0:00:03 > 0:00:10Across the country, empty properties that could be homes are 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 > 0:00:18And I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out more about our housing stock,
0:00:18 > 0:00:24our heritage, and why we should be both reinventing and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35There are thousands of empty properties in the UK waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38When you see a house that's clearly neglected and boarded up,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41it's easy to forget that someone used to live there.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44But don't be put off by overgrowing, shabby exteriors,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46because with a clear plan and simple vision,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50you can have the pleasure of bringing a house back into use.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53But, also, creating your dream home.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Today, I'll meet a couple of first-time buyers
0:00:56 > 0:01:00who are looking for an unusual property to renovate.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01What do you think?
0:01:01 > 0:01:02- Wow.- Impressive.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04It's a big space, isn't it?
0:01:04 > 0:01:10'We'll find out about the remarkable regeneration of an iconic empty building in Sheffield.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:15This is a grade 2-star listed building. It can't remain unoccupied.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18And we'll join one of the UK's empty-property officers
0:01:18 > 0:01:22on her crusade to rescue unloved and abandoned homes.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27It's just a mess. It could be a really nice property. You can see the potential.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35Offshore mechanical technician Luke and his girlfriend Sophie think buying an empty building to do up
0:01:35 > 0:01:40could be the best way to achieve their ideal first home together.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42They're living with Luke's parents in Hull
0:01:42 > 0:01:45while they hunt for a property they can make their own.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48We're looking for something with character.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51We don't want your standard two-up, two-down terrace,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53we want something detached,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57something that we can put a stamp on and make unique.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01As first-time buyers, Sophie and Luke are on a tight budget.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04The budget for the house itself,
0:02:04 > 0:02:10I'd go up to 140,000 for just the right place, for everything we want.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14For the cost of renovation, I'll be pumping my wages into that.
0:02:14 > 0:02:20They plan to do the majority of the work themselves and whilst they've bags of enthusiasm,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22they've little knowledge of DIY.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- My experience on renovating property is none.- Little to none!- Nothing.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28We've never had to do it.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31I'm fairly handy at fixing things and building things,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33so I'm just going to wing it.
0:02:33 > 0:02:40- Enlist the help of friends and family and anyone we can drag in. - We're definitely up for a challenge.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47'I'm meeting up with Luke and Sophie to show them a Victorian chapel
0:02:47 > 0:02:49'in North Frodingham in East Yorkshire.'
0:02:49 > 0:02:52'The building has been empty for eight years,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55'but has the potential to be a truly unique home.'
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Right, this is the property I want you to see.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00We are in a really nice part of the country.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04It's a village surrounded by open countryside, which is something you're looking for.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09And this is a Victorian chapel dating back to 1891.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12- First impressions?- Fantastic. - Yes. It's great.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15It's a unique-looking property. Just what we're looking for.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I suggest we go inside and have a look.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20- Yes.- Great. Come on, then.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25'This former Methodist chapel is on the market for £135,000
0:03:25 > 0:03:29'and comes with planning permission to create a four-bedroom house.'
0:03:29 > 0:03:31'It's within Luke and Sophie's budget,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35'but is currently uninhabitable and in need of total renovation.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Right, here we are.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- What do you think?- Wow.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45- Impressive.- It's a big space, isn't it?- It is a very big space.
0:03:45 > 0:03:46One of the key problems,
0:03:46 > 0:03:51but also an amazing opportunity, is the space of a chapel.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55How do you divide it up? Have you any thoughts on that?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Put a split level in. A second floor.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02All kinds of things. The options are endless at the moment.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Pretty keen on doing an open-plan, kind of living area -
0:04:05 > 0:04:11- kitchen-diner and things - with the space. Keep it light.- Yeah.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Does it excite you, or do you find it daunting, the idea of this open, big hall?
0:04:15 > 0:04:16It definitely excites us.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20- Definitely.- We wanted a big space like this to work with.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Yeah. There's nothing daunting about it, I don't think.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26You like it? I thought it might scare you off.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- You seem to have a lot of enthusiasm.- We genuinely do love it.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31So even though it doesn't have any floors,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35- it's definitely seen better days, that doesn't put you off?- No.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Not at all. BOTH: We can see the potential.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40What gives you confidence you'd be able to take this on?
0:04:40 > 0:04:44We've got the support of friends who are in the trade, builders,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46electricians, plumbers, a lot of them are friends.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48So, do things like that.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Both of our parents have taken on certain degrees of renovation
0:04:52 > 0:04:55and they're more than willing to help us.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57'Luke and Sophie seem to have the confidence
0:04:57 > 0:05:01'and drive for a project like this, but it's vital they're realistic
0:05:01 > 0:05:04'when it comes to budgeting for a renovation on this scale.'
0:05:04 > 0:05:07It is within the budget you told me about, 140.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10This is 135 and has been on the market for some time,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14so there might be a possibility of a lower offer, I don't know.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17It still needs a lot of money being spent on it.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Have you got a budget for renovation?
0:05:20 > 0:05:21No. Not as such.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26Just every bit of spare cash I've got will be getting pumped into it.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29We've got family who are willing to help with whatever is needed.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Even financially, they're willing to help, so...
0:05:33 > 0:05:37We don't have a timeline we have to stick to, or anything.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40We're not in a rush to renovate. We want a nice place for us to live in.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44You still need to know what the big jobs will cost you...
0:05:44 > 0:05:46- Yeah.- ..and how you'd afford that.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49I will be bringing in my builder friends to take a look
0:05:49 > 0:05:52and see what they estimate and what they think we would need
0:05:52 > 0:05:55to get it habitable, and then take it from there.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01That's gone very well.
0:06:01 > 0:06:08I love the enthusiasm, the energy and the fact they can visualise how to use this space.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Of course, the big worry is they don't have experience.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14This is a heck of a project to take on for your first renovation.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I think they need a reality check
0:06:16 > 0:06:18and that's what I'll try to give them later.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23I'll take them to see someone who has taken on a building just like this,
0:06:23 > 0:06:28renovated it, and, hopefully, he'll have really good hints, tips and advice
0:06:28 > 0:06:31as to how they should proceed.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Just like the chapel, there are many vacant buildings across Britain
0:06:36 > 0:06:39waiting to be discovered and brought back to life.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I'm going out on site. See you a bit later.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Zainul Pirmohamed is the empty property officer for Stoke,
0:06:45 > 0:06:50where she works around the clock to get the city's derelict houses back into use.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54We make a difference. Because we're passionate and we want to change the look of the city,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57we can make a difference to people's lives day in day out.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Today, Zainul is on her way to a semi-detached house which has been empty
0:07:01 > 0:07:05for around six months and was brought to her attention
0:07:05 > 0:07:08when neighbours complained about the state of the property.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13She's spoken to the owner and managing agents, who are keen to work with her,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16but needs to find out more about the condition of the house.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21Being a new case, I don't know what I'm going to find when I get here, so it's interesting.
0:07:21 > 0:07:27Sometimes, a story can unfold which is different to what your initial expectations will be.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28So we'll go and see.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34It's clear there has been vandalism. There's glass all over the place.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38There's fly tipping, bricks have been kicked off,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42so it could be a really nice property. You can see the potential.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Obviously, something has gone on in the very recent past.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52And it doesn't get much better at the side of the house, either.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54There's broken glass everywhere.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58There's pointed glass in the window and the boarding looks like it was ripped off.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02So we need to make sure that gets organised and get that boarded up.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06I've gathered a picture by looking at the front and the side.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10I now need to speak to neighbours and get a lot more information.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12So I'll go and knock on a few doors.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- Hi, there I'm Zainul from Stoke City Council.- Hello.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22I've come to talk about that property across the road.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26If you can tell me a little about the background and what happened there.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Originally, it was a doctor's surgery,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33then it started been let out as bedsits, or apartments.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35How come it's been boarded?
0:08:35 > 0:08:39There was a bit of a riot. There were two rival gangs and it was smashed up.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42The police arrived and it was sorted out.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44But they smashed all the windows.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49It's a shame, because it is blighted and it needs to be sorted.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53I've had a chat with the owner. She's asking me to deal with the managing agent,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58who rang me yesterday and seemed very on board, wanting to get it sorted.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00So I'm going to sit with the two of them
0:09:00 > 0:09:03and really look at the future of the property.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06So we're on board. Don't worry. I will give you an update.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09That's very reassuring. Thank you very much.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Having looked at that property, it's clear that some things
0:09:14 > 0:09:18we need to get sorted straight away so I need to ring the managing agent. I want it tidied up,
0:09:18 > 0:09:23but also, more importantly, I want the glass removed and that fly tipping removed.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27The good news is we have a responsive owner so we'll work with the owner
0:09:27 > 0:09:29and help them give advice they need.
0:09:29 > 0:09:35Hopefully, at the end of that, the property will make a home for a family.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45The glorious thing about renovating an empty property
0:09:45 > 0:09:48is not just that you're rescuing a forgotten house,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50but also starting from scratch
0:09:50 > 0:09:54and creating a home with your own stamp on it.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57Chris Jones had spent years searching for a holiday home
0:09:57 > 0:10:01for his family in the village of Woolacombe in Devon.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03When this 1920s build came on the market, he snapped it up,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07despite its tired appearance.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Hadn't really been changed much since the '20s.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13It wasn't really much to look at. Really small windows everywhere.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16So we walked up the drive and looked back along the beach
0:10:16 > 0:10:18and were absolutely knocked out by the view.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21We thought, "This was got great potential."
0:10:21 > 0:10:28It had a really nice feel and we wanted to work with that and bring it up to date.
0:10:28 > 0:10:33Novice Chris project-managed every step of the six-month build.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38It was actually on budget and on schedule, despite my project management!
0:10:38 > 0:10:45Starting from scratch meant he was able to remodel the house into the perfect seaside retreat.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50Buying it and doing it up gave us the opportunity to think what we wanted
0:10:50 > 0:10:55and to personalise it for us, rather than take on somebody else's ideas.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58We wanted a section where you have a drying room,
0:10:58 > 0:11:03so you have an area to stick all the clutter and the wet stuff and the dog!
0:11:03 > 0:11:06But it wasn't all plain sailing.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09It was the middle of August and one of the wettest Augusts on record.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13The roofers hasn't turned up that day. They had another appointment.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18There was water pouring in. I was stood here on my own.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22I thought, "What have we done?" But that was Black Tuesday.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26And, yeah, it got better after that.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28We had a wobble for about a week, I reckon.
0:11:28 > 0:11:35The spacious family home has five luxurious bedrooms and breathtaking sea views throughout.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It's a really sociable house, a really sociable family home.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43The views from the bedrooms are pretty good. We love the living room.
0:11:43 > 0:11:51One big, open space and sitting on the settee looking out over the sea is just amazing.
0:11:51 > 0:11:57This stunning home is now the perfect base for the family to enjoy all that seaside living offers.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00You can go out walking, surfing and swimming.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06It's brilliant. It just really ticks all the boxes for us.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15There are an estimated 6,500 empty homes in Sheffield
0:12:15 > 0:12:17and one of the city's most iconic landmarks,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21the Park Hill estate, makes up over 900 of them.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Designed in the late 1950s,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27this estate married social housing with cutting-edge design.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31The deck access scheme was seen as revolutionary.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36Described famously as resembling streets in the sky.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39But the love affair with the modernist vision was short-lived
0:12:39 > 0:12:44and, by the 1980s, Park Hill had earned a reputation as a no-go area.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Falling into decline, it was on the brink of demolition
0:12:47 > 0:12:52until English Heritage stepped in to save it. It was granted a grade 2-star listing,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55making it one of the largest listed buildings in Europe.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Now, it's undergoing an impressive £100 million renovation.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02The first 20 apartments went on sale last month
0:13:02 > 0:13:07and I'm on the estate to see the transformation for myself.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09I'm meeting Mark Latham from developers Urban Splash,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13who are working with Sheffield City Council on the regeneration.
0:13:14 > 0:13:20Mark, Park Hill fell into decline, why wasn't it just knocked down?
0:13:20 > 0:13:23That happened in so many other modernist housing developments?
0:13:23 > 0:13:29I think, principally, it was recognised as being a special example of this kind of building.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33It's a landmark. It's something that's unique in the world to Sheffield
0:13:33 > 0:13:37and people travel from all over the world to come here and see it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Everybody can see they might not like it in its current state,
0:13:41 > 0:13:48but, if you talk to people who lived here, there are key things they talk about.
0:13:48 > 0:13:54One being fantastic views, another being great space standards, so they're generous inside.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58The other key thing is this place creates a sense of community.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03And that this place is too important to let fall away somehow.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Tell me about the renovation.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10I know it's in phases, but how long is it going for and how far have you got?
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Well, the block that you see behind us, which is all the coloured panels,
0:14:13 > 0:14:18that's more or less a third of the physical space of the entire estate
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and we've completed the full envelope of that.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24So, the walls are all on and it's all watertight
0:14:24 > 0:14:26and we're beginning, then, to fill up the inside
0:14:26 > 0:14:28with fitting out the flats themselves
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and we'll just move on phase by phase, block by block.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33And they're on sale? I mean that's the point...
0:14:33 > 0:14:37They are, yes, absolutely, the first flats now on sale
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and, indeed, they are selling, which is, you know, fabulous.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I mean, this is a grade 2-star listed building,
0:14:43 > 0:14:44it can't remain unoccupied.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50The total redevelopment will bring over 900 flats back into use,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54two thirds of which will be for sale and one third for social housing.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56One of the major changes has been to make the walkways,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58or, "streets in the sky," residents only.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Previously, with no security or surveillance,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04they were used as rat runs by criminal gangs,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07just one cause of the estate's decline.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10So, yes, so, these are the famous streets in the sky,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13one of the defining features of Park Hill.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16It will actually be closed to the general public
0:15:16 > 0:15:20but there'll still will be, you know, plenty of people coming and going, other residents,
0:15:20 > 0:15:25so that you get a sense of public and then private, sort of, space.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29And in this tall block you have three of those streets, each have different names
0:15:29 > 0:15:32and they've remained, really, a centrepiece of the vision here, haven't they?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Absolutely, yes, and it's actually essential anyway
0:15:34 > 0:15:37because it's how the building is, sort of, put together.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39It's part of the pleasure of it and what makes it unique,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41so, we were very keen to keep it.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Well, it really is wonderful to see the progress being made here
0:15:48 > 0:15:53and it's incredibly exciting because if this works,
0:15:53 > 0:15:59and I mean, really works and it once again has a full, functioning, happy community based here,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02then it really does show the rest of the UK and the world
0:16:02 > 0:16:06that regeneration of these empty properties,
0:16:06 > 0:16:12even on a huge scale like this, is viable alternative to demolition.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17First-time buyers Luke and Sophie
0:16:17 > 0:16:20are searching for an unusual building with lots of character
0:16:20 > 0:16:22to turn into their ideal home.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Earlier, I showed them a dilapidated former Methodist chapel
0:16:26 > 0:16:28that is in need of total renovation.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31'Did you genuinely like this, I thought this might scare you off.'
0:16:31 > 0:16:32You seemed to have a lot of enthusiasm.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Yeah, we genuinely, do love it.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Now, I'm taking them to meet an architect
0:16:36 > 0:16:39whose own home has been impressively restored
0:16:39 > 0:16:42from empty shell to stunning residence.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Right, guys, here we are, this is the place I want you to see.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49- Can you see the similarities with earlier?- I certainly can.- Yeah.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50- It's nice.- It's lovely.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54It is Victorian and it was also empty for quite a while
0:16:54 > 0:16:56before John, who you will meet, took it on.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- So be going say hello? - BOTH: Yes.- Come on then.
0:16:59 > 0:17:06In 2004, John Foreman bought this dilapidated chapel in North Yorkshire for £87,000.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Despite its neglected state,
0:17:08 > 0:17:12he knew immediately that it could make a fantastic home.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Opening the door for the very first time and seeing inside,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19I knew straight away it had a massive amount of potential,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23despite it appearing like a very tiny space.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26To me, it just felt like going into the TARDIS.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Empty for eight years and open to the elements
0:17:28 > 0:17:30it had been plagued by damp
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and needed considerable work to make it habitable.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36It was just riddled with penetrating damp,
0:17:36 > 0:17:41rising damp, rotten floors, the roof was very poor.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45So, we had to rip out the floor, rip out all the timber work
0:17:45 > 0:17:47and replace it with more modern materials.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51The build cost £90,000
0:17:51 > 0:17:54and involved installing a new roof, walls and floor.
0:17:54 > 0:18:00It took a year to convert into the cosy and contemporary three-bedroom residence it is today.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03It's immensely satisfying being able
0:18:03 > 0:18:08to breathe new life into a structure that some people can't see,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10and feel as if it's completely decayed
0:18:10 > 0:18:13and beyond any possible restoration.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17And it's a lovely, warm, friendly environment
0:18:17 > 0:18:21and a lovely home and a lovely family home as well, really.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25I hope Luke and Sophie will be inspired by the transformation that John has brought about
0:18:25 > 0:18:28but I also want to give them a bit of a reality check
0:18:28 > 0:18:31about what a restoration like this can involve.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Right, well, John, this is absolutely lovely.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Very cosy, very snug.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39I'm guessing it wasn't always this way,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41what state was it when you took it on?
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Well, it was pretty dilapidated, to say the least.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47It had to be taken back to the bare bones of the structure.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49So, where do you start then?
0:18:49 > 0:18:51When you start on something like this,
0:18:51 > 0:18:53you've got to really have a great vision
0:18:53 > 0:18:56of how you want to space to be initially.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59So, your starting point is getting a good design
0:18:59 > 0:19:03and resolving that absolutely down to the minutest detail.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06So, what you make of it all? What are your first impressions when you come in here?
0:19:06 > 0:19:09This seems to match a lot of what you've talked about so far.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- Fantastic, absolutely fantastic. - Yeah, it's lovely.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16I think, erm, yeah, we'll take this one! THEY LAUGH
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Luke, here, really wants to get involved
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and do as much work as possible without any particular experience.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Is that naive or is that a possible way forward?
0:19:25 > 0:19:28In terms of providing some of the labouring work that's fine
0:19:28 > 0:19:31but you need to employ people who are skilled at the various jobs
0:19:31 > 0:19:36of putting in floors, and brick work, and putting in steel work,
0:19:36 > 0:19:41and if you don't do that you could run into all sorts of problems.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- Do you find it daunting? Is that putting you off?- Not for me, no.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49We know there's a lot of planning involved in it
0:19:49 > 0:19:51and a lot more research we need to do beforehand.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Yeah, we wouldn't just jump in,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57we wouldn't just go to the estate agents and say, "We'll buy it,"
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and then go in with some hammers, and chisels, and some plaster
0:20:00 > 0:20:02and give it a shot ourselves.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05We'll be seeking advice before we go for anything.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07I suppose there are budget implications though
0:20:07 > 0:20:11cos you don't want to do something and not quite finish or have to redo it.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Yes, and that's why if you get your good advice to start off with
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and manage that budget very tightly and carefully,
0:20:17 > 0:20:21there are ways of handling it into small packages of work.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22That's what we need, really,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25being the first project we will have ever have taken on.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Erm, a step-by-step guide, as it were, to what we can do
0:20:28 > 0:20:30- and what we'll need help with.- Hmm.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Although it's a smaller building, the design is strikingly similar
0:20:35 > 0:20:37to the chapel Luke and Sophie viewed earlier
0:20:37 > 0:20:38but I want them to look upstairs
0:20:38 > 0:20:42to see how John has achieved the layout of the first floor.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47- Lovely, so this, I guess, John, is the master bedroom, is it?- Yes.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51My eyes are immediately drawn to the window because, of course, this is a great problem, isn't it?
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Putting first floors in chapels, you have to cut windows and half
0:20:54 > 0:20:58but, actually, up here it feels very natural.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Yeah, it works really well and what we've done is,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03we've taken the floor into the windows
0:21:03 > 0:21:06and we've narrowed and sculpted the floor round
0:21:06 > 0:21:09so that the sliding sash window floats past the first floor.
0:21:09 > 0:21:10What do you make of that, guys?
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Cos that seems like a pretty good solution.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15That's a very, yeah, very smart solution
0:21:15 > 0:21:17to what might otherwise be a bit of a problem.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Yeah, it looks really good, I think it's a really good height.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23- See out the window from lying in bed. - Yeah.- It's lovely.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26What are the most important things for these guys to bear in mind?
0:21:26 > 0:21:28They're at the start of a journey,
0:21:28 > 0:21:33you know, it's going to be extremely exciting, quite challenging, what do they need to stay true to?
0:21:33 > 0:21:37Well, without doubt, the planning of the building
0:21:37 > 0:21:40and the way you orientate your rooms.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44- I mean, this is a dream home, you've got to get it right, haven't you? - You do, it's absolutely crucial
0:21:44 > 0:21:47but design it well initially
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- and THEN the rest of it will take care of itself.- Yeah, good advice.
0:21:50 > 0:21:55So, there's a sense then that, yes, maybe you can save money by a doing certain amount of work yourself
0:21:55 > 0:21:57but you've just got to get that initial design right.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01You've got to really carefully plan and be very clear about what you want.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05We've got a blank canvas to work with and make the most of it.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08We want it to be OUR home, not just somebody else's idea of a home.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10It is going to be our home.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Well, thank you, John.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Look, it's been a pleasure to look around your house,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17it's absolutely beautiful, I think it's great what you've done here.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19It's a lovely match with what we saw earlier,
0:22:19 > 0:22:24- so very grateful to you for opening it up for us, thank you very much. - Yeah, thank you.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Back in Stoke, empty property officer Zainul Pirmohamed
0:22:28 > 0:22:30is on her way to a property in Fenton
0:22:30 > 0:22:33that's been standing empty for nine years.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38It belongs to a chappie whose father passed away several years ago.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40He didn't know what to do with the property,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42when we got complaints we intervened.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45So, we worked with him on this one, we've managed to get it in to auction.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47It's due on auction tonight.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51The house is in a poor state of repair inside and out,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53and as a condition of the sale
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- Zainul's insisting it has to be renovated by the purchaser.- Today I'm going to take some photographs,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01really, just to get a base for what the property looks like on the day of sale.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I can then measure the progress with the new owner.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08This property is a mess.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13Totally open. Obviously, the gate's been taken off.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17Somebody's been and tried to strip the back addition roof, taken the tiles off.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21It needs a whole, whole refurbishment.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25Satisfied she has the photographic evidence,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29Zainul wants to update a neighbour on the state of play.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Hello, there, I'm Zainul from Stoke City Council.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40- I work for the Empty Homes team and I've come about the property next door.- Right.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- I've been round the back and seen what a mess that is.- It is, isn't it?
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Well, I'm glad that somebody's taken an interest in the property.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49It's turned into such an eyesore, it needs something done about it.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50So, I've been working with the owner,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I've been helping him, assisting him to get it into auction.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58I don't know if you've noticed but it's on auction tonight, so I'm hoping that it's going to sell
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and hopefully will get rid of this eyesore from the community here.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03- Thank you very much for your time. - Thank you.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06'This property's being marketed at a reasonable price, £25,000.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09'It's had a lot of viewers, a lot of interest in it,'
0:24:09 > 0:24:13so, hopefully, as it's a good deal, it's going to go at auction tonight.
0:24:13 > 0:24:14So, fingers crossed, really.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20The house eventually sold for £36,000, well over the guide price.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23It was bought by a developer with local connections.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Me grandad had the fruit and veg shop at the bottom of Bell Street,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31which is only 100 yards away from this property.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34I own the large property next door, and a couple of shops there,
0:24:34 > 0:24:38and it's a shame to see them properties run down, left empty in Fenton.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Once we've renovated it I'll look for a new tenant,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43perhaps a small family from the area.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46It's a good investment, I think it's a good investment all-round.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47That's all good news for us
0:24:47 > 0:24:50because when you know you've got somebody who lives in the area,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52somebody who's got an investment in the area,
0:24:52 > 0:24:57so, somebody who's actually got a REASON to renovate the property.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58For us, that's really good news.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00So, yeah, a good result.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Back in Yorkshire, Luke and Sophie have been visiting a chapel
0:25:06 > 0:25:10that's been converted from a derelict shell into a stunning home.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15So, how do they now feel about buying and renovating an empty property
0:25:15 > 0:25:17in light of what I've shown them today?
0:25:18 > 0:25:20So, you've seen the disused chapel earlier,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23You've now seen one that has been converted,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27how are yare you feeling about everything you've experienced and witnessed today?
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- I'm really up for it! - Even more excited than before.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33It's given us a much clearer vision of what can be achieved.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Well, I suppose you had a bit of the vision,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39you CERTAINLY had the energy and enthusiasm, and still do,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and it was just that reality check, maybe,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- that you needed to see what's involved in taking a project like this forward.- Yeah.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Really helpful to hear from John
0:25:47 > 0:25:52about just how, how important it is to just plan everything.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- Even when you think you've planned enough, to plan some more!- Yeah.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Brilliant, so you are determined, this is what you want to do,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00- you definitely want to take on an empty property?- Oh, for sure.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Yeah, there's no doubt about that.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05And the chapel you saw earlier is now in the running?
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- It's definitely on the radar? - Yeah, I like it a lot.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11It's definitely something we're going to look into a bit more, I think.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Good. Well, guys, I wish you the very best of luck with it,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16whether it is that property you take on or another,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19I'm sure, especially with everything you've heard and learned here today,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- you'll make a fantastic job of it. So, all the best.- BOTH: Thank you.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29I'm delighted that Luke and Sophie could see this converted chapel today.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31I think it's come at just the right time
0:26:31 > 0:26:35to give them the reality check and a sense, really, of how complicated
0:26:35 > 0:26:39and tricky converting old empty properties can be.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Particularly when they've sat disused for many years
0:26:43 > 0:26:44but it certainly hasn't put them off,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47they are not daunted in the slightest.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50If anything, they're very excited, they're inspired
0:26:50 > 0:26:53and I've got no doubts now, they're going to go ahead,
0:26:53 > 0:26:57take an empty property and turn it into their dream home.
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