0:00:01 > 0:00:04Across the country, empty properties that could be homes
0:00:04 > 0:00:06are just waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I'll be finding out why and what you need to do
0:00:09 > 0:00:11to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Along the way, we'll be following the property detectives
0:00:14 > 0:00:17who track down the owners of these forgotten houses
0:00:17 > 0:00:20and help breathe new life into the communities blighted by them.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out more
0:00:23 > 0:00:26about our housing stock, our heritage
0:00:26 > 0:00:30and why we should both be preserving and reinventing Britain's empty homes.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42When searching for a home that suits all your needs,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45It can sometimes feel like you're striving for the impossible,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48but by considering an empty property,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50you could massively open up your options.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53With imagination and hard work, you could breathe new life
0:00:53 > 0:00:56into a vacant place and make it a truly amazing home
0:00:56 > 0:00:58that has everything you want.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05On today's show, I'll be helping a family who think the best way
0:01:05 > 0:01:07to achieve their dream home is to take on the challenge
0:01:07 > 0:01:09of a disused house.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13This is massive, it's got plenty of potential, lots of opportunity
0:01:13 > 0:01:16to put your own mark on it. It's exciting, definitely.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19And we'll be following one of Britain's empty property officers
0:01:19 > 0:01:22working to get vacant buildings lived in again.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24I'll come back in 10 or 11 months
0:01:24 > 0:01:26and hopefully both properties will be finished
0:01:26 > 0:01:28and there'll be families in both.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31RAF officer Tom Heinowski and his wife Katie
0:01:31 > 0:01:35live with their three young children in North Yorkshire.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38They're soon moving to the south coast where Tom will see out
0:01:38 > 0:01:39the remainder of his service.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42We're looking for an empty property so we can tailor it around
0:01:42 > 0:01:45our young family. We've got three kids.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Ideally like a four-bed that we can suit to our own taste.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Tom's job sees him working away for much of the time,
0:01:51 > 0:01:56so the family has moved house almost every year since 2006.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00They're hoping their budget of £250,000 will enable them
0:02:00 > 0:02:03to purchase and transform an empty property
0:02:03 > 0:02:04and make it their permanent base.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08We don't have anywhere really now that we can call home
0:02:08 > 0:02:12and I think that's sad for all of us, especially the kids,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15because they need to have somewhere they can relate to.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18I'm really, really looking forward to it.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Tom and Katie want to tackle much of the work themselves
0:02:22 > 0:02:25and are excited about embarking on a project together.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29I think it is really nice to be able to bring something back to life,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32something that's perhaps been derelict for a long time.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Make good use of it, make a family home from it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40But as first-time renovators, they have some concerns.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43I'd really appreciate the opportunity to meet someone
0:02:43 > 0:02:45who can point me in the right direction
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and maybe give me some guidance as to the planning process
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and some of the pitfalls that we might encounter along the way.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55I'm meeting up with Tom today in Axbridge near Exeter
0:02:55 > 0:02:58to hear more about his plans and explore somewhere he,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Katie and the children can put down some roots.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I want to show you something of a hidden gem,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07something away from the urban mass, really.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10This is it. I think you should treat this as an exercise,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13see if you've got the stomach for an empty property.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14See what you make of the inside.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16It's a little bit tired, it's got a few problems.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- Let's go inside and have a look, shall we?- Fantastic.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Originally the stables for a hotel, this four-bedroom cottage
0:03:23 > 0:03:26has been in the same family for more than 100 years.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28It's been empty for eight months
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and is on the market for £300,000.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32It would be quite a challenge for Tom and Katie
0:03:32 > 0:03:34but the potential is endless.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37It's clearly quite dated.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39There's a lot to take on here.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Do you find yourself quite daunted by that at this stage?
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Not daunted at all. We've got lots of enthusiasm for this.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Something that we can completely start again with
0:03:49 > 0:03:50is not a bad thing.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53When you see a property like this, does it excite you?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55It's certainly got the space, doesn't it?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Yeah, it's got a lot of potential.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01We didn't come into this with any preconceived ideas.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04What we were after was something that offered us
0:04:04 > 0:04:08the opportunity to grow and live on a more permanent basis.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10This is massive.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It's got plenty of potential.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Lots of opportunity to put your own mark on it.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18It doesn't look as though it should be listed with the plastic windows
0:04:18 > 0:04:22and doors it's got in it. Shouldn't have any of those limitations.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23No, it's exciting, definitely.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25That's where you've got to be careful as well
0:04:25 > 0:04:27because you've got a young family
0:04:27 > 0:04:29and you can't just put a one, a two and a four-year-old
0:04:29 > 0:04:33in damp living conditions in the middle of a building site
0:04:33 > 0:04:36so there's got to be a practical side to this, hasn't there?
0:04:36 > 0:04:37I'm not sure what Katie would think of it
0:04:37 > 0:04:39but I'd be happy to live in a big caravan.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42I've seen people doing it before and it seems to work quite well.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46I think in some ways, it would motivate you to move on faster
0:04:46 > 0:04:48if you're actually living on-site
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and you're seeing the property that you're working on.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54All the rooms are quite similar in size, actually,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56except for the kitchen, which is that bit bigger,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- so let's go through and we'll have a look.- Great.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Here we are in the kitchen. It's not a bad size, actually.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07It feels like you've just got a bit more light coming in here,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11because of the two windows. How much work do you want to do yourself
0:05:11 > 0:05:13when you find an empty property?
0:05:13 > 0:05:17We'd like to do as much of the work as we can,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and if that involves getting tradesmen in to do some of the work,
0:05:20 > 0:05:24showing us how we can do what we need to do safely
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and then doing it ourselves, that's what we'll do.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Look, we've seen the downstairs.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32- Let's go and have a look at the long line of bedrooms upstairs.- Great.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Although this place is slightly over Tom and Katie's budget,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39who knows, there could be room for negotiation
0:05:39 > 0:05:43and with some hard work they could make it an incredible family home.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Well, here we are. It's a lovely big garden.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47This is such a nice quality to this place.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50That view - so tranquil and just gorgeous, isn't it?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Yeah, this is a cracking garden.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56Really exactly what it is, I've got it in my head.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57It's the right size.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02It's backing on to a field full of spring lambs.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05A view over the countryside, beautiful.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06You're at the beginning of a journey.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09From where you're standing right now, what worries do you have?
0:06:09 > 0:06:10What things concern you?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13We've got to know that when we start,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17one, when we're going to finish, and two, that we can,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21because to start something and be left in limbo...
0:06:21 > 0:06:23I don't want that.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26And of course there's the budget as well. First-time renovators -
0:06:26 > 0:06:29you can't afford to make expensive mistakes.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33No, it needs to be done right first time. That's a definite,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35which is where the planning comes in.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38I think it's going to be a really good idea for you to meet a couple
0:06:38 > 0:06:39who've been through all this.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42They've taken quite a similar property and transformed it
0:06:42 > 0:06:43into their ideal home.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46They'll have loads of great advice and tips for you
0:06:46 > 0:06:49which I think really could set you well on your way.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Yeah, I think it could be great to meet someone
0:06:51 > 0:06:53who's been through this before. Who's able to point us
0:06:53 > 0:06:56in the right direction and perhaps give me a better idea
0:06:56 > 0:07:00for the various stages that we're going to have to consider and plan.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07It seems that Tom and Katie haven't really lived anywhere
0:07:07 > 0:07:11they feel is their own, so this next move is a huge opportunity
0:07:11 > 0:07:15to settle and really find somewhere they can call home.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Tom seems up for a big project. He's got loads of enthusiasm
0:07:19 > 0:07:22but the budget is tight and the experience limited,
0:07:22 > 0:07:24so it's going to be really good for him to meet a couple
0:07:24 > 0:07:26who've been through all this,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and hopefully, they can offer him some great advice.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Across Britain, hundreds of thousands of homes
0:07:32 > 0:07:35are sitting vacant and unloved.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38They can be left abandoned for a number of reasons,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42but fortunately, many local councils employ empty property officers
0:07:42 > 0:07:45whose job it is to find out why and bring them back into use.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48In Cardiff, Steve Reed is charged with this task
0:07:48 > 0:07:49and today he's heading to a flat
0:07:49 > 0:07:53which has been on his books for some time.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59The report we've had is that a flat below it have got damp problems.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01We're going to check the walls
0:08:01 > 0:08:04and see if we can actually pinpoint it to the vacant flat.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Meeting Steve at the property is a colleague from the local council,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14senior surveyor Clive Scrase.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16All right? This is the first floor flat,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19the one that's vacant, obviously.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Steve and Clive need to check for any exterior signs
0:08:22 > 0:08:26that the damp may have caused structural issues with the building.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29I'm wondering whether the driving rain's hitting above that window
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and getting in there.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34To find out the extent of the damage that's being caused inside,
0:08:34 > 0:08:36they need to get into the ground floor flat
0:08:36 > 0:08:40where the tenant has reported serious damp problems.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42So do you clean that off regularly?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45We generally clean it once every two weeks or so.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46- It comes back that bad? - It comes back.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48It comes through pretty quick as well,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50within the first couple of days.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Has it got worse with the driving rain and...?
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Through winter, you definitely noticed it getting a lot worse.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59I'll try the damp meter on those to see what we've got with them.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Clive needs to take measurements to assess the moisture levels.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04If the levels are too high,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07it can lead to mould which can cause respiratory illness
0:09:07 > 0:09:11and ultimately, this place could become uninhabitable.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14You can see the moisture readings are quite high there, Steve.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17We definitely need to get access to the flat above
0:09:17 > 0:09:22to determine it is that window that's causing the nuisance.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26If it is, obviously we can go ahead with service of a statutory notice.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33What we really need to do now is get in touch with the owner,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36so we can get access to find out exactly what the problem is
0:09:36 > 0:09:39in the flat. We urgently need to get the owner on board with this
0:09:39 > 0:09:42to try and get this reoccupied.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Following his visit, Steve obtained a warrant
0:09:45 > 0:09:47to enter the first floor flat, which allowed him to confirm
0:09:47 > 0:09:51there is damage to the roof causing the leak.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54He is still working on tracking down the owner.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57From crumbling cottages to dilapidated dwellings,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00no matter what kind of empty property you take on,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03you'll need a clear vision from the start.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05But if you do take that leap of faith,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07your investment could pay off sizably,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10leaving you with a home you'll never want to leave.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14And that's exactly what happened when Peter and Susan Harrison
0:10:14 > 0:10:17bought what was part of a former nursing home
0:10:17 > 0:10:21in Skipton in North Yorkshire in 2007.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25When we first visited the property, it very much still was subdivided
0:10:25 > 0:10:27into these small cell-like nursing home spaces.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Very small bedrooms, each one with its own little en-suite bathroom.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34There was nobody living here.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36It still had the old chairs of the nursing home.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40It was still a warren of rooms but you could see the potential.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43The building stood empty for a year before they took it on.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Peter is an architect and worked on the project for 12 months
0:10:46 > 0:10:48until the renovation was complete.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50It was important to me particularly,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53that we didn't have lots of rooms that sat empty.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58I actually felt that that makes a home quite soulless, I think.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02It made sense, really, to keep the rooms quite large and functional
0:11:02 > 0:11:06and with a growing family, again, it works well.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Susan and Peter have created a family home
0:11:09 > 0:11:12which fits their needs perfectly.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15I suppose my favourite part of the house is the light, how light it is.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20It was the first thing that I noticed when we visited the property
0:11:20 > 0:11:24but also it's the thing I do enjoy every single day.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29Our master bedroom, for example, which has a bathroom set within it,
0:11:29 > 0:11:31is always full of light.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34It's always a room that anybody visiting the house
0:11:34 > 0:11:35will always comment on.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38By taking on a disused house,
0:11:38 > 0:11:42the Harrisons have been able to transform it for less money
0:11:42 > 0:11:44than if they'd bought a place already renovated.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46I think when we moved here,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49I personally felt that I couldn't imagine wanting to move again.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50This does feel like somewhere
0:11:50 > 0:11:54- that we are very settled in as a family, doesn't it?- It does.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58It is nice to find a home that you know you want to settle in
0:11:58 > 0:12:03and that the children will grow up in and that's quite important, I think.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05- For them.- It's great for them and, you know,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07we see the children contented.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Leaving homes unloved and unlived in
0:12:13 > 0:12:14is a problem right across the country.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17And with Britain facing a housing crisis,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19it's an issue that needs addressing.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Over the years, there've been a number
0:12:21 > 0:12:23of government-funded projects and initiatives
0:12:23 > 0:12:26involving empty properties that really have failed
0:12:26 > 0:12:29to deliver on their promises. Today's government,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32they claim they're taking empty properties seriously,
0:12:32 > 0:12:33so can they really make a difference?
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Historically, owners of vacant buildings have been exempt
0:12:36 > 0:12:40from paying council tax for the first six months they're left empty.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44If they remain unoccupied, they've also been entitled
0:12:44 > 0:12:47to other discounts, but that's now set to change.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50I've come to meet Communities Minister Andrew Stunell
0:12:50 > 0:12:53to find out more about the Government's new proposals.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55What's the current situation
0:12:55 > 0:12:58with empty properties and council tax discounts?
0:12:58 > 0:13:02At the moment, local authorities don't have discretion
0:13:02 > 0:13:05about how discounts are given. What we're doing is changing that.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07What are the Government proposing?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10What we're saying to councils, what we're including
0:13:10 > 0:13:13in the legislation that's going through Parliament at the moment,
0:13:13 > 0:13:15is you can decide whether to give a discount or not.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19We think it's right for councils to have the opportunity
0:13:19 > 0:13:22to put a full council tax on as an incentive
0:13:22 > 0:13:27to get those homes back onto the market, back into use.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Just what a difference can that make to a community?
0:13:30 > 0:13:33It can make a huge difference because an empty home
0:13:33 > 0:13:36is often the focus for antisocial behaviour or squatting.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Environmentally, it lets an area down.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42From that point of view, the neighbours are usually very keen
0:13:42 > 0:13:44to see empty homes brought back into use.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Finally, as a Government, do you feel you're really putting
0:13:47 > 0:13:49empty properties on the national agenda?
0:13:49 > 0:13:52At a time with so many young people looking for homes,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54getting extra property on the market
0:13:54 > 0:13:56looks like an absolute no-brainer to me.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59With a glut of houses lying unused in Britain,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01it's clear something needs to be done.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I'm on my way to meet Dave Carter,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06an empty property officer from Enfield Council.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08So, Dave, as someone on the front line,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11you're fighting empty properties on a daily basis.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13What do you make of Government proposals
0:14:13 > 0:14:15to allow councils to use council tax
0:14:15 > 0:14:18to help them put pressure on owners of empty properties?
0:14:18 > 0:14:22I'm all for that. If they're going to be getting a council tax bill
0:14:22 > 0:14:24landing on their doorstep every month,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27on their bank balance every month, it's going to be a reminder.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- "I need to do something about that."- When it hits your wallet,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33that's when you start to remember that you should be doing something
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- with this house.- That's what the thinking behind this is,
0:14:36 > 0:14:37to hit these people in the wallet.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39This is one of your long-term empties.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- Shall we go and take a look inside? - Yes, by all means.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Vacant places like this are a blight on neighbourhoods
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and with increasing numbers of people
0:14:48 > 0:14:50on council housing waiting lists,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52they're a vital resource in great need.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Yeah, it really is a bit of a state, this place, isn't it?- Yes.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58That's what happens with these long-term empties.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01On the whole, you welcome these changes if they happen,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05and also, do you feel now that empty homes are more and more
0:15:05 > 0:15:08on not just the agenda, but the Government's political agenda?
0:15:08 > 0:15:13Oh, yes. I think in the time that I've been an empty property officer,
0:15:13 > 0:15:17I've seen the profile rise and I'd welcome it, obviously.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22It makes my job a lot easier if the tools I'm working with
0:15:22 > 0:15:24are improved all the time.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29So maybe this new initiative could be the answer.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33By giving local councils the power to make owners pay
0:15:33 > 0:15:36even when their buildings sit empty, hopefully it can benefit
0:15:36 > 0:15:40neighbourhoods up and down the country.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Back in Axbridge, I'm taking Tom Heinowski to meet a couple
0:15:43 > 0:15:46who've taken on the renovation of a disused house
0:15:46 > 0:15:49we've featured before on Britain's Empty Homes.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52They should have some priceless advice for him
0:15:52 > 0:15:54for when he finds his family pad.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Tom, this is the property I want you to see.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59On first glance, actually, there's some similarities here.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01The size, the shape of it, the length of it,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03and it's a former farmhouse. It's grade 2 listed.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07It's had a huge overhaul, a massive renovation by Robin and Isobel,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10who are waiting inside for us, so shall we go and say hello?
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Yeah, let's.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Robin and Isobel Edwards took a leap of faith
0:16:16 > 0:16:20when they bought this grade 2 listed house with adjoining barn in 2008
0:16:20 > 0:16:23for just over £300,000.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28When we first saw the house, it'd been empty for four or five years.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32It was quite obvious there was a huge amount to do,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34from top to bottom. I mean,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36the rising damp was drowning the woodworm,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38it was that sort of house, really.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41They owned the house for two years while they planned the renovation,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44then they started on the nine-month build
0:16:44 > 0:16:47getting their hands dirty in the process.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52The project itself is all-consuming and you don't have to be talented.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Even I can knock plaster off walls, so we used to come over
0:16:56 > 0:16:59and work an eight-hour day here, every day.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03In total, they spent around £230,000
0:17:03 > 0:17:06making this once-rundown place into their perfect home.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08There is this feeling that we've restored
0:17:08 > 0:17:10what was once a lovely house,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14and the renovation's brought it back to life again.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17This is something which we'll pass on to the next generation.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Here is a wonderful house and we had a part in saving it.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22It's a good feeling.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Having been through a major renovation,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30I hope Robin and Isobel will be able to offer some inspiration to Tom
0:17:30 > 0:17:32for his next home.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Guys, this is an amazing place.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37I didn't expect all this space as you walk round this corner.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39I'm sure it wasn't always this way though, so take us
0:17:39 > 0:17:43right back to the beginning. What state was this old farmhouse in
0:17:43 > 0:17:45when you bought it?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Well, it was pretty derelict, really. There was nothing here.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51It needed top-to-toe renovation.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53It was a major project from the start.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57It's quite a personal thing, what makes you choose a house.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Any ideas or any advice, how you start to narrow down that search?
0:18:01 > 0:18:03What should Tom and Katie be thinking about?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06We had a top ten points that we wanted in a house.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11Yes. We actually made up that list from looking at properties.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13The more houses you look at, the more you think,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17"That's definitely something I don't want," so you don't necessarily have
0:18:17 > 0:18:21a list of things you want, but you'll come into places and say,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24"Ah, that's definitely something I don't want in my house."
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Also, I suppose there's a gut instinct
0:18:26 > 0:18:29when you find the right place. You just sort of know.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I think you do. I think within 15 minutes of being in a house,
0:18:31 > 0:18:36it's got to feel right to you, and this one felt completely right to me.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40I got more and more excited as I went through the rooms
0:18:40 > 0:18:42and when I got up to the hayloft, which at that point
0:18:42 > 0:18:45you had to climb a ladder up on the outside to get up to it,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49I turned around, looked at the view, it made me cry.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I thought, this is definitely the right house.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I think the other thing is you need to have a perception
0:18:54 > 0:18:57of where you want to get to and how you're going to get there
0:18:57 > 0:19:00in terms of the style and how you live as a family.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Do you want it open plan or do you need smaller rooms,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06a television room for the children or whatever.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I love this room. This room's fantastic
0:19:08 > 0:19:11and I think the open plan idea for me works and yes,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14it's really nice for the children to be able to have an area
0:19:14 > 0:19:16to play in perhaps, but actually,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19it's nice to have an area you can have as a family.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21That's the point. This is what you need to examine.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24When you take on an empty property, you can make it any way you want.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26If you know that and if you start examining your life
0:19:26 > 0:19:29to know what rooms you need and how you want to operate,
0:19:29 > 0:19:30I suppose you're halfway there.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It's amazing in here but I'm extremely keen to see more.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Shall we wander through and have a look? Lead the way.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44This is the hayloft.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47What a space. I know one of Tom's worries,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50as much as he has any worries on this,
0:19:50 > 0:19:53is that he might start something and run out of money,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56run out of time, or just muck it up, never finish it.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59What tips or advice have you got about scheduling
0:19:59 > 0:20:01and how you stay on top of a project?
0:20:01 > 0:20:06It's always the 64,000 question that,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09but I think you've got to be meticulous in your planning
0:20:09 > 0:20:14to all the tasks that need doing, and try and cost them somehow.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17You can't just go blindly ahead because you will run out of money
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- very quickly, I'm sure. - Also, it's quite useful
0:20:20 > 0:20:21if you're living close by.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25We rented a cottage in Axbridge, so that if there were some problem,
0:20:25 > 0:20:31the builders could call us and five minutes later we could be here
0:20:31 > 0:20:32sorting out whatever the problem is.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36I sense you'd quite like to be quite close, family permitting.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38One of the things we were discussing
0:20:38 > 0:20:41was perhaps taking a caravan onto site
0:20:41 > 0:20:43and having that motivation then to move into something solid,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45something permanent.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49How does this strike you because I know you quite like the idea
0:20:49 > 0:20:51of having quite a contemporary, modern home, but do you find
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- this quite attractive as well? - I really do.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58I love the fact that you've got the original building on show
0:20:58 > 0:21:02whilst actually achieving something that a lot of people try to achieve
0:21:02 > 0:21:05when they're building a house from scratch.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Guys, thank you so much for showing us round. It's been a pleasure
0:21:09 > 0:21:12to see this really unusual but beautiful old farmhouse.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Great advice as well so thank you very much.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- It's a pleasure. - Thank you very much.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Back in Cardiff, empty property officer Steve Reed
0:21:20 > 0:21:23is returning to a place he's dealt with in the past.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27The previous owner's attempts to extend and remodel this bungalow
0:21:27 > 0:21:29had left it structurally unsound.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33Then after he passed away, his family were unable to deal with it
0:21:33 > 0:21:36so the council sold it at auction on their behalf.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Within a year, there could be someone actually living in there
0:21:40 > 0:21:42and this blight on the neighbourhood will be gone.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Today, Steve's meeting the surveyor Martin Plow,
0:21:46 > 0:21:51who's working on the build, and the new owner, Moslaur Rahman.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54It's looking a bit different than the last time I came here.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56It is, that's it. You know it more than I do.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01- It's going to change now more as it goes along.- Yeah.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Looking at it now, remembering how it was,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07you must have had some sort of a vision of what it could be.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11I'm a local resident here so I quite well know this site itself.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14It's been in my mind always to do some sort of small development
0:22:14 > 0:22:17so it's an opportunity that I grabbed and it was quite a job
0:22:17 > 0:22:20getting through the planning, but eventually we got through
0:22:20 > 0:22:22and now hopefully I can get to the end of it.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27Obviously, the work has started. What are the plans for it?
0:22:27 > 0:22:31The original bungalow is built from a clinker material.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33The previous owners decided to adapt some of that
0:22:33 > 0:22:36so there are structural issues there.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38We've had to take the whole of the building down.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43We're going to provide them with a traditionally built pair
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- of semi-detached bungalows.- This is a big challenge you've taken on.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49It is quite a big challenge but nothing comes without effort.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51I'm going to enjoy doing it.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Any chance I could see the plans now,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57- we can have a little look and a walk around?- Certainly.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59This has been a long running case for Steve
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and he wants to get people living here as soon as possible
0:23:02 > 0:23:04so he's keen to see how the project is progressing.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08I can actually see parts of the original house.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10It's a shame, really, that it all has to come down because,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14as you can see from here, you can see fireplaces still there.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17It'll pay off in the end and once it's all demolished,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20two new houses put in its place to everybody's benefit.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22That's right, absolutely.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Ah, right.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30What we're looking at, ground floor,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33we've got a bedroom, kitchen, dining room, lounge.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38First floor, we've got the two bedrooms, bathroom and an en-suite.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42The design of it really is in keeping with the other bungalows
0:23:42 > 0:23:48of the street. Brickwork and render, traditional slated roofs,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50then dormer windows at the first floor
0:23:50 > 0:23:54to give the aspect from the first floor bedroom.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57What are your plans once the development is finished?
0:23:57 > 0:24:01If the market is good and it's picked up, I'd probably sell it.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06- If not and I can afford it, I'd like to hold on to it.- Sure, yeah.
0:24:06 > 0:24:12Let the market raise and take the opportunity from there on.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16As Steve's been involved with this case
0:24:16 > 0:24:18since before the new renovation started,
0:24:18 > 0:24:23he'll monitor the work being carried out through to its completion.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25The timescales are about 10 months so what I'll do,
0:24:25 > 0:24:29I'll come back in 10 or 11 months and hopefully both properties
0:24:29 > 0:24:32will be finished and there'll be families in both.
0:24:32 > 0:24:33Since Steve's visit,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36the bungalow has been demolished and work has started
0:24:36 > 0:24:40on building the two semi-detached homes which will replace it.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44I've been with Tom who's aiming to buy a rundown house
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and transform it into a perfect family home.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51He's been getting some invaluable advice from a couple
0:24:51 > 0:24:54who've been through that very experience.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Tom, how have you found today? What perspective has it given you
0:24:58 > 0:25:00on empty properties and the possibility of you
0:25:00 > 0:25:02being able to take one on?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04It's given me confidence that I could do it.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06I think that's important.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09They've achieved something beyond whatever they thought was possible.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I saw a potential in that building this morning,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15but I didn't see this and there's no reason why you couldn't do this
0:25:15 > 0:25:17with the kind of thing that we looked at.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20You're looking at properties now with new eyes and new experience
0:25:20 > 0:25:23that you can see things you wouldn't have seen before?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Definitely. You can look at something and see beyond
0:25:26 > 0:25:29just the immediate potential of what's there and perhaps look
0:25:29 > 0:25:32at how we can expand it and make it more suitable for our needs.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34You go away now energised, enthused.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Is this hunt for an empty property really on, does it start here?
0:25:38 > 0:25:41I think it has to start here.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43It has to start somewhere and now and here
0:25:43 > 0:25:46is as good a place for it to start as any.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49From everything you've seen, do you believe this is right for you?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Do you believe it's right for you, your family,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- something you can actually do? - Definitely something we can do.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I think we'd get so much more from restoring a property
0:25:57 > 0:26:01than we would from just buying something that's sterile and new.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05There's so much character in this and yet they've managed to achieve
0:26:05 > 0:26:07a modern living space at the same time.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11- Right. Plenty of inspiration, plenty of ideas to take away.- Really.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Look, I wish you all the best with it. It's a big property search
0:26:15 > 0:26:17you've got on your hands, but I'm sure you'll do a great job
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- and I hope you rescue an empty property soon.- Thanks, Joe.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27I think this place has given Tom loads of ideas
0:26:27 > 0:26:29when it comes to his search for a vacant property.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Sometimes, when all the options are out there in front of you,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35it can be really difficult knowing exactly where to start.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I really think today has given him
0:26:37 > 0:26:39a much clearer vision of what he can achieve.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I've no doubt that before long, Tom and Katie will find
0:26:42 > 0:26:45their ideal empty property and transform it
0:26:45 > 0:26:48into that long awaited family home.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd