0:00:01 > 0:00:04Up and down the country, there are empty properties just waiting
0:00:04 > 0:00:06to be brought back to life.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10I'll be discovering why and how you can turn a diamond in the rough
0:00:10 > 0:00:11into a gem of a home.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16We'll be following the Empty Property Officers,
0:00:16 > 0:00:20whose job it is to track down the owners of these forgotten houses
0:00:20 > 0:00:22and get them back into use.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27And I'll be finding out more about our housing stock,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30our history and why we should be both preserving and reinventing
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Britain's empty homes.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Renovating an empty property
0:00:42 > 0:00:43is sometimes the only way
0:00:43 > 0:00:46of being able to afford your dream home
0:00:46 > 0:00:48in an area that's otherwise out of your price range.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52But taking on a place that has sat empty for a few years
0:00:52 > 0:00:56can challenge even the most experienced of renovators.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59That said, it's the promise of that dream finally becoming
0:00:59 > 0:01:04a reality that drives people on to bringing an empty home back to life.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12On today's show, we'll be meeting a young couple who think
0:01:12 > 0:01:16an empty building could be their ideal first home together.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Given our budget, we might have to go for a one bedroom,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21but a big living room or a big space.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24We'll find out what's being done to preserve
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Britain's oldest properties.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29This is a classic case of a repair, which is closer to conservation,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32because we've followed the same pattern throughout.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35And we'll be following an Empty Property Officer as she aims
0:01:35 > 0:01:38to take houses from dereliction to dwellings.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42They really don't do anything unless it's absolutely in a notice.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Carolina Hernandez and her fiancee, Dom James,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54are first-time buyers renting in Waterloo, South London.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58They're keen to stay in the area, but a 350,000 budget
0:01:58 > 0:02:00for their first home isn't enough to buy
0:02:00 > 0:02:02the property they want already renovated.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04Given our budget,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06we might have to go for a one bedroom,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08but a big living room or a big space.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10We want somewhere where people can come round
0:02:10 > 0:02:12when they want to come, they want to drop by.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16The couple were recently gazumped on the purchase of a nearby
0:02:16 > 0:02:20run-down empty flat, but that hasn't dampened their enthusiasm.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Quite the opposite - it's made them even more determined to realise
0:02:23 > 0:02:26their dream of buying an unloved property which they can transform.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29The property that we put an offer in, as well, had no central heating,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33so we were prepared to, you know,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36do the re-wiring of the house, put central heating in.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Dom and Carolina will be first-time renovators,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42but they have family and friends in the architect trade,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45so they are hoping to get lots of help and advice.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49We've got good parents that have done their own homes, as well,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51so we've got experience behind them.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Both our parents have done that route of finding some place
0:02:54 > 0:02:57that's, you know, needing a lot done to it.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Carolina can't join us today,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07so I'm meeting Dom in Hither Green, in South London, to show him
0:03:07 > 0:03:11a disused house that could be an amazing first home.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14They're looking for a flat, but one of the advantages of
0:03:14 > 0:03:17buying an empty property is that budgets can be stretched further.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Dom, this is the property I want you to see. It's been empty a while,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23it's pretty run-down. This is really an exercise
0:03:23 > 0:03:25to test your imagination and your nerve, to some extent,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28whether you're really up for taking on an empty property.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30What are your first impressions?
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Probably - not, obviously, beautiful.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33But it looks like a house.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Would you like a house rather than a flat?
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- No real preference, actually.- OK. - No, we're really open
0:03:38 > 0:03:40to sort of seeing anything.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Being open to anything is a very, very good start.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- I suggest we now take a look inside. - Let's do it. All right.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50This house has been empty for about eight years.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Properties like this were built in Hither Green
0:03:52 > 0:03:56in the late 19th century by builder Sir Archibald Corbett
0:03:56 > 0:03:59who constructed 3,000 houses in the area.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02He was a Quaker, so there's a distinct lack of pubs,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05but there are great train links, so Dom and Carolina
0:04:05 > 0:04:07could be back in Waterloo in 15 minutes.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12So a word about budget. This house is on the market for £250,000,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15which is well within your budget and would even leave up to
0:04:15 > 0:04:17100,000 for renovation.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Typically, the houses sell for about 350 here.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23There's one down there on sale for 400, but it's got an extra bedroom.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- But that just shows you, this has good potential.- Yeah.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29But it's not about making money, it's about you guys having a home.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31That's the main consideration.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33What's your vision of where you'd like to live?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36How would your home feel? What's the sort of look or feel?
0:04:36 > 0:04:41Well, I think it would...it would be a warm place that people
0:04:41 > 0:04:43like to come and stop in.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- You know?- Do you like these big, open spaces?
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Yeah, I like the open spaces.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49I'm interested to see the kitchen,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- because we cook a lot.- Right. - And so it'd be nice to find a place
0:04:52 > 0:04:57where we...you know, you sort of have some food and everyone get together.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- So, actually, a through kitchen is more my thing...- OK.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- ..than a through living room. - That's interesting.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05When it comes to renovation,
0:05:05 > 0:05:06how much of the work would you take on?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09We'd be keen to do quite a lot of it,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12whether it's knocking down a wall or something...
0:05:12 > 0:05:15My dad's got a lot of experience doing something like this.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19And so has Carolina's dad, so... I have no clue.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20It's all about the vision.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22It seems like you're quite comfortable with that in this room,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24anyway. Let's go through to the kitchen.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27You can have a look at what they've got here.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Right, so, the kitchen.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- What do you make of this? - It's...pretty...nasty.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Looking around the kitchen, this damp stands out a mile.
0:05:41 > 0:05:42It's a huge alarm bell.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45You'd think, "All right, it's just break in the roof,"
0:05:45 > 0:05:48but this is double storey, this back bit to the house.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51So, I'm assuming the bathroom is at the back and that is sort of
0:05:51 > 0:05:53a bath or a shower has leaked there.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Or the guttering has gone. Either way,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58something big needs fixing, doesn't it?
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Yeah, so, I think it's important to get the right person to look at that
0:06:01 > 0:06:03and work out what's going wrong.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05If you have to do something to this wall,
0:06:05 > 0:06:06you might as well knock it down.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11In simple terms, if you push out, you get a lovely living area. Also,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13you probably add quite a bit of value to the house.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14But more importantly,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18- it creates the space you want to as a home.- Although, it might make
0:06:18 > 0:06:21the room behind a bit darker, cos that does have light coming in.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- So there's a negative to that. - Yes, but there's also solutions,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and that's where a good architect would walk you through the options,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29because, I think, if you were to push out,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- as long as you strategically placed your overhead windows...- Yeah.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35..you could get a lot of light streaming in that way.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So that's another thing to consider.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Out the back, is a barbecue-friendly garden, which needs some work,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45and upstairs, are two double bedrooms
0:06:45 > 0:06:47and a large, if tired-looking, bathroom.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52So, as we suspected, the bathroom is at the back
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- of the property. Good size. - Yeah, it's nice, big.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57- Needs a lot of work, though.- Yeah.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01And then this is the master bedroom.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03- So, really light.- Yeah, it's lovely.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04- Lots of space.- Yep.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- Got a good feel to it. - Yeah, it's nice. Yeah.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11As you come onto the landing, you can see into the roof,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15and there is the potential to do a loft conversion at a later date.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24- Dom, you've seen the house.- Mm-hm.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26You can see what there is of a garden.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28What do you make of the price?
0:07:28 > 0:07:30I think the house is lovely.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33I think it's the ideal restoration project. It's a lovely house.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37And it would be perfect for turning into a home.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Is it within the realms of possibility for you to do that?
0:07:40 > 0:07:42I mean, is it too much for you guys?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Is it about the right thing you're looking for?- Yeah, I think
0:07:45 > 0:07:47the level of work required for this house
0:07:47 > 0:07:50is about right. I think it's something that we would take on.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51OK. Well, look,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54it's going to be interesting for you to meet a couple later on,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58because they've taken on a house, which was very similar to this,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and it was in a very similar state to this house, as well.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04But the couple who took it on have completely renovated it.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06So there'll be loads of ideas, lots of inspiration but also,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09very much like yourselves, they wanted to stay in central London,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12but in the end, the benefits that they could get from moving
0:08:12 > 0:08:15a little bit further out won them over.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18So, it will be interesting to see what you make of them
0:08:18 > 0:08:20and their property. I think they'll have a lot of useful tips
0:08:20 > 0:08:22and advice. So, are you keen to meet them?
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- Yeah, very looking forward to that. - Great.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Well, I really like Dom's energy.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31He seems up for taking on empty property.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33He's not daunted by the size and scale of this project,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35which is perfect, because if you're going to do it,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37you need the enthusiasm.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40My one worry is the lack of experience between him
0:08:40 > 0:08:42and Carolina.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44They haven't taken on a renovation before,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46I'm not sure they really know what lies ahead,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50so it's going to be great for them to meet a guy who's been through it.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53They have loads of tips, loads of advice and, importantly,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55whatever project they take on,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59he can tell them the challenges that lie ahead.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07All over the country, there are many empty properties
0:09:07 > 0:09:10lying dormant, waiting to be revitalised.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Our councils' Empty Property Officers seek out these buildings
0:09:12 > 0:09:15and track down the owners, with the sole aim of turning them
0:09:15 > 0:09:19back into homes as quickly as possible.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Sue Li is the local Empty Property Officer
0:09:22 > 0:09:24for Amber Valley in Derbyshire.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28She has about 1,000 abandoned buildings on her books.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Today, Sue's visiting a house, which the current owner bought
0:09:37 > 0:09:39after it was repossessed by a bank.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Sue wants to check on the current state of the property and find out
0:09:44 > 0:09:48if there's any work being done to get the place lived in again.
0:09:48 > 0:09:49Wow!
0:09:49 > 0:09:51I can see why I've been contacted.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54It's not very often I get a pile of rubble and debris
0:09:54 > 0:09:56quite like this.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58It's spilling over onto the footpath.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02But it also concerns me that there may be harbourage
0:10:02 > 0:10:03for vermin here,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06who can quite typically hide in piles of bricks
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and rubble. There's some carpet over there, as well.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Soft-textured fabrics, such as that, can provide nesting materials.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Again, down this end of the garden, more of the same.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Another sign of an empty property is a build-up of mail
0:10:23 > 0:10:26through the letter box and cobwebs
0:10:26 > 0:10:30down the frame of the door.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Now, I can't see any mail through there.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And this door is quite clear of cobwebs.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40So, it does make me wonder if somebody, at least,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43comes in occasionally, goes into the property.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47If I'm having no joy at the address that I've written to them at,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50I think I'll try and contact them here
0:10:50 > 0:10:52and see if I have more luck.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00So, taking one final look at the front of this,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03there's what looks like a CCTV camera,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05which is good as far as I'm concerned,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07cos that shows me that somebody is interested
0:11:07 > 0:11:10in protecting this property, another sign that there might be
0:11:10 > 0:11:14somebody who I can talk to, go through my concerns
0:11:14 > 0:11:16and also see what we can do to help.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Good.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26With signs that someone may be visiting the property,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Sue investigates further at the back of the house.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36OK, so, I'm at the rear
0:11:36 > 0:11:40of the property. Now, I've got sandbags here.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41Let's have a look a little further.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47OK, well, this door is obviously quite new.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Got a window up there that seems to be being bricked up
0:11:50 > 0:11:52on the inside.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I assume, at some point, the owner is probably going to remove
0:11:55 > 0:11:59that window and install something that matches the rest.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02It's clear that some work has been done at the house.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05What isn't clear is if someone is living here.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Sue decides to chat to a neighbour to see
0:12:08 > 0:12:10if they know anything about the owner.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I've spoken to a local resident,
0:12:12 > 0:12:13and they've actually met the owner.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16He's been trying to do the property up,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19but it seems there may be personal issues as to why
0:12:19 > 0:12:21he hasn't actually finished what he started.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25So, er, I'm quite hopeful, really.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Um, much different to when I first came and first saw the property.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Since her visit, Sue is now in touch with the owner, who has promised
0:12:34 > 0:12:38to complete the work on the house and move into it within 12 months.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Sue will continue to monitor the progress.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Taking on an empty property can be a huge undertaking
0:12:49 > 0:12:52but it often brings with it an equal degree of satisfaction.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Because not only are you creating a dream home,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57you're also bringing a building back into use
0:12:57 > 0:12:59that has otherwise lost its purpose.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03And that's just what Stephanie and Carl Shaw set out to do
0:13:03 > 0:13:07when they spotted this 17th-century, listed manor house in Derbyshire,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09in 2002.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It had been empty for five years
0:13:11 > 0:13:14and was in a terrible state when they first set eyes on it.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16I found this particular house,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19I was looking one Friday night on the Internet,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23and found it and it was up for auction the following Wednesday.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26and thought, "Well, that's probably be too quick to raise the money.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28"But we'll have a look at it anyway."
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Came and looked at it with my sister
0:13:31 > 0:13:34and, of course, went to the auction and bought it on the Wednesday.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38They paid £245,000 for it at auction
0:13:38 > 0:13:42and then embarked on an epic renovation that was to take them
0:13:42 > 0:13:46seven years and cost a further £400,000.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Once we actually bought the property,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53then the reality of what I'd done really kicked in.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55The bulk of the windows at the front of the house
0:13:55 > 0:13:57were cracked or broken. Most of the wooden floors
0:13:57 > 0:14:00downstairs were rotten. With the exception
0:14:00 > 0:14:03of the main hall, every room in the house has been re-plastered.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04During the process of renovation,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07we've been at times where things have been extremely tight.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10And at that point, you question whether it's all worthwhile.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12You get through it and there's another day and, actually,
0:14:12 > 0:14:13it is worthwhile.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17And you just save up. And that's why this will be a lifelong project.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21I think we almost feel like we're guardians of the property.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25It's our home, but we don't feel like we actually own it,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28we feel like everything we're doing is ready to pass on
0:14:28 > 0:14:31to another generation at some point.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34So we need to leave it in the best possible condition we can.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41In 2008, the Shaw's house was valued at just under £1 million.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45So taking on an empty property has certainly paid off for them.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49It has been such a good experience.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Would we do it again? Absolutely.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Will we ever find a property that lives up to this
0:14:55 > 0:14:56and gives us so much pleasure?
0:14:56 > 0:15:01I don't know. But this one has been a big chunk of our lives,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04but probably, for me, one of the most enjoyable.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08It's had its pitfalls but, overall, fantastic experience.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18We British have a real affection for our old buildings.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22We love their history, their design, their period features
0:15:22 > 0:15:25but years of decay and countless generations
0:15:25 > 0:15:27of owners all putting their own stamp
0:15:27 > 0:15:30on the decor can mean that some period homes
0:15:30 > 0:15:32end up losing their historic detail.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Putting period features back into a home can be an expensive
0:15:38 > 0:15:40and meticulous job that's easy to get wrong.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Peter Rumley is a building conservationist,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and I've come to take a look at the old farmhouse here in Kent
0:15:48 > 0:15:51that he's been lovingly conserving as his home.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01What state was this originally in when you took it on?
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Horrific.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05It was in an absolutely appalling state - Artex everywhere,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07most of the timbers were covered up.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10And we spent our time taking away the modern material
0:16:10 > 0:16:13to see what actually we had underneath.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15My eyes are immediately drawn to the mix of newer wood
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- against older wood.- We wanted to do two things. We wanted to conserve,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22but we couldn't conserve the timbers all the way through
0:16:22 > 0:16:26because they'd degraded so much. We had to put in replacement timbers.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29And the replacement and repair that we did was with new timber.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32But it is a replacement, it isn't technically conserving it.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35All we've done is conserve the actual format.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38It doesn't matter that it's new wood, you're not hiding that.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40It's not as if you suddenly stain everything
0:16:40 > 0:16:42so you can't tell the new wood from the old.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44No, that would be falsifying it.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46And that's something which isn't really acceptable.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Why would you want to disguise it? It's honest to the building
0:16:49 > 0:16:51and honest to the materials.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Is there anywhere in this room,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I would see an example of what you would call restoration?
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Over here, on this wall, I can show an example
0:16:58 > 0:16:59of a repair.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02We took away the old wall and discovered this.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06But the timbers were so bad and rotten
0:17:06 > 0:17:10that we had to repair it. So, this is a classic case of a repair
0:17:10 > 0:17:12which is closer to conservation
0:17:12 > 0:17:14because we followed the same pattern throughout.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Looking around, you put new materials in. Were you ever tempted
0:17:17 > 0:17:19to go to a salvage yard and find older,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21historic objects and materials to put in?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24I don't seem to think it's really ethical to go to salvage yards.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26From a conservation point of view,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29there's nothing wrong in a sense with salvage per se,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32but actually, I would go down the other route,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34which I think is a much more intelligent route
0:17:34 > 0:17:36and a more sustainable route,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39of going to new materials and going to the craftsmen.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41So that's important.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43It's fundamental to the conservation of buildings.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I suppose the other benefit is, you are keeping crafts alive.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49If you go for something bespoke and you get a craftsman to make it
0:17:49 > 0:17:53and help it fit into your home, that's good for them, as well.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Absolutely. You're maintaining the country's manufacturing base,
0:17:56 > 0:17:57in the building industry.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01I think it's really important to remember that a home, a house
0:18:01 > 0:18:02is a continuing story.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Absolutely. Buildings do change. They will change for ever.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Hopefully, they'll continue to change. It'd be wrong
0:18:08 > 0:18:10to keep a building locked in one time frame
0:18:10 > 0:18:12over the period that we're in now.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14It's remarkable what you've done here.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Clearly, a lot of love and attention has gone into it.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18What do you get out of it?
0:18:18 > 0:18:20It really is, basically, preserving a historic building
0:18:20 > 0:18:21for future generations.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- And that's so important.- Well, it's a wonderful home. Thank you
0:18:25 > 0:18:27for letting me in and showing me around.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28Pleasure. No problem.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Back in London, I'm taking Dom James to meet a couple
0:18:37 > 0:18:40who took the plunge and bought an empty property
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and have transformed it into a stunning family home.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47In 2007, architect Will McGuinness and his wife, Emily,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49took a chance on a run-down,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52three-bedroom Victorian house in southwest London.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55When we first saw the property, it was pretty daunting.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57No-one had lived in it for about six months.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58It was very damp,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01no central heating, we thought, "That's a lot of work."
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Will and Emily paid £325,000
0:19:04 > 0:19:07for the house and spent 90,000 on the renovation.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10It took them five months to gut it and get it habitable,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13they then moved in whilst building work continued.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17It took a further 18 months until the house was completed.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21The process of taking the house from derelict to where we are now
0:19:21 > 0:19:23is immensely rewarding.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Breathing life back into and seeing it go from really quite a tired
0:19:27 > 0:19:31house into being something that's fantastic for a family.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39So, here we are, this is the property I want you to see. Now,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41from looking at it, you get the sense
0:19:41 > 0:19:44that it's a very similar property, but it's been completely renovated.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45It was in a pretty bad way.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47I'm going to introduce you to Will.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Not only has he been through the whole renovation,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51so he'll have some really good advice and some tips,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- he's also an architect.- Right.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56A professional. So, quite a good guy to get a few tips off.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58- Perfect.- Shall we go and say hello? - Yeah, let's go.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Wow, look at this!
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Um, so, start at the beginning then, Will.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15What was this place like when you first saw it, when you took it on?
0:20:15 > 0:20:19Um... It was a complete wreck. It'd been empty for a little while.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23And these rooms were pretty derelict, full of rubbish.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24- Really not very nice at all.- OK.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Immediately my eye is drawn to the fact that we've got a kitchen
0:20:27 > 0:20:28behind us, right here.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- Was it always there? - The kitchen was at the back,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35but we wanted to move the kitchen into the middle of the plan.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37The kitchen is the heart of the house. Putting it
0:20:37 > 0:20:40in the middle means the front room gets used as a dining room.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42It's really an extension of the kitchen.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45At the back, that frees it up to have a sitting room.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46I hate unused rooms.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50So opening it up and making everything usable is brilliant.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- Great. Well, let's see where your kitchen would have been.- OK.
0:20:54 > 0:20:55And was at one point.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57And go through and look at what's now the living room.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59- Yeah, fine.- Great.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Will and Emily have created a wonderfully open and functional
0:21:03 > 0:21:06living space on the ground floor - something which Dom and Carolina
0:21:06 > 0:21:09are very much wanting in their first home together.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12OK. Right, now we see the full vision.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17We're standing in what was a side alley built
0:21:17 > 0:21:19out of the boundary of the property.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20And put this roof light in here.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22There's a bedroom up there,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24so we couldn't change the height of the ceiling.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25So this was the only way
0:21:25 > 0:21:28that we could make the space feel more generous.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31When you think about that kitchen we were in earlier and the value
0:21:31 > 0:21:35of extending out, you can see how much more space and what difference
0:21:35 > 0:21:37- that makes to a room.- Yeah. No, absolutely.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41It is a much nicer sized room to what that kitchen was.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44So, whether you did use this as a kitchen or not,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46it would be better for that.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47- Yeah.- So, seeing this,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51I'd definitely consider doing a lateral expansion.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Upstairs, the transformation of the house includes
0:21:55 > 0:21:57a master bedroom with an en suite.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59So this is our master bedroom.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02It is the smaller of the bedrooms, but it's at the back of the house,
0:22:02 > 0:22:03it's quieter.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08This was the original bathroom, which we split into a shower room
0:22:08 > 0:22:09- and a walk-in wardrobe.- Right.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13So it's a small room, but we've got storage off it.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15So it's kind of non-cluttered.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Dom and Carolina don't have renovation experience.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27You went through this, you've got professional experience,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29what should they be bearing in mind in practical terms
0:22:29 > 0:22:31about taking on a project of this scale.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34You've got to plan everything correctly from the start.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37So you might need to get planning permission if you're extending.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40You will need probably building regulations approval.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Jumping in on a renovation is probably pretty dangerous.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46It'll be a bit of a roller-coaster ride.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48There'll be moments at the beginning where you think,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51"What on earth am I doing?" But then as the build goes on,
0:22:51 > 0:22:52you'll see the end result. Honestly,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54once it's completed, it's fantastic.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56It's great to spend all that time
0:22:56 > 0:22:59and effort and end up with something you want
0:22:59 > 0:23:00and you love to live in.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02Thank you for opening up your house to us.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04It's great to see it, great to see it in such shape,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07and I'm pleased it's worked out so well. Thanks very much.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- Thanks, Will.- Good luck.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19Back in Amber Valley, Empty Property Officer Sue Li is heading to
0:23:19 > 0:23:24an affluent area of Derby to a house she visited in the last series.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26There's a window that's been smashed here.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31The back door is open, so you can just wander straight into the house.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Oh!
0:23:33 > 0:23:35It looks like...
0:23:35 > 0:23:38someone has been trying to take the copper piping at some point.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Because there's obviously pipes still remaining,
0:23:41 > 0:23:45I really need to get this property secured and get that window boarded.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Sue's since been in contact with the owner and today
0:23:48 > 0:23:50she wants to check on the progress being made
0:23:50 > 0:23:52on bringing the house back into use.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Well, I've asked the owner to voluntarily tidy up
0:23:56 > 0:23:58the general appearance of the property.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Cut back all the overgrown vegetation, clear the paths,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04so it looks like the rest of the properties around here.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07The front of the property is in a state of disrepair
0:24:07 > 0:24:11but it's at the back where Sue had concerns about a broken window
0:24:11 > 0:24:14which could allow unwanted access to the house.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Well, I'm really pleased to see that they have boarded the window.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It's not great in appearance, though.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27But they really don't do anything unless it's absolutely in a notice.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29I mean, they've left all of the glass
0:24:29 > 0:24:33and the property still looks quite untidy from the front.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38So, I really am going to have to put EVERYTHING in a notice to them.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43As the owner has failed to carry out all the work Sue asked them to,
0:24:43 > 0:24:45further action will now be taken against them.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48And it's clear there's still plenty of work that needs to be done
0:24:48 > 0:24:51before the house can be lived in again.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54I'll be going back to the office now to write a notice
0:24:54 > 0:24:55to serve on the owner.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57And I'll give them about two months to do
0:24:57 > 0:25:01all of the other work that I've asked them to do.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05It looks like this property will be on Sue's books for some time yet,
0:25:05 > 0:25:10but she'll persevere with the owner to get the house back into use.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Dom and Carolina are first-time buyers
0:25:16 > 0:25:18who think an abandoned building could be
0:25:18 > 0:25:20their ideal first home together.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23In southwest London, I've taken Dom to meet someone
0:25:23 > 0:25:25who took on an empty property
0:25:25 > 0:25:27and made it into a beautiful family home.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Dom, how have you found it, seeing the transformation
0:25:31 > 0:25:34from properly derelict to a renovated home?
0:25:34 > 0:25:37I mean, great. I mean, it's been lovely
0:25:37 > 0:25:39to come and see what Will's done
0:25:39 > 0:25:41with something that was completely derelict.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44You're a novice DIY, you haven't done a renovation before,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47but, after today, do you feel you've got a handle on,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50sort of, how to get started, some of the practicalities involved?
0:25:50 > 0:25:56Definitely. The idea of having good plans in place,
0:25:56 > 0:26:00budgeting properly and calling in the right professionals,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03then, yeah, absolutely that. I'll go forward with that.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The place you saw earlier, not for you because of the location,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08is that how you feel? But that sort of project?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Yeah, that's right. Not for us location wise,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14but the scale of the project is about right for us.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18And, you know, something we could definitely take on.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Brilliant. I'm sure you'll find something, so I really wish you
0:26:21 > 0:26:22- the best of luck. - Yeah, thanks a lot.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I'm really pleased that Dom could see this property today,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30because what a transformation it is!
0:26:30 > 0:26:33It just shows you, you don't have to be constrained by what's there,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35you can change the internal layout,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37you can move the kitchen to the heart of the home,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39you can do whatever.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42And, OK, maybe Dom and Carolina aren't going to take on a property
0:26:42 > 0:26:44this size, maybe they want somewhere
0:26:44 > 0:26:47more central. Now, it's up to them to go and find an empty property
0:26:47 > 0:26:50and turn it into their dream home.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd