0:00:01 > 0:00:05Across the country, properties that could be homes
0:00:05 > 0:00:08are just waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13I'll be finding out why and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16And I'll be doing some digging of my own,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19to find out more about our housing stock, our heritage and why
0:00:19 > 0:00:22we should be both be reinventing and preserving
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Britain's empty homes.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35There's a massive housing shortage in the UK today
0:00:35 > 0:00:38and yet there's nearly a million properties lying empty
0:00:38 > 0:00:42and abandoned. Of course, it's a pretty daunting prospect to take on
0:00:42 > 0:00:44a house in a state of disrepair,
0:00:44 > 0:00:48but beyond the peeling paintwork and boarded-up windows
0:00:48 > 0:00:53is potentially a beautiful home, just waiting to be brought back to life.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00On today's show, I'll be meeting up with a woman
0:01:00 > 0:01:03who's looking to take on her first renovation.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Oh! Fantastic! I didn't expect that.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I'll be finding out what's being done
0:01:10 > 0:01:13to address the nationwide housing crisis.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17How many lives could be better if they had a home to live in?
0:01:17 > 0:01:21What must they feel like when they see something like this empty?
0:01:21 > 0:01:25And we'll be following the property detectives who track down
0:01:25 > 0:01:29the owners of forgotten homes and bring the buildings back to life.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32There is actually holes in the glass there,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34as if someone's thrown something through it.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Karen Cartwright is about to make a big move from Devon back to
0:01:40 > 0:01:44her birthplace of Swinley on the outskirts of Wigan.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Her eldest children have settled here and now Karen
0:01:48 > 0:01:52and youngest son Bradley are set to join them.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54I moved down to Devon 25 years ago,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58enjoyed myself down there, got myself some lovely friends.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01But now I'd like to move back to be near my family.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05My house in Devon, I really, really love.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Ideally, I would like to put it in a box
0:02:08 > 0:02:11and just transport it to Swinley.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15Leaving her dream house behind, Karen's now set her heart
0:02:15 > 0:02:20on finding an empty home that she can make her own.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23I look at new properties, but they don't mean anything to me.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26They leave me cold. There's no character to them.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Karen plans to do a lot of the work herself
0:02:29 > 0:02:33and to live on site during the build to cut costs.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37Renovating a property is a really exciting prospect to me.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40I have thought about it for about four years
0:02:40 > 0:02:43and I can't wait to get my hands on one
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and just renovate it, put my stamp on it,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50and when it's done, just look at it and think, "I've done it."
0:02:55 > 0:03:00'I've arranged to meet up with Karen in Swinley to help her with her search.'
0:03:00 > 0:03:05- What is it you're looking for? - A semi-detached house
0:03:05 > 0:03:08in a quiet area, three bedrooms,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11bit of a garden or a bit of an area at the back
0:03:11 > 0:03:13that I can put my stamp on as well.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Sure. Well this is a property that I want to show you. 1920s or early 1930s,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20semi-detached, does have three bedrooms,
0:03:20 > 0:03:26does have a bit of a garden space and is also on a nice, quiet cul-de-sac.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Ticks a lot of the boxes. Let's go inside and have a look round, shall we?
0:03:33 > 0:03:38This house is on the market for £145,000
0:03:38 > 0:03:43and Karen has 170,000 to both buy and carry out the renovations.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49So, this is obviously the front room.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52The things that stand out in here for me are a few of the features.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56You've got these rounded, brick edges to things, that's '30s,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00stained glass in the window, it is not original, but...
0:04:00 > 0:04:03in keeping with the style of the property.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- Quite a bright feel to it.- Lovely. Yeah, I like the big windows.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12- Yeah, it's really nice.- You've got a gas fire here, as well.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Yeah... I'd have to find out if the chimney's working,
0:04:15 > 0:04:20- because I would like a log burner. - OK.- The eco-friendly burning...
0:04:20 > 0:04:25kind of materials. Really warm. Absolutely lovely. That's what I'd like.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32The 1930s semi is in need of modernisation,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35but the good news is that it seems to be habitable.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Poke your head in here. Can you tell what it is?
0:04:38 > 0:04:42- Oh, right, it's a kitchen. - A kitchen. - The positioning of the door,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45I thought it was an under stairs cloakroom,
0:04:45 > 0:04:50a toilet and a basin, but I didn't think they'd fit a kitchen in here.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54They have! A compact kitchen, it is, too.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Could you work in a kitchen like this, or is this too small?
0:04:57 > 0:05:01It's too enclosed for me. I'd have to think of what we could do
0:05:01 > 0:05:05to open it up a bit, and I do like Agas,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08so I think an Aga would take up nearly this full wall.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12This would be the Aga room and not much else.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17Bear this in mind as we go through to the next room at the back, there.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Again, it's a kind of reception room, so, I suppose, given what
0:05:22 > 0:05:27we've seen in the kitchen, you have the option of knocking through.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Is that something you'd considered?
0:05:30 > 0:05:34You get that whole space as well, added onto the big open plan rooms.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Didn't think of that.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Outside, I'm hoping the purpose built garage might provide
0:05:41 > 0:05:44some useful extra space for Karen and her son.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Fantastic! I didn't expect that.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52That's my son's drumming room. No noise, now, in the house.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55That is a good plus point, that.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I think you've got room, if you wanted, room to extend.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- Definitely.- That kitchen could go out the other way.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06- What do you think? - It could even come this way,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- with this, if I want to extend there, as well.- And lots of light.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11There's nothing built up in that space,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15so if you'd any glass panelling or roofing, you'd bring a lot of light in.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Definitely, I'd make sure I had a glass roof to get the light in.
0:06:19 > 0:06:25- I like the look of that. Quite promising. Lots of potential there.- Yes, definitely.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Yeah, really excited now.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36It's been really good for Karen to have a look at this place,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40not just because it's in the right area and fulfils many of her criteria,
0:06:40 > 0:06:45but it's a good opportunity to visualise how she would use an empty home like this.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Later, I'll take her to meet a couple who have
0:06:47 > 0:06:51completed a renovation very much in line with her aspirations,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54and I think they'll have some really good advice about how
0:06:54 > 0:06:57to make the whole process as painless as possible.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07Up and down the country, our streets are blighted by empty properties.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12But throughout the UK, a team of men and women are working to ensure
0:07:12 > 0:07:16these derelict houses become homes, once again.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Steve Reed works for Cardiff Council
0:07:21 > 0:07:25and is dedicated to getting the city's vacant homes lived in.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It does become more than a job,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31because you find on your days off when you're out and about,
0:07:31 > 0:07:35driving around, you spot these empty properties a mile off
0:07:35 > 0:07:37and think, "I could do something with that."
0:07:38 > 0:07:43In his nine years on the job, he's saved over 700 houses from ruin.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47When I finally see an empty property occupied,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50it's a great sense of satisfaction, that you've actually played
0:07:50 > 0:07:54a major part in getting it back to this occupied state.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Steve has received reports that a building
0:08:02 > 0:08:06he dealt with over six years ago, has been left empty again.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08What I am going to be doing today,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12is having a little look around the property,
0:08:12 > 0:08:17to see if we can confirm whether there's someone living in there.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31The letterbox is open, but there's a curtain behind it
0:08:31 > 0:08:35so I can't see inside but it doesn't look like there's anyone there.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37We've got a light on.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42That's probably just been left on to make it appear as if there's someone in there.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47It's clear the house is showing signs of neglect and deterioration.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Just looking at this step, here, there's a huge crack across the top.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55The tiles are all loose, and then looking up,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59there's some sort of black staining which looks like water damage
0:08:59 > 0:09:05across the top of the door as well, so it's not being maintained at all.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09The condition of the bay windows is also a big concern for Steve.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13It's almost open. The latch is hardly holding it shut.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18The glass has been pushed in. There's actually holes in the glass, there,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22and there, as if someone's thrown something through it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Whilst there's no sign of life in the house, it seems to be a different story in the garden.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28The grass has been cut,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31so obviously someone's been here, fairly recently.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35It looks fairly recently cut because it's still green.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Just check the bin.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41There you go. There's all the grass cuttings,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44so obviously the bins are collected weekly,
0:09:44 > 0:09:49so it's been less than a week since someone's been here and done this.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52You do get lots of properties where owners just keep them
0:09:52 > 0:09:56looking like there's someone in them, when there isn't.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Eager to solve the mystery of who's been at the property,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Steve decides to try and speak with the neighbours.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08I've spoken to a few of the neighbours.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11They have confirmed that there's nobody living here
0:10:11 > 0:10:13and there hasn't been for about a year.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17They also confirmed that a couple of days ago, somebody turned up,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21a couple of them turned up, cut the grass, put the light on and left,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23so there's definitely nobody here.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26So now I'll go to the office and start our procedure on this property
0:10:26 > 0:10:31and get in touch with the owner, find out exactly what's going on.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Since Steve has reopened the case,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35he's been in contact with the owners,
0:10:35 > 0:10:39who have said they're planning to develop the site for flats.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42It takes courage, commitment and determination
0:10:42 > 0:10:44to take on an empty home.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47All too often, the years of neglect have taken their toll,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and the problems can be challenging and costly.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52However, rarely are they insurmountable,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54and the benefits can be huge.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57You give a house a new lease of life, and in return
0:10:57 > 0:11:01the house gives you the chance to create your dream home.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Mark and Jo Turner were riding their horses
0:11:05 > 0:11:08when they first set eyes on Crockmore Farm.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11I think the first thing that we liked about the place
0:11:11 > 0:11:14was that it had a lot of character and had room, land for horses.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Situated on a 50-acre plot near Henley-upon-Thames,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22some of the structures date back to the 17th century.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The farm lay empty for ten years before Mark and Jo spotted it
0:11:25 > 0:11:28and saw its huge potential.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Every building - and there were a lot of them - were falling down.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36The house itself had holes going through the floors.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41- We couldn't walk upstairs. - You couldn't. It was dangerous.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44We just thought, "I don't know if we're up to this."
0:11:44 > 0:11:48I think it took us about six months of coming back and keep looking
0:11:48 > 0:11:52and thinking, "Well, you know, it could be something spectacular,"
0:11:52 > 0:11:56and I think that's when we eventually decided to go for it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03The couple paid £1.5 million for it back in 1999,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07and due to the size of the project, they employed a planning consultant,
0:12:07 > 0:12:12architect and project manager for the four-year renovation.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16We wanted one project manager to report to us
0:12:16 > 0:12:19so that we didn't have to have the concern
0:12:19 > 0:12:22of dealing with things we didn't know about.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25It did make things a lot easier.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29The couple have transformed the Grade II listed farmhouse
0:12:29 > 0:12:32into a beautiful five-bedroom family home
0:12:32 > 0:12:35and converted the adjoining barns into a state-of-the-art games room
0:12:35 > 0:12:39and a multifunctional entertainment space.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44The house has sort of emerged as we've lived here.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47We've got a feel for how we feel it would work.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51We tend to use the old house as the snug part of the house.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55It's where we sleep. The bedrooms are above there.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58It has sort of our "den", where we hang out as a family,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02and it's much cosier in the very cold winter nights.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06The old owner has been over,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10and he's delighted that it's back together again.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15It's nice that it is back together in one piece
0:13:15 > 0:13:17and hopefully for another few generations!
0:13:24 > 0:13:28In recent years, waiting lists for housing have soared to record levels
0:13:28 > 0:13:31and despite 4.5 million people needing homes,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34there are almost a million properties
0:13:34 > 0:13:37standing empty across the UK.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40This is a country in the grip
0:13:40 > 0:13:44of a housing crisis which needs to be addressed nationwide.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50The Government recently announced a fund of £50 million
0:13:50 > 0:13:55to help regenerate areas losing the fight against empty properties.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58So I've come to London to meet David Ireland of the Empty Homes Agency
0:13:58 > 0:14:03to find out just what a difference this money can or will make.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- David, how are you doing? - Good to see you.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12How mad does it make you when you see
0:14:12 > 0:14:15just the amount of empty properties in this country?
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Well, it does, and I just think,
0:14:17 > 0:14:19how many people's lives could be better
0:14:19 > 0:14:20if they had a home to live in?
0:14:20 > 0:14:24What must they feel like when they see these houses empty
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- and they haven't got a home for themselves at all?- Yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Let's talk empty properties and government funding.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34£100 million was made available to tackle empty properties,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36now another additional 50 million.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39What's the thinking behind this extra pot of cash?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Well, this money is specifically aimed
0:14:41 > 0:14:45at areas where there are a lot of empty homes and the market is weak.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Regeneration is trying to get areas that are run down
0:14:48 > 0:14:51back and going again, getting the housing market going.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I suppose once decline sets in on a whole area,
0:14:54 > 0:14:55street upon street empty,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58it's very difficult to turn that around, isn't it?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01It is. You need something to break the log jam,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03and sometimes funding can do just that.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06It seems to me this is about kick-starting, this is a spark
0:15:06 > 0:15:09to try and turn areas around,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12and once they're moving and going in the right direction,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14it's hoped that individuals or developers come in
0:15:14 > 0:15:16and sort of jump on the bandwagon.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Absolutely. I think that it's the direction
0:15:19 > 0:15:21that areas are going in which is critical,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24and if areas are going down, then nobody's going to invest.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26If you can get areas going up,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28even if they're still in quite a poor shape,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31then people see it's worth putting their money in,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33and then areas begin to take off again.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Finally, there is some money being made available now,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41first the 100 million, now this extra pot of 50 million
0:15:41 > 0:15:45for regeneration of empty properties in specific areas.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47How encouraging is that for you,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51that there's some hope, some attention, some money on this problem?
0:15:51 > 0:15:53At a time when it's difficult to get public money,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57it's amazing that we've got this, and I'm very pleased that it's there.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01It's not enough to solve the whole problem, but it's a very good start.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10Tackling the problem of empty homes is clearly on the government agenda.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Money is being made available, which is great news.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Of course, it can't be solved overnight,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19it does require a long-term commitment,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22but investing in vacant properties today
0:16:22 > 0:16:26helps create and maintain our communities of tomorrow.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'Earlier, I met Karen Cartwright,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37'who plans to take on her first renovation
0:16:37 > 0:16:39'in her home town of Swinley in Wigan.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44'To help her realise the potential of an empty property,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46'I'm taking her to meet a couple
0:16:46 > 0:16:50'who have successfully completed a stunning restoration of their own.'
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Well, Karen, this is the house I want you to see.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58This property was built in 1911, so it's late Edwardian.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00It's an arts and crafts house.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03It was empty for a while, before these guys bought it,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06so a bit like the house you saw earlier.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Can't wait to see the similarities or what they've been doing inside.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Yeah. I think what they've done inside will appeal to you.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- Shall we go and say hello?- Yeah. Looking forward to it.- Great. Go on.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26When Kit and Ellie Knowles spotted this late Edwardian arts and crafts semi in Chorltonville,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Manchester's garden city,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30it was love at first sight.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34When we first looked around the property I think we were both really excited.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37We'd been here about five minutes and we were like, "This is the one."
0:17:39 > 0:17:41None of the rooms had had any work done
0:17:41 > 0:17:44in any shape or form for 30 years,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48but, at the same time, had the most beautiful shell we could work with.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54It had all the original features, the lovely, charming staircase,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56and the stained-glass windows, and the fireplaces
0:17:56 > 0:18:00and many more that we found along the way when we were, sort of, hacking off the old plaster.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The renovation took 14 months in total
0:18:06 > 0:18:12and by the time they'd finished, Kit and Ellie had reduced the carbon footprint of the house by 60%,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14making their home ecologically sound
0:18:14 > 0:18:16was something very close to the couple's hearts.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's a representation of our personalities, it's...
0:18:19 > 0:18:23it's exactly what we wanted because of the fact that we designed it,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25created it, built it, it's just us.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Crikey, look at this! This is lovely.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- We had, first of all, a wood burner.- Right.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42- That's something you mentioned earlier and...- Yeah, I haven't seen one of those before.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45It's a bit of a different one, this one, this is German technology.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48So, we brought this over cos it's got very high efficiency,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51but it also looks fabulous and at Christmas time, you know,
0:18:51 > 0:18:55you have the seats, but everybody seems to be sat on the rug in front of the fire so that's really nice.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58How much of the work did you do yourselves, guys?
0:18:58 > 0:19:01The original intention was to get our hands dirty and really do a lot,
0:19:01 > 0:19:05but as it went on we realised that builders are far more skilled at building than we are.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09What would take me days would take them minutes, literally,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12I mean, it's exponentially quicker being done by a builder
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and we just worked this out price for price.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16It wasn't worth us getting involved.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18It was much quicker and cheaper to just get the builders in there
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and the finish was just, it was just gorgeous.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24I've heard the advice, people say, "Stick to what YOU know,"
0:19:24 > 0:19:25cos that's going to pay for the work to happen,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28rather than giving up a week to do what someone else can do in an hour.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- Yes, it is.- A difference to bear in mind,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33but, of course, I assume it you helped gut the place as well.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35When it comes to pulling down plasterboard or things like that,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- that's where you can get stuck in. - Yeah, the destruction bit,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- it's good fun to get involved in! - Right, yes.- It really is.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44You get, you really get with the crowbar and ripping stuff off, it was fun, but...
0:19:44 > 0:19:48But as soon as, soon as you need some skill in something,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50that's when it's best left to the professionals.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Just looking at what they've done with this
0:19:52 > 0:19:56and how they've brought life back to an ageing building, really,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58that had been neglected for years...
0:19:58 > 0:20:02- And keeping the original features as well.- Yeah, do you like that?
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- Is that something that you would do?- Yes, I'd like to have a contemporary feel,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08but keep the nice features of an older property.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16The entire rear of the property was removed
0:20:16 > 0:20:20to make way for a timber framed glazed extension,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24which now houses a light and contemporary kitchen diner.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30Tell us, guys, what size was your kitchen before you extended and where was it?
0:20:30 > 0:20:32- We wouldn't be fitting in it right now.- No.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34- If you stepped a little bit further this way, maybe.- Yeah.
0:20:34 > 0:20:40- Sort of, pretty much as you come there, across and just behind you, Joe.- From about here.- Right.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Yep, so that, it was originally a very small L-shaped kitchen
0:20:42 > 0:20:44from the days when cooking wasn't really to be seen
0:20:44 > 0:20:46and they, sort of, brought the food through,
0:20:46 > 0:20:51but we wanted to create a space where I'd be cooking and I'd be able to interact with everyone else.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54There's quite a few similarities here to the property we saw earlier.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- What I quite like about this is you've got the sense of opening up...- Right, yes.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02- ..going to the side, which you could do...- Yes, which I was against. - With a backroom,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- but maybe with an island or finding a way to use the space cleverly.- Yes.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Also, maybe pushing out a little bit.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- There was room for that at that property.- Definitely.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11- It just gives you that scope, as you got here.- Yes.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- What you think of the glass? Do like the glass?- Yes, it's just...
0:21:14 > 0:21:17how I'd envisage mine to be.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19It's the most expensive element by a mile.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24If you're looking at wall versus glass, it's around ten times more expensive to fit.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27The best advice I can give you is control the glazing,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31make sure it's bringing in enough light to give you that, kind of, healthy feel,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34but not too much, cos you're going to start to pay for it.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40The back of the house opens out onto a good-sized garden,
0:21:40 > 0:21:46where Kit and Ellie have continued their environmentally friendly approach to the renovation.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48So, it's a conservation area you're in here,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50so I guess you have to be very careful about how you extended
0:21:50 > 0:21:53and you've kept a similar brick look in garden as well.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Actually, this is not just similar,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58these bricks were the materials that came out of the back of the house.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04- So, these are 100-year-old Chorltonville bricks that you're looking at.- Fantastic.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Well, guys, thank you so much for showing us round your home, it's been incredible.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13I don't think I've been in quite such an efficient place, certainly!
0:22:13 > 0:22:15It'ss also very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing as well,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18so thank you very much and hopefully lots to take away there, Karen?
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- Lots, yes, yes, and some brilliant advice as well.- Thank you.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Back on the streets of Cardiff, empty property officer Steve Reid
0:22:32 > 0:22:36is fighting to save Britain's forgotten homes.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Today Steve is in the district of Roath
0:22:38 > 0:22:44to visit a home that was originally left empty when the previous owner became ill and passed away.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Due to, sort of, problems with probate and clearing the house,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50the present owner's had it for about four years
0:22:50 > 0:22:52and has taken this long to get to this stage.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56When the new owner took on he property back in 2006,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59it was in need of some serious TLC.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Finally, we're at a stage, now, where it's ready to be rented out,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06so we're here this morning just to confirm that it is ready
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and have a little look around.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- Hello, Mr Welsh. - Good morning, Steve, yes.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- That's it, Cardiff County Council, how are you?- I'm very well, thank you.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20So, I can see you've made quite a lot of progress.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Yes, absolutely, I mean, since those days,
0:23:23 > 0:23:27all of the possessions that the late owner left in the house,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30that's all been cleared.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Building work has been undertaken.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37I can see, as well, you've kept some of the original features in there.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- It's got some lovely features.- Yes.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Some beautiful architraves round the doors
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- and you can see the cornice in the ceiling.- And these are all original, are they?- That's absolutely right.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52He's worked hard to preserve the original character,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55whilst updating it with plenty of mod cons.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Originally there was no bathroom in the house
0:24:00 > 0:24:04and at the back of the house, here, was just an outside toilet.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- Oh, right.- All that's been taken down and this modern extension built.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15The once overgrown garden has been tidied up
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and is now a functional outside space.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21I remember this garden well!
0:24:21 > 0:24:25I think, looking over from next door, it was virtually the height of that wall, right the way across.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28All that has been, as you see, taken away
0:24:28 > 0:24:33- and the garden completely redeveloped.- Is that a new roof as well?
0:24:33 > 0:24:37The roof has been completely replaced with new slates.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45Renovation complete, all that is left to do now is to get tenants in.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49What are your, sort of, plans for getting it occupied now?
0:24:49 > 0:24:53The hope here, for everybody, is that people move in as soon as possible
0:24:53 > 0:24:57and the property is back in use.
0:24:57 > 0:25:04Hopefully, in the future, this house will not be regarded as some kind of special case.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08It will be just another house in the street, just like any other house.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10I just wish there were a few more owners, like yourselves,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13who are this, sort of, active in bringing it back into use.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17So, I wish you luck and I'm sure it won't be long before it's actually occupied.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Another one off the books, hopefully, very soon.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25There's tenants almost lined up, so...
0:25:25 > 0:25:27back to the office and on to the next one!
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Back in Chorltonville, Karen has been visiting a completed renovation
0:25:37 > 0:25:41to gain advice and inspiration.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43How are you feeling about taking on an empty property now?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Erm, yes, I still want to do it.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51Doing some of the things myself, I'll rethink that
0:25:51 > 0:25:53and maybe leave it to the professionals.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56OK, and the property we saw earlier, is there an interest there?
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Definitely interested.
0:25:58 > 0:25:59Wow, and if you do take it on,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02lots of ideas here about how you can open up the space,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05you can bring light in, you can make it as modern as you want.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10Yes, and still taking into consideration how it could affect the heat,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12the bills, the utility bills as well,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14which I'd never even thought of before.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18- You seem raring to go now. - I am raring to go, yes,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I can't wait to leave here and go and start planning.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23- Fantastic! Well, all the best. - OK, thank you.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Sometimes when you see an empty property that is quite dated,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30with '60s or '70s wallpaper and carpet,
0:26:30 > 0:26:36it can be quite hard to visualise how it can become a modern family home,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39but hopefully bringing Karen here today to see the extension,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41to see the modern materials they've used,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44the open plan space with lots of air and light,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48will give her that energy, that passion to now go out there,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52find an empty property and convert it into her dream home.
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