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.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12So whether it's a tired semi or a rambling mansion,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15we're on a mission to rescue Britain's empty homes.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Now, in buying a new home, there is nothing more rewarding
0:00:28 > 0:00:32than taking on an empty building and breathing new life into it.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Tackling a major renovation allows you to tailor the property
0:00:35 > 0:00:38to your individual needs and, with any luck,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41you could both save and make money along the way.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44On the show today, I'm giving the benefit of my experience
0:00:44 > 0:00:49renovating a disused house to a couple who are looking for their next home.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52And introducing them to other homeowners
0:00:52 > 0:00:55who have done amazing things with formerly vacant houses.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59It's absolutely superb. I'd never have thought of doing something like this.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01We'll also be joining an empty property officer
0:01:01 > 0:01:05on a mission to bring dilapidated buildings back into use.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07I don't like boarding properties up,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10cos it advertises the fact that this is an empty house,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13but it's something we've been forced to do.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16The decision to take on an empty property
0:01:16 > 0:01:19is not one to be taken lightly, but there's no two ways about it,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22transforming something that's unloved and unlived in
0:01:22 > 0:01:25into your new home can be incredibly rewarding -
0:01:25 > 0:01:28but you do have to be up for something of a challenge.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Finance director Suki Cavendish and banker Carl Newman
0:01:33 > 0:01:37are expecting their first baby and want to move from London to Godalming in Surrey.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Ah, that's really cute.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42They want to find a house they can feather into a perfect family nest.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47We're looking to move because we've got a baby on the way in a couple of months,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and we don't want to raise our baby in London,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52so we're trying to move out into the sticks.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55A bit of fresh air and find a house rather than a flat.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58The pair have decided they want to buy an abandoned house
0:01:58 > 0:02:02they can breathe new life into and for Suki, it's a lifelong ambition.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06I've always wanted to do some kind of property renovation work
0:02:06 > 0:02:09and an empty property, you've got the ability to do that.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Something that is an empty shell and a blank canvas
0:02:12 > 0:02:15is something that I think will be ideal.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20But where they're looking, even with their £450,000 budget,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22they'll struggle to tick all their boxes,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26which could be why they've looked at a whopping 40 properties
0:02:26 > 0:02:27and are yet to see one they like.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Now sometimes when people can't find a house they're happy with,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34it's because they're looking at the wrong type of property,
0:02:34 > 0:02:36so to find out where they've been going wrong,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I sent Carl and Suki to have a look at a classic empty building
0:02:39 > 0:02:43to try and highlight some of the issues they've been grappling with.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I want to see if Suki and Carl can spot the potential
0:02:46 > 0:02:50in this 19th century, semi-detached house in the village of Compton.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51Looks lovely.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57With two bedrooms and the potential to add a third in the loft,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00there's a good-size garden and plenty of period features.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Lots of character, lots of charm. Can't discount anything yet.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07The previous owners relocated for work six months ago,
0:03:07 > 0:03:12so it's been empty ever since and it's on the market for £365,000.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15This would leave Suki and Carl 85 grand
0:03:15 > 0:03:17to make any alterations.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22And, with a bit of imagination, this place could be fantastic.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- It's small though, isn't it? - Yeah.- It is a bit small.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Oh, dear! It looks like these two have spotted a problem
0:03:28 > 0:03:31within seconds of stepping inside.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I'm a bit concerned about coming straight in,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37no real hallway or anything, straight into the lounge.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- There's nowhere to put... - Coats or wellies or...buggies.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Well, let's hope things improve in the kitchen.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48May be able to get a washing machine or something in there, at a squeeze.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50I don't think there's much space, though.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55If you take out the units, there's only about three cupboard spaces.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Not a tremendous amount of space, with the stuff we've got.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Yeah. Not big enough. - Not big enough on the storage.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03But there's plenty of square footage in here
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and potentially, it could be a great family kitchen.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Let's see if the upstairs can fire up their imagination.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13They'll find a reasonable-size bathroom and two bedrooms,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16with plenty of room to extend into the loft.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- I don't know whether you could go into the loft.- If you put stairs in,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23- you'd lose half a room.- That's even if you get planning permission.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It's a shame, cos it's a lovely house, but slightly too small.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30The house is what it is. It's six rooms in total.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33With clever planning, they could get a staircase in,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35but I don't think they yet have the vision
0:04:35 > 0:04:39to see what big changes can be made to an empty house.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Suki, very nice to see you. Carl.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45'So let's convince them to look beyond any negative first impressions
0:04:45 > 0:04:48'to see what they can achieve with an empty property.'
0:04:48 > 0:04:51We sent you off to look at what I thought
0:04:51 > 0:04:53was a very interesting empty property,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57full of period charm and character. What did you make of that one?
0:04:57 > 0:05:00It was very, very pretty and exactly the type of character we wanted,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03but ultimately, it was a bit too small
0:05:03 > 0:05:07and there didn't seem the opportunity to extend into a third bedroom.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09What about going up into the loft?
0:05:09 > 0:05:11It would be too difficult.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14The space is big enough, but we'd have to chop into the bathroom
0:05:14 > 0:05:19and build the stairs and we'd lose some space on the first floor.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20You'll lose space with stairs,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23but that's where your architect comes in to do that
0:05:23 > 0:05:25as creatively as possible
0:05:25 > 0:05:28to minimise the impact on the existing floor plan.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33But my worry with you two is that you've looked at 40-odd houses and not one of them you've signed up to.
0:05:33 > 0:05:39We've been looking at lots and lots of houses to see what styles we like and where the locations are.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41- 40's a lot though!- 40 is a lot.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- We've had some pretty busy weekends. - I bet you have. Indeed.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48I mean, what is it that you think you haven't found?
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Quite a few have been done up to someone else's specifications.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54We walk in and go, "Oh, I wouldn't have put the bathroom there",
0:05:54 > 0:05:58or, "I don't like the way they've done the kitchen", or we want to move rooms around.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02So there's always one or two things that don't quite tick all the boxes.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06So what can we do for you, do you think, to inspire you to take this on?
0:06:06 > 0:06:07What do you need to know and learn?
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Just to see what's possible.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13And the space. A lot of the properties we've looked at are in really good locations -
0:06:13 > 0:06:17obviously more expensive - and don't have the space and that worries us a bit.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- So if we can do something in a smaller space... - Get creative with the space.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23What we're trying to do, I think, is to give you
0:06:23 > 0:06:29some ideas and some confidence to take on something that's empty, to give you what you want precisely.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Because I suspect that only if you two create it, will it work.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Right. It's the bespoke nature that we want.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I think you've come to the right place.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40We can introduce you to some interesting builds and
0:06:40 > 0:06:43some interesting owners who can share their experience with you
0:06:43 > 0:06:50and, hopefully, give you a few key pointers as to how you can make an empty property your new dream home.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55- Excellent.- That sounds fantastic. - They shouldn't be put off by a lack of space or a building's appearance.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00Great things can be achieved with a little imagination.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05When Dominique Brown and William Walsh bought their narrow boat in Bath in 2009,
0:07:05 > 0:07:09they saw beyond its rundown state and cramped proportions.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12We drove for two hours to get there to have a look at it.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- Fell in love with it.- I don't know how, cos it was a state.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Yeah, we fell in love with the dream of having that...
0:07:18 > 0:07:20- I think that's what it was. - ..that boat.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Although they paid a mere £11,000 for the boat, things weren't all plain sailing.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30We had a survey done on it after we'd bought it, which wasn't the best idea.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- We should have done that before. - Yeah.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36And found that the entire bottom, the hull of the boat,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- needed completely re-plating, which was a lot of money.- Yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Looking back on it, we should have done a bit more research than we actually did.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48- We should have done, yes. - This may not be a conventional property, but Dominique
0:07:48 > 0:07:51and William's vision meant they created their perfect home.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54The design, the things in a small space, was so much fun
0:07:54 > 0:07:57because everything has to be multi-functional, multi-purpose.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01The dining table and desk folds away.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Folding the bed up and putting it as a sofa, it's nice because
0:08:05 > 0:08:08you instantly change from one room to another.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11That's what we love, having the same space but it changes.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13In the evening, we'll be having dinner
0:08:13 > 0:08:15and think, "We quite fancy a change of scenery."
0:08:15 > 0:08:22And so we literally move our entire home, our entire belongings, and then off we go. There you go, then.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25We wanted the city centre lifestyle and we've got that,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29but we've managed to have it on a very inexpensive budget.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32We don't have a huge mortgage, which is very nice.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36They've achieved all this for £45,000
0:08:36 > 0:08:39and it's giving them the passion to do more renovations in the future.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43The investment that we've put into this, we'll take into other boats.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47So everything we've learned from here will then go on and we can do
0:08:47 > 0:08:49another boat a lot quicker and a lot more efficiently.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- Cos funnily enough, we haven't been put off, for some odd reason!- No.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55It just makes you want to do it more.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58And it's so nice to bring an older boat back to life as well.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Yeah. It's really sad to see one rusting away.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04And it's quite an emotional thing doing a boat,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08because it's not like a house. It feels like it has more personality.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Yeah, and history within it.
0:09:11 > 0:09:17And it's constantly moving by itself, so I think it's nice to bring it back to life.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20All over the country, there are teams of empty property officers
0:09:20 > 0:09:26whose job it is to spot unoccupied homes and, hopefully, get somebody living in them again.
0:09:27 > 0:09:33And in Enfield, north-east London, it's Dave Carter who deals with the borough's vacant buildings.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39You've got to use your housing skills, your surveying skills, your investigation skills.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43There's so many aspects to the job which appeal to me.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48His patch covers an area of 30 square miles in the capital
0:09:48 > 0:09:51and in the last five years he's brought 250 properties back into use.
0:09:51 > 0:09:59Today we're off to a property which has been on my books for at least eight years.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03The house, which has attracted antisocial behaviour,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07was eventually the subject of a compulsory purchase order by Enfield Council.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Now it will be sold at auction, but before it is, Dave needs to make sure it's secure.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- Hi, there.- All right. - How are you doing?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Re-nailing this window at the moment.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18- All right.- Just to put the board back on and that.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21I don't like boarding properties up cos it advertises
0:10:21 > 0:10:25the fact that this is an empty house, but in this case we've been forced to
0:10:25 > 0:10:28cos there's the chance squatters may attempt to break in.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32So until we dispose of the house at auction, this is a temporary measure.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Hopefully, it won't put off too many buyers.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39After eight years of work on this case, it's a crucial time for Dave.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43It's the day of the auction, but several lots haven't met their reserve.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Third and final time.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49All three of you are just a margin away on that one.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52I'm always worried before the sale.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54You know, you always think the worst.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Fingers crossed.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Lot number 14. So vacant property here, requires modernisation.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Being sold by Enfield Council. I'd invite your bids.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Where would you like to start me on this?
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Where do you want to be?
0:11:10 > 0:11:12I can see you, sir. What's that?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14That's £300,000.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19Fortunately, the empty house Dave's dealing with has attracted some keen bidding.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- 375.- 375. Thank you.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23At 375,000 for the second,
0:11:23 > 0:11:30third and final time. At £375,000.
0:11:30 > 0:11:31Your house, sir, at 375.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34The successful bidder is called Mr Kann.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39Dave's eager to meet him and find out his intentions for one of his most problematic properties.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43- Hello there. Nice to meet you.- I'm fine thank you. How are you doing?
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- Not too bad at all. So you were the successful bidder then?- I am.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- How do you feel?- I feel great.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51I would have gone a little bit more than what I already bid.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Don't tell me that! DAVE LAUGHS
0:11:54 > 0:11:56So the big question is, what are you going to do with it?
0:11:56 > 0:12:03I'm not sure yet. I haven't made my mind up yet, because obviously it depends on the background...
0:12:03 > 0:12:05You'll need advice from builders and surveyors?
0:12:05 > 0:12:10- Usually, I take my advice from my wife. - THEY LAUGH
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Don't we all? I'm just pleased that it's gone to somebody who we can work with.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16- Cheers. - Thank you very much for your help.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20I'm very, very pleased. The sale went through, that was the main thing.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24It's not the end. It's sort of the beginning of the end.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26But I can see light at the end of the tunnel
0:12:26 > 0:12:31and, hopefully, in another three to six months, somebody will be living there.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36Although it's been sold, Dave will keep his eye on the house to make sure it comes back into use.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39We'll catch up with him later as he hands over the keys.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Suki Cavendish and Carl Newman's plans to renovate an empty home are on ice,
0:12:49 > 0:12:53as they keep rejecting properties on the basis of things like cupboard space.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57- Yeah. It's not big enough. - Not big enough on the storage.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02I want them to realise all these things can be changed if they use their imagination.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06We've come here to something you probably wouldn't have considered -
0:13:06 > 0:13:08classic, post-war, 1950s housing estate.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13The great thing about these kind of builds is that they are absolutely blank.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- You can do pretty much whatever you like to them.- Mm.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19So we're going to introduce you to one of these properties
0:13:19 > 0:13:22that is halfway through a very extensive rebuild
0:13:22 > 0:13:24and let's see if that gives you a few ideas
0:13:24 > 0:13:28as to what to do with a property that, on the face of it, may not be full of charm,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32but could still be turned into a really interesting family home for you two.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- Great.- Yeah.- Come on.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39From the front this three-bed house looks like a small, uninspiring box
0:13:39 > 0:13:44and that's exactly what it was when owners Alistair and Alison Alexander
0:13:44 > 0:13:47found it after it had been standing empty for months.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50It was a bit shabby. Decor wasn't very good, I must admit.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Really old-fashioned, needed a good tidy up, needed a good clean.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58But it had just that something about it that we knew... Well, I knew...
0:13:58 > 0:14:00it could be a nice family home.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04They're now halfway through a dramatic transformation,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07having knocked down almost every wall
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and added a large extension to the rear,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12providing more space for them and their three children.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17Alistair's doing an amazing job with a house most people wouldn't have given a second look
0:14:17 > 0:14:20and he's creating a stunning five-bedroom family home.
0:14:20 > 0:14:27- As you can see, still very much kind of work in progress, but that's the neighbour...- Yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29- Yeah.- And that is the new addition.
0:14:29 > 0:14:34- It's a big extension, isn't it? - It's quite a big extension. That's really impressive.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- In terms of scope and size, this is a different property from the back.- Yeah.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40- Very much so.- You wouldn't expect this from the front.- No.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46'It's an ambitious project with builder Alistair doing most of the work himself.'
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- It's amazing.- It's a nice house, isn't it?- It's got good space
0:14:49 > 0:14:52- for a table and family living. - Absolutely.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54How did you go about creating this space,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58because I presume most of these internal walls were not like this?
0:14:58 > 0:15:00You're right. None of them were like this.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04We knocked down this wall here through the brick.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07So you've completely transformed the floor plan.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Absolutely taken everything out. Gutted it.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Is there anything in here that survives from the original house?
0:15:13 > 0:15:15There is only one wall that survives.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17The original exterior wall.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22So presumably then, above us there are several steel beams taking all the load?
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- About ten different steel beams... - Ten steel beams?
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- Gosh.- Wow.- ..holding it up.- You make it sound very straightforward.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Just give us a sense of some of the challenges that you've had to overcome.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Well, number one, living in it while doing it. That was a challenge in its own right.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39The dust was absolutely horrendous.
0:15:39 > 0:15:45When the kitchen went, it was a case of, "Right, OK, a few takeaways."
0:15:45 > 0:15:50This has been a major job, which required a lot of careful planning.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55What would be your top tips in terms of easing the passage of an application through the planners?
0:15:55 > 0:16:00- I would always go larger than what you want to go.- Yeah. - So if you want to go two metres out,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03go bigger, cos if you do get knocked back by the council,
0:16:03 > 0:16:07you know, you've already got in mind what your minimum would be.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- That's a great tip - a very, very sensible way of doing it.- Yeah.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14It is a rewarding process rebuilding your own home. I think it is. I've done it.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19It's really nice to know at the end of the day, you're just going to sit down,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22just go, "Oh, just what I wanted! Just what I wanted!"
0:16:22 > 0:16:24See, that's the trick.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26What we've got to get you guys to do
0:16:26 > 0:16:30is to see similar sorts of potential in a wide range of buildings.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34They've looked at 40 properties and not been persuaded to buy one yet.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37This is what we're thinking. This is what you need to do.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42- You need to create your own space in exactly the same way that Alistair's done.- Exactly.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44'Later, I'll be showing Suki and Carl
0:16:44 > 0:16:49'an outstanding finished project that I hope will blow them away.'
0:16:49 > 0:16:52But first, we're heading back to north-east London,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55where empty property officer Dave Carter is meeting up with
0:16:55 > 0:16:59the gentleman who successfully bid at auction for the vacant house
0:16:59 > 0:17:01which had been empty for eight years.
0:17:01 > 0:17:07It's been a month now since we went to the auction, so I'm going to see what plans he's got for the house.
0:17:07 > 0:17:13Before Dave can hand over the keys to Mr Kann, there's just one final check for him to make.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Hi, Elizabeth. Has the money gone through?
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Right, lovely.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19How are you doing?
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- Fine, thank you.- Are you all set? - Yes, I am.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- Your big adventure.- Yes.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- Thank you very much.- All right. - Shall we have a look inside?
0:17:27 > 0:17:31By all means. I believe you've had an architect round.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33A condition of the sale is that Mr Kann,
0:17:33 > 0:17:38as the new owner, has to bring this four-bedroom house back into use within 12 months.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39What have you sold me?
0:17:39 > 0:17:44- I've sold you a nice four-bed family house.- Well...
0:17:44 > 0:17:46- It's all yours now.- A lot to do.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51Having been home to squatters, the house is now in a terrible state,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54so there's a lot of work to be done before it's back to a liveable standard.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58First thing we have to do is clear up. I've ordered a skip for tomorrow.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Take all the rubbish out from the rooms.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Four skips, five skips.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Yeah. A fresh start completely.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09Yeah, yeah. I mean, to be honest, no shortcuttings.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Just do everything properly.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Any thoughts about the boarding?
0:18:14 > 0:18:19- Are you leaving the boarding up for now?- I'll put security cameras in. - Good. And then take the boards down?
0:18:19 > 0:18:24Eventually I will take the boards down, but I won't rush taking the boards down immediately...
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Given the history, I think it would be...
0:18:26 > 0:18:28It would be silly to do that.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Any thoughts about what you're going to do with it once it's all fixed up?
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I think we'll live here for a little while ourselves.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38- That's the plan.- We won't ask for the boards back. You can keep them.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- Oh, thank you very much! - THEY LAUGH
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Still a lot of work to do.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Obviously I've got to monitor it for the next 12 months,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49but I'm confident it will be occupied well before that.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54Since Dave handed over ownership of the house to Mr Kann, work has been under way to renovate it
0:18:54 > 0:18:58and it should be lived in again within six months.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03If you think you've got what it takes to transform an empty property,
0:19:03 > 0:19:05there are various ways to find one.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10You can contact your local estate agent and see if they've got anything vacant,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14or try your local auction house. You might even find a bargain of a repossession.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Or, of course, you can also contact your local empty property officer.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Adventurous buyers looking to pick up a piece of history
0:19:21 > 0:19:24should look at the English Heritage website.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29Here you'll find a list of buildings registered as "at risk", some of which may be up for sale.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Suki Cavendish and Carl Newman have rejected 40 properties
0:19:37 > 0:19:42in their hunt for a home for them and their soon-to-be-born baby.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44They think an empty place may be the answer,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48but so far this 19th-century semi just didn't have the right layout for them.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53A bit concerned about coming straight in the front door and there's no hallway.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57'I'm trying to persuade them to be more open-minded about the kind of properties they look at.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02'They were impressed by what the owners were doing to this formerly empty house.'
0:20:02 > 0:20:04It's a big extension, really impressive.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06But now I've shown them what CAN be done,
0:20:06 > 0:20:11I want to show them a transformation that I think will really amaze them.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- Well, it's not that one. - Mm-hm.- OK.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- It's not that one.- Yeah.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20- It's that one. - Blimey!- That is amazing.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- Well, it used to...- Did they knock it down and start again?- Almost.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25That looks nothing like it!
0:20:25 > 0:20:27But the core of that building is still within
0:20:27 > 0:20:30that seemingly brand-new, very contemporary structure.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32- It's amazing. - That looks really good.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37Hugo and Jude Tugman bought this three-bedroom, one-bathroom,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40detached house in Twickenham back in 2003.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42When I first walked into the house,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45it was pretty ordinary in all sorts of ways.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49It was really shabby and dog-eared and the kitchen was really grotty.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51But the moment we saw it I got really excited
0:20:51 > 0:20:55because I could see instantly the possibilities that we could do to change this.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00Both architects by trade, they've taken a 1970s carbuncle
0:21:00 > 0:21:02that had been empty for more than a year
0:21:02 > 0:21:05and given it an 18-month extreme face-lift.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06In you come.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- Wow!- How about that for a staircase?
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Yeah, that's nice, isn't it?
0:21:11 > 0:21:15The Tugmans have managed to transform their abandoned house into a contemporary home
0:21:15 > 0:21:18with three bedrooms on the first floor
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and a master suite in a newly created loft conversion.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- Hi. How are you? - Hi.- Now we are all rightly wowed by this property.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- Good.- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- It is quite something. - It's superb.- Amazing.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35When you first saw this place, before you tackled it, what did you think?
0:21:35 > 0:21:40- Because it's a pretty uninspiring picture.- No, I thought, "Spot-oh!"
0:21:40 > 0:21:42I thought this is absolutely...
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Immediately I could see loads of opportunity to do things.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51I mean, I look around me and I cannot recognise the building that you bought.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55There are some original features. Some external walls are there, aren't they?
0:21:55 > 0:21:57The four outside walls are the same four walls.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01The windows are in different positions, there's been extensions,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03but the four walls are basically the same.
0:22:03 > 0:22:10Even though it's not a massive square footage, footprint, it actually looks much bigger.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Essentially it was a 7.5 metre square plan
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and we've still got that plus a couple of extensions.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20It's not a huge footprint, but you have created this illusion
0:22:20 > 0:22:22of a much bigger property. How have you done it?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24What we've tried to do here
0:22:24 > 0:22:26is create zones, create clear zones, so it's open.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30We've got a study zone, kitchen zone, living zone, dining zone.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32The dining room, if it were surrounded by walls,
0:22:32 > 0:22:37would feel like a dining room, but because it overlaps into there and there, it feels bigger.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41We've talked about your search for a period property and storage is a problem.
0:22:41 > 0:22:47No, storage is absolutely key. Everyone has loads of stuff, there's no getting away from it.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50If you want a clutter-free environment, you need loads of storage.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55This is inspirational. Whether we modernise a period property like this is another matter,
0:22:55 > 0:23:00but we do need to get creative and create storage in a period property if we ever went that way.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Perhaps the most incredible thing about this building is that Hugo
0:23:03 > 0:23:07has achieved all of it without having to get planning permission.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Instead, he's done all the work using something called Permitted Development.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Tell us a bit about Permitted Development,
0:23:13 > 0:23:17because it's a black art to some people, but, clearly, everyday to you.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Yeah, it's an incredibly useful thing.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Every house has Permitted Development rights -
0:23:22 > 0:23:25automatic planning permission for things up to certain limits
0:23:25 > 0:23:28without needing a planning application.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30- For example?- You can do a ground-floor extension
0:23:30 > 0:23:33up to a certain number of metres from the back wall.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36You can do loft dormers as long as you don't go higher than
0:23:36 > 0:23:39the highest point of the roof. All these sorts of limits.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43If you know the limits, you can go TO the limits and we pretty much did here.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Potentially now worth £1.1 million,
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Hugo and Jude have maximised the space available,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52creating a cutting-edge, four-bedroom family home.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56- This is terrific!- Wow! That's pretty good!- It's amazing, isn't it?
0:23:56 > 0:23:58An en suite with a difference, Hugo.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01What an earth gave you the idea for that? I have to say, I love it.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06Well, essentially, it is just a loft conversion and it's not all that big.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09So trying to maximise the effect of the space, it made sense
0:24:09 > 0:24:14- not to sub-divide the bathroom from the bedroom space and just have them all as one.- It's superb!
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- It's very different.- I'd never have thought of something like this.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21We met a builder today. Now we've introduced you to an architect.
0:24:21 > 0:24:26This is all stacking up to really facilitate your next project,
0:24:26 > 0:24:30but what would be your parting words of advice to Carl and Suki?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Well, first of all, I'd say don't think anything's impossible.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35You can do pretty much anything.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Yes, of course, there are realities. There are limitations to budgets,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42limitations in practical terms left, right and centre,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44but don't restrict your thinking.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49I guess it's a sign of the physical and creative ambition that you've brought to this property
0:24:49 > 0:24:54that you've been able to tear up the assumptions that most of make about buildings?
0:24:54 > 0:24:58That's right. It's important to be free with the way you think about what's possible.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02I really hope the Tugman's place has finally convinced Suki and Carl
0:25:02 > 0:25:07that regardless of a property's appearance, anything can be turned into a unique home.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10So, you two, we've shown you two quite different properties -
0:25:10 > 0:25:16- one in progress, one spectacularly finished, I think we'd agree.- Yeah.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20What are the key lessons that you'll take away from today's experience?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22That you don't need to keep the look of the house.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26What you buy doesn't have to look the same once you've done it up.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29It can look completely different and overhaul the whole property.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34Well, for me, I think it would be the confidence to actually give something a go.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36Beforehand, you might have had a crazy idea
0:25:36 > 0:25:40but not necessarily the confidence to speak to people and see how feasible it was.
0:25:40 > 0:25:46So do you think we've been able to help unlock your imagination, Suki?
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I think so, definitely. Particularly with the last property,
0:25:49 > 0:25:55because what they purchased doesn't look anything like what's there at the end of the whole process.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57So what happens next?
0:25:57 > 0:25:59My parting question for you.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Well, we have to have a baby first! THEY LAUGH
0:26:01 > 0:26:06I think initially we wanted to try and do something before the baby arrived,
0:26:06 > 0:26:11but it was taking time and I think we'll have to wait until after the baby's arrived and reassess.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15- But it hasn't put me off, personally, or I think you either...- No.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17..to tackle this in the near future.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Let us know how you get on, but in the meantime,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24very best of luck with the birth and here's to your new home and new family.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26- Cheers!- Cheers! - Thank you.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34You know, I'm always surprised at the range and number of empty properties that are out there
0:26:34 > 0:26:37and, of course, by what people are able to do with them.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41We've had the chance to show Carl and Suki two very inspiring properties
0:26:41 > 0:26:45at differing ends of the financial and creative spectrum,
0:26:45 > 0:26:49but, importantly, I think they've armed them with a new sense of confidence
0:26:49 > 0:26:51to tackle a project of their own.
0:26:51 > 0:26:57And when eventually they do, I think they're going to go about it with a great sense of fun.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:19 > 0:27:22E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk