0:00:02 > 0:00:06Across the country, empty properties that could be homes are just waiting
0:00:06 > 0:00:08to be brought back into use.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10I'll be finding out why,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Along the way,
0:00:14 > 0:00:17I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out more about
0:00:17 > 0:00:21our housing stock, our heritage, and why we should be reinventing
0:00:21 > 0:00:24and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36There are thousands of empty properties in the UK just waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39When you see a derelict house with windows boarded up,
0:00:39 > 0:00:43it's easy to forget that people used to live there,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46they used to look after the place and love it.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49It appears that many of these homes are on their last legs.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52But the reality is, they're just waiting for someone
0:00:52 > 0:00:55to take them on and help write their next chapter.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Today, I'll be meeting a would-be playwright who dreams of renovating
0:00:59 > 0:01:03a large, empty property into a uniquely creative home.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Well, I always wanted a house with a swimming pool!
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Whether that should be your whole house or not is the question!
0:01:09 > 0:01:12I'll also meet a couple who have transformed
0:01:12 > 0:01:16an unusual empty property into a spacious statement home.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Wow! This is your living room, isn't it?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23And I'll be following the property detectives who track down
0:01:23 > 0:01:28the owners of forgotten houses and help bring them back to life.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Use it or lose it.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33If you don't start doing something soon, we will take it off you.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Andy Irlam has decided to pursue his lifelong ambition
0:01:43 > 0:01:45of becoming a playwright,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49and is looking for an unconventional home as his new creative base.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53I'm starting a new chapter in my life.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55The idea of having a completely open mind
0:01:55 > 0:01:59and a blank piece of canvas, as they say, really appeals.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Andy feels an empty property could be the way forward,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06and has a budget of about £400,000 to spend.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08I want to buy an empty property,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12partly because there's potential for it to be really good value for money,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16and to make a home that really suits me in terms of what I want.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20It's also a crying shame that there are so many empty properties
0:02:20 > 0:02:22in this country, and they should be used.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24It appeals in all sorts of ways.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30I've brought Andy to the historic town of St Leonards-on-Sea, near Hastings,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34to look at a spacious and unusual vacant building
0:02:34 > 0:02:36which might just fit the bill.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41This vast property is Grade II listed and is on the market for £280,000.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- Do you know much about St Leonards-on-Sea?- Not really, no.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's a Victorian seaside town.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50What's very interesting about it is, a lot of it was conceived and built
0:02:50 > 0:02:54by a father-and-son duo, James and Decimus Burton.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58They're quite well known for their contribution to London architecture
0:02:58 > 0:03:01around Regent's Park, around Bloomsbury,
0:03:01 > 0:03:02and had a major impact in this town.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05It was kind of built for the wealthy -
0:03:05 > 0:03:09this seaside resort was very popular with the aristocracy.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13I mention them because they were responsible for this building here.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15This is what I have brought you to see.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20You said you liked character, something a bit unusual.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21It's a bit wacky.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22It certainly ticks that box!
0:03:22 > 0:03:27Yes, it does. You can see above the door, 1871.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30It actually predates that - it goes back to 1864.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I'll explain that date when we go in.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33It's Grade II listed,
0:03:33 > 0:03:38and it was James Burton who designed and built this.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- It was a Turkish baths.- OK.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43One of only seven of its kind.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- Intriguing?- Fantastic!- Shall we have a look inside?- Yes, please.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54So, come on through.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59THEY LAUGH
0:03:59 > 0:04:01What can I say?
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- Unusual, huh? - It'd make a good dance school!
0:04:04 > 0:04:07At one point here, there was a swimming pool.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11That is what correlates to the 1871 at the front.
0:04:11 > 0:04:17It was built in 1864. The school put a swimming pool here in 1871.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19This is the original surround.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23It goes all the way around in this old brick, which is lovely.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I always wanted a house with a swimming pool!
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Whether that should be your whole house is the other question!
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Let's look at some more features.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35If you come across to a little bit of border
0:04:35 > 0:04:38that's been cut open, you can see...
0:04:38 > 0:04:41down there...
0:04:42 > 0:04:45..must be the original tiles of the swimming pool.
0:04:45 > 0:04:51I love the way the eaves have been constructed with lovely wood.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54And these stained windows, some of which are still...
0:04:54 > 0:04:57- Exactly. - They're in good condition.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Have a wander around. I've been guiding you,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03but feel free to explore and have a peep around here.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09The building has enjoyed a colourful history.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13It began life as a Turkish bath, before becoming a school, a church
0:05:13 > 0:05:17and, more recently, a factory making scientific glass,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20hence its current name of Scientific House.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25- Is there any outside garden or terrace?- No, this is it. You've got your final wall here.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30So, you'd have to bring your plants inside. By the pool.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32OK. And water them.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38You wanted quirky and character. What did you make of that?
0:05:38 > 0:05:42I certainly wanted to look at some wacky properties, and that is wacky!
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Very interesting. I'd like to speak to some of the professionals
0:05:46 > 0:05:49and pick their brains about the possibilities and so on.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52In general terms, it doesn't put you off empty properties?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54You're still up for this kind of challenge?
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Quite the reverse. It's made me more and more interested in it,
0:05:58 > 0:05:59so thanks very much.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01The great thing about Andy
0:06:01 > 0:06:04is that he's at an exciting point in his life.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05He can live pretty much anywhere.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09He's got a good budget, and he's up for creating a unique home.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13However, when you take on a project of this magnitude,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15it can be incredibly challenging and daunting,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18no matter what experience you have had before.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21It is really important he meets a couple who've been through this,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23and they can help him understand
0:06:23 > 0:06:25exactly what he's letting himself in for.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Not every empty home is fortunate enough to attract potential buyers.
0:06:35 > 0:06:40Across the country, it's the job of councils' empty property officers
0:06:40 > 0:06:42to change the fortunes of Britain's forgotten homes.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Dave Carter is empty property officer for Enfield, north London.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52When I come across an empty house,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55I don't see just the bricks and mortar.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57I see a potential family house.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Today, Dave is meeting a home owner
0:07:00 > 0:07:03who's battling some particularly persistent squatters.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05A dispute with a builder
0:07:05 > 0:07:08has led to Graciela Konkowski's house being left empty for years.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Hello there.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- Hello, Mrs Konkowski.- Hello. - Nice to see you again.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Shall we have a look? Thanks.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21This empty property was, years ago, our family home.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24However, I've detached myself from it completely now,
0:07:24 > 0:07:30and I just want to finish the project and for it to be a family home again.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35But the presence of squatters have added to her problems.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37We've had to have security measures.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40However, they're still managing to get in.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44As you can see, this is one of the rooms
0:07:44 > 0:07:46they've been using to sleep in.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49They've thrown a piece of concrete through the window
0:07:49 > 0:07:51to gain access to the property.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- They really wanted to get in, didn't they?- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Graciela has recently employed a local
0:07:56 > 0:08:02to take over the building project, and he's got his work cut out, too.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06We were here yesterday, just having a quick look around,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09seeing if there's any further ingress,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11and found squatters doing their laundry.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It can act as an incentive to speed things along,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and get the property occupied as soon as possible.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Squatters have taken advantage of the fact
0:08:19 > 0:08:23that next door is also vacant, and smashed through a wall to get in.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28They made a two foot by two foot hole in the wall
0:08:28 > 0:08:30to have access to both properties.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- Right. - We've secured it as well as we can,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and hopefully we won't get a re-occurrence.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38We've had some problems out in the hallway
0:08:38 > 0:08:40where they've stolen copper piping.
0:08:40 > 0:08:46Obviously, copper piping is expensive, and they sell it.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50We've had water dripping down from the loft into the hallway.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53Dave is not done yet.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57He's wants to do some detective work at the neighbouring property.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00I have concerns about the condition of the house next door.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02It's boarded up from the front,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05and there's no sign of squatters, but I need to look at the back.
0:09:05 > 0:09:11It doesn't take long for Dave to work out what's been going on.
0:09:11 > 0:09:16There. It's clear that anyone who wants to get in can just come and go
0:09:16 > 0:09:22and we can see the sort of damage that they can do - the hole in the wall of next door.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30So now Dave knows next door has got squatters too, he can take action.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35The sooner Graciela gets her house inhabited, the better for everyone.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40I need to track down the owners and saying to them, "Use it or lose it.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45"If you don't start doing something soon, we will take it off you."
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Dave is now in talks with the owners to resolve the problem,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52but fortunately, not all vacant properties
0:09:52 > 0:09:54come with so many complications.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58There's many ways you can tackle an empty home when you find one.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01You could employ an architect to completely redesign the house.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04You could hire a building firm to do the work for you,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06or do as much of it as possible yourself.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10One thing is for sure, though - whichever option you choose,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13the home at the end of it will feel uniquely yours.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20In Powys, mid Wales,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23architectural woodworker John Nethercote and his wife Annie
0:10:23 > 0:10:26have turned an abandoned 16th-century manor house
0:10:26 > 0:10:29into a spectacular family home.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33We drove into the yard and it was winter,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37it was gloomy, it was wet, it was really horrible.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39The whole house was clad in concrete
0:10:39 > 0:10:41as they were trying to keep the weather out.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44There was this extraordinary lump on the front of the house.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46John said, "Ah, that's an oriel window."
0:10:46 > 0:10:51We set to because of John enthusiasm and knowledge, as much as anything.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Basically, because of John's understanding
0:10:57 > 0:11:01of the genre, I suppose, you listened to the house, didn't you?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04That's what it boils down to - let the house speak.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09This property had been empty for over a year-and-a-half.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13It was in quite a state when John and Annie discovered it.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22The real trouble starts
0:11:22 > 0:11:25with these things when you start taking out the stuff
0:11:25 > 0:11:28that you know doesn't belong to the original fabric.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32We were very fortunate here for the house not to be listed,
0:11:32 > 0:11:37so we carried on letting the house speak to us - where the walls should or shouldn't be,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39where the windows should or shouldn't be,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42and it wasn't rocket science, to be quite honest.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43The house told us what to do next.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52This restoration project has been a real labour of love,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54but the Nethercotes aren't finished yet.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58We just decided to go for it,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02and I think if we had thought about the amount of work and the amount of time and money
0:12:02 > 0:12:06it actually cost, it would have scared us. But, having said that,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09we don't regret a single minute of it.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12John and Annie snapped up this incredible place
0:12:12 > 0:12:15for the bargain price of £45,000.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19It's taken them 25 years to restore,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22and has cost them around £425,000.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28All of John and Annie's careful work has paid off.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Their home was recently valued at over £1 million.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37As an extra bonus, the house has now been reinstated as a Grade II listed property.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42I feel really proud that we've re-presented it to the world
0:12:42 > 0:12:46because the person who built it in the first instance
0:12:46 > 0:12:48was a very fine craftsman.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52To be able to re-establish it as a beautiful place is, you know...
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I'm proud of it and I think it was a privilege really
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- that we were able to do it.- Yes.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Of course, not every home is lucky enough to belong to loving owners
0:13:07 > 0:13:11who can devote 25 years to restoring it.
0:13:11 > 0:13:17However, when buildings of historical significance are left empty and at risk of dereliction,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20people will often go the extra mile to save them.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25A year ago, we followed a campaign by Dulwich Council's empty property officers
0:13:25 > 0:13:32to restore an iconic 100-year-old building back to its former glory.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35This unusual building was constructed in 1873
0:13:35 > 0:13:39by Charles Drake, the era's most enthusiastic promoter
0:13:39 > 0:13:43of a revolutionary and, back then, expensive building material -
0:13:43 > 0:13:45concrete.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50Local empty property officer Celia Esimaje campaigned for years
0:13:50 > 0:13:53to save this historic house, and now it seems to have paid off.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59I'm meeting the architect, Paul Latham,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03to see how this fascinating restoration project is going.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06This is a treat. It's rare we get to revisit a property.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09First of all, it's been years, hasn't it, to get inside this?
0:14:09 > 0:14:13- 13 years.- 13 years of campaigning and dedication.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17- I've got to see inside. - OK.- After you.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23Wow! First of all, there's no ceiling and no floors.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Exactly.- It's a total wreck, isn't it?- It's amazing.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I know there are no floors here. Can we go upstairs?
0:14:29 > 0:14:34- Is there a way up?- You can, yes. We can get up there, if you want to have a look.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Yes, definitely. Let's do it. - Right.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39When fully renovated,
0:14:39 > 0:14:44this building will be put to good use as affordable housing.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46We'll have one flat down there, one flat here,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- the same on the other side, and then a top floor up there.- Exactly.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52The material you're celebrating here is concrete,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55but that's also, I assume, the bane of your life?
0:14:55 > 0:14:59That's why it's such a hard project, and why it's going to cost so much?
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Indeed. It's why the building is still surviving.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06A brick building without the floors would have collapsed.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10This is special because of the unique stage
0:15:10 > 0:15:13in the development of the material, concrete.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19This uses steel plates. We build our tower blocks with this same system,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23so it's an important building from that point of view.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Part of the project is that from the outside it will look correct,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31as it would have done in 1873 when Drake finished this building,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35which, incidentally, took no more than about 10 days to build.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- 10 days? That is phenomenal. - Exactly.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41In Victorian times, it normally took twice as long
0:15:41 > 0:15:43to build a typical house made of bricks.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47But this architect, Charles Drake, had a dream -
0:15:47 > 0:15:50to build housing quickly and therefore cheaply from concrete.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54However, his plans had one central flaw.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Unfortunately, he didn't understand that small detail,
0:15:58 > 0:16:03which is that you need reinforcing rods, otherwise the building isn't strong enough.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08So to conclude, this is going to be a project that provides affordable housing.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11But much more, it is a homage to Drake,
0:16:11 > 0:16:17the first constructor in concrete, who pioneered many of the principles
0:16:17 > 0:16:18we still build by today?
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Absolutely, yes. That's a very fair comment.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Well, this is clearly an amazing project,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29not just because of those who campaigned for years to save it,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33not because the housing association and the council had the foresight
0:16:33 > 0:16:34to stop it falling down,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38but because very soon this special piece of our heritage
0:16:38 > 0:16:41will be both a monument to a Victorian pioneer,
0:16:41 > 0:16:48and, once again, a home for the people lucky enough to live here.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Earlier, I met Andy Irlam, who is after an unusual empty property of his own
0:16:58 > 0:17:00to renovate. I took him to St Leonards-on-Sea
0:17:00 > 0:17:06where we looked around the historic but derelict Scientific House.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Now I want Andy to see how commercial buildings
0:17:09 > 0:17:11can be transformed into unique homes.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15And I've got a bit of a surprise for him.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19Now, Andy, if I get you to turn around and have a look...
0:17:19 > 0:17:21this is it.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Another building that wasn't originally a home.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Can you tell what it used to be?
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- A pub?- A pub, exactly right.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- Shall we take a look? - Yeah, fantastic.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43- Hello.- Hello. - Can we come in? Thank you.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- So...- Wow!- Yes, wow. Wow, wow, wow!
0:17:56 > 0:18:00I'm guessing Andy's taken aback by the owners' interior design,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02but it's all down to their profession.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Can you guess what they make?
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Neon lights?
0:18:06 > 0:18:11Yes, bits of neon and fairground-style illuminations.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15When designers Philip and Olivia bought the pub, the Admiral Benbow,
0:18:15 > 0:18:21in 2008, they saw the potential for a modern and contemporary home.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25This three-storey building had been sitting empty for six months when Philip and Olivia bought it.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28The property was for sale at auction,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32but the level of renovation work required put many buyers off.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39We saw the pub for sale and we just made a ludicrously low offer
0:18:39 > 0:18:43on it at auction, and we ended up buying it.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46But we initially didn't have any idea
0:18:46 > 0:18:48what we were going to do for it.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It was just a spur-of-the-moment purchase.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54The pub required a complete renovation,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57which cost Philip and Olivia £100,000.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01This has been a challenging two-and-a-half-year-long project.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05We had a lot of early pain, not having heating and hot water,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07lots of dust and stuff like that.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09We haven't had holidays or anything,
0:19:09 > 0:19:15but ultimately, because we were both concentrating on it, it's worked out.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17I think if I was on my own...
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Trying to do a project like this on your own could be very difficult.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25I think you need somebody else to lean on occasionally.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27I couldn't have done it without Olivia.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33This spectacular building is now a unique living and working space.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37The ground floor has become a design studio
0:19:37 > 0:19:40where Philip and Olivia both work,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44while the top two floors are their three-bedroom flat
0:19:44 > 0:19:47full of collectables and bespoke lighting.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50Wow!
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Putting the artwork to one side,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56there are many valuable renovation lessons to be learnt here.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59First things first - your eyes are instantly drawn upwards.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01What would you call it, a skylight?
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Skylight, lantern.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04Was it always there?
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Yes, when this was built as a snooker room,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11then they boarded it over and made a flat roof. We've reinstated it.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15What did you do - did you get planners round
0:20:15 > 0:20:19to show them what you were planning and thinking about and get some input?
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Yes, we got local architects who already have a relationship
0:20:22 > 0:20:28with the planners, and they did the planning application for me.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32If you can, if you rip out all the stuff to begin with,
0:20:32 > 0:20:34and then get the architects in
0:20:34 > 0:20:36when you know what you want to do with the building.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41When it's all exposed, it's much easier for an architect and structural engineer
0:20:41 > 0:20:45to work out what's feasible. If you get them in from day one,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48you could waste several thousand pounds
0:20:48 > 0:20:51coming up with schemes that can't be done,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54or you change your mind.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57This room is actually very similar to the one we saw earlier.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01It's almost like a scaled-down version of the swimming pool.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Has it inspired you to see how it could be finished off?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Yes, it's fantastic. You've given me some ideas
0:21:07 > 0:21:10about how the other property could really be developed
0:21:10 > 0:21:15without spoiling the basic qualities of the room and the building.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21This is our bedroom.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Your bedroom. Now, the individual touches stand out here.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Am I right in thinking this was one of the reasons you came to this area?
0:21:30 > 0:21:31That's how we ended up here.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33We were coming down to Hastings
0:21:33 > 0:21:37to buy bits of furniture, fittings and stuff like that,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39for jobs I was doing in London.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42When you take on a building, in this case an empty property,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44that wasn't really a home,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46you have so many options ahead of you, don't you?
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Yeah, you do. You have a lot of ideas.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51You keep thinking, "I could have this, I could have that,"
0:21:51 > 0:21:54but you slowly eliminate some ideas,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57and come down to what you really want.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01What I suggest is somebody comes down, strips the building out,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04and gets to know the area, get to know what they want,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07get to know local tradesmen - by references,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09not just by discussions in pubs -
0:22:09 > 0:22:13and then work out a budget, and make sure you plan in architects,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17getting rid of rubbish, which is very expensive now,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19making little mistakes,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22and not get too carried away with, you know,
0:22:22 > 0:22:30unrealistic...appliances and luxury items, you know. Try and keep it tight,
0:22:30 > 0:22:34and see what's left at the end for those finishing touches.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Don't put them in the budget initially.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38How are you feeling now, Andy,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41having seen all of this, about empty properties in general?
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Is it something you'd be up for,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46for that challenge of taking it on in the way these two have?
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Well, it sounds more and more interesting, actually,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53having seen how you've taken this through to a successful conclusion.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56So, more enthusiastic, yes.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07In Enfield, empty property officer Dave Carter
0:23:07 > 0:23:11is devoted to rescuing derelict and abandoned houses.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15But it's not always an easy journey getting an empty home
0:23:15 > 0:23:17back to its former glory.
0:23:18 > 0:23:2420 years ago, the council discovered this rundown and unloved house.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27This property is very significant,
0:23:27 > 0:23:31in that it was the first one the council had managed to compulsory purchase.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33We were forced to take action because the owner
0:23:33 > 0:23:37was unresponsive to any of our requests
0:23:37 > 0:23:39to either renovate the property, clean it up,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41let alone get it occupied.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43It's taken two decades
0:23:43 > 0:23:47of hard work to get this building back to a habitable state.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53The council was forced to auction the property
0:23:53 > 0:23:55with a legal obligation written in
0:23:55 > 0:23:58that the new owner must fully renovate it.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01After all his hard work to save the house,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Dave wants to see what the new owners have done with the place.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11- Good morning.- Hello.- Hello. I'm Dave Carter from the council.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15- A pleasure to meet you.- Can I come in and have a look?- Yes, come in.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Nice to see you after all this time.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23The current owner, Carolina Gurdick, lives here with her boyfriend.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29She has no idea of the house's recent history, so is fascinated to find out more.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31I have never been in that room
0:24:31 > 0:24:33because it was so piled high with rubbish -
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- all I could do was stick my head around the corner.- Really?
0:24:36 > 0:24:39If you'd show me the kitchen, that'd be great.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Lovely flooring, you've got.
0:24:41 > 0:24:42Thank you very much.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47This is lovely.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49You've done a lovely job here.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Yes, that's our bedroom.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55If you could just see how this used to be.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58You could actually see the sky.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02You've done such a lovely job, I'm really pleased.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04So, that's our bathroom.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05Oh, beautiful.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08You won't actually believe this but about six years ago,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11there was actually a tree growing over here!
0:25:12 > 0:25:15It was growing out of the wall.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19The roots were coming down inside the house.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22For Dave, getting this house renovated and inhabited
0:25:22 > 0:25:25has been a personal crusade.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29It looks like all his determination has been worth it.
0:25:31 > 0:25:37It is a day which I genuinely thought would never happen, today.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42I am so pleased that the house is now renovated and back into use.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Earlier, I met Andy Irlam, who's interested in taking on
0:25:50 > 0:25:52an unusual property to do up.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54I showed Andy the derelict Scientific House
0:25:54 > 0:25:56in St Leonards-on-Sea,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and took him to meet a local couple who have taken on
0:25:59 > 0:26:01a renovation of a similar scale.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Now, I'm meeting up with Andy
0:26:03 > 0:26:07to see if he still feels ready to take on an empty property.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Now we're at the end of today,
0:26:10 > 0:26:13compare yourself to how you were a bit earlier -
0:26:13 > 0:26:16how much more confidence are you going forward with?
0:26:16 > 0:26:18Well, er, quite a bit more.
0:26:18 > 0:26:25I had dreams about making a really unique property
0:26:25 > 0:26:28using the limited budget that I had.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I didn't know how realistic that was.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35But having met people who have successfully
0:26:35 > 0:26:37taken things through to a conclusion,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41I feel much more confident than I did at the beginning of the day.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44That you, too, could make an empty property your home?
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Why not?
0:26:47 > 0:26:52It's not always easy to see what a derelict property can become,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55but hopefully, with everything that Andy has witnessed today,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59he will now have the confidence to make his own unique home
0:26:59 > 0:27:01from an empty property.
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