0:00:01 > 0:00:03Up and down the country,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06there are empty properties just waiting to be brought back to life.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I'll be discovering why and how you can turn
0:00:09 > 0:00:11a diamond in the rough into 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 > 0:00:18and get them back into use.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And I'll be finding out more about our housing stock, our history
0:00:23 > 0:00:28and why we should be preserving and reinventing Britain's Empty Homes.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42The sight of an empty property,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45whether it's in a picturesque village or an inner city borough,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48can be a sad and thought-provoking sight.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Whatever the reason for its demise, and there are many,
0:00:51 > 0:00:56there will always be people with a passion for taking them on,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58people who will put it back on the map,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02reunite it with the local community and make it a home once more.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07On today's show, I'll be meeting a lady
0:01:07 > 0:01:09who's eager to buy an empty home,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12but anxious about taking on a huge renovation.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15I've had bathrooms fitted, kitchens refitted,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- and quite bad experiences with both. - Oh, no.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21We'll be getting some essential do's and don'ts
0:01:21 > 0:01:23for transforming a listed building.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27It's not about fossilising a building or creating a museum,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29but about understanding what's important about it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And we'll be following one of Britain's Empty Property Officers
0:01:33 > 0:01:36on his mission to get derelict dwellings back into use.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Typical advert for an empty property.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Quite frankly, an advert saying, come and break in.
0:01:48 > 0:01:54Roberta Bickerstaff has been living in this four-bedroom detached house near Reading for the last 30 years,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57but now she feels the time is right to downsize.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Ideally, what I would like to do is shrink this home,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06pick it up and put it where I want it now, really.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13With a grandchild on the way, she wants to move closer to her family
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and is looking for a more rural location in Wiltshire.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22My ideal property would be a property with a country feel.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25I'm a country girl at heart, really.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28But possibly within the village environment.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31I have two chickens
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and I'd like to keep them and have a reasonable garden.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37I'd still like to have a small vegetable patch.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Roberta has a healthy budget of £500,000,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46but is anxious about overseeing a big renovation
0:02:46 > 0:02:48as she's been let down by builders in the past.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53I don't have a lot of experience project managing
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and that really does worry me a little bit.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I would like to project manage it,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but maybe this is something I can get advice on.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08Roberta clearly has some concerns about taking control of such a big project,
0:03:08 > 0:03:13but later I'll take her to a finished renovation to show her just what can be achieved.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21But first, I'm in Wiltshire to show her an example of an empty property that she could take on
0:03:21 > 0:03:25and to see how daunting a prospect it really feels.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Morning, Roberta, I'm Joe. How are you?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29How do you do? I'm fine, thank you.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Good. Good to see you. Now, this is the property I want you to see.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35It's believed to date back to the 18th century.
0:03:35 > 0:03:36What are your initial thoughts?
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Um, I like the look of the house.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42It's definitely the sort of thing I'm looking for.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Let's go inside, have a look at how it's laid out
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and see what you'd do with it, how you'd play around with it.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52- Does that sound good?- That sounds good.- Great, let's make a start.- OK.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58This cottage is on the market for £350,000,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00so well within Roberta's budget.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04It's been vacant for a year, but is still in a very habitable state
0:04:04 > 0:04:08which would allow her to live here while she does the work.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12So here we are in the sitting room.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Nice fireplace. Wood-burning stove.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19This, to me, feels quite cosy. What do you make of it?
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Yes, I like this very much. I like the beam.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23I like the colour of the beam.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29I like the traditional cottage look, but I like it to be open and light.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33So that I find very appealing - the beam and the floor.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36I'd like to explore the idea of losing this wall
0:04:36 > 0:04:41and making this into a kitchen and breakfast room combined.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Would that be the right size if you did knock through?
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I think so. I don't want it too big.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I don't want to lose the cottage-y, cosy look.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52OK. The only thing to mention at this point
0:04:52 > 0:04:56is this building is Grade II listed.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Which doesn't mean things can't be done,
0:04:58 > 0:05:00it just means you have to bear that in mind
0:05:00 > 0:05:03when you're applying for planning.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06You would have to get permission to change the layout.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Let's go through to the other side of the property.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10- Right.- Follow me.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16So here we are on the other side of the property.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18What are your initial thoughts?
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- Um...small.- Small.- Yes, very small.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24- Do you like the red brick?- I do.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26I know a lot of people don't like brickwork,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29but I think it goes very well in here.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32When we talk about these kind of projects
0:05:32 > 0:05:36and taking on an empty property and renovating it,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38any sort of relevant experience,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41anything you've done before that might help?
0:05:41 > 0:05:43That's my biggest worry
0:05:43 > 0:05:47because I've had bathrooms fitted, kitchens refitted,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- and quite bad experiences with both. - Oh, no.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54That is tough. I know if you've had a bad experience,
0:05:54 > 0:05:55it can really knock your confidence
0:05:55 > 0:05:58so you're very brave to consider it again.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01What I would say is there are a lot of good people out there,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04a lot of good builders, a lot of good craftsmen.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08We'll get some advice later on about how to pinpoint good workmen
0:06:08 > 0:06:10and get them doing the best for you.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14But don't be put off, there's still lots of hope.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21I really like Roberta
0:06:21 > 0:06:25and she's clearly got a good eye for looking round empty properties.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29It really helps in this case that the property is furnished and in quite a good state.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32It's helping her visualise where she'd put furniture,
0:06:32 > 0:06:33how she'd use the space,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36but also, on a practical level, it means she can move in very quickly
0:06:36 > 0:06:40and live in one side whilst renovating the other and vice versa.
0:06:40 > 0:06:46The big worries are that Roberta doesn't have a huge amount of renovation experience
0:06:46 > 0:06:50and that she's concerned about how to choose a builder that she can trust.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53So it'll be good for her to meet people who have been through this,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56they've taken on a renovation and come out the other side.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00They'll have some great advice and can hopefully ease some of those worries.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08Empty properties can fast become a real eyesore, bringing down the whole feel of an area.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12But there's a dedicated team of local authority empty property officers
0:07:12 > 0:07:16who scour the streets for these abandoned buildings
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and make it their mission to turn them into homes again.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27On the Kent coast, Mike Thompson has dedicated the last five years
0:07:27 > 0:07:32to working tirelessly to turn derelict dwellings into habitable houses.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Today, Mike's visiting a bungalow
0:07:36 > 0:07:39which has been reported to be in a bad state
0:07:39 > 0:07:42with overgrown gardens that could be harbouring foxes.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Wow. Just look at that.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Typical advert for an empty property.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Quite frankly, an advert saying, come and break in!
0:07:55 > 0:08:00He's here to assess the damage and get to the bottom of who owns it.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02We've got condensation at the windows,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04heavy condensation in there.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08You can see that's causing the formation of black mould internally.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11That's doing the inside no good at all. Probably got water on the sills.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15If they're timber, they'll be rotting on the inside as well as the outside.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17It's just bad news all round.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20I always look through the letterbox. That usually tells me quite a bit.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24No sign of conventional habitation there.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26It can't stay like this.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Mike calls upon the next door neighbour
0:08:29 > 0:08:31to see if they know anything about the owner.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Do you know anything about the ownership next door?
0:08:34 > 0:08:36No. I knew the lady that had it.
0:08:36 > 0:08:42When she died, it was handed over to a relative.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44You don't see anything of him?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Or hardly ever at all? - Once in a blue moon.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Any chance we could have a look at the back garden through your property?
0:08:50 > 0:08:51- Yes.- Thanks very much.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- I'll hold the steps.- Thanks.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01That's atrocious at the back. I thought the front was bad enough.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03It's in a terrible condition.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Quite easy to see that it could actually harbour vermin.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I'm not surprised if foxes are using it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13If they can get underneath anything, they could have their den there.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16The front, together with this rear,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19we can't allow a situation like this to continue.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Back at council HQ, Mike's on a mission to find out more.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27He puts in a call to the council tax department
0:09:27 > 0:09:29to see if they can give him any clues.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34I want to find out some information
0:09:34 > 0:09:37about a council tax payer for a property in Broadstairs.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Paid in full...but liable at the address.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44OK.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48We've got a bill payer the resident at the address,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50we know they're not living at the address.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53At least I've got a name now, I've got an initial,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55so that gives me something to go on.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Now Mike has some information on the bill payer,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03he's hoping the land registry will reveal the owner.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08We now have, potentially, an owner's name and a responsible person
0:10:08 > 0:10:11so I think, if I can't get what I want from the probate registry,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I can certainly employ a tracing agent
0:10:13 > 0:10:16to get down to finding out where that person lives.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Now we've made a start, we won't let go.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22If the owner needs any help to bring that property back into use,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24we will offer it and we will do all we can
0:10:24 > 0:10:27to bring that back into decent, family accommodation,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30which is what it should be rather than the empty property,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32detracting from the area
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and spoiling the amenities for all those people that live near it.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Mike has since tracked down the owner
0:10:41 > 0:10:44who's improving the property and is now living there.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51Taking on an empty property can be a huge financial commitment,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55not to mention losing most, if not all, of your spare time.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00But, surely, overriding that is the huge sense of personal satisfaction
0:11:00 > 0:11:05of knowing you've returned a distressed or dilapidated building back to its former glory.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And that's exactly how Andrew and Karen Smith felt when they took on
0:11:11 > 0:11:16this 500-year-old cowshed - yes, cowshed - in North Wales.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20We've always liked the idea of renovating somewhere,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23a barn conversion - that type of project.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28We looked on the internet and this came up under Wreck Of The Week.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30And it certainly was, it was terrible.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32We looked at it and thought,
0:11:32 > 0:11:36"You must be mad to do something like that." But we came along
0:11:36 > 0:11:38and had a look and it was a beautiful, sunny day.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Just lovely. There was a magic about the place that just caught us.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44We just found ourselves saying,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48"Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could make this liveable?
0:11:48 > 0:11:53"Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could bring this back to life?"
0:11:53 > 0:11:57You could see the potential. You could imagine a patio out there
0:11:57 > 0:12:01and gin and tonics overlooking the bay. It was just...
0:12:01 > 0:12:05You had to have the vision, but we could both see that we could do something with it.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10They bought the property for £205,000
0:12:10 > 0:12:14and spent a further 250,000 renovating it.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17It took 16 months of hard graft,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20but they now have this stunning three-bed family home.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Our key was to keep it as traditional as we possibly could
0:12:25 > 0:12:30and not have it look like a modern, glass and steel building
0:12:30 > 0:12:35with views over the bay. We wanted it to look like it should look
0:12:35 > 0:12:39- and be a traditional build. - We still have the original brickwork,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43big stones that were put up 500 years ago.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45It's awesome, really.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51Our input into the building has been very much one of project management.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56We haven't got our hands dirty putting walls up and woodwork up.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59When you're going to be living in it yourself,
0:12:59 > 0:13:03you need to be able to change things if they're not quite right
0:13:03 > 0:13:06and, because we project managed it quite closely,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08we were able to do that.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15I think it's important... Life is so frantic for most of us
0:13:15 > 0:13:21um, and, rightly so, if you've got a dream, you should go for it.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The worst that can happen is it fails.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26But at least you've tried.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30If you don't try, you'll never know.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36When you embark on the renovation of an empty property,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39you can be faced with many challenges.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Taking on a listed building can be fraught with some unique problems.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48A historical listing often comes with a strict set of rules and regulations
0:13:48 > 0:13:50that can all seem a bit daunting.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54But don't let a listed status put you off.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59There's plenty of advice and support out there to help you create your perfect home.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07This Grade I listed building in Essex dates back to the 14th century.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09It was originally a medieval hall
0:14:09 > 0:14:12before becoming an inn in the late 17th century.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19It now belongs to Douglas Kent, who's the technical director
0:14:19 > 0:14:23for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27He's got some invaluable advice about taking on a listed property.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- This is great. Clearly a renovation in progress.- Very much so.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39When it comes to renovating a building like this,
0:14:39 > 0:14:45you have to study, learn and, I suppose, really understand
0:14:45 > 0:14:49what's here to begin with before you can restore it or add to it?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51That's exactly right.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55The idea is you work out what's important about the building
0:14:55 > 0:14:57so you can appreciate and protect it.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01It's not about fossilising a building or creating some kind of museum,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03but about understanding what's important about it
0:15:03 > 0:15:08and then making it suitably fit for the 21st century.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11And then, when you decide to make changes,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14you have to be very sensitive with materials, don't you?
0:15:14 > 0:15:17The absolute key thing with an old building
0:15:17 > 0:15:20is to retain as much as you can of the physical fabric
0:15:20 > 0:15:22and the overall spirit of the building.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25You do that by carrying out only essential work,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27that's essential to the life and the wellbeing of the house
0:15:27 > 0:15:31and also using compatible methods and materials.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34You can't supply new techniques to the old building.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36That's exactly right.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Old buildings don't just differ in their architectural look,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42they differ in the way they're constructed and in their whole performance.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45I'm keen to see much more, so shall we head to the back of the building?
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Head through here. Mind your head just there.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53So, looks like a Victorian range there.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- That's right, with the gas mantle above.- Brilliant.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59When it comes to taking on a listed property,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03I imagine many people will have presumptions of what's involved.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05- Do they all stack up, or add up? - Not always.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11There's a common myth that it's only the outside of a listed building
0:16:11 > 0:16:13that is affected by the listing protection.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15In fact, it's the outside and the inside.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19I know there are subtle distinctions between Grade I, Grade II, Grade II*,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22but the point stands that it's the whole thing that's listed.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Not just the outside but the inside as well.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28- That's right and that applies regardless of the grade.- OK.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33Just how possible is it to take on a listed building when you're on a budget?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I think it's feasible if you go about it in the right way.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39If you do your investigations properly in the first place to cut down the risk
0:16:39 > 0:16:44and also plan the work logically and employ the right people,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48I think it's perfectly feasible to do something on a budget.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51People often say double the time and triple the money.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Hopefully, it won't come to that in my case.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56That gives you an idea of the scale of work involved.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Douglas has a lot of work to do
0:16:59 > 0:17:02to restore this medieval property to its former glory,
0:17:02 > 0:17:07but he's certainly passionate about preserving this wonderful place
0:17:07 > 0:17:09and making it into his dream home.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13The purpose of listing a building is to protect it for the future.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17So if the building and the future generations who are going to live there
0:17:17 > 0:17:19are best served by adapting it for modern living,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23then those changes may well be permitted. So don't be put off.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26If you can get your hands on one of these amazing buildings,
0:17:26 > 0:17:31then you too could play a role in preserving Britain's history.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35Back in Wiltshire,
0:17:35 > 0:17:40I'm taking Roberta to meet the owners of an impressive renovation.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43They had to project manage their build from scratch
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and will have some crucial advice for first timer Roberta.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53OK, Roberta this is the property I want you to see.
0:17:53 > 0:17:571840s to early Victorian. Bath stone, really nice.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01- Ian I want you to meet inside, he's got lots of expertise.- OK.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05It took builder Ian Callaway and his wife Helen 11 years
0:18:05 > 0:18:08to renovate their dream home.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty,
0:18:11 > 0:18:15this delightful family house needed complete modernisation.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19- Very dark.- Damp.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- Unloved, just really unloved.- Yeah.
0:18:22 > 0:18:29They bought it for £155,000 and spent a further 40,000 renovating.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30It was a real labour of love,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33but the hard work was worth it in the end.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38It's been really stressful. I remember a time when I said to Ian,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41"Are we ever going to live in this house?"
0:18:41 > 0:18:44But now, when I look around, you forget.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48It's so fabulous what you've got and what you've done.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- So you don't want to put it on the market next week, then?- No.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00All right, what do you think of this?
0:19:00 > 0:19:02- It's very nice, isn't it?- It is.
0:19:02 > 0:19:08So, Ian, here you have a lovely, historic, period property,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11what did you do to it? I can see where walls have come down.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16- Is this where the property stopped? - This was the back wall of the house
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and the kitchen was smaller. We extended out to this bit
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and then went upstairs and put another bedroom on.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25You've divided up the floor space.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29So although it's open plan, you still have a kind of demarcation
0:19:29 > 0:19:32of where your dining room is and where your kitchen is
0:19:32 > 0:19:35cos you've got stone here and you've got wood there.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39It breaks the space up and gives you that break between the rooms.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Roberta, what do you make of it?
0:19:42 > 0:19:46I don't think it's anything I would have thought of myself
0:19:46 > 0:19:49but I can see how it works.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53I like this idea because it's not a conservatory. It's a useful room,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57but you've got all this light. The sun's coming through now,
0:19:57 > 0:20:01right the way through to the dining area.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05It's just ideas. When you're looking around empty properties now,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07these are all ideas that could spring to mind
0:20:07 > 0:20:10and might fit something you do in the future.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- Let's carry on the tour.- After you.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Ian's house also boasts a lovely light and airy living room...
0:20:21 > 0:20:25and upstairs are four bedrooms, including this magnificent master.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29This is really nice, isn't it?
0:20:29 > 0:20:31A lovely space.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36- Nice, big, long space. Big, long room.- Open plan. Definitely.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38What do you think, Roberta?
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Lovely. Yeah.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45I could not imagine doing this myself, actually, but it does work.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49I know you've got a burning question to ask, so go ahead.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54Yes. The project management side of it.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59Would you say a novice like myself could handle that side of it?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02The most important side is co-ordinating the different trades
0:21:02 > 0:21:04to come in as and when they need to come in
0:21:04 > 0:21:08to get the end product and to keep the project moving.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11And that is quite difficult.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13If you've got a good builder,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16he will actually take that stress away from you
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- and manage his guys as and when they need to come in. - Right.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23That leads us on to how do you choose a good builder?
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Just try and go for someone that's been recommended.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Moving into a local area,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32talk to people and there'll be names that come up straightaway.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36While a good builder is going to work up a schedule of works
0:21:36 > 0:21:37and be in charge of the timeline,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41that's not to say that you have to back off completely.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44It's good to understand the process, what's going on
0:21:44 > 0:21:48and talk to them and keep those lines of communication open
0:21:48 > 0:21:52so you know if there's a problem in the pipeline.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54It's been a pleasure to have a look round.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Incredible what you've done to the place.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59A really big project over many years. And some great advice.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02It'll stand you in good stead. So thank you very much.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- You're welcome and good luck with the project.- Thank you.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- It's definitely given me more confidence.- Fantastic.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Empty Property Officer Mike Thompson is back in Kent,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21checking up on the renovation of a disused shop
0:22:21 > 0:22:23dating back to the early 1900s.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29The council can award interest free loans to people
0:22:29 > 0:22:31who need financial assistance converting their empty property
0:22:31 > 0:22:33and Mike's eager to see
0:22:33 > 0:22:37if new owner Graham Hutchings could be helped by this scheme.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41But first, he needs to see what Graham intends to do with the building.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- Pleased to meet you.- You too.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46What a building. Wow! It's fantastic!
0:22:46 > 0:22:49All this brilliant, original Victorian steelwork!
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- These columns are spectacular!- Yeah. - Tell me what your plans are
0:22:52 > 0:22:56- for downstairs here. - Well, this is one department store.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01On the ground floor, we're going to turn it into three retail units.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Split into smaller units, it's letable, people take it on,
0:23:04 > 0:23:06they can afford the rents and chances are they'll stay.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08I'm thrilled, I really am.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Graham plans to transform this spacious three-storey building
0:23:12 > 0:23:16into nine flats and three retail units.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18- Another fantastic space. - Amazing, isn't it?- Yes!
0:23:20 > 0:23:25These pillars are fantastic. They come through to this floor. Are they on top of the others?
0:23:25 > 0:23:28They are, yeah. They're not as ornate as the ground floor,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31but you often find that as they move up from floor to floor.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36So this space we're looking at, this will be the basis for two flats?
0:23:36 > 0:23:41Yeah, two flats. One flat will face the front, one will face the back,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- go into that well.- OK.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Mike is pleased to see that Graham has been careful to retain
0:23:46 > 0:23:48some of the fabulous period features.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51What do you think about that?
0:23:51 > 0:23:55- Isn't it fantastic?! All intact! - Perfect condition.- No broken panes.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00I love the use of coloured glass, I really do.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Impressed with what he's seen so far,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Mike wants to take a closer look at the plans before he can decide
0:24:06 > 0:24:09whether it's a worthy case for a council loan.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16Getting this space into use above shops, I'm so sold on it as an idea.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- It's a real waste, isn't it? - Well, it works.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24We've got lots of nice features - Victorian steelwork, windows.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28It's a big job, there are more costs than I thought.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- There always are, aren't there?- Yeah.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33The contingencies never work out enough, do they?
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I tell you what, I'm so impressed with this project,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and I love everything I've seen about it,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43and the fact that your attention to historic detail is something we don't often get, I'll be honest.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46What I'd like to say to you is, would an interest free loan
0:24:46 > 0:24:50through the No Use Empty campaign that we're a partner in...
0:24:50 > 0:24:52- Interest free?- Interest free.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55..would that help you to get cracking?
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Rather! Blimey!
0:24:58 > 0:25:01I've got a smile on me face. Thank you!
0:25:01 > 0:25:04That's a pleasure. OK.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08I'm absolutely delighted! I think it's been a fantastic experience
0:25:08 > 0:25:12to see attention to detail quite like that.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14We'll do everything we can to support it
0:25:14 > 0:25:19and I daresay I'll be making many site visits during the course of those works. Delighted.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25Back in Wiltshire,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Roberta has been getting some helpful advice
0:25:28 > 0:25:31about transforming an empty property into her perfect home.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36Having seen the empty property earlier
0:25:36 > 0:25:38and now this completed property,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42is it easier to visualise that jump forward?
0:25:42 > 0:25:47It is, yes. It's given me ideas that I hadn't even thought about.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52I think the advice is the most important thing.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Get out there, talk to people, take your time, find the right builder.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01Then I think I can be a lot more confident about going ahead and doing the project
0:26:01 > 0:26:07and, hopefully, having something that I'm really going to be delighted with at the end of the day.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Well, wherever you find,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11whether it's the place we saw earlier or not,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I wish you all the best with it.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Be bold, decide what you want
0:26:15 > 0:26:17and I'm sure you'll make your dream home out of it.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Lovely. Thank you for your help.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27I think today has been really productive for Roberta.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32It just shows you don't have to be a seasoned developer to consider taking on a major renovation.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34What you do need is the right guidance.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Finding the right builder, the right architect -
0:26:37 > 0:26:40good, solid professional advice.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43And then, with all that and a little bit of luck,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46you could be giving one of this country's many empty properties
0:26:46 > 0:26:50the chance to become a home once again.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd