0:00:02 > 0:00:05Across the UK there are nearly a million homes lying unloved and unlived in,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09ready for someone to come along and give them a bright new future.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13So whether it's a tired semi or a rambling mansion,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16we're on a mission to rescue Britain's Empty Homes.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Now, the ever-rising cost of buying a house today
0:00:28 > 0:00:31is making it increasingly difficult to move up
0:00:31 > 0:00:34the property ladder, but if you're clever
0:00:34 > 0:00:37there is an affordable way of getting onto the next rung -
0:00:37 > 0:00:39buy yourself an empty property.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43On today's show, I'll be passing on my renovation experience
0:00:43 > 0:00:47to a couple who are very close to buying their dream home.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50This is the sitting room and really this is probably the room that
0:00:50 > 0:00:52we're not too sure what to do with.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56I'll introduce them to other homeowners who have tackled similar projects.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00What a fabulous kitchen!
0:01:00 > 0:01:05And we'll be joining an empty property officer, working hard to bring disused houses back to life.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07I thought we'd be kind of finished.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Well, we're nearly there, not quite.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14It's human nature to want things that are just that little bit out of reach.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Often our dream home is thousands of pounds over budget,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20but if you're prepared to take a risk on a property that
0:01:20 > 0:01:25nobody else wants, it's surprising what you can affordably get your hands on.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28And that's exactly what Martin and Rebecca Kaye thought
0:01:28 > 0:01:32when they spotted this empty former pub in the Buckinghamshire village of Tingwick.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37Getting an empty property and having the ability to put your own stamp on it gives us
0:01:37 > 0:01:42that financial viability for the project, which we wouldn't have if we were buying a house already done up.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45It costs so much money to move doesn't it, Martin?
0:01:45 > 0:01:49I think really we want to make this house our forever home,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51it's going to be our dream home.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56The Kayes have had their offer of £475,000 accepted on the place
0:01:56 > 0:02:01and plan to renovate it within a strict budget of £160,000.
0:02:01 > 0:02:06As it was once a pub, it is going to need quite a lot of work doing to it
0:02:06 > 0:02:11to turn it into a cosy home and on a tight budget, that's not going to be easy.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- Hello, Martin.- Hello. - It's nice to see you. Hi, Rebecca.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19So I'm going to help advise Rebecca and Martin on the best way to go about any transformation.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Well, this is our potential house.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Well, there's a lot needs doing though, guys. I mean, the windows at the front clearly are all gone.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- This is clearly going to have to happen in stages.- Yes.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35We're hoping to do a lot of work ourselves. That's how it's going to have to be.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39- I suspect you're going to have to. - We are, definitely.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Well, show me around, let's see what you are going to do. After you.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Empty for three years, what this place lacks in kerb appeal
0:02:46 > 0:02:49it more than makes up for in space with seven bedrooms,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52outbuildings, and a three-acre paddock.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58- Come in.- A lot of junk mail, isn't there? Crikey!
0:02:58 > 0:03:02This is the sitting room. You come straight into the sitting room area,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and really this is probably the room that we're not too sure
0:03:05 > 0:03:07what to do with, isn't it, Martin?
0:03:07 > 0:03:12Yes, essentially the beams, the staircase, it makes the room feel
0:03:12 > 0:03:15like it was two rooms and we'd like to make it into one room.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- Yeah. Presumably, as a pub, it was divided up?- Possibly.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21The other problem is the fact that the door is there,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23which really interrupts the flow of the room.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Yes, that's why this room is so difficult.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29I've contemplated all sorts - should the door be in the centre of the house?
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Out the front it doesn't look symmetrical, so should the door be moved?
0:03:33 > 0:03:35But you're at that exciting stage now where it's all ideas.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40It is, yes. We've got many thoughts and we keep changing our plans
0:03:40 > 0:03:41for the rest of it.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Although they're uncertain of what to do with the sitting room,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47they are clear on their plans for the kitchen.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52- What we're thinking of doing is the lean-to there...- Oh, just that little glass thing through there.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58That will go and an extension put for the full width of the house.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00- Push that whole wall out? - Push it all out.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04There's a huge amount of space. As much again, almost, from here to there.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- It is, yes, almost doubles it. - That's pretty bold but I think a nice idea, because it's not...
0:04:08 > 0:04:12the huge kitchen that you really want at the moment, is it?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14And it gets rid of that damp under there, look.
0:04:14 > 0:04:20Upstairs on the first floor are five bedrooms and two very dated bathrooms.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24You're not missing anything by taking those out, are you, really?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26- No.- What was is about green bathrooms?
0:04:26 > 0:04:31- Goodness me. There's a huge amount of work here.- There is, yes.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- There's no two ways about it. - We're excited about it though.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Be excited, but I am slightly anxious about your £160,000.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42And there's still a lot more renovation work for that budget to have to cover.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45On the second floor there are two further bedrooms
0:04:45 > 0:04:49and outside, there's even more development potential.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Ah, the barn. That's a project in its own right, guys.
0:04:54 > 0:04:55- It is huge.- It's a big, big barn.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Here we've got the back of the house. This is the old lean-to thing
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- that's going to become your extension footprint?- Yes.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Yes, that will go and just extension across the back of the house.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08And what are you going to do on the roof? Slate roof or...
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Probably slate to keep it in line, or I'd have a look at glass, a nice conservatory style.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15But we'd have to think, see what the money can stretch to.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Your 160 grand, mate...
0:05:19 > 0:05:22We are definitely talking phases because to be perfectly honest,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24£160,000 could go on that tomorrow.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I do think that when approaching a big project like this,
0:05:27 > 0:05:32staging it one phase at a time is the only sensible way for Rebecca and Martin to proceed.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Crucially, they need to be aware of their own limitations.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39What are your big worries, have you done this before?
0:05:39 > 0:05:40No.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44I've done a little project, I've not done anything as large as this.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48I think what would be helpful is if we show you a couple of projects,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50one of which is halfway through its renovation,
0:05:50 > 0:05:51one of which is finished.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55We'll meet the owners, listen to their stories and hopefully,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58you'll come back to this one with your eyes wide open
0:05:58 > 0:06:01knowing what you have indeed let yourselves in for.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- Excellent.- Fantastic.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07In order to give Rebecca and Martin a good idea of how phased renovations can work,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09I'll be introducing them to some homeowners
0:06:09 > 0:06:13who are successfully tackling their own build in this way.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Unconventional empty buildings can make great homes,
0:06:18 > 0:06:19but often it's the existing architecture
0:06:19 > 0:06:23that will determine the scale and shape of that conversion.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29This is something Maria Dench and her husband carefully worked out
0:06:29 > 0:06:34when they put in a tender to convert this old West Sussex schoolhouse
0:06:34 > 0:06:35into their dream home.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39It was a bright sunny day, we saw the building and we had
0:06:39 > 0:06:43a walk around it and we just got this gut feeling of excitement.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Having been a school from 1876 right up until 2007,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50the interior was mainly a large open structure
0:06:50 > 0:06:52that needed dramatic reconstruction
0:06:52 > 0:06:56in order to create the comfortable five-bedroom home they wanted.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01We bought the school because of the beautiful architecture, and we made
0:07:01 > 0:07:06a decision very early on to build a home that was sympathetic to that.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11The windows were a huge challenge because not one of them was consistent.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16The first floor was actually put in in line with the windows, so that from the outside you couldn't see
0:07:16 > 0:07:19a floating floor, you couldn't see a floor at all.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24I wanted a porch but also I wanted something that was imposing,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29because the building is imposing, it's very high. So we built a porch
0:07:29 > 0:07:31and that goes from the ground right up to the apex,
0:07:31 > 0:07:35and I think that just sets off the house in its entirety.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40The most difficult part of the project was actually obtaining the financing for it.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45We had a decision in principle before we even bought the property and then with the market crash,
0:07:45 > 0:07:51the mortgage company tried to withdraw the funds from us and that really was a very scary time.
0:07:51 > 0:07:57But despite the worry and uncertainty, Maria was able to keep the project on track.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01I'm certainly not an architect, I'm certainly not a builder, but what I have got
0:08:01 > 0:08:05is excellent project management skills and that's what I did on this job.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10I pulled the experts together, I learned to ask the right questions because I didn't know
0:08:10 > 0:08:14what the solutions were, but at the end of the day the buck stopped with me.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18When I sit on my bed and I look out of that magnificent window
0:08:18 > 0:08:23and I look out at the trees and I see the countryside beyond, and every day
0:08:23 > 0:08:28I try and take five minutes out just to look at that because that has made it all worthwhile.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32The complete renovation has taken two years,
0:08:32 > 0:08:34but Maria now has a beautiful family home.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39I've sworn to my husband that I will not be leaving here, but if something really special,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43and it would have to be something very special, came up,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45then I would do it again.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Houses that become abandoned can attract the attention of squatters,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52vandals, and other sorts of antisocial behaviour
0:08:52 > 0:08:56but it's the job of somebody called an empty property officer to prevent
0:08:56 > 0:08:59these buildings becoming a nuisance to neighbours,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02and with any luck, to get them back into use again.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07In the London Borough of Southwark,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10there are an estimated 3,500 properties lying empty.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15The challenge of turning them into homes again is down to officers Celia Esimaje
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and Michelle Williams who between them tackle an active caseload
0:09:18 > 0:09:21of around 900 long-term empties.
0:09:21 > 0:09:28My job is to bring back as many privately owned empty properties back into use as possible.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Today, they're paying a visit to a property in Peckham.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35We're going to see a property that's been empty for ten years now,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37one of the longest on my books,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and I just want to see how the owner's getting on.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44There have been a few problems, I just want to make sure that
0:09:44 > 0:09:47he's been able to iron them out and see what he's doing.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The house is in a street that has benefited from Southwark's regeneration scheme
0:09:51 > 0:09:54to spruce up the area and, until recently,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56the house lay abandoned and neglected
0:09:56 > 0:10:00in this row of otherwise loved and cared for homes.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Over the years, it descended into dereliction but in 2008,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08it was sold at auction to its new owner, developer Chris Worth.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12There was subsidence on the whole of the property with actually cracks
0:10:12 > 0:10:15that you could put your hand through, and inside it was completely derelict
0:10:15 > 0:10:20with nothing, just rotten wood, rotten floorboards. Pretty ghastly state, to be honest with you.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23And now the whole of the property has been rebuilt and we're starting
0:10:23 > 0:10:29the interior of the property, so it's probably 60-70% of the way through the project.
0:10:29 > 0:10:35Chris bought the house for £285,000 and is spending £350,000 converting it into three flats.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Because the building was in such a derelict state,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44he's been given a grant of £45,000 to help towards its reconstruction.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- Hi, Chris. Thanks for meeting us. - Hi, Celia.
0:10:47 > 0:10:53But the build is behind schedule, so Celia and Michelle need to find out what's causing the hold-up.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- So this is the ground floor flat. - This is the ground floor flat.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58You're looking at one bedroom here,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01one bedroom in the back there with the bathroom in the middle.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04And then down here, this brings us into the kitchen
0:11:04 > 0:11:08and the living area of the flat downstairs.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11That at the end leads out, it's covered in plastic at the moment,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15double doors that will go out there onto the garden area of this flat.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20Obviously because of the extent of the repair here, I know that
0:11:20 > 0:11:23we'd programmed that it would finish a bit earlier than it has,
0:11:23 > 0:11:25but we've had to extend that programme.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30Unfortunately we had to rebuild. Basically, all the walls in the house have been rebuilt.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36Each section with taken down, new foundations put down and then rebuilt up section by section.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41And Chris has taken great care to keep and restore many original features.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44I notice you've used the original London stock brick.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48When we took the walls down, we reclaimed as many of the originals as we could.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50We cleaned them all off, took all the pointing off,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and reused as much of the original ones as we could,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57which is, of course, very time and labour intensive doing something like that.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00We've done all the other regeneration work on this street,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02so it matches in perfectly with that.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07It's looking really good, you know. Well done for getting to this stage.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11But it's not only Celia that's happy, the neighbours are too.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15It's pleasing because it means, from a slightly selfish point of view,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17the whole street looks better for it.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20It's nice to see that the developer has actually taken on board
0:12:20 > 0:12:23restoring it to its original style using the old mouldings,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27which from his point of view is probably a more expensive option,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29but it's nice that they've done that.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33It's good to see it come so far along.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35I know it's been an extra lot of work for the owner,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39because often what you find with buildings like this,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41works that you didn't anticipate to do,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45like having to take down walls, but he's made up for it, he's making quite good time.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48But there's still the little matter of completion.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51The pressure is now on Chris to meet a deadline.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54On top of this, the council must also approve the finished work
0:12:54 > 0:12:56before they release any of the grant money.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01With the clock ticking, we'll discover later if Chris was able to hit his target.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Martin and Rebecca Kaye are hoping to transform
0:13:06 > 0:13:09an old Buckinghamshire village pub into their ideal home.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13That whole thing will go and just extension right the way across the back of the house.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18They have ambitious plans but don't have the cash to do all of their renovation at once,
0:13:18 > 0:13:23so I want to show them what other homeowners have achieved by doing the work in stages.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Come and feast your eyes on this.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Oh, it looks beautiful.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- Wow.- Wow!
0:13:31 > 0:13:32- That's gorgeous, isn't it?- Isn't it?
0:13:32 > 0:13:36It's a big project this one, make no mistake, but I think the parallels
0:13:36 > 0:13:41with what you're trying to achieve and what the owners here are trying to achieve are very similar,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44in that it's something that's going to have to be staged.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47In an earlier episode of Britain's Empty Homes,
0:13:47 > 0:13:51we featured this 15th century manor with its adjacent coach house.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Overall, the renovation process has been a lengthy one,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57but from the very start, owners Pippa and Scott Peyton
0:13:57 > 0:14:00approached it in carefully planned stages.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06I didn't really want to be living in the main house
0:14:06 > 0:14:08while we were doing that up,
0:14:08 > 0:14:13and we have two young children as well, so I felt it was better to do
0:14:13 > 0:14:16the coach house up first and actually live in it
0:14:16 > 0:14:18while we tackle the manor house.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21A year on, Pippa and Scott have completed stage one
0:14:21 > 0:14:25and moved into the next phase of their project, the main house.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- Hi, guys.- Nice to meet you.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31I think they've just fallen in love with your house.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32- We have.- Great.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37Give us a broad outline of the stages that you've gone through with this one, Scott.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Well, we started with what we call phase one,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43which is the coach house which we've turned into a cottage, and then
0:14:43 > 0:14:48with the main house we've divided it into two pieces, literally divided the house in half.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50A huge project.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54It is a huge project but taken in those bite-sized chunks,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56it has become more manageable.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Pippa and Scott have taken time themselves to peel back the years
0:15:00 > 0:15:03and expose many of the manor's original features.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06So this is how the house was when we found it.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- This is lovely, look at that. - Look at that beautiful fireplace.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- Yeah, no wonder you fell in love with it.- An amazing find.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15We found doorways where we didn't think there were doorways,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18which we've now incorporated into the plan. We found a well in our boot room.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Once we found these things, we wanted to expose them
0:15:21 > 0:15:24so that you can see what it would have originally been like.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28It's really important to take those bits slowly,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31not just race into it and have it all in a skip in five minutes.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33That's a good point that you've made there, Scott.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37You just need to find the bare bones and see what you're up against.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I hadn't thought about that, the idea of going in yourself and just taking time out
0:15:41 > 0:15:47of just of dismantling the interior and finding it, rather than saying, "Right, builders, in you get."
0:15:47 > 0:15:52Otherwise, it's plastered over before you've blinked, you know, it just happens.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Upstairs is a great example of how staging a build can work really well.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00- This is staging writ large, isn't it?- Yes.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01Tell us about this panel.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06This is a temporary insulated wall that allows us to separate
0:16:06 > 0:16:09the piece we've been doing from the piece we have to do.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13We can basically live in the house and feel like it's done even though there's another half to do.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16In the other half of the house where the work is nearly finished,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19they've pulled off a fantastic transformation.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24This is the bit that we've almost finished, not quite.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Wow, what a fabulous kitchen.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Now this is actually something like we want to do with our kitchen.
0:16:31 > 0:16:37- Is it?- Yes, we want to open up the back, put windows in so that it's really nice and light.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40In fact doors exactly like that was what we were planning.
0:16:40 > 0:16:46I have to say I love that, I think that's a really interesting solution to getting light in here.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I think that's fantastic because from the outside you have no idea it's there.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53You've got that lovely glass area giving you the airiness,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56but from the outside I didn't even know that was there.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00And Rebecca is clearly inspired with Pippa and Scott's approach to the build.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03I think the whole project,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07seeing the old part to it at that stage and the exciting part,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10finding things out and what's behind walls.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14It's all about making the right decision for the house, and if that means
0:17:14 > 0:17:17we have to stage it or do something slowly or we have to wait,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20getting it right is more important.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24I think our view is the same that essentially we've got the budget
0:17:24 > 0:17:29to get us a good start and if we don't get the outbuilding done yet, so be it.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32But the main thing is we've got a good fund to get going with.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36I'm really pleased that Martin is seeing the sense in staging the renovation project,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39and whatever your budget, there are always ways of saving money.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44Well, there's no doubt that Martin and Rebecca have been rightly inspired by this
0:17:44 > 0:17:47extraordinary renovation, it is a fantastic building.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51And this lot is what Scott likes to call his own reclamation yard,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55making good use of materials you find is often a really important
0:17:55 > 0:18:00and money-saving way of getting the best out of your chosen project.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02As you can see, there's a long way to go.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Later I'll be taking them to see a finished project
0:18:05 > 0:18:09to give them a taste of why all this hard work is well worthwhile.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Back in Southwark, where under the watchful eye
0:18:15 > 0:18:17of empty property officer Celia Esimaje,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19the pressure is on developer Chris Worth to meet
0:18:19 > 0:18:24a deadline to turn a previously derelict house into three flats.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29The renovation project has been aided by a government grant
0:18:29 > 0:18:35of £45,000, which was a big motivating factor for Chris.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37The grant was definitely an incentive
0:18:37 > 0:18:38to taking on the project.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40We wouldn't have taken it on otherwise.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45But he won't see any of the money unless the renovation meets stringent council standards.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49It's two years since Chris first took the place on
0:18:49 > 0:18:53and Celia is anxious for it to be ready to house people again soon.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56She's brought along council surveyor Roger,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00who will be responsible for signing off the work.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02How are you getting on, I thought we'd be kind of finished?
0:19:02 > 0:19:06We're nearly there. Not quite, as always, but yes, it's nearly finished.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- Shall we go in and have a look? - Yes.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11This is a ground floor flat, which is pretty well complete.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14There's the bathroom there which all the pipework's in,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18none of the fittings yet and there's no electricity in there.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22This is coming down into the main living area of the property here.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- Still quite a bit to do, isn't there?- Quite a bit, yes.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32But on the first floor, things are looking a little more finished.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37The third flat is also nearly completed.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40This is the smallest of the flats.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43There's still lots to finish off.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Yes, the appliances are coming next week.
0:19:46 > 0:19:52- Some mastic, are you going to box in this? - Yes, we'll fill it in, yes.
0:19:54 > 0:20:01Nothing is left unexamined, and things get tense as Roger inspects the quality of the roof.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04I need to talk to you about the roofing material.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09- Yes.- As to who the manufacturer is to ensure
0:20:09 > 0:20:13- that it's been fitted in compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations.- OK.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16If you can let the contractor know that I need those.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- But while there's still work to do...- There's still some grouting.
0:20:20 > 0:20:26Celia can see that the attention to detail indicates that this is a considered renovation.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30I like the little detail on the door, this little routing detail.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Yes, it just takes the plainness off the doors and it's on the skirting as well.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Yes, it follows through here.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40And while the work can't be signed off today,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Roger seems happy with the standard so far.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46The million-dollar question, when will you complete?
0:20:46 > 0:20:49We're hoping to complete at the end of the month,
0:20:49 > 0:20:54there's the obvious things to do downstairs, the kitchen,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56the bathroom, and the tiling to put in.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- Right, so hopefully in a month's time it needs to be completely finished.- Yes.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04We'll do our final inspection and we say up to 21 days for payment.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05OK, that's fine.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Thank you, very nice to meet you.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11We're 95% there, the devil's always in the detail, so I'd like to think
0:21:11 > 0:21:16that in a months time, we'll be able to sign this off and the owner can get his grant.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19It's great to see it taking shape, we've got three flats there
0:21:19 > 0:21:21for residents in Southwark.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25So we be back here in a month and we'll sign off, owner gets his money, job done.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Well, a month later and the work has finished.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Chris has already got tenants in all three flats.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Martin and Rebecca Kay have set their hearts
0:21:40 > 0:21:43on a seven-bedroom tumbledown former pub in need of
0:21:43 > 0:21:47major work, but they don't quite have all the funds
0:21:47 > 0:21:50to carry out a complete renovation all in one go.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53I've already taken them to meet experienced homeowners
0:21:53 > 0:21:57who have shown them how a big project can be done in stages.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00We want to open up the back and put windows in, so it's really nice and light.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Now I want them to see why all that hard work is worth it.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Right, what do you think?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- It looks lovely.- Isn't it just?
0:22:09 > 0:22:13It's only just been done, but it started out looking like that.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Wow.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- How long ago?- Five years ago.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23When Ben Gristwood bought this old barn in the Oxfordshire village
0:22:23 > 0:22:27of Pusey in 2005 for £343,000,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30he thought it would be a fairly straightforward conversion.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35Instead, it turned into an epic rollercoaster ride after disaster struck.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38It took me about a year and three months to build it
0:22:38 > 0:22:42and then it caught on fire, which was devastating,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45it completely burned down to the ground, it did.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48With nothing left of his grand project, Ben was forced to start
0:22:48 > 0:22:51from the ground up again and completely rebuild it.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54You never have two chances to build your dream house
0:22:54 > 0:22:57so I built it the first time, it was a nice house then.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01There was a few little odd mistakes so the next time I just wanted
0:23:01 > 0:23:03to make sure it was perfect second time round.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09In his quest for perfection, Ben enlisted his mum to help with inspiration.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14My mum, she went out buying the tiles, the doors, the wall colours.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18My mum was down nearly every single day making sure everything was spot on.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20She did a real good job, my mum did.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23I love the open space, you've got the kitchen
0:23:23 > 0:23:27and living room and dining room just all in one, it's really nice.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- Hello, good to see you. - Hello.- Hello there.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32This is Rebecca, this is Martin.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35- Hello.- Come on then, show us around and let's see what you've done.
0:23:35 > 0:23:41Downstairs, Ben's conversion consists of a vast open plan kitchen living area.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46- Oh, wow, this is beautiful. Lovely. - It's gorgeous, isn't it?- It is.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50- It's lovely,- I showed you guys the picture of the original barn.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53My mum kept telling me I should have kept the crosses on.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Oh, the wall supports, because they're not on the new build.
0:23:56 > 0:24:02This is a beautiful barn and I can see why you fell in love with it and wanted to do it.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It's a fantastic spot, beautiful views.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08It feels like the middle of nowhere, but it's close to everything.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10It's just so nice and peaceful.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Yes, it is brilliant.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Off the open plan area is a wooden butterfly staircase
0:24:16 > 0:24:19leading to four luxury double bedrooms upstairs,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25all but one of which are en suite.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- But Ben still has more he wants to achieve. - It looks like you're not finished.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- I've still got a garden room to build.- A garden room?
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Well, I've built some of it but with funds getting a bit tight,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39you know, that room is going to be brilliant.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- What kind of, is it going to be slate?- Oak trusses
0:24:42 > 0:24:47so when you're looking up it's going to be really nice, it's all...
0:24:47 > 0:24:50that's why I can't afford to build it.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53This is a really good point for Rebecca and Martin to take away,
0:24:53 > 0:24:59that a renovation really is something you have to be into for the long haul.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01If you had one parting tip, what would it be?
0:25:01 > 0:25:06Just to don't rush into anything, just spend so much time
0:25:06 > 0:25:09looking through the plans, just design it so right.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13It's all tying up with what Scott said at the previous house,
0:25:13 > 0:25:15which is live in the place,
0:25:15 > 0:25:20learn how you think the space might want to be before you get stuck into doing it.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25I think you'd agree, guys, it's a gorgeous renovation this, I think lots of ideas for you to take away.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27I'm hoping that both of our projects
0:25:27 > 0:25:31have given Rebecca and Martin the insight to confidently
0:25:31 > 0:25:35proceed with the transformation of the pub they want to make into their next home.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38I suppose the key thing here really is staging.
0:25:38 > 0:25:44- Yes.- The extraordinary manor that had been split into two
0:25:44 > 0:25:46for the sake of getting the work done,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I think that's what that first property particularly illustrates.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52It's funny because actually in driving round today,
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I've thought about that idea they had about blocking it off
0:25:55 > 0:25:58and making part of the house liveable in.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Do you think you've come away from today with a sense that
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- it's going to require far more planning than you thought?- Yes.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Definitely.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I think in both cases, the thing that came across is the thought
0:26:09 > 0:26:12you need to put up front, not only for the broad ideas but into the detail.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17That's things you're not going to find out until you've been in the house for a little while.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I enjoyed seeing your project.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23I think we would like to actually find out what's there,
0:26:23 > 0:26:29rather than a builder knocking it all down, I want to find out what's behind those fireplaces.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32I'd love to come and see it when you've finished,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34because it will be a really beautiful home.
0:26:34 > 0:26:40- Yes.- So good luck and here's to plastering and knocking things down, and learning new skills.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- Cheers.- Thank you.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46You know we tend not to give out medals for renovations,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49but I'm pretty sure that both of today's properties
0:26:49 > 0:26:55that I've shown Martin and Rebecca most certainly qualify for them, but what are the key lessons?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Well, I think it's one of pace, to be honest with you.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Plan it well, don't rush it, and above all else enjoy it,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06because, unlike Ben, we don't all want to have to do it twice.
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