0:00:04 > 0:00:08Across the country, empty properties that could be homes are just
0:00:08 > 0:00:11waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14I will be finding out why and what you need to do to rescue
0:00:14 > 0:00:17a house for yourself. And along the way,
0:00:17 > 0:00:20I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out
0:00:20 > 0:00:22more about our housing stock, our heritage and why
0:00:22 > 0:00:27we should be both reinventing and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35We are all familiar with the telltale signs of empty properties -
0:00:35 > 0:00:37boarded-up windows, overgrown gardens,
0:00:37 > 0:00:38peeling paintwork...
0:00:38 > 0:00:42But for people with energy, determination and ambition,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45these buildings have enormous potential.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And for first-time buyers, they can provide that all-important
0:00:48 > 0:00:52opportunity to get on the property ladder for the first time.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54On today's show...
0:00:54 > 0:00:57a couple renovating their first flat together.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59The budget is quite tight.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03A colossal regeneration scheme battling to convert this
0:01:03 > 0:01:07abandoned military site into nearly 4,000 new dwellings.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10It's incredible, isn't it? It's a really iconic building.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14And we follow an empty property officer who's trying to save
0:01:14 > 0:01:16this neglected period cottage.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19You can see the terrible state of the house.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24Despite there being over 700,000 empty buildings across the UK,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26the percentage of us
0:01:26 > 0:01:30who own our own homes has dropped to its lowest level since the 1980s.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Even with the recession, house prices are still sky-high,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37making it hard for people to get onto the property ladder.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Physiotherapist Rebecca Rowland and finance worker Anthony Smith
0:01:40 > 0:01:43are struggling with all the dilemmas first-time buyers face,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46having bought this ex-council one-bed flat in Hove,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50East Sussex, for ?155,000.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52One of the things that did put us off initially,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55when we first viewed it, was the exterior.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58It looked dated. It didn't look very nice.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02I didn't feel that connected to it at first because I do feel that
0:02:02 > 0:02:06purpose-built properties do lack a bit of character.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11With a full renovation needed, trying to create their dream home
0:02:11 > 0:02:14with modest finances makes every decision crucial.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17We have a very tight budget of ?10,000.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21And we really, for ourselves,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24we need to prove to ourselves that we can bring this in
0:02:24 > 0:02:26on budget.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29By doing much of the work themselves, they are hoping
0:02:29 > 0:02:32they can make this neglected diamond in the rough really shine.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Even though it looks dated, it actually...it ticks all the boxes.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40The rooms are big. And the dimensions are good.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43So I wanted to make it feel as vintage and country as possible,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46as much as you can do in a one-bedroom flat in Hove.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Morning, guys. I'm Joe. Morning. Rebecca, how are you doing? Hi.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Anthony. Lovely to meet you, Joe. Nice to meet you.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54So tell me about your flat then. It's really exciting.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Beautiful location, one block from the sea, nice,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59well-maintained communal areas.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02And, yeah, we are looking forward to moving in.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05The neighbours must be pretty pleased that someone is taking this
0:03:05 > 0:03:07on and is going to sort of make it into a proper home again.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10We believe it was a rental for a very long time.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14And then it sat empty for at least six to nine months, we believe.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17And then, of course, six months on completion,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19so it has been empty for a long time.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22So it needed some...it certainly needed some love and attention.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Shall we have a look inside? Yeah, let's.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Hey, well, this is lovely. Nice and bright.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36What were your first impressions when you came into this space?
0:03:36 > 0:03:37What was it like?
0:03:37 > 0:03:40So, really good-sized rooms was the first thing.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Even though it is a one-bedroom, we can fit a dining table in here.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Did you just know then? Had you seen many places?
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Were you very, very sure that this was right for you guys?
0:03:49 > 0:03:52This, for the price and the location, it was a great choice.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Cos it has always been built as a one-bed flat, whereas you get
0:03:55 > 0:03:57a compromise if you were dividing up a period property into flats.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59It might not actually suit the property,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02whereas this, hopefully, is going to feel very natural to live in.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Yeah, this is spot-on.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07You want to make this a lovely place for the two of you to really
0:04:07 > 0:04:08enjoy your time here.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11But this has been your way onto the property ladder together.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Really, the primary objective was getting a home together. Yeah.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18And living together. So this, for the price and the location,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22was just...is just a great...it was a great choice.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27And we have certainly got some ideas for it. So, what is the plan then?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29I mean, this is going to be, as you said, your sitting room.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31How do you see the sort of layout of the flat?
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Do you know it all yet?
0:04:33 > 0:04:37One of the initial things we did think of was to knock through
0:04:37 > 0:04:39the wall to the kitchen to open it up.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41The kitchen is just next door here? Yeah. OK.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43So we thought to ourselves...
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Well, we had seen so many one-bed flats that had open plan
0:04:46 > 0:04:48we thought, "Oh, actually, if we made this open plan,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51"we may be able to add value," and that sort of thing.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53But we could take advice on that.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55So, it is how to make your best use of space
0:04:55 > 0:04:58and do you open it up or not or do you keep it separate.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Yeah. It is a difficult one. And the old kitchen is gone, is it? Yeah.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06The old kitchen is gone, yeah. What was that? There was a look there.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11So, yeah, the old kitchen went, sort of...relatively unbeknown to me.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Anthony has this habit of just sort of demolishing things
0:05:14 > 0:05:18and sending me picture messages when I can't react cos I'm at work.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21So, I think that was probably the plan. It gave me time to cool off.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25To be fair, I think if we hadn't have ripped it out now,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28I think in a year's time, you'd still see the same kitchen.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I don't think we'd have got round to it. I think that is so true.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34You've forgiven him, basically, is what you are saying.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35I've forgiven him, of course.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38I've only seen the sitting room, let's have a look at a bit more,
0:05:38 > 0:05:39shall we? Yep. Great. After you.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46So this is going to be the bedroom. That's right.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48It's a very similar shape and size, isn't it?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50There's a good proportion to these rooms.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Now, I know you have already had a bit of fun ripping
0:05:53 > 0:05:56the kitchen out with no notice. Does that make you quite handy?
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Are you going to do a lot of this work yourself?
0:05:58 > 0:06:03The budget is quite tight. So I have been getting stuck in where I can.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06And I must admit, I've learned a few things along the way
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and I've made a few mistakes. And it really does add up.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11And then we realised, well, you know,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13why aren't we shopping around online?
0:06:13 > 0:06:18So the majority of, you know, the things that we've bought
0:06:18 > 0:06:21for the flat to refurb it have been online.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Clearly, it's important here to make your money go as far as possible
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and to get this work done as soon as possible.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Any other concerns when you are thinking about this project?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Anything you can't quite visualise?
0:06:31 > 0:06:35I think for me it's been about my patience levels, cos I've...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37because it's taken so long to complete on the flat
0:06:37 > 0:06:42and now it's been sort of six weeks of not really seeing it move on,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45you know, just seeing more and more destruction and mess
0:06:45 > 0:06:49and not much sort of happening in terms of moving forward.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52I think I've been quite impatient and wanting to rush decisions,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55whereas you measure me a bit more in that.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57It's the first time you've taken on a project like this.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00The experience isn't there, you're learning as you go along.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02That's always going to be tricky and it's not going to be as quick
0:07:02 > 0:07:05as you'd hope. Maybe to help speed things up it would be really good
0:07:05 > 0:07:08to meet a woman who has been through this, who has actually
0:07:08 > 0:07:11taken on lots of flats like this and has done several renovations.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13She really does know her stuff.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16And I think she would be able to give you some really good advice.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Plus, we'll see another one-bedroom flat that she renovated
0:07:19 > 0:07:21and maybe there will be a few ideas there as well.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23How does that sound? Great. I hope to get a lot more ideas.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27With house prices doubling in the last decade and mortgages
0:07:27 > 0:07:29hard to come by, many requiring large deposits,
0:07:29 > 0:07:33these two have done extremely well in a tough climate.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35They have purchased an empty home
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and plan to be scrupulous with their renovation budget.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41But they are inexperienced and will need all the help they can get
0:07:41 > 0:07:44to make this project a success.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Whether your budget is large or small, renovating an empty home
0:07:48 > 0:07:51can be the best way of getting real bang for your buck.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56When Bob and Bernie Owens viewed this derelict farmhouse
0:07:56 > 0:07:59in the Wirral, they were amazed at the hidden gem which
0:07:59 > 0:08:01had been right in front of their eyes.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05We'd driven past this place for 15 years.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Didn't even know it existed.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09And then one day, when we were seeing the estate agent,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13we came and did a drive-by and stopped and looked and we went,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15"Wow!" No idea this was here.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19And no idea that we could ever afford anything like this.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21It was just... I think it was meant to be.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Having spent ?485,000 on the house,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29the couple were aware it was a long way off being their dream home.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31There was nothing here when we bought it.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35It was just a small, little four-bedroom, square box.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37It needed some love, didn't it?
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Right from the door, the stairs hit you.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43There was no windows on one side of the building.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47It was small, it was dark inside. It was horrendous.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I'd sit down there, look down the field and think, "Oh, this is nice."
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Then I'd look back at the house and think, "Oh!"
0:08:52 > 0:08:54I'd get a shock every time I saw it.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Keen to extend, they took a pretty big gamble
0:08:56 > 0:09:00when they bought the building without any planning permission.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02We bought this wanting to extend it.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05As the house stood, it would have been...
0:09:05 > 0:09:07It wouldn't have been right for us. No good.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10I would never have been happy. And it paid off.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Maybe we didn't sit and think too often about it
0:09:13 > 0:09:16because if we hadn't have got planning permission,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20it would have been a disaster. You wouldn't have been sitting here now.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Renovation projects like this often live or die
0:09:22 > 0:09:24by the quality of the professionals involved.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28I mean, we have got to take our hats off to the architect.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Cos the architect is the guy that got what we wanted.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33And it was important to the couple that the work done
0:09:33 > 0:09:36was in keeping with the original design of the building.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37It's in green belt
0:09:37 > 0:09:41and it's a beautiful place where we live, and it was so important.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45That was our boundaries really, how...the materials we had to use.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47And it had to look like it had always been here.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49You know, it was a lot of money,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52because we spent a lot of money on the windows and the doors,
0:09:52 > 0:09:57to make it look like it was original. 30,000-odd reclaimed bricks,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01all from Liverpool, you know, all from my old stomping ground.
0:10:01 > 0:10:07But it wouldn't have looked right if it was done with modern bricks.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11For much less than buying a place already transformed,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Bob and Bernie have turned this once rundown residence into a truly
0:10:14 > 0:10:16stunning home.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19This is... I shouldn't be here.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23This is not me. This is not what I would've anticipated ever.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Get a hold of, never mind afford.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28I think it's a combination of lots of things, but I absolutely love
0:10:28 > 0:10:31the house. I didn't think it would turn out as nice as it did.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33It is a beautiful, bright home. Mm.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38What we set out to do, we've done it, I think. Yeah. Yeah.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40In fact, it's probably better than what I thought.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44In fact, I was down the field the other day with the dog
0:10:44 > 0:10:47and I looked back and I thought, "Look at that, that's unbelievable."
0:10:49 > 0:10:53With the population of the UK growing year on year,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56the need to restore and develop abandoned dwellings
0:10:56 > 0:10:58becomes more important by the day.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03There are 61,000 hectares of brownfield sites in the UK,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and more than half are made up of vacant and derelict buildings.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08But with careful planning,
0:11:08 > 0:11:10not only can these properties themselves be saved, but
0:11:10 > 0:11:14they can also provide much-needed residential accommodation.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Aldershot, in Hampshire, is often referred to as the home
0:11:18 > 0:11:23of the British military because of this huge site built in the 1850s
0:11:23 > 0:11:27that turned Aldershot from a small village into a town.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30The site was closed in 1996 due to the high cost
0:11:30 > 0:11:33of running the old buildings.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38Now these former military properties are being saved and developed,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40restoring some of Aldershot's military heritage
0:11:40 > 0:11:44while meeting the local need for housing for many years to come.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50John Beresford is the development director of this gigantic
0:11:50 > 0:11:54and exciting project, pretty much making a new town from scratch.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57What is the vision for this site? It's a huge site, isn't it?
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Oh, it's massive. I mean, this thing is going to be sort of...
0:11:59 > 0:12:01We're remodelling it as a new community, a new town.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04And, you know, you've seen all the sort of...the old,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07redundant Army buildings, which have just sat there, decaying.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10And we are going to be sort of knocking some of them down,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13we are going to be reusing others and creating something that will,
0:12:13 > 0:12:14hopefully, you know, in 100 years' time,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16look as good as it was when it was built.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20What sort of buildings are we looking to build or to renew there?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22What is going to be here? How many homes?
0:12:22 > 0:12:26It's 3,850 new homes, but there is associated social infrastructure,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29such as the schools, the community centres.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30We've got two primary schools.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33We've got recycling centres, pubs, cafes etc,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35things that you'd normally expect to be
0:12:35 > 0:12:38sort of designed into a well-thought-out new community.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41So a mix of new build but also refurbishing historic buildings,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and presumably a proportion of that will be affordable housing.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Yeah, there's a lot of affordable housing.
0:12:46 > 0:12:4835% will be affordable.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49When you do a site of this scale,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51can it work in terms of infrastructure?
0:12:51 > 0:12:54I mean, you're looking at, what, 10,000 new people here,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57all the cars, the roads, the power, the lighting,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59everything associated with it. Can that work?
0:12:59 > 0:13:01It's extremely complicated,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05and that is one of the things that sort of takes so long to work out.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It is the utilities. It is making sure, you know,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11every child that is going to be born on this site or live on this site
0:13:11 > 0:13:13has the school to go to.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16This is the plan of what is going to be built.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Does this happen in phases then?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Do you start with a certain area and try and get people living in it
0:13:21 > 0:13:23and then sort of spread outwards? Yeah.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25So this will be the first phase,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28followed by the refurbishment of the Cambridge Military Hospital.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It is very important for us to get that back into use.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33You know, it is an iconic sort of building.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35And, you know, it's on the tipping point of decay.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37So we're going to bring that back into use.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40And that first stage, how long to bring the Victorian hospital
0:13:40 > 0:13:42back to life and the surrounding area?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Well, we are working on that at the moment.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46It will probably be brought forward in the next
0:13:46 > 0:13:47sort of, like, one to three years.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51As well as all the new build and commercial structures,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55I'm really excited to hear the plans for the historic buildings.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Alan Chitson is the site manager charged with nursing this old
0:14:00 > 0:14:02military hospital back to full health.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05It's incredible, isn't it? It's a really iconic building.
0:14:05 > 0:14:06Just how big is it?
0:14:06 > 0:14:08I can see wings of it disappearing over that way.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Well, it measures in length over 250 metres. Really?!
0:14:11 > 0:14:14It's a huge building, yes. A quarter of a kilometre. Very much so.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16It has been added onto over the years, but not significantly.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Really attractive, isn't it, when you look at it from the front?
0:14:19 > 0:14:22A very, very proud building. Fantastic, yes.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23It's got lots of features there.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26You've got the arches above the windows on the ground floor,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28the stonework.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31It would have treated military patients during the First World War?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33It was the first UK hospital to treat battle injuries
0:14:33 > 0:14:35from the First World War.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Well, look, are we able to see inside? What sort of state is it in?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It is not in a great state, bless it, because, obviously,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42it has been vacated for 16 years now.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46But we can look at part of it. Fantastic, let's do that. Thank you.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50This building alone is over 90,000 square feet in size
0:14:50 > 0:14:54and will provide about 75 new homes.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56You'll see the staircases here
0:14:56 > 0:14:58with the low risers and the longer treads.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01And they were designed to help the nurses who had the very long
0:15:01 > 0:15:05dresses at the time, the uniform. Go up and down the stairs. Exactly.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11And this is now the main spine corridor - 250 metres in length.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12Goodness! It's huge, isn't it?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15And that would link all the wards and the wings together? Exactly.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17That is what it is here for.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19This is fantastic, isn't it?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21You are instantly struck by all the light that comes in.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22Very much so.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25It is a typical ward that's here - very high ceilings,
0:15:25 > 0:15:27very high sash windows to allow the fresh air to flow through.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30You can still see the frames, obviously, from where all
0:15:30 > 0:15:32the beds were originally, before the hospital closed down.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Looking here to either convert these into townhouses or could be flats.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38To keep this height, this light?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40That's one of the challenges we've got here.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Ideally, you do want to keep the features with the tall windows.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47And it is just probably under the height to create mezzanine floors.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49It really is an unusual space, isn't it?
0:15:49 > 0:15:52It's at a very exciting stage and lots of plans ahead.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Very much so, yes. We've got a lot of work still to do.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57It is a very interesting scheme.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00The potential of this site and this project is absolutely huge.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03If everything goes ahead as planned, it could add a third
0:16:03 > 0:16:06to the population of Aldershot.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08And at the heart of it, this iconic building.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Fantastic Victorian architecture.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14It's not hard to see beyond the peeling paintwork here.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17And it is going to be fantastic to see this building alive
0:16:17 > 0:16:19and being fully used once again.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Repairing an empty property takes time, energy and money,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27but it can be rewarding in so many ways.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29There is that feeling of accomplishment
0:16:29 > 0:16:32but also the knowledge that you have transformed a derelict
0:16:32 > 0:16:34building into a comfortable new home.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39Hundreds of thousands of buildings right across the UK are left unused
0:16:39 > 0:16:43and forgotten, wasting away while the housing shortage continues.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46The people whose job it is to seek out these buildings and breathe
0:16:46 > 0:16:50life back into them are local council empty property officers.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54In Amber Valley, Derbyshire, Sue Lee is visiting a cottage
0:16:54 > 0:16:56that's sat empty for over six years.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00It's an old stone cottage in a really quaint little village.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03This village is also one of our really high-value areas.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07Now, people who pass by this cottage often contact me to see
0:17:07 > 0:17:11how they can find the owner and buy the property.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16The elderly owner has health issues and is now in council accommodation.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Despite his family's desire to sell the house, the owner has not
0:17:20 > 0:17:21so far put it on the market.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24So the council may have to enforce a sale themselves.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29I'm going today to check whether or not the property is on the market.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Otherwise, I've got no choice
0:17:32 > 0:17:36but to continue and make the compulsory purchase order.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Being in such a desirable area and with limited housing stock locally,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Sue is aware what a terrible waste it is for this home to sit empty.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Fingers crossed, there is going to be a wonderful,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49big for sale sign outside the property
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and the owner's representative has managed to persuade him
0:17:52 > 0:17:55of what his best interests really are.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Yeah, unsurprisingly, there is no for sale sign.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Sue needs to get a closer look to assess the level of neglect
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and see if there are any urgent issues she needs to deal with.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13You can see the terrible state of the house.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17You know, the windows with the crack in it, the door...
0:18:17 > 0:18:21I don't think that crack has got any worse.
0:18:21 > 0:18:28It looks very similar to what I've got here, so, um, I'm really
0:18:28 > 0:18:33quite pleased that there is nothing further for us to be concerned about.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Sue needs to do some detective work to find out
0:18:36 > 0:18:40if the owner is genuinely making an effort to sell the cottage.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43I was just wondering if you'd seen any activity, any agents
0:18:43 > 0:18:47measuring up or any potential buyers that might have been...?
0:18:47 > 0:18:51No, no, there's been no-one around there for probably
0:18:51 > 0:18:53six or seven months. I think the last people to come along
0:18:53 > 0:18:57were the council, and they met the owner. Right. Some time ago. Yeah.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Have you seen any estate agents or anyone measuring up?
0:19:01 > 0:19:02Not at all, no.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Well, I wasn't able to establish that the property's up for sale.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09And I've spoken to a couple of the local residents
0:19:09 > 0:19:11and they haven't seen any activity either.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14No agents, no potential buyers.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18So, quite disappointingly, we'll have to continue with the CPO.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22If you've always dreamed of rescuing an empty property,
0:19:22 > 0:19:23there are many ways to pick one up.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Talk with local estate agents and auctioneers, ask around friends
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and family members or get in contact
0:19:29 > 0:19:31with your local empty property officer.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Back in Hove, I'm with first-time buyers Rebecca
0:19:36 > 0:19:38and Anthony, who bought a modest one-bed flat.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42To help them maximise potential, I'm going to introduce them
0:19:42 > 0:19:45to a small-time developer who did a similar job making the most
0:19:45 > 0:19:46out of limited space.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Right, guys, this is the property I want you to see.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53It is a little bit hidden under scaffolding at the moment.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55It's just having its paintwork done on the outside.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58But it has been divided into flats.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02It's your typical Brighton and Hove villa, absolutely beautiful.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06We looked at a few one-beds in this exact road when we were looking.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08In this road? Yeah. So it'll be interesting.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10You probably know the sort of thing we're dealing with here.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Let's see what you make of the renovation and say hello to Sue.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14Brilliant, thank you.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19Sue Jackson is one of those people who's truly got the renovation bug.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23The most rewarding bit of doing a renovation to me
0:20:23 > 0:20:28is taking what is fundamentally a beautiful property to start with,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32which has just been dated or left to sort of lose its sparkle,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and then bringing it back to life.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37And she is not afraid to rough it to cut costs.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41The pros of living in the building while you're doing the project
0:20:41 > 0:20:44are that you can keep an eye on the builders
0:20:44 > 0:20:47and be right on top of things, deliveries etc,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50so that you can be very organised.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54The cons of that is that at five o'clock or four o'clock
0:20:54 > 0:20:55when the builders leave,
0:20:55 > 0:21:01you've then got to stay in amongst all the dirt and muck and cold,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03especially when the heating system has not been done yet.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Or you haven't got a toilet.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Sue bought the flat for ?190,000 and managed to transform it
0:21:09 > 0:21:13with a budget of 20,000, and can now enjoy the fruits of her labour.
0:21:13 > 0:21:18I get most of my pleasure in my flat in my bedroom.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21It is my little haven, my boudoir.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26I absolutely adore the ceiling rose and the chandelier.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29And the sun comes in this room in the morning.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31It's beautiful and light.
0:21:31 > 0:21:36But I can safely say that I love all my rooms in my flat.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38The bathroom is fantastic.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41And then, the front room, it's got more atmosphere
0:21:41 > 0:21:44cos it's the darker side of the building.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46And then that only leaves the kitchen, and, of course,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48I love my kitchen cos I love cooking.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51And you can open the back doors onto the garden,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54so you get all the fresh air and the lovely noise -
0:21:54 > 0:21:58the sea and the seagulls. I love it all. Every room is lovely.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03I'm hoping seeing what Sue has achieved here will help
0:22:03 > 0:22:05inspire Rebecca and Anthony
0:22:05 > 0:22:08and steer these first-time buyers in the right direction.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13Very nice. So beautiful. Yeah, first impressions? Amazing.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15What were the biggest challenges of taking on a project
0:22:15 > 0:22:19like this and renovating it and trying to make it your own,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21your own style and your own feel?
0:22:21 > 0:22:24My biggest challenge on this one was the fact that
0:22:24 > 0:22:28I was new to Brighton, so it was a case of finding the workmen
0:22:28 > 0:22:30and the people to do the major work.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33How did you go about that then? What sort of tips did you have?
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Find the people that you are looking for. If it is plumbers,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38electricians, builders, whatever you need,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40find at least half a dozen.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Skim it down to maybe three
0:22:42 > 0:22:46and then actually get hold of the people that they've worked for.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48OK. Actually say, "Look,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52"this guy says he has done this for you, can you tell me how good he is?
0:22:52 > 0:22:55"Was he reasonably priced?" Ask all the questions. That's interesting.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Have you got to the stage where you're looking at any
0:22:57 > 0:23:00builders or contractors to come in? Um, yeah, we have.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03I think we have more or less found a builder and, again,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06that was through a contact, someone who knew him.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07So it was a recommendation.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10If you go and speak to people, which is what you are saying,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12and say, "How were they? Were they on time?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14"Did they stick to schedule and budget?"
0:23:14 > 0:23:16People don't mind giving that information.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18That is a really good idea to go to their previous customers.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Yeah, if you can, I think it is worth it.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22I suppose the more you do this,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24the more you have an awareness of schedules
0:23:24 > 0:23:27and things in terms of getting electricians and plumbers in first.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30When the sort of fundamentals are in, then I can move to plastering,
0:23:30 > 0:23:31then I can move to decorat...
0:23:31 > 0:23:33You kind of get this order, don't you?
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Yeah, it's working out the right system, how it all goes
0:23:35 > 0:23:38together, what you've got to do first, as you say, second and third.
0:23:38 > 0:23:39It's like timing.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40So putting your carpets
0:23:40 > 0:23:43in first before the kitchen goes in is a bad idea?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Yeah, bad idea. OK. We've got, uh... We've got to make some calls.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50We've got to shift a few things around.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52This is a wonderful sitting room.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Shall we go through and see a bit more as well? Yep. Lead the way. OK.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59The kitchen is one of the rooms where you really need to watch the
0:23:59 > 0:24:03budget, so it is vital Rebecca and Anthony get it right first time.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05This is the kitchen. Very nice!
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Now, your kitchen is a bit smaller than this, but it strikes me
0:24:08 > 0:24:09it's a sort of similar shape.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12And you are going to have units all the way along two of the walls?
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Is it this kind of look you are going for?
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Like an L-shape I think we're going to have to go for. Yeah, OK.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20In terms of budget, we've got a very tight budget.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22How much, sort of, of that budget should
0:24:22 > 0:24:24we be really spending on a kitchen?
0:24:24 > 0:24:26It's not necessary that you have
0:24:26 > 0:24:29to spend a load of money to make it look really, really good.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32The best advice is research. Research, research, research.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35You can save lots of money - ?50, ?100.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36It all adds up at the end of the day
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and it means you've got more to play with,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42especially contingencies, when things might not go to plan.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47You don't necessarily have to go and pay through the nose at a retailer.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48Look on the internet.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Then you can maybe think to sort of add something.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52That must be reassuring,
0:24:52 > 0:24:54that's what you said you were doing earlier.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57That's nice to sort of know that you're working along the same lines.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Yeah, yeah. One thing I want to talk about is
0:24:59 > 0:25:01the similarity between your two flats.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Both have two main spaces and a separate kitchen.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06What was your thinking, Sue?
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Were you ever tempted to knock this wall down
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and make a big kitchen diner?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13I personally felt in this respect that it was better to
0:25:13 > 0:25:16have my separate kitchen and then to keep the lovely size
0:25:16 > 0:25:18and shape of the rooms
0:25:18 > 0:25:20and the integrity of the room
0:25:20 > 0:25:25and the flat itself intact rather than chopping and changing.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Because then you are into the trap of so many flats
0:25:28 > 0:25:31in Hove where they have made two-bedroom flats
0:25:31 > 0:25:33and squeezed two very small rooms in.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Exactly. And actually...
0:25:35 > 0:25:40And when we were looking, we saw a few flats where they had
0:25:40 > 0:25:44converted or knocked down a wall, but they had done a really bad job.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46So it was obvious and it was...
0:25:46 > 0:25:49They didn't really finish it properly.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52And, yeah, I guess that's...
0:25:52 > 0:25:56I think there's lots of things you can do before you get that drastic.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01And I'm not sure whether in terms of say resale, for example,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04that you are adding value,
0:26:04 > 0:26:08when you might get another bedroom and that might be
0:26:08 > 0:26:12a case of two-bedroom flats usually go for more money, but
0:26:12 > 0:26:17when you're sacrificing a beautiful space and the aesthetics
0:26:17 > 0:26:22of that space, I don't believe that is the right option.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Well, look, Sue, really good advice,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27and I'm pleased it's worked out so well for you. It is a lovely flat.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28It doesn't feel like a one-bed.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30You've really used the space extremely well.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33So congratulations and thanks for your time today.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36So, guys, having had a good look around and heard Sue's
0:26:36 > 0:26:39words of advice, how are you feeling about your project?
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Really confident. With Sue's advice, it's going
0:26:41 > 0:26:44to stop us from making some really fundamental mistakes.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47There are a couple of things we were about to embark on,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50and without talking to Sue first, I think we would have
0:26:50 > 0:26:52gone down a very costly route with a couple of things.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57So, yeah, really, really pleased that we managed to get some
0:26:57 > 0:27:00time and advice from Sue to help us on this journey.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04And we are really excited about, you know, getting in there
0:27:04 > 0:27:07and, you know, taking a step back and not rushing
0:27:07 > 0:27:09some of those decisions. Yeah.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I know you said earlier you don't like to be rushed in decisions.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14And the idea of just taking a bit more time,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17making sure you really plan it carefully,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19it might mean another month or two's rent,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21but if you get the place you want the way you want it, it is
0:27:21 > 0:27:24surely worth it, isn't it? Yeah, definitely.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28And I think, you know, we can do most of the big things
0:27:28 > 0:27:31that need to be done before we move in now.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33And then maybe not rush things like furniture choices,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36cos the interior look is really important to me.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Even if it means having our clothes on clothes rails
0:27:38 > 0:27:41for a few more weeks while I wait to get the pieces
0:27:41 > 0:27:42of furniture that I really love
0:27:42 > 0:27:44rather than the first thing that I see,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46would be a better decision, really.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Well, I think today has been really useful cos, quite frankly,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55when you are a first-time renovator, you need all the help you can get.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57And Sue has been through this seven times now.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59So there's been plenty of advice on hand today -
0:27:59 > 0:28:01how to stretch the budget,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03how to get the place the way you want it,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06how to maximise the use of space - all brilliant things
0:28:06 > 0:28:09that have come just at the right time for Anthony and Rebecca.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11So I'm sure they'll take that back with them
0:28:11 > 0:28:13and very soon have their ideal place.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd