0:00:02 > 0:00:05There are nearly a million homes abandoned in the UK just waiting for someone
0:00:05 > 0:00:08to 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.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Right now, there are houses lying empty and forlorn
0:00:26 > 0:00:30all over the country, just crying out for somebody to love them.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34We're going to show you just how easily that person could be you.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37On today's show, I'm out to convince these house-hunters
0:00:37 > 0:00:40that empty dwellings could be the doorway to their dream home.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43- Ah, it could be so nice.- Couldn't it?
0:00:43 > 0:00:47We find out why some of these amazing abodes are lying
0:00:47 > 0:00:51abandoned, and meet the people on a mission to get them lived in again.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54He must have spent so much money on this, and he's just let it go.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58And we'll look at a couple of places that once stood desolate but now stand proud.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05Empty and neglected buildings may not always attract the uninitiated buyer.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08But for those who are prepared to see beyond the dust and decay,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11there are plenty of potential projects to be had.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Clare and Michael Woodhouse and their two children
0:01:13 > 0:01:18have been renting a two-bed flat in south-east London for the last year.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Living here, we don't have space for the children
0:01:21 > 0:01:26to have a playroom or a play area, so every room has become a playroom.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Clare would love somewhere with a garden for the children.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34While Michael needs somewhere easily commutable
0:01:34 > 0:01:36to both Leicester and London where he splits his working week.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40The reason for the move would be more time I can spend at home.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44- Better quality of life as a family unit.- There is only one living room.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48And with all of them in the flat, it's got to the stage where they've run out of space.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50We've got two children.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53One of them is in with us, and he's desperate for his own room.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55We're desperate for our own room.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57We are desperate for our own room back as well.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01But they're not put off by the prospect of a bit of hard graft.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06We are really looking forward to having a project, aren't we? Just make it our own,
0:02:06 > 0:02:11from a blank canvas, and then into something which is going to be our family home.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I'm heading off to meet them, and hopefully convince them
0:02:14 > 0:02:19that an unloved house was locked up potential might be exactly what they're looking for.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Now then. Empty properties.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Are you really sure you want to take on a project?
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- Indeed. We are. We're ready. - You are ready?- We are.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31What are you exactly looking for in this new property?
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Size wise, we are looking at something which is
0:02:35 > 0:02:39three to four bedrooms, with a garden.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Period property. And an easy commute for me,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47because I'm split between Leicester and London, so halfway, in between.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50A lot of people talk about period houses, Michael.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51But what do you need mean by that?
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Something no later than 1900s, Victorian and earlier.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59- So all those fireplaces?- Yeah.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03With some original features. Just with character, really.
0:03:03 > 0:03:09The key thing is going to be money. Let's have a think about your budget. What's the top end?
0:03:09 > 0:03:14Top end would be 475, with everything in.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17So ideally between 450-475.
0:03:17 > 0:03:24OK. So with an initial spend, three to four-ish would give you enough left over to play with.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- Yes. - Depending on what needs doing.- Yeah.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31OK. I'm pretty optimistic, actually. Let's see what we can find you.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36OK, so they want a spacious family home with period features, a garden
0:03:36 > 0:03:41for the children to play in, three or four bedrooms, and commutable to both London
0:03:41 > 0:03:45and Leicester for Michael's work, all for a total budget of £475,000.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Michael's commute means the location poses quite a problem,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53but I think if they take on a disused home, we may the answer.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Which is why I've brought them here.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00To a three-bed Victorian terrace in a popular conservation area in St Albans.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03With excellent road links to Leicester, this picturesque town
0:04:03 > 0:04:06with its cathedral and great shops has acres of green spaces.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12Plus, there's a station linking to London in under half an hour.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16The house has a smallish garden but, with some landscaping,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19could be perfect for Clare and the kids to play in safely.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24And it's also within their £475,000 budget.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Here we are. Middle of St Albans.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- There's the house.- Very sweet.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- It's really sweet, isn't it?- Yes.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36But in terms of character and the feel that you're after,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39there's quite a lot of it still left in here that you can play with.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Fireplaces and such like. Any ideas what it's on the market for?
0:04:43 > 0:04:47I'll tell you. £420,000.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49- Right, OK.- How does that sound?
0:04:49 > 0:04:53It sounds fine. It depends how much work needs doing, I guess.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- Well, you could just move into this if you wanted to.- Right.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01But you can also do a lot more with it too.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03- Yeah, brilliant.- Shall we have a look?- Yep, let's have a look.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07With the owner's living in Australia, the house has been empty for months.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09But essentially it's in good condition.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13There are three bedrooms, a large reception room and a good-sized kitchen.
0:05:13 > 0:05:20But it could easily be extended and modernised to suit the lifestyle Clare and Michael are after.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24OK. Classic semi room, in the sense in that it's been knocked through.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26This would have been two rooms obviously.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- But in terms of period features, that's a nice one.- Fireplace.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32And the boards, some nice boards?
0:05:32 > 0:05:34- Well.- Put a wooden floor down?
0:05:35 > 0:05:37- Oh right, yeah.- There we are.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39There they are.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44- OK, let's look at the kitchen.- It's bigger than I thought it would be
0:05:44 > 0:05:49- Yeah.- Now, as you can see, it's sort of all there.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51In a way.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57My thought would be to go out with this, and back out into the garden a bit more.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Have a look, come on, I'll show you what's out here.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05So.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Come round here.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Can you see what's happening next door?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12That big green canvas is covering a brand new extension which is really
0:06:12 > 0:06:15coming out, making the best use of this yard space here.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Yeah.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Up the path is the rest of the garden.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23It isn't huge but there is scope to landscape it.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28Back inside, and upstairs there are three bedrooms.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32And then in here, this would be your room, effectively.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- Aha.- It's a nice size, isn't it? - Again, period features.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40That's quite nice, and I would suggest is original to the building.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45But this storage here, this is great. This does soak up quite a lot of space.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49But there are other options in terms of space as well.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53And that is up in the roof. 'Where there is potential for that fourth bedroom they're after,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55'subject to planning permission.'
0:06:55 > 0:07:00You know, worth thinking about. Because it's just part of the scope that this place offers you.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05- Yeah.- So now they've seen the house, time to get some costings.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Before taking on a project like this, it's imperative you consult an architect to draw up plans.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14So we asked a local one to come round and measure up for everything.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20Extending out the back to create a large kitchen diner opening on to the garden, and going up
0:07:20 > 0:07:22into the roof for a fourth bedroom.
0:07:22 > 0:07:28He's saying about £30,000 to get you the extension here at the back the kitchen.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32In terms of the loft space, another £20,000.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36So, 50 grand on top of the 420, gets you to 470.
0:07:36 > 0:07:42With five grand left over. So, potentially up 475, you could get this to how you want it.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46- What do you think?- It sounds good. - Yeah.- Yeah, it does.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I think definitely adding on the extension would be something
0:07:49 > 0:07:54we'd be interested in, just giving more living space downstairs.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58That was one of the concerns, whether it was
0:07:58 > 0:08:01a bit tight. But I think offering that would be good.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- Worth thinking about? - Yeah, definitely.- Brilliant. Come on.
0:08:05 > 0:08:11'I'm glad Clare and Michael aren't put off by the prospect of taking on a renovation project.
0:08:11 > 0:08:17'It may seem daunting, but the rewards of breathing life back into an old house can be immense.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21'Something which persuaded Roy and Maureen Hathaway
0:08:21 > 0:08:25'to embark on a life changing project in Kent whilst visiting.'
0:08:25 > 0:08:30When we arrived here, we saw this derelict building.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34But as soon as I saw it, I thought, something could be done with this.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38But at first, Maureen wasn't exactly bowled over by what she saw.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40I was horrified.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42I didn't see the potential that Roy saw.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45It was very wet, very muddy.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48And I wanted to go home. But then we talked about it.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50He did have his heart set on it.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53And decided to give it a go.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58They paid £70,000 for the derelict building in 1997.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03And then started what turned out to be an eight-year renovation project.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08It took a lot longer than we thought it would, but we've got an amazing home now.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10And we just want to live in it and enjoy it now.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Retired Roy and Maureen took on the challenge of turning the barn
0:09:14 > 0:09:18into a home, tackling virtually all the work themselves.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I just had a plasterer in to do the plastering.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22And a tiler to do the roof.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25But the rest of it, we've done ourselves.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Roy put his heart and soul into this place.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32And everybody that walks through the door is just awestruck by it.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Having the courage and nerve to buy a run-down farm building
0:09:36 > 0:09:40and transform it into a breathtaking home has paid dividends for them.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43We bought the property for £70,000.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46We spent approximately £150,000 on the building materials.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50And the property is now worth about £900,000.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54And they could only have achieved this by rescuing a forgotten building.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59You can sit back on this settee, look up at the timbers, and you
0:09:59 > 0:10:02can appreciate that this building has been here since the 1700s.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06And hopefully it will still be here another 200 or 300 years.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14The tell-tale signs of abandonment are sometimes only apparent to the trained eye.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17And those trained eyes belong to a growing band of men and women
0:10:17 > 0:10:20who make up the nation's empty property officers.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26In Enfield, north London, empty property officer Dave Carter
0:10:26 > 0:10:31is on his beat working to get the 200 empty homes he's currently dealing with occupied again.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34He's had a call from a resident concerned about
0:10:34 > 0:10:37a run-down house which is a blight on the neighbourhood.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42He mentioned it being empty for two to five years, and suggests
0:10:42 > 0:10:48that there's accumulations of rubbish and an overgrown garden. So I'm going to go down there to see what's what.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Dave makes a quick site survey to establish if the property is being lived in.
0:10:56 > 0:11:03Right, so there's about 30, 40 black bags full of God knows what.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09It's difficult to see. But there's a few windows broken.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Possibly attempted break-in, could be just kids messing around.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Can't see a lot. Fencing's very high.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18I might have to nip back to the car to get a step ladder.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27Abandoned homes can be magnets for vandals, but that's not Dave's only concern here.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I'm almost certain there will be pests involved.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34So I think I'll call one of my colleagues in the enviro crime unit
0:11:34 > 0:11:37and I'll see if I can get them down here.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39After putting in a call to environmental health,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Dave records evidence should he need to serve an enforcement notice on the house owner.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48I didn't expect to see that.
0:11:48 > 0:11:54I knew there was a swimming pool here, but this is more than a swimming pool.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Amazing. Such a shame as well.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00He must have spent so much money doing this up, and he's just let it go.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06I think I've got as much information as I'm going to get, so I'll nip round and speak to the gentleman
0:12:06 > 0:12:11who made the initial complaint and see what information he can give me about the owner.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- Nice to meet you.- What problems has the property caused you lately?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19My concern is because of youngsters coming along here at night,
0:12:19 > 0:12:24and also the fact, as it's empty, there could be access to my property, it's very vulnerable.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29And obviously I'm concerned I could get broken into from the empty property.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34- Obviously I'm going to need to speak to him.- I do understand that. - Have you got any idea where he is?
0:12:34 > 0:12:39No. He did actually tell me that he'd moved to Kingsbury.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42But I have no other contact with him at all, no, I'm afraid not.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45It's not much for Dave to go on, but the neighbour who first reported
0:12:45 > 0:12:48his concerns is clear what he wants to happen next.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53I will be happy if somebody, if a family or respectable people came here.
0:12:53 > 0:12:59It's a beautiful house, it just needs putting back to the order it was when I first moved in here.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02A colleague from the council's environmental health department
0:13:02 > 0:13:05arrives to assess the pest control issues.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Look at that rubbish there, Dave, there's almost certainly a rodent problem.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10There's loads of harbourage there, you can see all the bags.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12They'll be nestling amongst that.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- There's a load of fruit trees up there, so they're probably feeding of those as well.- Oh right, yeah.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18There's definitely an established vermin problem there.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21It's going to cause a public health problem in the surrounding areas.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I think we're going to have to get on to the landlords
0:13:24 > 0:13:27to get this property treated and cleaned as a matter of priority.
0:13:27 > 0:13:33If there is a major vermin problem, notice will be served on the owner by the council to sort this out.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36But there's still a lot left for Dave to do.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39It's not going to be hard getting hold of the owner's name.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42What is difficult is the contact details of the owner
0:13:42 > 0:13:44cos he's not going to register his new address with the Land Registry.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49So it's all down to me really to try and see what I can find out.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56If you think you've spotted an empty property near you that's deserted
0:13:56 > 0:14:01and in need of rescue, then why not contact your empty property officer who can check it out?
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Vacant homes can offer amazing value for money.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14Something which has piqued the interest of Clare and Michael Woodhouse who need something bigger
0:14:14 > 0:14:17than the rented two-bedroom flat they currently live in.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20They're looking for a spacious home with period features.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Three or four bedrooms, a large garden for their
0:14:23 > 0:14:29children to play in, and within commuting distance of both Leicester and London for Michael's work.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33They have £475,000 to spend, and I think an empty place will
0:14:33 > 0:14:35give them the house they want on a budget they have.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39The first one I showed them was on the market for £420,000.
0:14:39 > 0:14:45And, despite the fact it needed another 50 grand spending on it, they definitely saw its potential.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49The extension would be something we'd be interested in.
0:14:49 > 0:14:56Now I'm going to show them a place a little closer to London which should cut down Michael's commute.
0:14:56 > 0:15:03This house is on a quiet street in Harpenden in Hertfordshire, and no one has lived in it for two years.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Right then. Our second property for you. What do you think of this one?
0:15:06 > 0:15:10A bit more work. It looks very good.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14The clue is in the fact we've issued you with these which we are going to need in there.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17The great thing about this is that it's enormous.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19It's absolutely enormous.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23And where we are in Harpenden, this kind of thing is highly sought-after.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27So the way to tackle this is to think of it as a longer term plan.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31This hasn't been touched since the day it was built.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- Fantastic. - All the detailing is in here.
0:15:33 > 0:15:40- What you get here is an Edwardian house as it was designed to be lived in.- Lovely.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43If this is going to be of interest to you, so is the price.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Offers in the region of £400,000.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49OK.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- It's interesting.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- Not off-putting? - Not off-putting, no.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Good, right. Let's get on with it. Put your hats on.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Let's see if it's worth it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05It's going to take some vision to see this as a comfortable family home.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08There are four bedrooms and original Edwardian features.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11The owner inherited the house and is now selling it on.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Come on in here then.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15This room I think is fabulous.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- Oh, lovely.- Yeah, it's gorgeous!
0:16:19 > 0:16:20The space is good, isn't it?
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- Isn't it? But look at the features. - Look!- They are original.- The doors.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28A few holes in the ceiling.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30The flooring. The fireplaces.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- And even all these sorts of things. - Even the cupboards.
0:16:33 > 0:16:34Yeah, I love the fact you love it.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38That's what it's about. These houses have to cry out to you, really.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42If this one is screaming to you, then that's all good.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45The wheels are turning, I can see by your face.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47I'm just wondering how much it would take to do.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52Let's do the tour, then we'll think how much it might cost.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55And now, through to the kitchen. What there is of it.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57- What do you reckon?- Wow.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59I mean, it is a period space.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Nothing's happened in here since the day it was put together.
0:17:02 > 0:17:08Clearly, you could knock this out and create a really interesting space, with views to the garden.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14- You are stepping into Edwardian life here. This is how things work.- Yeah.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- Oh, it could be so nice.- Couldn't it?
0:17:18 > 0:17:22OK. Let's get upstairs. There's so much to show you.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and a bathroom.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Now come in here, have a look at that.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31That's potentially a bathroom.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- It would be a good space. - It's great.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38This is a fantastic size.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43- Yeah? Look at the bath, look at the feet on the bath, it's an original iron bath.- Oh my God.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- It's an old ball and claw, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:17:47 > 0:17:53You see, what I'm thinking, guys, you know, a bit of paint, some nice pictures...!?
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Yeah, right(!) Come on.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01OK, this is the first bedroom that we've seen.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Tell me?
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- Another great room.- We love it.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11It's sort of like being in a doll's house
0:18:11 > 0:18:15that's been really well played with, and scruffy, but really nice.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19I love that idea. A doll's house that's been well used.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Yeah. And it's still lovely, and it feels a bit like that.
0:18:22 > 0:18:28Also on the first floor are two further bedrooms, both of which look very well used.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31And then it's up to the attic. Come on then.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34- What!- Wow.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36- What happened?- Well, indeed!
0:18:36 > 0:18:38It's open air.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Yeah, it's alfresco.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45As you can see, the previous residents were pigeons. Not people.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46Um...
0:18:46 > 0:18:51You get a real idea of the amount of work that's got to be done here.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54The water's been through.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58You can see, the plaster's been coming off here.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Look, that's all absolutely coming off.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03You can see the roof space behind.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- So all that needs to come off. - The lot.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08The roof. You're talking everything.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11It's just tragic, actually.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14I think it is a beautiful building.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18- And it's being wasted.- Yeah, it's crying out for some love, isn't it?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22And some. This would make a great play room.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27- It would be brilliant.- Stroke bedroom.- Secret little room at the top of the house.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Which is classic Edwardian stuff, isn't it? Let's have a look at the garden, because it does have one.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35And I know that is important. And we can think about what it might cost you.
0:19:35 > 0:19:41And although it's a bit of wasteland, the large garden could easily be made child-friendly.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46But it's the house itself which is the major project here and, as such, requires an expert eye.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49So we gave a local architect quite a list to find out how much work
0:19:49 > 0:19:54and money is needed to make this Clare and Michael's perfect family home.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57As you might have guessed, the house needs a complete renovation,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00from the ground up to the ridge of the roof.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04What he's suggesting is basic £75,000.
0:20:04 > 0:20:10If you could afford it, £100,000 would really see it off.
0:20:10 > 0:20:18Talking to the agent, their view on this is that if it were done, it would be worth about £560,000.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23So the point about it being value-for-money, yes, you may spend £100,000 on it.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26You won't do this place up necessarily to make an immediate profit,
0:20:26 > 0:20:32but the thing the point is you won't lose anything either, and it would give you a long-term family home.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35I didn't want to like it as much as I do.
0:20:35 > 0:20:41- I need to mother it.- Exactly. Good. Lots to think about.- Yeah.- Good.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It's a mammoth undertaking, and we'll find out later
0:20:47 > 0:20:51if Michael and Clare are brave enough to take on a run-down home.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Back in Enfield, north London, empty property officer
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Dave Carter is returning to one of his successful cases.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05This three-bed terrace has been in the same family for generations.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10And, having lain empty for some years, Dave's been working with the owners to give it new life.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14I have been dealing with Mrs Dawson and her husband for the last year.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19So today hopefully, I am going to be seeing the final inspection.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Having grown up in the house with her mother and grandparents,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25it holds a lot of special memories for Mrs Dawson.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28It's the only house I remember. And when we got married,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31my grandfather said, have the upstairs of the house.
0:21:31 > 0:21:36But when her mother died, it stood empty for four years and fell into disrepair.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41It was sad to see it as it is, and I suppose that's some of the reasons why I didn't go down there.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45The refurbishment has been overseen by Dave's team.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48And today, Mrs Dawson along with her husband is making an emotional
0:21:48 > 0:21:51return to the house to see the work the council have helped with.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55- God, isn't it different? - Hi there, nice to see you.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Nice to see you too. At long last.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Oh wow, look at it. Doesn't it look different?
0:22:00 > 0:22:06With many people in need of homes, Enfield council awards grants towards the cost of
0:22:06 > 0:22:10renovating places like this, provided they are then let to tenants on their housing list.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15So Mrs Dawson got in touch with Dave to get help with the work on her mother's house.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16And the big table was there.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20And the armchairs on either side of the fire.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25Upstairs was converted into a flat when Mrs Dawson married her husband.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26This was my mum's bedroom.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31It's still got the old fireplace, I love this old fireplace.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33And this was our bedroom when we got married.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Oh, wow!
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Gosh, look at that. Now that is lovely.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45- So now you've seen it, what do you think?- It's great, isn't it?
0:22:45 > 0:22:48I wish Mum and Nan and Granddad could see it now.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Because it was such a difference.
0:22:50 > 0:22:57I've got a house that's got memories that I won't live in, but at least it's giving someone else a home.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- Good, well, I'm glad to have been of service.- It's great.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04So, Dave's final inspection is complete and he can leave
0:23:04 > 0:23:09knowing he's played a pivotal role in taking this house from abandoned to occupied.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15It was nice to meet Mrs Dawson. She's happy, the property's almost ready to let.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19We'll be looking for tenants in the next week, and that will be another one off the council's books.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Taking on a desolate dwelling can be a huge commitment.
0:23:26 > 0:23:32Something which Jim and Susan Sheer know all too well, as their search for a home ended when they bought
0:23:32 > 0:23:37- his former stable block in Canterbury in Kent. - We looked at 100 properties.
0:23:37 > 0:23:44And when we drove into this village, we realised that the location was just what we were looking for.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49The house was very tired. It had been empty for nearly three years.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52There were lots of small rooms, and we knew if we could open up
0:23:52 > 0:23:59those small rooms, we could have a large space that we could utilise exactly for what we wanted.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Even though it was a Grade 2 listed building, they were able
0:24:04 > 0:24:07to configure the layout exactly how they wanted.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Working in conjunction with the builder and the architect,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13we managed to overcome any objections or hurdles.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Susan and Jim took on a place that hadn't been lived in
0:24:16 > 0:24:20for three years, and turned it into their perfect family home.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23The room I like the most is the kitchen.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26It's something that everyone enjoys when they come here.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31And they did it all for £100,000 less than if they'd bought it already renovated.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35We bought the property for just over £400,000.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38We've spent about £95,000.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42And we've had the property valued at about £600,000.
0:24:46 > 0:24:51Now the pain of the original one has worn off, I could probably be tempted to do it again.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59And if you're intrigued by the prospect of turning an empty house into your new home,
0:24:59 > 0:25:01here's how to start your search.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Spotting an abandoned building is just the beginning.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Locating the owner may not be straightforward but you could enlist the help
0:25:08 > 0:25:14of your local empty property officer who might be able to contact them to see if they want to sell.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17And let estate agents know exactly what you're looking for,
0:25:17 > 0:25:21and to tell you the moment they hear of a suitable property.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30Today I'm showing Clare and Michael Woodhouse how an empty building could be a perfect family home.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35They want four bedrooms, a garden for the children, and it needs to be close to London and Leicester
0:25:35 > 0:25:37for Michael's work so he can spend more time at home.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42I've shown them two houses both with plenty of untapped potential.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47The question is, has either convinced Michael and Clare that a vacant house is for them.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Well now then, Clare and Michael, what did you think of the first one?
0:25:50 > 0:25:58Lovely, really nice. It was something you could move into and do the work as and when we needed to.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Yeah, which might be a more practical solution for us.
0:26:01 > 0:26:08Our second property, which clearly needed a lot more doing to it, but would offer you a much
0:26:08 > 0:26:13longer term house in terms of you having somewhere to grow into.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Which was the attractive thing about the house.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19The size, the rooms, the features in there.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22The blank canvas, really.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26- I'm dying to know which one you both prefer?- I think the second one.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31I actually think that the renovation costs haven't been as huge as I thought they were going to be.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- It's made me want to do it even more.- So what happens next?
0:26:35 > 0:26:38We're going to look into a couple more things,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41and speak to a couple of builders, and get some more quotes.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44You said it needed a bit of a hug, in a sense.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49And I think you two would be the perfect people to give it the hug that it needs.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Our arms are open.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Tracking down a place that needs your love and attention can be a time-consuming business.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59But, take it from me, it is well worth the wait.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Because once you've got it right, ultimately,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05it could well prove to be the most rewarding thing you've ever done.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Clare and Michael put in an offer on the second house as they loved it so much.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14But unfortunately, they were outbid. What we have shown, however, has whetted their appetite
0:27:14 > 0:27:18to hunt down an empty house they can bring back to life.