0:00:02 > 0:00:05There are nearly a million homes abandoned in the UK,
0:00:05 > 0:00:09waiting for someone to come along and breathe life back into them.
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 > 0:00:29The tell-tale signs of an empty property are easy enough to spot.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Peeling paint, boarded-up windows, overgrown front gardens,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36junk mail sticking out the front of the letter box.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39But next time you go past a property like that, consider this -
0:00:39 > 0:00:44it could make somebody, maybe even you, a fantastic new home.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Today, I'm helping a novice house hunter learn the ropes of renovation
0:00:48 > 0:00:51to give her the confidence to take on an empty home.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54- Oh, this is interesting! - Bigger than you think, isn't it?
0:00:54 > 0:01:00Along the way, I'll be introducing her to other homeowners who have tackled major projects.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02It's a labour of love but it's so worth it.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06And we'll be hitting the streets with an empty-property officer,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10whose job is to find abandoned buildings and get them turned back into homes again.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14You can see where the whole roof has just collapsed. Completely rotten.
0:01:14 > 0:01:20Beautifully decorated and furnished houses often fly out of the estate agent's window
0:01:20 > 0:01:23but they don't necessarily offer you the best value for money.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26If you want to buy clever, buy an empty property.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31You'll often get it for a bargain and you can use the money you save to turn it into your perfect home.
0:01:32 > 0:01:38Which is just what freelance marketing consultant Ali Marsh dreams of doing.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40I'm really looking for a rural location.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I really like the peace and quiet and tranquillity.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Character is very important to me and something with a bit more space, really.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Armed with a budget of £300,000
0:01:51 > 0:01:53but with little renovation experience,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Ali's been combing the estate agent windows of Leicestershire
0:01:56 > 0:02:00for an empty stone cottage to transform into her dream home.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04I am looking for a property with potential, definitely.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10It doesn't frighten me to actually start from scratch, rip everything out.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13I'm more than happy to try and put my own mark on something.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17I might be mad, but it doesn't frighten me at the moment.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Full of enthusiasm, but with absolutely no experience,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24what first timer Ali needs now is a little friendly advice to help her on her way.
0:02:25 > 0:02:26Hi, Ali!
0:02:26 > 0:02:29'I'm meeting Ali, along with her best friend, Max,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32'who's helping her with search, to see if I can assist.'
0:02:32 > 0:02:36In many respects, I think you are typical of many people taking on an empty property,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41- in that you're prepared to get your hands dirty on the things that you know you can do...- Yes.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44I expect, at the end of the day, in will be a builder/contractor job,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46which you'll project manage.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Yes, that would be the ideal, someone who really knows what they're doing.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53But, er, small little things, such as the painting and anything like that,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I'm more than happy to have a go.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58And, Max, are you going to get roped into this redecorating?
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Oh, no doubt, no doubt.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04I'll make the tea and bring the wine in, things like that.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Even a relatively small property, it does become all-consuming.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11- Are you prepared for that? - Er, yes, I am. I think so.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I'm at this stage where I can put more time into something.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15So I'm more than...
0:03:15 > 0:03:16I want a really good home
0:03:16 > 0:03:20and something that I can see the end result.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Are you feeling daunted by the idea, or excited?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26No, I'm actually... Maybe it's because I don't know what's ahead...
0:03:26 > 0:03:30- Ignorance is bliss.- Ignorance is... Definitely ignorant, yes...
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Later, I'm going to be introducing Ali to a couple of very different types of renovations,
0:03:35 > 0:03:41that I hope will give her an idea of the range of possibilities that an empty building can offer.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45But first, I want to set Ali and friend Max something of a challenge.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48I want see if Ali can spot the potential in a property
0:03:48 > 0:03:52that's currently been rejected by other homeowners and left sitting on the market.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58So, without me there to guide her, I've sent her and Max off to have a look at an example of a place that,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01with a bit of imagination, could really suit her needs.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Ali's looking for a three-bedroom stone character cottage with space,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09something cottages are usually pretty short on.
0:04:09 > 0:04:16So I'm hoping she'll see the hidden potential for expansion in this vacant blacksmith's cottage.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19It's in the pretty Leicestershire village of Sewstern.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Formerly a rental property, it's been empty for a year now
0:04:22 > 0:04:26and it's on the market at just under £200,000,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29which would leave Ali 100,000 for renovation.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- There's a good feel to it. - Yeah, I wonder how far back it goes.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37With its original workshop and outbuildings,
0:04:37 > 0:04:42I think this place could be spectacularly transformed to create Ali's ideal home,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45but how obvious will this be to her and Max?
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Interesting size room.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51It's quite a nice size room.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56Viewing empty properties is all about the visualising what could be done to improve the existing layout.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00- The kitchen...- It's a bit small. - It is, isn't it?
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Very, erm...compact, I think.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- You wouldn't want to eat in here. - Won't get four around that for dinner.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11- No.- Could be a bit disappointing. - Barbecues on the lawn.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16The kitchen may be small, but what about knocking through the wall to create a roomy kitchen-diner?
0:05:16 > 0:05:20I don't see the potential. I think these walls are too thick.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22I don't think you could knock through there.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24It'll make it hard to make the room work.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28The size it is now, I'm not sure that it would work as well.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Come on guys, it's all about letting your imagination run riot at this stage.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Don't dismiss anything out of hand without consulting a builder.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40There's a lot of space up here, probably wasted space in a lot of ways.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Yeah, you really want the size in the bedrooms, don't you, rather than here.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- Very small...- Oh, dear.- Gosh!
0:05:48 > 0:05:50That's just not going to work, is it?
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- You really haven't got any potential in here at all.- No.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56I think the obvious solution to expand this room
0:05:56 > 0:06:00would be to knock down the wall and use the wasted space on the landing.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Well, let's see what the bathroom's like.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Gosh, that looks very blue.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Oh, dear, this is awful, sorry.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I don't know where you'd start.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Hard to know what to do with this one.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Don't be put off by decor.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17It's one of the easiest transformations to make to an empty property.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23The trick is to see past it and imagine your own impeccable taste there, instead.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27But it's outside where the real possibilities lie.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31The roofless old workshop could transform into a stunning extension
0:06:31 > 0:06:34and could be the key to creating the space Ali craves.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39Actually, if you cleared it out, you would have a bit more room here, wouldn't you?
0:06:39 > 0:06:45It would really work if you were able to use this area and build out here as well.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47You're getting the hang of it.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51It depends what you're allowed to do, doesn't it, and that is what we need to check.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56And checking things out needn't be difficult, once you've learnt what to look for and who to ask.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00I met up with them later to assess how they got on.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Well, guys, you had a look at that little cottage, what did you make of it?
0:07:04 > 0:07:06It was interesting, a lot of work to be done on it...
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- Yep.- But the initial bit, when we walked in, was sort of,
0:07:10 > 0:07:11"Oh, fairly small rooms."
0:07:11 > 0:07:16But when you saw the outside of it, definitely potential, wasn't there?
0:07:16 > 0:07:20I thought that was the exciting part of the building actually, that outbuilding,
0:07:20 > 0:07:25I mean, that's really what's going to make that property work in terms of space.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Upstairs, there was a bit of wasted space on the landing, there. - Yeah.- Yes.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31So you could have made that secondary bedroom a lot bigger.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33And we've have had a builder look over it.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Any idea of costs to move that wall and make it a bit bigger?
0:07:36 > 0:07:39No, I wouldn't know one that one.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- About £2,000.- Is that all?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- Yep. It's surprising isn't it? - Yes.- Yes.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Now, the kitchen perhaps wasn't the big farmhouse kitchen you were dreaming of
0:07:47 > 0:07:53but the wall, you did say, "Oh, maybe that wall's so big, we can't move it."
0:07:53 > 0:07:56- We did wonder.- It's all possible and I think the key thing is
0:07:56 > 0:07:59that you have to look at these properties and think, "What would be the ideal?"
0:07:59 > 0:08:04Then you work with a project manager, an architect, a builder, to see what you can achieve.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I think the key thing now is to get you into a couple of examples,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10one that's half-built and one that is finished.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15You can meet the owners and pick their brains as to what is really involved. Come on.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17'Novices like Ali all have to start somewhere
0:08:17 > 0:08:19'in order to become experienced renovators
0:08:19 > 0:08:22'and even then, it isn't always straightforward.'
0:08:24 > 0:08:26When seasoned renovator Mike Westfell
0:08:26 > 0:08:32took on what he thought was a Victorian copy of a traditional hall house in Penshurst, Kent,
0:08:32 > 0:08:33he knew he had something special
0:08:33 > 0:08:37but quite how special was yet to be revealed.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41It was such a gem of a house, but in such terrible condition.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43In fact, more of a gem than I realised
0:08:43 > 0:08:49because underneath this rather shabby exterior was a 13th-Century cottage.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52This actually was a traditional hall house
0:08:52 > 0:08:55but beyond saving, frankly.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58And we've rebuilt it like a traditional hall house.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Hall houses were the homes of minor landowners in medieval times
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and Kent would have had a high percentage of these timber-framed buildings
0:09:06 > 0:09:08a few of which have survived.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11After a six-year battle to get planning permission,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Mike had to take apart the old building and start afresh.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Using the footprint of the original hall house, he rebuilt the property
0:09:18 > 0:09:23using a mixture of new timber from his nearby woodland and some reclaimed from the original house.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25We managed to rescue a lot of timber from it,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29even though most of the building was pretty dilapidated
0:09:29 > 0:09:33and some of the timbers were the original 13th-Century timber.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38So it's not as if it's a completely new house, it is really the same house remodelled.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42As the house was effectively rebuilt from scratch,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Mike was able to stay faithful to their original look of the house,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48but also include some modern touches.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Well, the advantage you get when building virtually from new is that
0:09:52 > 0:09:55you can include insulation under the floor,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57you can include heating under the floor.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00I mean, this place has centralised vacuum cleaning.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02It's got an efficient, modern heating system,
0:10:02 > 0:10:06so the great thing is, you get that chance to rebuild.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08If you build to modern standards, it will last forever.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12So after years of patience and hard work,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Mike has ended up with a beautiful - and fairly profitable - family home.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Well, the house in '91 was valued at 117,000.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23When I renovated it, we spent about a quarter of a mil'.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26It's about a million and a half now, so...
0:10:26 > 0:10:28it's an improvement, definitely an improvement.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36There is definitely a huge chasm in the middle of the UK property market.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41On one hand, there are thousands of people struggling to find affordable homes to suit their needs
0:10:41 > 0:10:46and on the other, well, hundreds of thousands of empty properties lying empty,
0:10:46 > 0:10:50whose owners have either disappeared or simply neglected them and left them to rot.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55It is a huge problem, but many local councils now employ empty property officers,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58desperately trying to find a solution.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02And one of those empty property officers is Dave Carter,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04whose beat is Enfield in north London.
0:11:04 > 0:11:11At any one time, Dave has around 200 vacant properties on his books that he's trying to get reoccupied.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16Today, he's heard from neighbours of an empty terraced house with unfinished building work
0:11:16 > 0:11:19that is causing their own property structural problems.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24It looks like the owner of the empty property has started works,
0:11:24 > 0:11:25but never quite finished them
0:11:25 > 0:11:29and that's why there's a problem with water getting into the house every time it rains.
0:11:29 > 0:11:35As a result of the recession, reports of abandoned building work is on the increase.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Well, bit of a messy job, by the look of it. Um...
0:11:40 > 0:11:43It's difficult to tell what's been going on here.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46It just looks like a bit of a bodge job all round
0:11:46 > 0:11:51and the fact that everything's just been left, allegedly, for 18 months,
0:11:51 > 0:11:58or for maybe even longer, does indicate that there may have been money problems.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02With no-one in at the property, Dave has a bit of sleuthing to do.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07It can take years to locate an owner and initial inquiries begin with the neighbours.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11- Hello there.- Hello.- I'm Dave Carter. I am from Enfield council.- Oh, right.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13I've come to find out what I can do about the house there.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Do you know about the owner?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18The owner? Yeah, he's got a restaurant up the hill.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22- OK. When did you last see him?- He stopped living there some time back.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Oh, he was living there himself at one point?
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Yeah, he lived there and he also took in lodgers, I believe.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30When did you last see him, roughly?
0:12:30 > 0:12:33I actually saw him, saw him this week.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37OK. When did you actually see him at the house?
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Not...No, he's not been living there for ages.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43I'll pop to the restaurant and try to catch him there.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Be a good idea, yeah.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48All right, nice to meet you. I'll do what I can to help you.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Right. Thanks. Thanks a lot.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53It's a stroke of luck that Dave's got an immediate lead,
0:12:53 > 0:12:57so he pays a visit to the restaurant on the off-chance that the owner might be there.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03Unfortunately, he wasn't, but Dave was able to get his phone number and gave him a call.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06I had a very quick chat with him.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10We agreed that we'd meet again tomorrow at the house.
0:13:10 > 0:13:16Hopefully, tomorrow, we'll start by at least getting an explanation about why he's left the property empty,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20why he's causing a nuisance to the neighbourhood, um...
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and then we can start talking about solutions.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29Dave has since had the meeting and the owner has now recommenced the building work.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35Over the next weeks and months, he'll keep an eye on progress until it's satisfactorily completed.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38If you're considering buying an empty property,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42the chances are you'll need a builder to help you transform it into your dream home.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Finding the right contractor can be tricky
0:13:45 > 0:13:47but there are a few golden rules.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Ask to see examples of completed work that they've done
0:13:50 > 0:13:53and make sure you talk to the people they've worked for.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58On anything other than the smallest jobs, hire an architect to help come up with the best design.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01And give the builder clear instructions on how to implement it.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06Finally, whatever you do, make sure that all the detailed work as to what you're going to do
0:14:06 > 0:14:09is laid out in black and white on paper before you start.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12It could well save you an awful lot of confusion later on.
0:14:16 > 0:14:23Marketing consultant Ali Marsh has set her sights on finding an empty property to fully restore,
0:14:23 > 0:14:28but, as a newcomer to the renovation game, she's struggling to see past her first impressions.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31The size it is now, it's going to make it hard to make the room work, isn't it?
0:14:31 > 0:14:36So I'm taking Ali and her best friend Max to meet a couple of experienced renovators
0:14:36 > 0:14:41who took on what looked like a rather unpromising place and turned it into a stunning home.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45I hope it'll help Ali and Max see what a little vision can do.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49That is the subject of our first visit. Any idea of what it used to be?
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- Erm, textiles I would guess? - Absolutely spot-on.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54It was a knitwear factory.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58This is what it used to look like, before the current owners bought it.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- Good grief! - Wow! What a blank canvas.
0:15:01 > 0:15:07When Antony Matters and Rosemary Fitton first saw their home, it wasn't a home at all.
0:15:07 > 0:15:13The building, in the old industrial heart of Leicester, used to be an 1920s knitting factory.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16The couple fell for this empty shell and have spent the last nine years
0:15:16 > 0:15:22painstakingly turning it into a contemporary home and workspace.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27We weren't looking for anywhere like this originally and we didn't like the building we'd gone to,
0:15:27 > 0:15:33so we just had a walk around the area and we came across this building and just thought
0:15:33 > 0:15:36"Wow! That would be so exciting."
0:15:36 > 0:15:39We could never afford to buy this kind of thing finished
0:15:39 > 0:15:45because we haven't got a lot of money and we've been doing it on a kind of a shoestring budget over the years.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50You know, we love living here, we love the atmosphere and the character of the building,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53you know, we had to buy it in the state it was in.
0:15:53 > 0:15:59The project is a genuine labour of love for Antony and Rosemary and although they are far from finished,
0:15:59 > 0:16:01the results to date are really impressive.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03What a transformation!
0:16:03 > 0:16:05I can't believe it!
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Were you not expecting that?
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Not at all, but it's fantastic what you've done.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13It has a lovely, warm feel to it, it really does.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18We just didn't want it to look like a box, just plasterboard everywhere and painted.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23We would have lost the character of the building and that's what drew us to this building.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Years of meticulous renovation have transformed this former shop floor
0:16:27 > 0:16:30into a large open plan living and work area
0:16:30 > 0:16:34with a stylish, contemporary kitchen and there are also three bedrooms
0:16:34 > 0:16:38and a couple of bathrooms in varying states of completion.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43Nine years of experience means they've got some important insight to offer Ali.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45I would say don't be afraid to have a go.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50Although we work as designers, we'd never really done anything hands-on
0:16:50 > 0:16:53and actually now I can look around and I've done most of what you see,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56so I've made the window frames, Rosemary's tiled the bathroom,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58I've laid the concrete floor.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01I would say if you are willing to have a go and get your hands dirty
0:17:01 > 0:17:06and maybe make a few mistakes, anyone can do pretty much anything.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10I think you're prepared to have a go. You said you were prepared to knock things down
0:17:10 > 0:17:11and clear things out and so forth.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16You've got Max to muck in and help, who I'm sure might have a go at plastering, you never know.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19But I think on a serious note, that is the point.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Have a go, what's the worst that can happen?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25It's a labour of love, but it's so worth it to get an unusual building
0:17:25 > 0:17:28that you can dictate how you're going to live in it.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33And Antony's and Rosemary's plans for their perfect home don't stop here.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Upstairs, they aim to create a whole new floor
0:17:36 > 0:17:40along with what I can already see is an impressive roof terrace.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45What we want to do is build on another floor, but have an open courtyard garden in the middle.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- Yes.- So with all glass walls surrounding it...- Sliding glass...
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Aww... I mean, it just goes on, doesn't it?
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- Yeah.- How long is that going to take? - I was just going to say... - Phase two, yes.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59I think it's wonderful. I can certainly see why you were attracted to this. Do you kind of get it now?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01I do, I do get it, I do. Honestly.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03I think what you've done is opened my mind up
0:18:03 > 0:18:09to the potential of the properties that I have been looking at, so it's great to see that.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11I might need your help, though.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13THEY ALL LAUGH
0:18:14 > 0:18:19For me, the obvious pleasure that Antony and Rosemary have taken from rescuing this building
0:18:19 > 0:18:23is infectious, a building that does literally contain their entire life
0:18:23 > 0:18:27and while sometimes it is hard to quantify inspiration,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30this building and what they've done here, to me, gets to the heart of it.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35Inspiration, I hope, has now rubbed off on Max and, importantly, on Ali.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Later, I'll be showing Ali a finished product,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44which I suspect will be very close to the house of her dreams.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48But first, back in the north London borough of Enfield,
0:18:48 > 0:18:53empty property officer Dave Carter is following up one of his ongoing cases.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58It's a 1930s semi that was at the centre of an unresolved inheritance issue.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Empty since 2005, the house has deteriorated badly
0:19:02 > 0:19:06and the council have placed a compulsory purchase order on it.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10The owners couldn't resolve the problems, the council stepped in, saying,
0:19:10 > 0:19:11"Sort it out or we will."
0:19:11 > 0:19:13In the end, they said,
0:19:13 > 0:19:14"We'll never sort out our problems,
0:19:14 > 0:19:19"we're never going to be able to get this property back into use, you may as well do it for us."
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Having rescued it from dereliction, the council will temporarily own the house
0:19:24 > 0:19:26until they can sell it at auction.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Neighbours are concerned about squatters moving in
0:19:29 > 0:19:34and it's Dave's responsibility to ensure that the property is secure against break-ins.
0:19:34 > 0:19:41Like any old house it's very vulnerable to people breaking in, the locks are very old,
0:19:41 > 0:19:47the frames are wooden and rotten and the glass is not always most secure.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50It only takes five minutes for someone to break in.
0:19:50 > 0:19:56Dave also needs to check the actual structure of the house to ensure it's not a hazard to passers-by.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00You can see where the whole roof has just collapsed, completely rotten.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04I don't think it's in any immediate danger unless somebody was to go in,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08which is unlikely, but my main concern is this a bit round here.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18It seems, um...
0:20:18 > 0:20:22stable enough but I think we'll get someone down here to check it.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27Satisfied that it's secure, the next call is to update the neighbour on how things are progressing.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- Good morning. I'm fine, thank you, how are you?- Not too bad.- Good.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- So, um, house next door.- Yes.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38I've been made aware by, sort of, police and other people
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- that they had concerns about squatters.- That's right, yeah.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Any house like this is vulnerable.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- So I would advise you and all your neighbours just to be vigilant.- OK.
0:20:48 > 0:20:54Because from a selfish point of view, in the not too distant future, it is going to belong to the council,
0:20:54 > 0:20:59albeit hopefully for a short period and we don't want the trouble of having to evict squatters as well.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03- From your point of view, you don't want... - No, I don't want squatters.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- That's the last thing I want. - You don't want them as neighbours.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11Sharing a party wall with an empty property can mean sharing structural problems, too.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- When I first met you, I think there was a tank that had burst?- Correct.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Probably pipes too and your house was a state.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- It was.- Have you managed to get that sorted out?- I have.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23The insurance have now dealt with it but I did have a big battle because,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27unfortunately, the gentleman that owns the house did not have insurance
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- so, I had to claim on my own insurance.- Oh, God.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35And they're not that happy about insuring my property being next door to an empty property.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37I suppose your premiums have...
0:21:37 > 0:21:42My premiums have gone up and I have to a report every quarter to them on the state of the house.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Hopefully, we can, I can see light at the end of the tunnel, anyway.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Once the house is the council's, they'll put it up for auction.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Whenever the auction is in the next few months,
0:21:52 > 0:21:57we're hoping that it will go to someone who is going to take care of it, love it
0:21:57 > 0:22:00and it might be that it'll be a lovely family home for somebody
0:22:00 > 0:22:05and the neighbours will hopefully have a nice, new neighbour to deal with.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Ali Marsh wants to throw herself head-first into a major renovation project.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17With best friend Max in tow, she's already seen a run-down, empty cottage
0:22:17 > 0:22:20that had all the potential to be a perfect rural village home.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24It would really work if you were able to build out here as well.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27But with no experience in the game,
0:22:27 > 0:22:32I've been introducing her to seasoned renovators who can offer her advice.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Now I want to show her a project that I think will really inspire her.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39This is the sort of environment that you really want to be in, isn't it?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42- Definitely. It's beautiful. - I have got the house for you.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47Sadly, it's not for sale but, hopefully, it will give you a few ideas.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51When Jean Denya first saw this 300-year-old stone cottage in Rutland
0:22:51 > 0:22:56back in 1974, she dreamt that one day it would be hers.
0:22:56 > 0:22:5934 years later, when she heard it was up for sale
0:22:59 > 0:23:04after lying empty for two years, all she had to do was persuade husband Terry to take it on.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08We decided that, although it was a cottage that you could live in,
0:23:08 > 0:23:14it wasn't big enough, so we've put an extension to make it into more of a family home.
0:23:14 > 0:23:22By extending it, they've increased the size of the cottage by a third, creating a light and airy home.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27I still come home and can't believe that I actually live here.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32And it's a compliment that people in the village have said to us,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36how pleased they are about the work we've done.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Now this is what I want you to feast your eyes on,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41because I think this is what you're after.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44It's absolutely gorgeous, yeah, it is very, very nice.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48I think it's stunning. And the teapot, I want that teapot.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55So, we might all get a cup of tea later on, then, if we play our cards right.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- Sounds good.- Now, in many respects I think, guys,
0:23:58 > 0:24:03your gorgeous cottage here is very similar to one that we showed Ali some time ago,
0:24:03 > 0:24:09which is completely empty and in dire need of restoration, but it is quite similar, isn't it?
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Very much, the main bit is really the same size and there is an area to the side
0:24:13 > 0:24:18that could be added to and would very much give the size of house that we're looking at now.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22But that one isn't listed, this one, of course, is.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26To be honest, I don't think it's affected what you've been able to do, has it?
0:24:26 > 0:24:28No, no it hasn't.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31There are certain restrictions of that they put on it when you're doing the work,
0:24:31 > 0:24:36but if you talk to them first, you can find out what you can do, what you can't do.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40And you work together to blend it all in and get the end result that we've got,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42- which is exactly what we wanted. - It's beautiful.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47The extension has enabled them to create a charming farmhouse kitchen
0:24:47 > 0:24:51along with a double bedroom and en suite upstairs.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Ah, look at this.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57- Fabulous. This is... - Now, this is an extension. This is fantastic.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00This is what you could do with the other place, isn't it?
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Precisely. And the size of this is pretty much what you'd get.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08- Yes.- I think some of the key things here are you talked to the planners before you bought it.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10- Yes.- That's a top tip.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Any others you can think of that will help Ali go forward?
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Be very clear on your tender that you send out to builders
0:25:18 > 0:25:21and definitely get more than one quote,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25about what you want them to do and in what time frame,
0:25:25 > 0:25:29so that the expectations are very clear before you take a builder on.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Having bought the house for £313,000,
0:25:34 > 0:25:39Jean and Terry spent a further 120,000 transforming it into their dream home.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45But has their experience convinced Ali that a similar project is for her?
0:25:47 > 0:25:52Well, guys, this is the end of our little foray into empty properties and how to renovate them.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Are you feeling inspired?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56I am. They've given me some very good insights.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59I mean, like, the planners, to go and sit down and talk to them.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04Definitely key to get the right builder and hone in on actually what the brief is.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09And in terms of that earlier property that you saw, seriously now, would you reconsider it?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12I can see more the potential now, erm...
0:26:12 > 0:26:17and, yes, you could lift everything here and put it on that extension.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19My only reservation is the parking.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22And, in fact, if there was a little bit more room for parking,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25um, but otherwise, you're absolutely right, this could be exactly what I could do there.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28- So the search goes on?- Hmm.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32- Will you still go for an empty property, is my final question? - Yeah, I would do.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Yes, I'd love to find an empty property, definitely.
0:26:35 > 0:26:41Brilliant. For the budget and what you're after, it's the way to go and you'll get what you want.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- Best of luck with what happens in the future and keep on looking. - Thank you.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48You know, whatever kind of property Ali ends up buying,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50whether it's a derelict cottage,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53an old barn or even an old factory complex,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56the rules and tips that she's picked up today do, I think,
0:26:56 > 0:26:57remain pretty much the same.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01A good eye, plenty of imagination, and lots of hard work
0:27:01 > 0:27:03mean that pretty much any space can
0:27:03 > 0:27:05be turned into a fantastic family home.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk