0:00:02 > 0:00:06Across the country, empty properties that could be homes
0:00:06 > 0:00:10are waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14I'll be finding out why and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17And along the way I'll be doing some digging of my own
0:00:17 > 0:00:21to find out more about our housing stock, our heritage and why we should be
0:00:21 > 0:00:25both reinventing and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36The barebones of an empty property can hold surprising promise with a
0:00:36 > 0:00:37creatively-minded buyer.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39If you've got the vision
0:00:39 > 0:00:42to see past the tired exterior and shabby interior,
0:00:42 > 0:00:49you can not only turn a building into a home but you can also give a property a new lease of life.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59On today's show, I'll be meeting a novice renovator
0:00:59 > 0:01:03hoping to turn a derelict thatch into a chocolate-box cottage.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06It almost feels like the bottom of a boat.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08I love all this bowing and quirkiness.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11We'll meet a couple who fell in love with a view
0:01:11 > 0:01:14and bought a property to go with it.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16You turn round and look at the view and you think,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18"It's going to be worth it."
0:01:18 > 0:01:23And we'll be on the streets of London saving derelict buildings from falling into disrepair.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26There's some wires here, I can't tell, just by standing
0:01:26 > 0:01:31looking at them, whether they're live or not but they could be.
0:01:35 > 0:01:40Camilla Hanchet became the new owner of a rundown 300-year-old thatched cottage
0:01:40 > 0:01:45when, two years ago, she decided to make some major changes to her life.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47I had what you could call a life-changing accident.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51I slipped and fell, broke my right arm, upper arm into four pieces.
0:01:51 > 0:01:57I was also burgled twice in the house that I lived in.
0:01:57 > 0:01:58And then I had a car crash.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01So I thought, "I'm going to do something completely different."
0:02:01 > 0:02:05I remember saying to my colleagues, "I fancy moving somewhere beautiful."
0:02:06 > 0:02:10After 25 years of living in Berkshire, Camilla decided to move closer to some of her family
0:02:10 > 0:02:17who now live just minutes from her new home, in the picturesque village of Yarrow, in the Cotswolds.
0:02:17 > 0:02:24I've taken on a cottage that I felt very much, when I saw it, needed some love, some TLC.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26The property is in need of major modernisation
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and, with help from her artist brother David,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Camilla is rolling up her sleeves and preparing to turn the cottage into the dream home
0:02:33 > 0:02:37where she'll start her new life.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39I want to restore it and make it beautiful again.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Camilla has never lived in a listed property, or under a thatched roof,
0:02:47 > 0:02:52so later I will be introducing her to a couple with experience in those areas.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56First, I'm keen to find out more about her plans.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- Hello there, I'm Joe.- Hi, I'm Camilla.- Camilla, nice to meet you. - My brother David.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04- Hi.- Hello, David, how are you? It's a beautiful place.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06What do you know about it? How long has it been empty?
0:03:06 > 0:03:08I believe it has been empty for about three years
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and nothing had been done to it for a very long time either.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14- It's Grade II listed.- Intriguing.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18About 300 years old and it had just been neglected for a long, long time.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21And what was your reaction when you found out your sister had bought this?
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Pretty brave, to be honest.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It's not something I'm sure I'm ready to do, but fantastic.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Well, let's find out just how brave, shall we,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and pop inside and explore?
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Camilla bought the two bedroom cottage for £230,000.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Wow, look at this.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44Her builders started three weeks ago and have gutted and stripped the inside,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47leaving Camilla to work out just how she's going to renovate the property
0:03:47 > 0:03:51and look after the 300-year-old thatch.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- This will be the sitting room.- So you come straight into the sitting room.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59What will you do with the walls, are you going to plaster?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03We'll have all the inside of the inglenook exposed and the rest of the walls will be plastered.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- That is great. You've really got a lovely feature here to work with. It's stunning, isn't it?- Yes.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10- It is the focal point of the room. - It's quirky and I like it.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It's got some interesting little features.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16There's a little seat in there which the builder only uncovered last week.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20- Possibly somewhere the homeowner would have sat to keep warm in the winter.- To keep warm.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23- It's a lovely idea, isn't it, going back 300 years?- Yeah.- Mmm.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26And then there's this little cupboard which, I've been told,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29would have been used to store salt.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- Salt?- To keep it dry.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34David, you saw this property when Camilla first bought it,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36how's it looking, you know, because of the changes?
0:04:36 > 0:04:40It's incredible. It's a complete transformation, it feels a lot bigger, a lot roomier.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42- I know Camilla will make it into a beautiful home.- Yeah.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Next door to the living room is a small dining area,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50leading into the kitchen, which Camilla has stripped back
0:04:50 > 0:04:54to the original stonework and plans to turn into a modern country kitchen.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01Upstairs, the layout will remain the same with two bedrooms to the left of the property
0:05:01 > 0:05:05and a sizeable bathroom to the right.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07This is going to be the bathroom.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10There's some great head height in there, that's very nice.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12I know, I love that high ceiling.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- So presumably this is going to be your bedroom?- It is, yes.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21It almost feels like the bottom of a boat, dare I say?
0:05:21 > 0:05:22So what is going on here?
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Well, I've been told by the neighbours,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28about 25 years ago whoever owned the house decided to make it open plan downstairs
0:05:28 > 0:05:30and took out this main supporting wall.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33The roof then started to dip, like so,
0:05:33 > 0:05:37and they very quickly had to reinstate a wall which they've done.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39It's block work wall, right the way up.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42You can see it goes up into the roof space.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45So it did move but I've had a structural engineer sign it off. It's all OK.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47It's stopped moving now.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I love all this bowing and this quirkiness.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51It's all fine now.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55That's the point with empty properties, isn't it? You do have a chance to strip it right back.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58This is the first time you have taken on a renovation like this,
0:05:58 > 0:06:03what are your fears, what are the big challenges that come with this?
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Dealing with the fact it's a listed building, although I don't want to modernise it too much.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I want it to be in keeping with the style of the property.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Do you know where you go with that?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Do you know what sort of style you aim for?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19I'm uncertain, I've got a rough idea.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25In the garden is an original stone outhouse which,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28like the cottage, is Grade II listed.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Camilla is currently waiting to see
0:06:30 > 0:06:32if her application to extend the outhouse,
0:06:32 > 0:06:37and turn it into a downstairs shower room and home office, will be granted.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40When you have a definite plan in mind like that,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42how much of a worry is the planning application?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46It is quite a worry because when I bought the house
0:06:46 > 0:06:50I automatically assumed, "Yes, I'm going to extend that."
0:06:50 > 0:06:53I'd taken it for granted I'd be able to use that as part of the living space.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58So it would be quite a disappointment if you couldn't at this stage?
0:06:58 > 0:07:01When dealing with an empty property it's always advisable to speak to the council
0:07:01 > 0:07:04about your building plans from the outset.
0:07:04 > 0:07:10It will be a real blow if Camilla isn't allowed to proceed with her ideas for the outhouse.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Now, standing out here it just looks beautiful, doesn't it?
0:07:14 > 0:07:17The stone's great but the thatch, what a striking feature of the house.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Is it the first time you've lived in a thatched cottage?
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Yes, it is, I'm looking forward to it.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26I'm really pleased that Camilla has rescued this beautiful little cottage,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and later I will be introducing her to a couple
0:07:29 > 0:07:34who are brimming with useful advice on the pitfalls and plusses of a similar project.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Britain's empty properties come in all shapes and sizes.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Thatched cottages aren't abandoned too often,
0:07:42 > 0:07:46probably thanks to their association with idyllic rural England,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49but there are other properties up and down the country sitting vacant.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53And it's the job of the empty property officers to ensure
0:07:53 > 0:07:56that these forgotten houses are turned into homes once more.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Jason Hall oversees the affluent London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames
0:08:10 > 0:08:14where houses tend to fetch between £500,000 and £10 million.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Not a location, then, you might expect to find empty properties
0:08:18 > 0:08:23but, at present, Jason has over 350 empties on his books.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It seems crazy that people would leave the properties empty
0:08:28 > 0:08:31and run the risk of having squatters break into them,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34or damage done to the property and lose value on them.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36It never ceases to amaze me.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41There's a story behind every single empty property that I come to
0:08:41 > 0:08:44and it's good to investigate the reasons why such,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47sometimes amazing, properties are being left empty.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Today, Jason is on his way to a house that is has been empty for 15 years.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Having visited the property on several occasions,
0:08:56 > 0:09:01Jason has instructed the owner to improve the appearance of the house and find a tenant.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06In the first instance we had quite good engagement with the owner
0:09:06 > 0:09:08but over the past year he's just disappeared.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12In the time that it's been empty, it's fallen into a poor state of repair.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15There's numerous holes in the roof, which has allowed water penetration,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19which has affected neighbouring properties.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20If, on this visit,
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Jason discovers that the owner hasn't complied,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28he'll take action to stop further damage to the building and neighbouring homes.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Yes, as you can see there's no-one here.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40The garden's quite well overgrown.
0:09:40 > 0:09:46It shows that there hasn't been any one here tending the garden for some time.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Jason can't gain access to the property
0:09:48 > 0:09:51but needs to check for signs of squatters.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53The property is being used as a storage.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56It's full of old newspapers, magazines, filing cabinets
0:09:56 > 0:10:01and, strangely enough, the section of guttering that's causing all the dampness
0:10:01 > 0:10:04to the side of the property, is laid in the hallway.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09He wants to ensure that the back of the property is secure
0:10:09 > 0:10:12but has to fight his way through the overgrown garden
0:10:12 > 0:10:14which has become a local dumping ground.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Somebody has had a crowbar into there
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and, obviously, had a real good attempt at trying to get that door open
0:10:23 > 0:10:25but, being in this kind of condition,
0:10:25 > 0:10:30it's all shelter for anyone who wants to come and try and break into it.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33There's some wires here, I can't tell, just by standing and looking at them,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35whether they are live or not but they could be.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38That is something that is going to have to be checked
0:10:38 > 0:10:42because, if they are live, if anyone touches them they could be killed.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Having made a full inspection of the property,
0:10:45 > 0:10:50Jason feels it's time to take action and calls in his line manager
0:10:50 > 0:10:54to approve a compulsory purchase order of the property,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58the first step in turning the house into a home once more.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01We've given the landlord plenty of opportunity to bring the property back up to scratch
0:11:01 > 0:11:03which clearly isn't happening.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09I think the next thing we need to do is take further legal action.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- I will see you back at the office and we'll get the ball rolling.- OK.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14All right. Lovely. Thank you.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21It takes determination, patience and real vision
0:11:21 > 0:11:24to see the potential in a place that has been left to ruin
0:11:24 > 0:11:29but, with hard graft, these empty properties can be turned into fantastic homes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34And, with a little bit of imagination, really anything is possible.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Five years ago, Neil and Liz Fox bought an empty part-Georgian,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44part-early Victorian farmhouse
0:11:44 > 0:11:47overlooking Chew Valley Lake in Somerset.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55We'd seen lots of properties that had been renovated very, very thoroughly
0:11:55 > 0:11:58but we couldn't help feeling that we would prefer
0:11:58 > 0:12:00to find somewhere that we could put our own mark on.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05Empty for three years, the property was in a serious state of neglect.
0:12:05 > 0:12:11The first time we saw it was very murky May afternoon
0:12:11 > 0:12:15and it did look rather foreboding with all of the old farm buildings
0:12:15 > 0:12:18crumbling away around us.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21But then when we turned the corner, around the side of the house,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25and saw the views we thought, "Wow, this could be really amazing."
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Following three years of intense renovation, the couple have created a stunning property,
0:12:35 > 0:12:40in arguably the most breathtaking part of Somerset.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42It's an unbelievably big undertaking,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45and I think we were unprepared for that,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48but the thing that keeps you going, almost, is that you turn around
0:12:48 > 0:12:52and you look at the view and you think, "It's going to be worth it."
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Neil and Liz have created a double gable oak-frame extension,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02a two-storey office building, horse stables
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and a music room.
0:13:08 > 0:13:14I do occasionally think back to how it looked when we first walked in
0:13:14 > 0:13:20and imagine how it was then and the transformation, that's a really great feeling.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28You don't invest the amount of time, money, energy, will almost, you know,
0:13:28 > 0:13:34unless you're going to live here pretty much for as long as you can see.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38We've built this house and done it for us to be here for as long as we can possibly imagine.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Hopefully we'll stay.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Bringing an empty property back to life is a challenge
0:13:45 > 0:13:47that takes time, passion and commitment.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52Unfortunately, sometimes the restoration and regeneration of empty homes
0:13:52 > 0:13:55can be delayed by planning hold-ups and building complications.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00So much so that sometimes these houses can be unused for years.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05Well, I've come to find out about a solution to some of these properties in limbo.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Westminster Housing Cooperative takes on properties
0:14:13 > 0:14:15that are waiting to be redeveloped.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19In the interim they move in temporary tenants, who pay a reduced rent,
0:14:19 > 0:14:23to look after the buildings and prevent squatters.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Today, I've come to meet Simon Thurston,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30development officer from the Westminster Housing Cooperative,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33to find out more about the benefits of putting these homes back into use.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37Give me an idea of how this cooperative actually works.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Well, the prime focus is to bring back empty properties into use.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Those properties might have been empty for a number of reasons,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46the owner waiting for planning permission,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49waiting for funds to refurbish the property.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52We step in, sign a lease with the owner,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56we maintain the property, we let the property at an affordable rent
0:14:56 > 0:14:58and give it back when the owner wants it back.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Is there a balance here in your priorities between
0:15:01 > 0:15:03trying to find people housing who desperately need it,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07but also trying to preserve the properties themselves?
0:15:07 > 0:15:09It becomes a problem where houses,
0:15:09 > 0:15:12through deterioration and dilapidation,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14become a source of nuisance and annoyance to neighbours.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19If you're one of only a few tenants living in a big block,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and all the rest of the properties are empty,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25then you're going to feel quite isolated and alienated but with other people living alongside you,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29albeit in the short-term, that can alleviate those fears, possibly.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34The scheme is open to anyone looking to rent in the Greater London area.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40Next, I've come to meet a couple of friends that have been members of the housing co-op for five years.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43When you first moved in, what state was this property in?
0:15:43 > 0:15:49Cecilia came in here and she said, "We're never moving in here, it's too much work."
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And I said, "No, look at this property, it is amazing."
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Once you do it you get the sense of achievement that,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58yeah, we actually made it quite nice and cosy and liveable.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Yeah. So how were you received, within the neighbourhood when you came in,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03because this obviously had been empty?
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Do you know if there's a sense of relief when actually someone moves in and starts taking care of it?
0:16:07 > 0:16:09I think so, actually.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Like we did all the garden, it was all overgrown with weeds
0:16:12 > 0:16:14and they were all like, "Nice work, girls.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17"It's good to see you're clearing up the garden."
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Can you see any drawbacks of the scheme because it seems to suit you quite well, doesn't it?
0:16:21 > 0:16:24I think you just have to be sort of flexible as a person.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26You have to be prepared, you might have to move out.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28But as long as you are open-minded
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and willing to do that, it's not a problem.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34I really love the sense of community in this cooperative.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39That people are coming together to make such good use of these empty properties in London.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42It's such a great scheme and can only be a positive thing
0:16:42 > 0:16:45if more properties across the UK are saved in this way.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54Earlier, I met Camilla and her brother David who are looking for inspiration and advice
0:16:54 > 0:16:59on renovating her 300-year-old thatched cottage.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02So I've brought them to meet a couple who've excelled at a very similar restoration.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Right, guys, here we are.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Take a look at that, does it look familiar at all?
0:17:08 > 0:17:09It certainly does.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11- Yeah.- Little bit newer looking.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Yeah. Actually it is slightly newer than yours,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16it dates back to about the mid 1800s.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22It is also Grade II listed and, of course, it's a thatched cottage.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- So shall we have a look inside? - Yes, please.- Come on, then.
0:17:28 > 0:17:34Lynn Newland and her builder husband Dean bought a three-bedroom thatched cottage in Oxfordshire
0:17:34 > 0:17:37that had been standing empty for two years.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40It was a one up, one down cottage,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44the old traditional cottage with an old washroom at the back, no bathroom.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49I was bowled over by it.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Despite the building needing a lot of work,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Lynn and Dean were determined to fulfil its true potential.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01We've tried to keep the property as traditional as possible
0:18:01 > 0:18:05and the way we've done that is by sourcing local materials.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08We just tried to be sympathetic to the cottage.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Now everything is completed in this cottage,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17our day-to-day lifestyle is just so relaxed, isn't it?
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Yeah.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Guys, thank you for having us in the cottage. The first thing I'm struck by is the similarity, actually,
0:18:26 > 0:18:31as we walk straight in here to a really cosy room, exactly like you have.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Here we have a wood-burning stove. Was this always here, or something that you had to put in?
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Actually, that wall was plastered up.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41We decided that we'd just put a little French stove sticking out into the main room
0:18:41 > 0:18:45and then you drilled a hole through the wall, didn't you?
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- Yeah.- And said, "Have a look in there."
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It's really exciting when you uncover things like that, isn't it?
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Yeah, definitely but that's what these places are all about, I think.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56How tricky is it putting this in
0:18:56 > 0:18:58and having an active chimney when you've got a thatched roof?
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Basically, you have to have the chimney lined
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and, on top of the chimney pot,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07you have to have what's called a spark arrester.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Once the fire is on, it's great, yeah.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Is this how you picture it, in terms of the snugness of your room?
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- It's so similar to mine.- Is it? - Yes.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18It's making me feel quite excited again,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20it's such a shell at the moment.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Yeah.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Lynn and Dean paid £295,000 for their cottage
0:19:26 > 0:19:30and have so far spent £50,000 on renovations, adding underfloor heating,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33opening up the kitchen, to make room for an Aga,
0:19:33 > 0:19:39and turning the extension into their main living space has made this a cosy home.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Upstairs there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms
0:19:42 > 0:19:45that have been lovingly restored to make the most of the period features.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Oh, that's lovely.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Instantly the exposed stone catches your eye.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Is that something that you would consider, Camilla?
0:19:55 > 0:20:01Definitely, I'm really liking this mixture of exposed stone and plaster.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Yeah. Really nice on an end wall.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07How is it to actually be in here, does it cause any problems?
0:20:07 > 0:20:10It's lovely, but it does get very dusty.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12So you have to hoover the wall?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Outside, Lynn and Dean have nurtured a picturesque garden
0:20:19 > 0:20:23which is complemented by the rustic thatched roof.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25These type of roofs need regular care and upkeep
0:20:25 > 0:20:27and, having lived in the cottage for nine years,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31they understand exactly what the maintenance involves.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Well, this is great, I have to say.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37I love it out here and, for the first time,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40we can really clearly see the roof. Let's start there,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43have you had to do any work to the thatch since you moved in?
0:20:43 > 0:20:47About six months ago we had the ridge redone.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50The ridge gets the main part of the rain.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55So that ridge will stop it seeping into the top
0:20:55 > 0:20:57which is going to be the most vulnerable part of the roof.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Of course, with thatch you don't have gutters, or any of that rigmarole.
0:21:02 > 0:21:03The water what, just drips off?
0:21:03 > 0:21:07Yes, it just literally pours off the roof.
0:21:09 > 0:21:15So you have to definitely have a good bit of drainage, on the ground, so that it runs away.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21As well as renovating the cottage, Lynn and Dean have also converted their outhouse,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23joining it to the main building with a conservatory,
0:21:23 > 0:21:28an alteration which Camilla hopes to undertake at her property.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32It's nicely linked up, your downstairs area here, and, Camilla,
0:21:32 > 0:21:33if planning permission could be granted,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36it's something you could consider to link up your outside
0:21:36 > 0:21:39with a conservatory or a glass corridor.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43The man who lives next door said that he had an idea of putting glass between the two
0:21:43 > 0:21:46so you could link them with the conservatory definitely, like this.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Yeah. Very good.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Is there a certain amount of satisfaction, bringing something back to life,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54something that wasn't used and can be used again in the future?
0:21:54 > 0:21:59Yeah, definitely, you've saved a little part of history, really.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02It's like having an antique, isn't it, you've got to look after?
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Yeah, definitely.
0:22:09 > 0:22:15Today, Jason is on his way to an old coach house which has been empty for five years.
0:22:17 > 0:22:23Bordering Richmond Park, the house is situated on one of the areas' most sought-after streets.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29It's a very desirable postcode and lots of very large houses,
0:22:29 > 0:22:34detached houses with an average house price of well over £1 million
0:22:34 > 0:22:37and, even in a road such as this, we still have a problem with empty properties.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Jason originally fought to save the coach house however,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45no developer was willing to restore such a small dilapidated house, in an affluent area
0:22:45 > 0:22:48where demand is really for large family homes.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53Keen to both avoid having an empty property and to make best use of the site,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Jason eventually persuaded the owner to sell the house
0:22:56 > 0:23:01to local property developer James Holt who plans to demolish it
0:23:01 > 0:23:03and rebuild on its footprint.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09There's only three bedrooms, they're small, there's one bathroom.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Unfortunately it's in such a state of disrepair, there's rising damp,
0:23:12 > 0:23:17there's issues with the plaster, there's a whole host of issues
0:23:17 > 0:23:19and for us to just redevelop the property as it is
0:23:19 > 0:23:22is going to be a very, very expensive process.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26To make something worthwhile, that the area deserves,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28we need to really knock it down and start again.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31The houses down here are quite significant in size,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34aren't they, and it kind of doesn't fit in with the area, does it?
0:23:35 > 0:23:39The council rejected James's initial planning application
0:23:39 > 0:23:42and Jason is keen to discuss the new proposal.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46As the old coach house has been designated as a building of townscape merit,
0:23:46 > 0:23:50any replacement property must be of equal architectural integrity,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54and be in keeping with the style and tone of the street.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Jason is keen to help James with his application
0:23:56 > 0:24:01to make sure the site is redeveloped quickly and the empty eyesore eliminated.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06We're now at the stage where we have resubmitted our preplanning application,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09which has changed radically from our first application.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13It's a more traditional style of building which has detailing
0:24:13 > 0:24:17which matches all the other properties on the street.
0:24:18 > 0:24:23It's Jason's job to help James submit a design which the planners will look upon favourably
0:24:23 > 0:24:27so the site can be developed and become a home once more.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31It's in a poor state at the moment and it's something that,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33obviously, we'd like to see it brought back into use.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Sometimes you've got to look a bit wider and, obviously,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40if it's not something that's sellable in this area, as it is,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43then we've got to look at redeveloping it in other ways.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Fingers crossed you'll get the planning.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48And, while James awaits the council's decision,
0:24:48 > 0:24:54it's important that the property is made safe from squatters, vandals and thieves.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58My main suggestions for the site would be to tidy all the front garden area up
0:24:58 > 0:25:00so it doesn't look obviously empty.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04And, to the rear, perhaps look at your shuttering option.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08If you get all the rear made secure then it's highly unlikely anyone would break in
0:25:08 > 0:25:12because, for them to break into the front, which is on full view to the public,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14it's a lot more unlikely that's going to happen.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16- We'll get that sorted.- Fantastic.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21- Thanks ever so much. - Thanks for your help, cheers.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24I think today's meeting with James was very positive,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27I think his plans for the building are fantastic
0:25:27 > 0:25:30and I think they will make a really, really good family home.
0:25:35 > 0:25:42Back in Oxfordshire, Camilla Hanchet has been visiting a beautifully restored 200-year-old thatched house
0:25:42 > 0:25:49in the hope that she can take home some practical tips to use on her own recently-acquired cottage.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Camilla, a lot to take in. How do you feel about what you've just seen here?
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Externally, it's interesting what Dean was saying about the drainage from the thatch,
0:25:57 > 0:26:02so I will have to talk to my builder about that.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Internally, I love that exposed stonework upstairs.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I was wondering if you would come round to that
0:26:07 > 0:26:13because, having seen that there is so much of it at your cottage, it just seems to be crying out to be...
0:26:13 > 0:26:18Well, I think the bathroom upstairs is probably where I'll do it and use it as a feature.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Just overall now, how much confidence does that give you,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25does it help you see a little bit further forward?
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Yes, it does and it's very interesting to see.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30They've put their mark on their property
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and it's quiet individual the way they've done it.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36It's made me want to get into my house quickly and start enjoying living there.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39And you're going to be there on hand whenever your sister needs,
0:26:39 > 0:26:40I'm sure, David?
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Pouring the drinks at the housewarming.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46I can hear the popping fizz now.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Of course, taking on an empty property that has sat languishing
0:26:51 > 0:26:55isn't for the fainthearted, but it doesn't have to be an ordeal either.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Providing you know exactly what you're dealing with,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00and you're happy to get your hands dirty,
0:27:00 > 0:27:05the rewards in buying one of Britain's empty homes can be boundless.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd