0:00:02 > 0:00:06Up and down the country, there are empty properties just waiting to be brought to life.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I'll be discovering why and how you can turn a diamonds in the rough
0:00:09 > 0:00:11into a gem of a home.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14We'll be following the empty property officers
0:00:14 > 0:00:17whose job it is to track down the owners of these forgotten houses
0:00:17 > 0:00:20and get them back into use.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And I'll be finding out more about more about our housing stock,
0:00:23 > 0:00:28our history and why we should be both be preserving and reinventing Britain's Empty Homes.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40With nearly a million empty properties lying abandoned in the UK
0:00:40 > 0:00:44there's never been a better time to go in search of a run-down home.
0:00:44 > 0:00:50Now the fantastic thing about taking on a vacant property is you can create your ideal living space,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53so whether it's a luxury family pad or a spacious family home,
0:00:53 > 0:00:57you really can create something unique to your needs.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06'On today's show I'll be meeting someone who's taken the plunge
0:01:06 > 0:01:09'and bought an empty property but she's in need of some help
0:01:09 > 0:01:11'and advice when it comes to renovating it.'
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- Is this your first property? - Yeah, it's my first property. - How exciting.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16- Shall we have a look inside?- Yeah.
0:01:16 > 0:01:22'I'll be finding out about what's being done to clamp down on metal theft from abandoned buildings...'
0:01:22 > 0:01:24For this sort of offence, it's going to be zero tolerance.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27People are going to get arrested and put in front of courts for it.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30'..and we'll be following one of Britain's empty property officers
0:01:30 > 0:01:33'tasked with getting disused dwellings lived in.'
0:01:33 > 0:01:36You can see here where the wood has come away when the squatters broke in,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39this is probably the point of entry.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51'25-year-old Amy Linley has taken her first step
0:01:51 > 0:01:55'onto the property ladder and has become the proud owner
0:01:55 > 0:01:57'of a three-bedroom terrace house in West Yorkshire.'
0:01:57 > 0:02:00I never really liked the newer-style properties.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03I came across this empty, old-style property
0:02:03 > 0:02:07and I just feel like I made the right choice.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10'Amy bought this run-down Victorian place for £65,000.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15'The house has stood empty since April 2011,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19'and prior to that was tenanted, so needs a complete overhaul.'
0:02:19 > 0:02:23I'm hoping that I can do the cosmetic side of the house myself.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25So that should keep my costs down.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27'This is Amy's first renovation,
0:02:27 > 0:02:29'and although she's made a start on the work she wants help
0:02:29 > 0:02:34'with tackling the overall transformation of her empty house.'
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Any renovation job is not as easy as it looks,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41unless you know what you're doing and that's what I want to learn.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43I want to pick things off other people
0:02:43 > 0:02:44and learn as I go along.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55'I'm meeting up with Amy to see just how much work she's taken on
0:02:55 > 0:02:58'and what she has planned.'
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- How are you?- I'm all right, thank you.- This is your place?- Yeah.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03How long's it been empty for? How long have you had it?
0:03:03 > 0:03:07I've had it about a month and it's been empty for a year.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Really? OK. What attracted you to this place?
0:03:09 > 0:03:11There's a lot of potential there.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15- Are you a first-time buyer, is this your first property? - Yes, it's my first property.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- How exciting. Shall we have a look inside?- Yes.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26The first room, the lounge.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30- Very nice.- Yeah, big window to let the light through.- Yeah.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32High ceilings and the fireplace, which I don't like.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35I lot of people do like it but I'm not too keen fussed about it
0:03:35 > 0:03:37but there is the chimney breast there, so...
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- Yeah, so you've got options. - Yeah.- Very good.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Have you plans for the kitchen - do you know what you're going to do?
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Yeah, it'll probably one of my last rooms I'll come down to do.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51I just want a couple of units along here.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55I've come across this Victorian sink, I can't afford the proper Belfast,
0:03:55 > 0:04:00- but you can get the equivalent for a cheaper price.- Yeah.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Maybe, when I come into some money, an Aga or range just over here.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06What's the vision - what do you want to do with the house?
0:04:06 > 0:04:11Obviously, it's going to take some time, but I'd like to do a room, one by one.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I've got work on the roof to do and once that's done,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I'll get stuck in.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16So what's the deal with the roof?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18When I was buying the property I had a survey done
0:04:18 > 0:04:23and there's potential there for it to leak, so I just want to make sure that I get that done
0:04:23 > 0:04:25before I start work anywhere else.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29That's your priority, making sure it's watertight and secure because if you get water in,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33you get damp in, the amount of other problems it leads to isn't worth thinking about.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38You're very sensible to target that first of all. Have you started some of the work yourself?
0:04:38 > 0:04:39I've had a go at the bathroom.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41It's quite difficult getting those tiles off.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43If you know what you're doing, it's an easy job.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- I think I'll feel better once they off.- Yeah, OK.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- Let's go and have a look upstairs and see what you've been up to, shall we?- Yeah.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54The small exterior of this house is quite deceptive. Inside there's a large cellar
0:04:54 > 0:04:56and room in the attic.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00This is the back bedroom.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- which is a bit of a bombshell at the moment.- Yeah, very good.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08- This is then the front bedroom. - Yes, this is the main bedroom.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13- Wow, so you've started in here. What's this?- There's a house clearance place, just down the road.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15I found it in there and fell in love with it straightaway.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19I did measure the hole but obviously we've done something wrong somewhere
0:05:19 > 0:05:23because it doesn't fit! We'll have to do a bit of work to make it fit but we should get it in.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Are you going to try chiselling away at that
0:05:26 > 0:05:28because that sounds a little bit dodgy to me?
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Yeah, I'm getting a bit of help, as well.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I'll have to knock a couple of bricks out
0:05:32 > 0:05:35and put a lintel in. We're going to leave that in
0:05:35 > 0:05:38for about a week to settle and then do the rest of the work on it.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41- Yeah, you've got a lintel in at the moment, but it's not wide enough.- No.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46The key thing to remember is that chimney breasts can be major supporting structures.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50That's what I've said, yeah. I know that if anything comes away and drops, that's it.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52I'm going to be very careful.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56I've got a builder that's going to have a look and make sure we're not going to damage anything.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59The property we're going to take you to later is Edwardian,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03it's not Victorian but it's very similar in period style.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07I think they'll be loads of inspiration you can take away. How does that sound?
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Yeah, it sounds good. I'd like to ask them a few questions and see how they've done it
0:06:10 > 0:06:12and the timescales they set themselves, as well.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16- So, yeah.- Perfect. Then that is what we shall do.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28I think Amy's got herself a good empty home here.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31It's a great size and you can see she's really keen to get stuck in.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34I like her plans to put all the period features back in.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I think it's going to be good for her to meet a couple
0:06:37 > 0:06:41who've been through all this and they can, hopefully, answer some of her questions.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48'Many local councils now employ a specialist to track down the owners of vacant homes
0:06:48 > 0:06:50'and bring them back into use.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52'These people are known as Empty Property Officers.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57'In Enfield, North London, Dave Carter is charged with
0:06:57 > 0:07:00'bringing derelict and abandoned houses back into use.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03'Today he's on his way to a particular problem case on his books -
0:07:03 > 0:07:08'a flat that's been reported as empty for the past five years.'
0:07:08 > 0:07:11I've tried to trace the owner, sent numerous letters, I've had no response.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I have recently been informed by one neighbours
0:07:15 > 0:07:17that the flat has just been squatted.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Luckily they have agreed to let me into the flat,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23to give it a quick inspection.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25'With any empty property like this it's standard procedure
0:07:25 > 0:07:28'for Dave to assess the condition and safety of the flat
0:07:28 > 0:07:33'and see what needs to be done to start the process of getting it lived in again.'
0:07:33 > 0:07:37This is quite interesting. You can see here where the wood has come away
0:07:37 > 0:07:40when the squatters first broke in. This is probably the point of entry.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Dave Carter, Enfield Council.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Hello?
0:07:47 > 0:07:53One of the reasons I'm here today is just to check the safety of the flat itself.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55I need to check that there is a heating system.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57It looks safe enough.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01I would assume it hasn't been serviced in the time that the squatters have been here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Clearly the electricity is working.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06All the light switches and sockets seem pretty safe.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08I'm quite pleasantly surprised, really.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13I can see that it's occupied by quite a few people,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17possibly three or four, but it's not in a bad condition.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24'Dave continues his investigation and spots a potential problem.'
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Yeah, this room is the one that's caused me a little bit of concern.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31There's a damp patch all over this one wall.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Here we are in the bathroom. I need to check that the toilets are working OK.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40We don't want a build-up of sewage. It sounds a little bit ropey but flushing OK.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48'At the back, it's clear to Dave that there are further issues with the flat.'
0:08:48 > 0:08:51This is the first time I've managed to get into the back of the property.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53I can see it's very overgrown.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56The slabs are coming up, the weeds are starting to grow.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59There's a few problems with the brickwork up there.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04The guttering could do with a clean, the rendering on the chimney is a bit ropey.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06There's big gaps there.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Water will get in there eventually if it's not maintained.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12'This has been a trying case for Dave
0:09:12 > 0:09:14'and one which could take some time to resolve.'
0:09:14 > 0:09:19We ought to think of a plan B, if I don't find the owner, what are we going to do?
0:09:19 > 0:09:21At the moment it's compulsory purchase action.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25The house isn't occupied legitimately and we need to think of a long term plan.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31'Dave has now tracked down the owner, who's removed the squatters
0:09:31 > 0:09:33'and has agreed to get the house back into use.'
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Finding an empty property that suits your budget is just half the battle.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Renovating an abandoned building can become all-consuming
0:09:47 > 0:09:51with long days and nights working extremely hard.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54But if you've the tenacity and the skills to see it through,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58you may just create a place that you never want to leave.
0:10:02 > 0:10:08'Tony Gilpin and Jane Walker took on this disused Victorian village school in Yorkshire in 2008.
0:10:08 > 0:10:14'It was built in 1846 and had lain empty for 15 years
0:10:14 > 0:10:16'when they came across it by chance.'
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Hello! magazine and we were looking through the back in the adverts
0:10:19 > 0:10:22and this is three miles from where we were before. We came for a nosey.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24We had no intention of starting doing anything.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28The price in the magazine was actually wrong. It was a lot less,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31so we thought, "Oh, that looks like a bargain,"
0:10:31 > 0:10:32and it turned out to be a lot more money
0:10:32 > 0:10:34but we'd fallen in love with it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38They set about a renovation that would take them three years
0:10:38 > 0:10:41and got stuck in working on the project together.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44When we first came in, it was quite dingy actually.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48It wasn't actually very inviting, so we just took the floors out, took the rooms out,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50and then went, "Start again."
0:10:50 > 0:10:54By doing the majority of the work themselves,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56they were able to keep a tight hold on the budget.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01We tended to use people and, bless them, they didn't mind us picking their brains.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05So we'd pay them to work with them and then go, "I've got the gist of this."
0:11:05 > 0:11:08And do the rest ourselves. We saved a lot of money on man hours that way.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11All in all, I think we did about 80% of the work ourselves.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16There's still a few things we've not done, but most of it took us about two and a half years.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20One of the things we've learnt from this is that it is achievable,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23you don't have to have pots of money saved up.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28And we've actually done nearly everything just off our wages each month.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36We bought if for £160,000 and you budgeted £40,000,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40nd we're bang on at just under £37,000.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Taking on an abandoned building has paid off handsomely
0:11:43 > 0:11:48and has allowed Tony and Jane to get a much more spacious home than they could otherwise have afforded.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53It's improved our standard of living in terms of how much space we've got.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58Being able to have more people around than we could have got in our last tiny little place.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01It has made a big difference to everything, really.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11When properties are left empty,
0:12:11 > 0:12:16they are not only vulnerable to the elements but they can also be targeted for theft.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Now, with metal prices rising in recent years,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22criminal opportunists have been breaking into empty homes
0:12:22 > 0:12:27and stealing copper piping and making themselves some fast cash.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29And the damage done by these burglaries
0:12:29 > 0:12:33can send already dilapidated buildings into further decline.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35I've come to Langley Mill in Derbyshire,
0:12:35 > 0:12:40a place where they are clamping down on metal theft, to meet PC Chad Critchley.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- Hi, Chad. Nice to meet you. - And you.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Tell me, how big is the problem of metal theft in the area?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49It's increased, specifically over the last 12-18 months,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51especially in relation to copper.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55One of the main problems has been properties waiting to be rented out.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- Also commercial premises, new builds before they've been occupied.- Uh-huh.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01As soon as the copper's gone in, it's been taken out again.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Am I right in thinking there's somewhere that's been targeted nearby?
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Yes. A number of properties were targeted in a short period of time.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- OK. Shall we go and have a look inside?- Yeah. Definitely.
0:13:11 > 0:13:18Metal theft is on the up and the cost to the economy each year is estimated at £700 million.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21It seems empty properties are an easy target.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25OK. You can see the glass scattered about everywhere where they've broke the windows to get in.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30See where they've ripped out the sink to take all the copper piping down from under there.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34- It's amazing! The sink's on the floor.- They're not bothered about damage caused.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36It's brutal, isn't it?
0:13:36 > 0:13:40And as you come through here, you can see bits of plaster from the ceiling.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45Up here you can see where the floorboards are hanging down where they've ripped the copper out.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Isn't that incredible?!
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I'm not sure what I expected, but the pipework is laid by craftsmen
0:13:50 > 0:13:55- and it's ripped out by the opposite type of people. This is vandalism. - They don't care how they get it out.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Any idea how much copper they would have got from this, in terms of money?
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- £100-£200. - And yet thousands now to fix it. - Yeah, it will cost thousands
0:14:03 > 0:14:07to replace the copper but also for the damage you can see.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09- And it's throughout the house. - Throughout the house.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Any room that's got any from of copper has been attacked.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15OK. Shall we have a look upstairs, then?
0:14:17 > 0:14:21The bathroom is quite a good example of, er...
0:14:21 > 0:14:23to what lengths they'll go to.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Oh, wow! Look at that. That's stark, isn't it?
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Incredible! So that's just been ripped out and it's ruined the sink and everything else.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- What's the penalty for doing this? - You can get up to 14 years in prison.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37And as far as this job goes, do you have any suspects?
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Yes. Through fingerprints and DNA, the offenders were arrested.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44For this sort of offence it's going to be zero tolerance.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47- People will get arrested and put in front of courts for it. - That's good to hear.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51I think everyone who sees this mindless thuggery for a few quid
0:14:51 > 0:14:54are right behind you and what your colleagues are doing.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Yeah, let's hope so.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00It really is unnerving to think that for a relatively small amount of money
0:15:00 > 0:15:04thieves get from ripping the copper piping out of properties,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07they can cause thousands of pounds of damage.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11It's reassuring the police are taking this seriously and actively fighting metal theft.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13In this case arrests have been made.
0:15:13 > 0:15:20Hopefully action like this can help stop already dilapidated buildings from falling further into decline.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32Back in West Yorkshire, I'm taking Amy Linley to meet a couple who took on their own abandoned house
0:15:32 > 0:15:35and created a beautiful home.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Amy, this is the property. It's an Edwardian house, it's semi-detached.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Don't be put off by the difference in scale, the point is there's loads of inspiration here.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45You can visualise what you want to do with your place.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47And also the guys we'll meet have been through this.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50So, hopefully, they'll have some really good advice as well.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51When Ben and Emily Farrar
0:15:51 > 0:15:57stumbled upon the dilapidated Edwardian semi-detached that was to be their home,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59they both felt excited and daunted.
0:15:59 > 0:16:05I was very intimidated by it. I opened the door and thought, "Oh, my word!
0:16:05 > 0:16:07"Look at the amount of work to do!"
0:16:07 > 0:16:11It was dark, dingy, curtains were coming off, it was messy.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Sometimes it's hard to see beyond that.
0:16:13 > 0:16:14The property wasn't on the market,
0:16:14 > 0:16:20so the couple had to do some detective work to track down the owner and convince them to sell.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24We found out through the Land Registry the owner's name, found him living in Holland
0:16:24 > 0:16:25and just rang him out of the blue.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29He said he hadn't thought at all about selling the house.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34So it took a couple of weeks and he came back to us and said, "OK, yeah, I'll accept an offer."
0:16:34 > 0:16:37And he came over and gave us the keys and let us have a look round.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Eventually they bought the house for £305,000
0:16:40 > 0:16:44and set out on a renovation that took them nearly two years,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48allowing them to achieve their ideal family home.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Things just come out of the woodwork,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53so we had a couple of funnies we weren't expecting,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56which delayed the project but also added quite a bit of cost on.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58So you have to have an element of flexibility
0:16:58 > 0:17:01and understanding when you're going into these projects.
0:17:01 > 0:17:07Ben and Emily should have some great advice and tips for Amy to help with her renovation.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09- Emily, Ben, this is Amy. - Hi.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Now, let's start at the beginning, I assume this wasn't always this way.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18So tell us how long the property had been empty for and what it was like when you first came here?
0:17:18 > 0:17:21It had been empty for nearly two years.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24And it was pretty derelict. You couldn't imagine living in it really.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26That must be one of the attractions of an empty property,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29clearing everything out and doing it the way you wanted it.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33The advantage of going somewhere where it is in such a state of disrepair,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37you've kind of got a blank canvas, so you can make it how you want it to look.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40What did you do in here? Was it always this open space?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42No, this was three rooms.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47This dining area was pretty much as it was. There was a big fireplace here which unfortunately had to go.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48And this was two rooms.
0:17:48 > 0:17:54A tiny kitchen, you couldn't really call it a kitchen, but it was the kitchen and a pantry room here.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- It's quite a room now. - It's beautiful.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- What do you make of it? - I think it's amazing!
0:17:58 > 0:18:03It's a bigger scale than my kitchen but like they said,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06they've knocked stuff through, they've made it bigger,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08made it how they wanted it.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10It's a little different to how I'd like mine
0:18:10 > 0:18:13but I do like that the Aga's in there, it's really nice is that.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16And I think they've done a really good job of it, yeah.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19You've got to be bold, haven't you to take out a fireplace?
0:18:19 > 0:18:22You said that was here. You've got to really know what you want.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26How did you strike a balance between modern, comfortable living
0:18:26 > 0:18:28but also some of the period features here?
0:18:28 > 0:18:31We kept what we could and put back in what we could as well.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34The lovely high skirting boards are still there and the door architraves
0:18:34 > 0:18:38haven't been fiddled with so we knew that we wanted to keep
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- things like that.- Ben and Emily have restored many of the original
0:18:41 > 0:18:45features in this house just as Amy is planning to do in her place.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- Our bedroom.- What do you think, Amy? - I love it.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55It's really nice.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Although I was looking at having the original floorboards put in,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02seeing carpet down it makes it feel an awful lot warmer and it's really nice.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Also I've noticed the fireplace -
0:19:05 > 0:19:10was it was your intention to have no fireplace there?
0:19:10 > 0:19:12They were left empty with a view to us having time to go
0:19:12 > 0:19:16and source a nice fireplace that fitted the room properly
0:19:16 > 0:19:19but actually I quite like it as it is now so I'll probably leave it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21I think actually it works -
0:19:21 > 0:19:24a really good, clean simple, I suppose, quite cheap,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26design feature. Really nice.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Emily and Ben have created a truly stunning family home
0:19:29 > 0:19:33with an inspiring mix of contemporary and period details.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Right, this is cosy.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41So what was this front room like before when you first moved in?
0:19:41 > 0:19:44It was probably the room that was in the least state of disrepair
0:19:44 > 0:19:47in the whole house apart from the fireplace.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- It was pretty much as it looks now. - What did you do to the fireplace?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Took it out and replaced it with something
0:19:52 > 0:19:55we thought was a bit more fitting to the room.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57That must ring quite a few bells for you?
0:19:57 > 0:19:59That sounds exactly like your front room.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Yes, I don't like the fireplace in there. It's just a gas fire.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04There's a nice surround round it
0:20:04 > 0:20:06but I want similar to what you've got.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Having been through it all,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10what advice would you give to someone who has it all ahead of them?
0:20:10 > 0:20:12You need to get advice on the important things,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16like structural issues or gas and electricity, but the rest of it,
0:20:16 > 0:20:20you know, that's all down to your own subjective taste.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Don't get stressed if deadlines shift and enjoy it.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25It's been amazing looking around your place today.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Thank you and I hope there's been inspiration.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Yeah, I'm really grateful for you letting us
0:20:30 > 0:20:32come round and have a look and I'll take a lot away
0:20:32 > 0:20:38and hopefully within a year, I might be a step closer to being finished.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41I'm sure you will. Thank you very much, guys. Great stuff.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Back in Enfield in North London, Empty Property Officer
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Dave Carter is heading to one of his success stories.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57The house he's visiting has been disused
0:20:57 > 0:21:01since the previous owner passed away.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03There was then a problem with rats and the house
0:21:03 > 0:21:06was in a terrible state with the garden completely overgrown.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Today I'm going to visit a property which has been
0:21:09 > 0:21:12empty for approximately four years.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Since then the property has been sold at auction.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15I need to get back in there,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18meet the new owner and see what progress they've made and hopefully
0:21:18 > 0:21:24it's ready for occupation by a family and can be put back into use again.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27The owner has completely transformed the place
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and it's now back on the market, so everything is looking very positive.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- Dave Carter from the council. - Lovely to see you. Come in.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- All right, I'm looking forward to this.- Oh, good!
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Wow, I can see it's really transformed.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52You've done a lovely job here. Those windows are beautiful, aren't they?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54You've really brought them up well. Big job, was it?
0:21:54 > 0:21:56It was a big job actually
0:21:56 > 0:22:00because the windows were in a really terrible condition.
0:22:00 > 0:22:06And the builders spend hours, days, on restoring it, really.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- This floor as well, it's amazing, isn't it?- This floor, I love it.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12This probably took hours as well.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Actually this wasn't a difficult job.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18It was in quite good condition so we sand it down and varnished it.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- Come up beautiful.- I think so.
0:22:21 > 0:22:27Yeah, it's nice to keep original features where we can, I think.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- OK, show me what else you've done. - Yes!
0:22:35 > 0:22:41This looks a lovely, light, airy room that you've done. Beautiful!
0:22:41 > 0:22:45- I suppose this was in a complete state, was it?- It was.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48When I first came into this room there was a wheelchair,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52it was very sad.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55And there was a wall there which I knocked down to make it open
0:22:55 > 0:22:59and light but it was really dark and sad state.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03But it had some kind of original feature that made me
0:23:03 > 0:23:07think, actually this can be a really lovely home.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11The house has undergone a complete makeover.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Upstairs, the two bedrooms and bathroom have been updated
0:23:16 > 0:23:20and downstairs there's a new kitchen.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24- So, do you like the skylight? - It's beautiful.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29- I think this was a bit of a lean-to?- An old lean-to.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32It was so old you couldn't open the garden
0:23:32 > 0:23:36and there was a toilet in the corner, an outside toilet.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- Outside loo?- And two walls between lean-to to the kitchen,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41to the dining room
0:23:41 > 0:23:45and I took two walls out to bring in the light to this room.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57- So you've really transformed this garden, I see.- Yes, thank you!
0:23:57 > 0:23:58It was literally up to here.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02I had the complaints of rats and the brambles were overgrown,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04but no longer.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06I couldn't see the side of the garden even.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11The new fence, that must have been almost falling down, I suppose?
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Yes, they were falling down, yes. Needed to change everything, really.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- An excellent job.- Thank you.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- I think you should be very proud of yourself.- Thank you.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Really pleased with that.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33The house has been completely transformed, everything new,
0:24:33 > 0:24:34a really light, airy feel.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38It's loved again and I'm sure she'll have no trouble selling it
0:24:38 > 0:24:41and a family will be moving in within a few months.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Since Dave's visit, the house has had a number of viewings
0:24:44 > 0:24:49and two offers have been made. Hopefully there'll be a sale soon.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57I've been with Amy who's just bought an empty property
0:24:57 > 0:25:00and has been getting some hints and tips from a couple
0:25:00 > 0:25:03who have just experienced a house renovation.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Amy, how have you found it? A bit of inspiration there for you?
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Yeah, I've definitely enjoyed it even though it's my house
0:25:09 > 0:25:12on a much bigger scale, I can take a lot away from it.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I did think I wanted the original floorboards showing.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I think there'd be quite a bit of work to do there.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21And seeing Ben and Amy's house carpeted changed my view as well.
0:25:21 > 0:25:26- Has it?- Yeah, I think it makes it feel a lot warmer and cosy, although
0:25:26 > 0:25:31I don't think...I'd hope I can keep it as clean and tidy as they have.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Here they've got a blend of period features,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35yet a very contemporary feel.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Do you like that, is it something you could see yourself doing
0:25:38 > 0:25:40with the fireplace and things like that?
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Yeah, I mean in my bedroom I'd still like to stick to period features
0:25:43 > 0:25:45in the living room but elsewhere,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48I do like the fact you can add a bit of contemporary touch
0:25:48 > 0:25:52without ruining the period look in the house, so I'll definitely
0:25:52 > 0:25:56look at having a bit of a challenge and try and do that myself.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59OK, actually, often the period stuff stands out
0:25:59 > 0:26:02when everything else round it is quite clean and simple.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05I've noticed that in Ben and Emily's house. The stuff that sticks
0:26:05 > 0:26:08out are the high skirting boards, the high ceilings, lighting, doors,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12the windows - they've done everything perfectly.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Seeing what Ben and Emily have done to their property does give me
0:26:16 > 0:26:18some determination to do it myself.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21I'm pleased you've seen it and taken so much from it
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and I know you'll do a great job. It's a lovely house, it really is.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Huge potential and I'm sure you'll make a great job of it
0:26:27 > 0:26:28- so good luck.- Thank you.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36I think today has been a real eye-opener for Amy.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39It's so great to get that kind of inspiration at the beginning
0:26:39 > 0:26:43of the journey she's on. I know she'll take loads from today,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47particularly how you can combine contemporary and period features.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48With all that behind her,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52I've no doubt she'll make a great job of creating her dream home.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd