it's been a B&B.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30This goes through to a kind of utility area.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36I do like the features, but if you could knock through this wall, make it larger, very interesting.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40The upstairs is currently split into two entirely separate areas.
0:04:40 > 0:04:46The main section is reached by the stairs in the hallway, which lead up into three bedrooms.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Then there are the stairs at the back.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51We plans which will make sense of this
0:04:51 > 0:04:53weird geography. Come and have a look up here.
0:04:53 > 0:05:00'At the top of these stairs is the second area, containing a loo, a bathroom and this.'
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- Wow.- This is enormous, isn't it?
0:05:03 > 0:05:06It just goes on and on and on.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10This is, of course, now separate to the rest of the upstairs that we've seen,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12next door through that wall.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15To make sense of it, have a look at these.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18These plans we've had drawn up to describe what could happen
0:05:18 > 0:05:21if you were to reconfigure the whole thing.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26'OK, so, we are currently here, and the wall that separates the two areas is here.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31'By removing it, the whole of the upstairs would become connected by a single corridor,
0:05:31 > 0:05:35'and they will end up with a pretty substantial four-bedroom house.'
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- Still interesting? - Yes.- Definitely.
0:05:38 > 0:05:39A challenge.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41You're going to be in London paying for it!
0:05:41 > 0:05:43You're going to be here working.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45We have got a perfect little office space for you.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Come with me. Come and have a look outside.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57OK, in fairness to you, Louise, it is not the acres that you perhaps
0:05:57 > 0:06:01might have dreamt of, but in the context of a village location, it does offer something that
0:06:01 > 0:06:04could be quite private and again, very, very pretty.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06But there's the rear elevation, Martin.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11- I wasn't expecting the corrugated iron.- No, there is something of a tin shed about it.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16But I did bring you out here to promise you somewhere to work, and what I am suggesting is this.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20It is an old laundry, but it would offer you somewhere to actually go to work.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22My commute!
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Let's do the commute, shall we? Come on. Follow me through here.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30I think this is quite a useful little space, really.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35I mean, it would be a really cosy place to work.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Obviously it needs a new roof and a few other bits and pieces, probably a damp course.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41At least it's separate from home.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Before taking on a project like this,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49you should always get a building expert to have a good look around.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54We asked a local architect to work up plans and figures for everything, including combining the utility area
0:06:54 > 0:06:59with the kitchen, renovating the large cellar, removing a staircase
0:06:59 > 0:07:05and uniting the two upstairs areas, making good the exterior and turning the old laundry into an office.
0:07:05 > 0:07:11All in all, he reckoned the whole lot could be done for £150,000.
0:07:11 > 0:07:18Given the basic cost of the building, which is currently on the market for £300,000, for £450,000
0:07:18 > 0:07:22you could end up with something quite interesting, and you have still
0:07:22 > 0:07:27got 150 grand left over from your proposed maximum spend of 600 grand.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- Excellent.- Interesting?- Yes, very.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- Very much so.- Good. Worth coming?
0:07:32 > 0:07:34- Definitely.- Excellent!
0:07:34 > 0:07:37I am glad Martin and Louise aren't put off by the prospect
0:07:37 > 0:07:40of breathing new life back into this lovely old house.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It may seem daunting, but the rewards can be immense.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50Across the country are some spectacular homes crumbling slowly into ruins.
0:07:50 > 0:07:57Two years ago, Julie Levack and husband Alastair stumbled across one such place just outside Tunbridge
0:07:57 > 0:08:03Wells, and saw their chance to preserve a piece of heritage whilst creating an incredible home.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07When I first viewed the house, you have to appreciate it was in a terrible state.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11But you just had this huge emotional feeling that this could be home.
0:08:11 > 0:08:17Built in 1720, Holden House was once home to Jane Austen's uncle.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But by the time Julie discovered it, it had been lying empty for six years.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26It was obvious in its day it had been this fabulous, wonderful house, and had just been left.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30I could see right through the dirt, the mess,
0:08:30 > 0:08:38everything that was broken, and just for a moment, just one moment, you could just imagine it finished.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Just that tiny glimpse of what the house could be was enough,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45and Julie took on a massive year-long renovation project.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50We had several surveyors look at this property, and every single one came back with the same thing, that there
0:08:50 > 0:08:53was no way that this property would have survived more than two years.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56The whole structure of the property was just falling apart.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00And it wouldn't be here today if we hadn't bought it.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08We purchased it for £1.3 million, and have spent about a million pounds renovating it.
0:09:08 > 0:09:15We recently had the property valued at £4 million, so over £1.5 million for a year's work.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20It's worth a few grey hairs and split nails, I would say!
0:09:20 > 0:09:24It is hard work, and it is stressful, but it is something special, not just
0:09:24 > 0:09:27for yourself, for your family, but for the future.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32It is a piece of history that you have kept, and you have restored, and that is something special.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Properties like Holden House are part of the nation's heritage,
0:09:35 > 0:09:41and stopping them from falling into rack and ruin is a constant battle against the rigours of time.
0:09:41 > 0:09:47Fortunately, every abandoned home in the country, large or small, has a champion in the shape of the Empty
0:09:47 > 0:09:53Property Officers, whose job it is to investigate abandoned buildings and get them occupied again.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Paul Palmer's beat is the most expensive
0:09:55 > 0:10:00piece of real estate in Britain, the eight square miles of Westminster.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Here we are in the heart of glamorous Mayfair.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07This is really the home of London's most expensive properties.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11It's a very glamorous area, not just in London, but worldwide.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Everybody's heard of it. And yet here we still have the problem of empty properties.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Today he's investigating a block of derelict properties that have
0:10:19 > 0:10:22been left to fall into a tragic state of disrepair.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27These are four beautiful, period mews properties in the heart of Pimlico.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31They were bought about 12 years ago by a very large property developer,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34but about ten years ago they became vacant.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Over that ten-year period there's been a whole mixture of stopping and starting.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41There's been squatters in the properties.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Planning permission's been put in place but then not acted upon.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47The latest complaint is to do with rubbish.
0:10:47 > 0:10:53The site is being used as an illegal dump, which can attract vermin, so Paul has issued an official warning
0:10:53 > 0:10:57to make the owners clean it up, and is now heading off to make sure they've complied.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01As you can see, there's still rubbish lying around, which is
0:11:01 > 0:11:03symptomatic of empty properties, a shame.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08About three years ago, they came along and absolutely ruined these properties.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10They came in, they stripped out everything inside.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14All the internal walls, partitions, the roofs have gone.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18They're literally just shells, almost ready to fall down. It's tragic, what they've done.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22It really is awful and it's a real eyesore, and it's such a shame for the neighbours.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26I moved in ten years ago and the mews had just been purchased and
0:11:26 > 0:11:29we were all excited it was going to be restored for people to live in.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33We're ten years on, it's deteriorated to this condition.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36About three years ago, they ripped off the roofs.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40They angled the corrugated roof so all the water comes down onto the
0:11:40 > 0:11:43wall and my conservatory, water leaks into my study.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46And as Paul slips into his role of detective,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49he spots someone else who might shed new light on his investigation.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Hi. I'm the empty property officer for Westminster.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58I've just come down to have a look at these properties because there's been fly-tipping of rubbish.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Have you seen anybody round here lately?- No, not at all.- Right.
0:12:01 > 0:12:06- I haven't seen anybody working on it for I don't know how long.- Really?
0:12:06 > 0:12:11And people are going to come here and fling stuff over the side there and everything, you know.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- Which is what's happened. - Yeah.- A lot of the neighbours
0:12:14 > 0:12:17have complained to us and we are now looking to take compulsory purchase action.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Something's got to be done.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It's disgusting, it really is.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26It sounds like the absent owners may have ignored Paul's official
0:12:26 > 0:12:30warning, but there's only one way he can find out for sure.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32It's fairly well secure.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37They've put this boarding up all the way around, which makes it difficult to see in.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41The only way to get access to see if they complied with the notice
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and got rid of the rubbish is by talking to a neighbour,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47see if I can gain access and have a look over their balcony.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49That's what I'm going to do now.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56Good news is the rubbish has gone. They've complied with our notice, which is fantastic news.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57For the residents at least.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02The problem of the empty buildings still remains, so we're still pursuing a compulsory purchase,
0:13:02 > 0:13:09so there will be a happy conclusion. When these properties get brought back to their former glory
0:13:09 > 0:13:13and are occupied, that will be a fantastically happy day for everybody.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18Paul's ultimate goal is to free lovely old properties like these from their cycle of neglect,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22so they can be matched with new owners willing to breathe new life into them.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27So if you think there's a property lying empty near you, why not contact your local council, who in
0:13:27 > 0:13:30turn can notify the empty property officer, who can look into it.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41Martin and Louise and their dog Meg want to escape from London and into the country.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43They're looking for a period property
0:13:43 > 0:13:46with plenty of space and within an hour's commute from London.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49They've got a total budget of £600,000
0:13:49 > 0:13:54and I'm hoping to convince them that a vacant property will give them much more bang for their buck.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59The first house I showed them had a price tag of £300,000 and it's certainly whetted their appetite.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Definitely potential here.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08But I have another gem up my sleeve just begging for new owners to come along and fall in love with it.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15This three-bedroom semi-detached cottage is right in the heart of the Hampshire countryside.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19It's six miles from a station and handy for Martin's commute to London.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23It's only been empty for a month, since the previous owner relocated
0:14:23 > 0:14:26for work, so it's in a far better condition than the first property.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31It's also well within their 600 grand total budget.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34This is on the market for £475,000.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- Wow!- The setting is stunning. Right in the middle of the woods.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Yeah.- Very rural.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45And unlike our earlier property, this one you could actually kind of move into.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- Oh, right.- And you do get an awful lot with it. Come with me.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54Larger neighbouring properties can sell for well over £700,000,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57so at 475, this one is a bit of a bargain.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02Built in 1850, then extended in the 1950s, this semi-detached cottage is
0:15:02 > 0:15:07a little on the small side, but I think there's plenty more room here for expansion.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09It's very airy. It's very light.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14Lots of bright light coming in, which is great, and once again, the ceilings are surprisingly tall.
0:15:14 > 0:15:21What we're standing in now is effectively a 1950s extension, hence the greater proportions.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25As we go through, the old bit, well, it's all there too. Come and have a look at this.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30So, you can see by the height of the ceilings that this is the old cottagey bit.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Here's your diner bit and in there,
0:15:32 > 0:15:36not a badly appointed galley kitchen.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Certainly, you could walk in and just get on with it if you wanted to.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41It's a nice, once again, airy space.
0:15:41 > 0:15:46I like the idea that we can just walk straight out into the garden, having the little back door there.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Upstairs, there's a new bathroom,
0:15:52 > 0:15:57three reasonable-size bedrooms,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and a shower room, all of which are perfectly liveable,
0:16:00 > 0:16:04but it's the garden that's the real jewel in this property's crown.
0:16:04 > 0:16:09So, as you can see, it is technically a semi-detached.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Right? Your bit is the white bit and the neighbours are the cream bit.
0:16:12 > 0:16:18But you also get an acre with it.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Of that woodland, OK?
0:16:21 > 0:16:27So you've got a garden with quite an interesting topology to it and geography. So it's not all flat.
0:16:27 > 0:16:34You do get an acre of fun for Meg, a bit of garden for you and a very, very quiet spot.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40And with so much land, the great thing about this house is there's plenty of room to extend.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46Our local architect came to measure up and give us an idea of exactly how far and for how much.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Now, in terms of size, you can extend this again.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53You see that gable there, projecting out?
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Imagine that alongside what you're looking at.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00That's would you could get away with in terms of extending it.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Does it already have permission?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It's subject to the relevant planning permissions,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06but I wouldn't think it would be a problem.
0:17:06 > 0:17:13- And the estimated cost for that, somewhere in the region of about 75,000.- OK.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16So for 550,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20you would end up with a very substantial house in an acre within an hour of London.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Absolutely amazing. Especially the acre of woodland put on to this is just huge.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28And very exciting with such a great garden.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33Potential for the planning permission for extra space within the building. Very exciting.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36It's a difficult fit, getting people that want to be so close to
0:17:36 > 0:17:41the capital for obvious reasons, because we're up against commuter-belt territory.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44But because it's empty, because it needs a bit doing to it,
0:17:44 > 0:17:49- yours, well within budget and all this land.- And the woodland.- Yes.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Martin and Louise seem just as enthusiastic about this property as
0:17:53 > 0:17:57the first, so are they convinced an empty property is for them?
0:17:57 > 0:18:02We'll find out later. In the meantime, back in the borough of Westminster, our empty
0:18:02 > 0:18:08property officer Paul Palmer is on his tireless mission to turn empty properties back into homes again.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15He's heading off to an upmarket mews in Belgravia, after residents' reports of a property
0:18:15 > 0:18:18that appears to be unoccupied and is starting to deteriorate.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22So, first impressions, it's a lovely little mews, but unfortunately this
0:18:22 > 0:18:24property, well, it looks very sorry for itself.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Neglected, probably hasn't been maintained for quite some time.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Very untidy, very much empty and very much unloved.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41First, despite what they look like, you always have to give it a knock just in case.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44You never know, we have had a few incidents where
0:18:44 > 0:18:47properties much worse than this had somebody in them, so you have to be careful.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50But that sounded hollow, so I don't think there's anybody in.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52There's quite a build-up of post,
0:18:52 > 0:18:58which I shall push through, because it's a security issue if nothing else.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03It doesn't look like they do much maintenance judging by the peeling paint here.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08The lead is coming away from the top of the bay there, which is obviously
0:19:08 > 0:19:11going to have an impact on the property.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Paint's peeling away off
0:19:14 > 0:19:18what look like the original windows, which isn't very attractive.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Good grief!
0:19:23 > 0:19:30It's just jammed full inside here of plastic chairs and boxes and all sorts of junk.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33So, clearly not used for living in.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Nice little garden growing at the front here.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40All in all, it's a bit of a mess.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47As I suspected, clearly empty for a while, not very nice, not very well-maintained.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51And if I was a neighbour, I wouldn't be too happy.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Satisfied that the property is unoccupied, Paul takes some
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- up-to-date photos for the file. - That's a nice one.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Keep looking at this one next door.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02But as he does so, he notices something suspicious.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04I've got a funny feeling about this.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07In fact...
0:20:07 > 0:20:11It's got the same alarm company as next door.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22It looks a bit rough. I think what I ought to do is
0:20:22 > 0:20:27put a call in back to the office, see if somebody can have a look for me.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30I'm just down in that mews in Belgravia I was going to.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33But I'm a bit suspicious about 32 next door.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38Would you do me a huge favour and just quickly look on Land Registry for me, see who owns it?
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Yes. That's the same owner.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Oh, right, OK. Well I thought as much.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Well, as he's got the two properties, would you do me another huge favour?
0:20:47 > 0:20:52Just quickly check on planning for me, see if there's anything there, if he's got any plans for the property?
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Yes, he has got planning and it also includes number 28.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- 28?- Yes, yes.
0:20:59 > 0:21:05So, this guy now actually owns three properties down this mews and they all appear to be empty.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07- That's unbelievable. - Yes, it appears so.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Brilliant. Lucy, thanks very much.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12That's useful information.
0:21:12 > 0:21:13I came here expecting to find one.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17I've now got three. These must be a million pounds each. It's just a criminal waste.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19So that changes everything.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23It escalates the whole situation for me, and whilst I wouldn't normally do
0:21:23 > 0:21:27it, as I know he lives locally, I'm going to go and knock on his door.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Shocked by his discovery and armed with the owner's home address,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Paul heads round the corner for a showdown.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46Sadly, all he finds is another empty house, as there's no one at home.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51Not deterred, obviously. Straight back to the office, get the file going on all three properties now.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Nice, stiff letter to him straight away, possibly trying to arrange
0:21:54 > 0:21:56a meeting because of the scale.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59I want answers as to why he's got three properties like that empty.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03It's really made me angry. I'm going to prioritise it for action.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05I owe it to the neighbours.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08They're not happy, neither am I. I'm going to do something about it.
0:22:08 > 0:22:14With nearly a million vacant homes, empty property officers like Paul
0:22:14 > 0:22:17have a constant battle on their hands to keep the numbers down.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19But occasionally, they do get a break.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24When Jane Peck was searching for her dream home in Somerset,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28she ended up taking on not one restoration project, but two.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32I bought the property 17 years ago with the house and the barn together.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37I renovated the house next door, but then ran out of money because it was such a huge renovation.
0:22:37 > 0:22:43And then Simon met me and the first time he came round here, he was, I think, more impressed with the barn.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- And the potential of the building plot.- Not quite!
0:22:46 > 0:22:53And Simon sure had some vision because at the time, the barn looked like this.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59I thought, ooh, this would be a nice project to work on.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04So we kind of put our heads together and made some models,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08did some drawings and nine months down the line, it was finished.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15Determined not to go down the traditional barn conversion route, Jane and Simon worked hard
0:23:15 > 0:23:19to maintain the building's original feel, whilst adding a modern twist.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26We wanted to keep an agricultural feel, because it was an agriculture building.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29And keep it very, very raw and simple. So we've used rough
0:23:29 > 0:23:34sawn timber, galvanised metal, concrete for the work surfaces.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37We got some local guys to knock up a mould.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41- We did think the units might collapse under the weight but they haven't so far.- Not yet.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48The end result is a stunningly modern, yet thoroughly complementary
0:23:48 > 0:23:52renovation that's given them exactly the home they wanted at a price they could afford.
0:23:52 > 0:23:58When I bought the property 17 years ago, the barn was valued at £5,000.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02We thought we'd spend about 100,000 but we ended up spending 87.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And now I reckon we could get about 390 for it.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08So that's a pretty good profit margin.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Had they just gone out and bought a finished barn conversion,
0:24:12 > 0:24:19instead of £5,000, it would have cost them more like 250,000, and it would not have looked like this.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24We definitely feel that if we tried to buy this
0:24:24 > 0:24:29on the open market, it would have been a very difficult act to find.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36Somewhere out there is an empty property just waiting to become your next home.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38So here is how you might find it.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Your local estate agent can let you know the moment these
0:24:41 > 0:24:44gems come to their attention, as they often go to auction.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49If a property is on the local council's list of empties and the owner is known to them, they may
0:24:49 > 0:24:53be willing to approach them on your behalf to see if they want to sell.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03Martin and Louise have been looking for a decent-size period home that's commutable from London.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Love the bath.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09I've shown them two very different properties both with bags of potential.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14The question is, have I convinced them that a vacant house is for them?
0:25:14 > 0:25:19So, can you cast your minds back to our first property in the village?
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Lots of open-planned areas that you could work with.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Loved the walls, period features.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29Garden had a lot of stuff to do with it, but at the same time, definitely
0:25:29 > 0:25:32something that you could make your own.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34You know, good price. £300,000.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38But for an extra 150 or so, you'd have got somewhere to work.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41I thought it was an interesting proposition.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I really liked it. The period features, equally, was my
0:25:44 > 0:25:49real big selling feature on it, so definite, a possibility.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53OK, and our final property. Very different setting.
0:25:53 > 0:25:54Much more rural.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Not as much character in it, in fairness.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01But on the other hand, not as dilapidated either. What did you think of that one?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Great to have so much green space around.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06The woods, the garden, absolutely amazing.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11The house had some character in it from the old cottage that had been extended on.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15But the potential of extending further was something I'd not thought of.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20- You're painting a very plausible picture. It sounds like you've moved in!- Something there
0:26:20 > 0:26:25- to really consider, but just loved the setting.- So what happens now? - We have a big discussion.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I think you're armed with a very good budget.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32£600,000 is going to allow you to buy something that is in itself
0:26:32 > 0:26:36substantial, with plenty left over to, as you say, make it your own.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39So maybe you will rescue an empty property.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44So, there are bargains out there waiting to be found,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47though tracking them down might not be quite so easy.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49That's the thing about trying to find your dream
0:26:49 > 0:26:53house amongst what's available, in terms of the empty property market.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58It can be frustrating but the good news is that if you do keep looking, they are out there somewhere.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01You just have to know where to look.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05And while this woodland idyll didn't tick all of Martin and Louise's
0:27:05 > 0:27:10boxes, it certainly did for another buyer, as the house sold shortly after our visit.
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