0:00:02 > 0:00:06Across the country, empty properties that could be homes are just
0:00:06 > 0:00:09waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11I'll be finding out why,
0:00:11 > 0:00:14and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Along the way, I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out
0:00:18 > 0:00:21more about our housing stock, our heritage and why
0:00:21 > 0:00:25we should be both reinventing and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35On today's show, a young couple who, with the help of parents,
0:00:35 > 0:00:38have taken on an abandoned cottage in the Lake District that they
0:00:38 > 0:00:46hope to turn into their first home. Plan is to open up into a big space.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47The whole of the downstairs? Yeah.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50A regeneration project in the Northeast dedicated to
0:00:50 > 0:00:54reviving forgotten buildings from our industrial heritage.
0:00:54 > 0:00:571913 it was built, is that right? Yes. It's the centenary this year.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00This year? Quite a special time to bring it back to life.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04And one of Britain's empty property officers, on a mission to
0:01:04 > 0:01:07bring Birmingham's abandoned buildings back into use.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Pieces of the...
0:01:09 > 0:01:13As you can see which has nearly fallen on top of me, parts of the
0:01:13 > 0:01:17porch are actually still falling off so that's really dangerous still.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Luke Antin and his girlfriend Elizabeth had long aspired
0:01:22 > 0:01:24to buy a home in the beautiful
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Cumbria countryside. We like the area
0:01:26 > 0:01:30because we can go into the Lake District.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32We can do climbing and sailing
0:01:32 > 0:01:36and walking. We like the fact that it's open space.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Around here, everything is hundreds and hundreds of thousands,
0:01:40 > 0:01:45going up into the millions which is just not possible for us.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49So, when Luke's dad John, a joiner by trade, suggested
0:01:49 > 0:01:52he help them financially, Luke and Elizabeth jumped at the chance
0:01:52 > 0:01:55and immediately decided they would search for an abandoned
0:01:55 > 0:01:57building they could bring back to life.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01I told Luke the best way to get on the property ladder would be
0:02:01 > 0:02:07to buy a property in need of modernisation.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Elizabeth found this place.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14The trio snapped up this deserted three-bedroom semi-detached
0:02:14 > 0:02:17house at auction for ?96,500.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Without my dad, we couldn't have possibly done this
0:02:20 > 0:02:24because the house is unmortgageable in its current state.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27The first impression of this house is that it's falling down
0:02:27 > 0:02:28and it's very scary.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32It's not something I would normally go anywhere near, but I have
0:02:32 > 0:02:36been assured that it will remain standing and it will turn out OK.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40That is until I start doing work on it. This is true.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45While Elizabeth will stay in her current home with her young
0:02:45 > 0:02:47daughter, Luke plans to take on the lion's
0:02:47 > 0:02:51share of the work in a bid to keep renovation costs down.
0:02:51 > 0:02:57I have helped my dad on occasions, shifting rubble, mixing cement
0:02:57 > 0:03:03but I've never done any plastering or brickwork.
0:03:03 > 0:03:09I will be looking to him to teach me how to do some of these jobs.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12So, with very little experience Luke is
0:03:12 > 0:03:15completely reliant on his dad's skills, which will be essential
0:03:15 > 0:03:18if they are to complete the overhaul themselves.
0:03:18 > 0:03:24I think my dad is really itching to get his hand stuck in
0:03:24 > 0:03:28and he's going to have to be here for quite a bit of it to
0:03:28 > 0:03:32pass on his skills and show me what I need to do.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Luke is a novice renovator, and although his dad is not a full-time
0:03:36 > 0:03:39builder, Luke is still lucky he'll be there to guide the renovation.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43But working with family often brings its own set of issues.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47I think one of the challenges possibly will be me and my dad.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52We are very similar to each other. More than we possibly care to admit.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57To some degree, it's like having two South Poles trying to connect together.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59And I'm always right.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01LAUGHTER
0:04:03 > 0:04:05'This is all very new.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08'Luke and Elizabeth have only just signed the contract for the house
0:04:08 > 0:04:10'and they're rearing to go.'
0:04:10 > 0:04:13I'm Joe. How you doing? Nice to meet you.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15This is your place.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Am I right in thinking your first place together? That's right.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Our first one. How does that feel? Really exciting.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23THEY LAUGH
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Were you open-minded, Elizabeth?
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Were you open to anything you saw in terms of taking on quite
0:04:27 > 0:04:32a big project? I quite liked the idea of a house you could just move into.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37But that's miles out of our budget. Let's have a look inside.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Luke and Elizabeth are yet to pin down any plans,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45but they'll need to be mindful, as they have a tight renovation budget
0:04:45 > 0:04:51of ?25,000, with Luke's dad estimating the cost closer to 40,000.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Look at this. You've got some holes in your front room. Yeah.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57What's going on?
0:04:57 > 0:05:01These holes were put in to check the structure of the property.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03The surveyors have done this? Yeah.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07They were looking for subsidence in the walls
0:05:07 > 0:05:10because it's evident on this wall.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14They were trying to see if it extended anywhere else.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17This is a supporting wall for the whole building, is it, in the middle?
0:05:17 > 0:05:21At the moment, yeah. It's keeping the roof and the first floor up.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24It's quite vital. So what is the plan?
0:05:24 > 0:05:28This is clearly a sitting room. The main living space.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Tell me how the house is laid out and what you want to do with it.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36The plan is to open up into a big space.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38The whole of the downstairs? Yeah.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41How does that suit the way you want to live? You've got a young girl.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Do you like that feel where the children are around you
0:05:44 > 0:05:47and you can always see what she's doing? Yes.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Very important to know where she is.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54I suppose that's a big challenge if you're going to take out a wall,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58and this wall is the main supporting wall in the middle of the house.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01We're talking big structural work. Yup.
0:06:01 > 0:06:09No, we don't reckon that it will be, actually. Yeah, time will tell. OK.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12If you're going to take it out, you need to put something else in there.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Steel joists, that kind of stuff. Yeah.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Am I right in thinking your dad can't be here all the time? He's got a business to run.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22That's right. So you guys will be the ones who are always here.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Is that fair? Yeah. That's a responsibility.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30He's already told me that I'm going to be building the support
0:06:30 > 0:06:33pillars for the steel beams so that's quite a vital point.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36If it falls down, it's his fault.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Where are you guys going to be living when this is going on?
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I'm going to be camping outside.
0:06:43 > 0:06:49And then try and get some of it into a liveable state, and move in
0:06:49 > 0:06:53and slum it really. I see. You're going to be here.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Are you prepared for that? It's all very well on a lovely sunny day.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02That's not always how it is, is it? No. It's fine.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08As long as we're not going to get minus 30 degree snowstorms,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10I'll live.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Well, let's see a bit more of the house.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18'This house had been abandoned for quite some time
0:07:18 > 0:07:20'before Luke and Elizabeth snapped it up.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24'As a result, the three bedrooms upstairs and the bathroom
0:07:24 > 0:07:27'are in desperate need of some serious work.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30'Back downstairs, there are the remnants of a tiny kitchen,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35'but outside reveals the real jewel in the crown of this property.'
0:07:35 > 0:07:37So out in the garden, it's absolutely lovely.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40This was one of the main attractions for the property. Yup.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45For my little girl. How important is it to have this space? Really important.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46Somewhere for her to run around.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50What kind of things concern you at this point? It's all ahead of you.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55What do you know? What don't you know? It's quite early on.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00We're undecided on quite a bit of it. But we are kind of...
0:08:00 > 0:08:02We've got lots of ideas.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05We haven't decided which ones we want.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08So everything is at a fluid stage.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11You've got the keys, and you know you've got to sort out the structure
0:08:11 > 0:08:14but after that, who knows?
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I think what will be useful is to see another property in this area.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21One that's been fully renovated.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I think there will be a lot of inspiration there.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25It'll also be good to meet the people behind it.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30They've been through the renovation. It's your first renovation. I know you've got your dad's help
0:08:30 > 0:08:33but it would be great to get some practical advice, tips,
0:08:33 > 0:08:38any things they wouldn't do again to help guide you on your way.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Hopefully that could be useful for the stage you're at now.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44How does that sound? Yup, sounds good. Sounds very good. Excellent.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I think it's going to be a lovely first family home for Luke and Elizabeth.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58They've got their head round the big problems here,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00the structural issues.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04But I don't think, because it's so early in the project, they've got to grips with some of the details.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07The little things that will make this from just another
0:09:07 > 0:09:10renovation project into their perfect home.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13It will be good for them to see another property that IS
0:09:13 > 0:09:15fully finished, they can take some inspiration from that.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19But also there'll be some good help and advice to get them started.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Across the UK, there are many abandoned buildings like
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Luke and Elizabeth's that could be restored to use.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29With some imagination, the results can be surprising,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32as architect Elspeth Beard has proved.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35She was in the market for an unusual building in Surrey that she
0:09:35 > 0:09:38could breathe life into and turn into her home.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43I was looking to buy a property that hadn't been originally
0:09:43 > 0:09:45designed as a house.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49I wanted somewhere where I could convert and
0:09:49 > 0:09:52design the internal spaces as I wanted to.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56A friend of mine saw this and he told me about it.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58The minute I saw it, I decided, literally,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01straight away that I wanted it.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05It's just such a beautiful building, and in the fact that inside was just
0:10:05 > 0:10:09a huge empty space I could do whatever I wanted to with.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13So Elspeth bravely paid ?121,000 for it at auction.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18The tower, built in 1898, reaches 130 feet high,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22and had supplied water to the local villages for 70 years.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25In the mid-19th century, these water towers were a focal point of UK
0:10:25 > 0:10:29towns and cities, but now many are disused and abandoned.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33It had been empty for 20 years when I bought it.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37It was full of pigeons and doves.
0:10:37 > 0:10:43I spent six months shovelling out the bird poo.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47I managed to get an entire skipload.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50And that was just the beginning.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Elspeth spent a year securing planning permission to turn
0:10:53 > 0:10:55the tower into a home.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Ironically, one of her biggest jobs was making the six-level
0:10:59 > 0:11:01water tower waterproof.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05We spent nine months doing all the brickwork repairs,
0:11:05 > 0:11:1164 new windows, a new roof, put in the lantern light on the top floor.
0:11:11 > 0:11:18So after three years, I basically had a waterproof shell and
0:11:18 > 0:11:20the planning and listed building consent.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Elspeth went on to spend a further four years
0:11:23 > 0:11:26and ?220,000 on the renovation.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29When I moved to the tower, it was very much still a building site.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34It didn't have a kitchen, a bath or a toilet.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39For the first three or four years, I managed to keep my spirits up.
0:11:39 > 0:11:45When I got into year four, five and six, I'd had enough of it.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49But despite these trying times, Elspeth has created a unique
0:11:49 > 0:11:50and totally bespoke home.
0:11:50 > 0:11:57What I love about the building is, once you enter the front door,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I feel as if I'm in my own space.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Everything in this building was designed by me
0:12:03 > 0:12:06and a lot of it was built by me.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09I just wanted to have one large room on each floor
0:12:09 > 0:12:13and I didn't want any rooms within rooms, which is why,
0:12:13 > 0:12:18in the bedrooms, the bathrooms are open to the main bedroom space.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21There are a lot of stairs in the building.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26It's 89 stairs to my kitchen, 116 to my living room
0:12:26 > 0:12:29and 141 to the roof terrace.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34For Elspeth, creating an amazing home from this historic water tower
0:12:34 > 0:12:37wasn't her only motivation.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Somebody needed to save this building for the future
0:12:41 > 0:12:45so I was very pleased I was able to do that.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48The project may have dominated her life
0:12:48 > 0:12:49and bank balance for seven years,
0:12:49 > 0:12:54but having seen the renovation through, Elspeth has no regrets.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58It was definitely worth it. I love living here. It's a great building,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01it's a great space. And I certainly worked for it.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04And I feel I've certainly earned it.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Restoring Britain's forgotten working buildings
0:13:09 > 0:13:12and turning them into housing stock is undoubtedly rewarding
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and also helps keep our industrial past alive.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Britain's role as the workshop of the world
0:13:17 > 0:13:20and the pioneer of the Industrial Revolution has left its own
0:13:20 > 0:13:23legacy in terms of property here in the UK.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Thousands of mills, factories and old mine
0:13:26 > 0:13:28buildings lie dotted around the country,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31often empty and forgotten.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34That is particularly the case here in the Northeast, which was once
0:13:34 > 0:13:36the heartlands of our coal industry.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41'I'm at the abandoned Bowes Railway site near Newcastle.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46'Built in 1825, it was once a thriving industrial hub.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50'But since its closure in 1979, it's fallen into disrepair
0:13:50 > 0:13:54'and its buildings have been declared at risk due to vandalism.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56'Leading the campaign to change its fortunes is
0:13:56 > 0:14:00'Martin Holst from the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust.'
0:14:00 > 0:14:01How are you doing? I'm Joe.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03A very intriguing backdrop here.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Tell me about the history of the site. This is Bowes Railway.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10It was a rope-hauled railway system which moved
0:14:10 > 0:14:15coal from coalfields to Jarrow. What do we mean by rope-hauled?
0:14:15 > 0:14:18So, the majority of the movement of the trucks was done by ropes
0:14:18 > 0:14:21pulling trucks. Where does the power for this come from?
0:14:21 > 0:14:25There would've been a number of static engines along the line,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and gravity, because of the inclines, they could use gravity to move.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32So the idea was to link the coal mines here with the river and the transport.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34How long would this rope-hauled railway have been at its height?
0:14:34 > 0:14:39The system was about 15 miles. There's about three miles of that track left.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43How important is it now that we remember this?
0:14:43 > 0:14:47This is a scheduled monument, so it's of national significance
0:14:47 > 0:14:51because of the track, the buildings and the trucks.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54There is so much surviving fabric. Tell me about your trust.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57It's not so much about railways, it's specifically about buildings
0:14:57 > 0:14:59and bringing them back into good use.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02We run across Tyne and Wear, and we're looking for buildings
0:15:02 > 0:15:04of historical interest that we can bring back into use.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And you've seen something here you think can do just that?
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Yes, I've been working here for a number of years
0:15:10 > 0:15:11and it's got potential.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Fantastic. Let's go and take a look.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Black Fell House was one of the essential engine rooms on this
0:15:18 > 0:15:21railway, used to power the rope system that pulled the coal
0:15:21 > 0:15:26trucks along. Now the preservation trust want it to be someone's home.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28But it's a long way from that point.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The driver would have been in the door there
0:15:31 > 0:15:34looking down the incline, controlling the engine.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39It looks very well built. Can this be used? It's still standing now.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43It's extremely solid. The machinery is very heavy.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46OK. Shall we try and have a look in?
0:15:48 > 0:15:50So it's been attracting a bit of attention, has it?
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Yeah, the building's been empty for 20 years. You come to expect it.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59They've been climbing through here, stealing parts of the machinery.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03The metal. They've wrecked the machinery. So what is the plan?
0:16:03 > 0:16:08It's a big building, it's a good space. What can you do with this?
0:16:08 > 0:16:10The idea is for a live-work unit.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14So we'd put a pod up in the roof for someone to live.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Probably an artist or a carpenter or joiner.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20So they'd be able to live over their workshop.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23So it's definitely going ahead? You've got funding...?
0:16:23 > 0:16:25We've got ?200,000 of funding
0:16:25 > 0:16:29so far from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and English Heritage.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33That's most of the money that we'll need. 1913 it was built?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35It's the centenary this year.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Quite a special time to bring it back to life.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43It seems fitting that you've managed to secure its future on the centenary.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Yes. It should all click into place now.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Fantastic. Best of luck with it. Thanks.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I think what's happening here is a really good compromise.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Sadly, some of the fabric inside the building has been lost over
0:16:59 > 0:17:03the years so you can't really preserve this as a museum piece.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08The next best thing is to find a way of celebrating its industrial past.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13And so to make this into a workshop or a studio is just perfect,
0:17:13 > 0:17:18and then to also have someone living here is ideal.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22It means the site will be secure, and that person can effectively
0:17:22 > 0:17:26act as a guardian to look after this building for many years to come.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Sadly, not all of Britain's forgotten buildings are rescued
0:17:31 > 0:17:33and brought back to life.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35But local councils ARE taking action,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38and it's the job of empty property officers to track these
0:17:38 > 0:17:42buildings down and work on bringing them back into the community.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46In Birmingham, Matt Smith does just that, and he's on his way to
0:17:46 > 0:17:50a house that's been on his radar for six months.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Since the owner died, his family have had trouble maintaining
0:17:53 > 0:17:57the house, and Matt has been responding to complaints.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00A few months ago, the front porch to the property collapsed
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and it was in a really dangerous condition.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07I contacted the homeowner to get a skip to the property, to start
0:18:07 > 0:18:11putting some of the dangerous debris into the skip.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Having spoken to the neighbour,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16it seems that some of the dangerous work to the porch hasn't been done.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21It looks like we've got a car on the drive this time.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23I'm wondering whether there's somebody in.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29HE RATTLES LETTER BOX
0:18:30 > 0:18:33But the presence of the car is misleading.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37The porch is full of unopened post, which suggests there is no-one home.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Disappointed really because I asked him to do...
0:18:41 > 0:18:44There is a porch here that was part of the garage that was totally
0:18:44 > 0:18:48falling down. He's done part of the work.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51We've got potentially really dangerous wires...
0:18:51 > 0:18:52I'm not going to touch them to see
0:18:52 > 0:18:55whether they are live, but there is always the potential that they are.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00Totally dangerous pieces of glass, which aren't very safe,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02and pieces of the...
0:19:03 > 0:19:06As you can see, which has nearly fallen on top of me.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10Parts of the porch are still falling off so that's really dangerous still.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13It's just one of these things with empty houses,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15you never know what you're going to find when you're there.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Like many streets with empty properties,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20it's often the neighbours who bear the burden of
0:19:20 > 0:19:24an unsightly building and the antisocial behaviour it attracts.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27So Matt wants to check in with them to give them an update.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Hello there. Matthew Smith from Birmingham City Council Empty Property Team.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33It's about the empty house across the way.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Have you seen anybody working on the house recently?
0:19:36 > 0:19:40I saw him probably about two weeks ago. OK.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43He was mainly clearing out the garage and everything.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Have you got kids? I haven't got any young kids.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49The next-door neighbour's got young kids,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51there's young kids over the road.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Just if you can talk to the neighbours in terms of the safety element
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and make sure that they don't visit -
0:19:57 > 0:19:58with the glass,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00who knows what they're treading on!
0:20:00 > 0:20:03Thanks very much for your time, and obviously any problems
0:20:03 > 0:20:04give me a shout.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Will do. Cheers.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Before Matt wraps up at the house, he puts in a call to the
0:20:10 > 0:20:15owner, to inform him of the work that still needs to be carried out.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Slightly concerned that there's dangerous elements to the porch.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21There's jagged pieces of wood and nails hanging down.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24You need to ensure this work is done.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26OK, so I've spoken to the owner.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I'm going to write to him formally now, asking him
0:20:29 > 0:20:32to do certain safety work to the porch again.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Cut down the garden, try and make the place look a bit more presentable.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38At least we've got to speak with the neighbours
0:20:38 > 0:20:42and speak to the owner, and things look like they should move forward now.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47If you've noticed abandoned properties in your area
0:20:47 > 0:20:49and fancy the challenge of taking one on,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52contact local estate agents, neighbourhood watch groups and
0:20:52 > 0:20:56local shop owners and traders, and see if they have any information.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Or get in touch with your local empty property officer.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05'Back in the Lake District, I'm with Luke and Elizabeth who,
0:21:05 > 0:21:06'with the help of Luke's dad,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10'have taken on an abandoned house they can turn into a family home.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12'They're at the very beginning of the project, with plans
0:21:12 > 0:21:15'still up in the air, so they've lots of questions.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18'I'm going to introduce them to a couple who've done something
0:21:18 > 0:21:20'very similar.'
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Here we are. This is the place I want you to see.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25The reason I brought you here is it used to be in a similar state
0:21:25 > 0:21:27to yours. It had structural problems,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30it needed a complete overhaul, and this is what they've come up with.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Hopefully, they'll be able to show us around and there'll be some advice.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Shall we say hello? Yeah. Come on.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Like Luke and Elizabeth, Stephen
0:21:39 > 0:21:43and Marguerite loved the beauty of the Lake District and were desperate
0:21:43 > 0:21:47to get on the property ladder here by restoring a local building.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50We'd always fancied having a property up here but they are so expensive
0:21:50 > 0:21:55in the Lake District, so we had to find something we could renovate.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58It was a bit strange because we'd got here, and it was literally
0:21:58 > 0:22:03falling to bits. We'd look through the windows and I think that was it.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06It was love at first sight, wasn't it? Yeah.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10But once they became the proud owners of the 100-year-old cottage,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13the enormity of the project crept up on them.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14When we first bought it
0:22:14 > 0:22:18I remember we went to a little bar down the road and sat in it and thought, "What have we done?!"
0:22:18 > 0:22:21We were both very quiet, which is unusual, and
0:22:21 > 0:22:24we looked at each other and I said, "I don't think I can do this."
0:22:24 > 0:22:28But we managed to get through that after the initial panic.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30The house had only been empty for four months
0:22:30 > 0:22:33when they bought it for ?280,000.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36But it had been left completely exposed to the elements
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and was declared uninhabitable by the local council.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43There was a lot of damp all through the house.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47And there was no central heating. All the electrics needed changing.
0:22:47 > 0:22:53We basically had to gut it. We decided to turn it upside down.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Because of where it is in the Lake District, you get the views upstairs
0:22:56 > 0:23:00in this house, and so we thought to have the living area upstairs
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and move the bedrooms downstairs.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Stephen and Marguerite clearly planned out this renovation
0:23:06 > 0:23:09with great care, and now they're reaping the rewards.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13When we walk through the door after a week at work, it's just
0:23:13 > 0:23:17a feeling of... We're completely chilled.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19And that's a big thing for us.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24'I'm in no doubt that this beautiful cottage will not only inspire
0:23:24 > 0:23:25'Luke and Elizabeth,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29'but will also focus their minds on the reality of what's ahead.'
0:23:29 > 0:23:32What do you think? We're straight into the sitting room.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Yeah, it's very, very nice.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37You were talking about liking a modern look and feel.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Yeah, definitely. Is this what you were meaning?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Yeah. Lots of light spaces as well.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Gorgeous. Well, look - start us at the beginning.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50When you took on this project, what condition was this building in?
0:23:50 > 0:23:58The walls were up but that was about it. The roofs were coming down. It was a real mess.
0:23:58 > 0:24:04How long did it take you to do it? Well, we bought it in October 2010.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08It took us till May the following year before we started work on it.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11So in the end, from getting the keys to starting work,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15you had seven months of planning. I know that wasn't always your choice,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17but you made good use of that time.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It was good because it gave Marguerite the time for all
0:24:20 > 0:24:24the design flair to come in and decide exactly what you want to do.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25You need to think about things.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28To play devil's advocate, these guys want to get going.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31They want to knock down the wall.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Surely they can plan the rest of it later. What do you say to that?
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Plan, plan, plan and plan. Yeah.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Think it through. Cos one day you might think it's a fabulous idea
0:24:39 > 0:24:43and the next, you think, "That was really stupid."
0:24:43 > 0:24:46I think we're going to get our notebook out, cos both of us
0:24:46 > 0:24:49keep notebooks about everything else but we haven't started one, have we?
0:24:49 > 0:24:54No, not for the house. One of the biggest things about it is, enjoy it while you're doing it.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59Yeah. Just have fun. Don't put yourself under time constraints.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02That's just giving yourself another stress that you don't need.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06OK. Loads of advice there. Plan, plan, plan. Don't put yourself under time
0:25:06 > 0:25:10constraints...despite your Christmas deadline. LAUGHTER
0:25:10 > 0:25:12It's a target, not a deadline.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Well, this is lovely. Let's go and see a bit more.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Lead the way.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22'It's clear Stephen and Marguerite's planning efforts have paid off,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26'and they've designed this three-bedroom cottage to match their needs and surroundings.'
0:25:26 > 0:25:28This is very interesting.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30You've got your dining room here, and then stairs
0:25:30 > 0:25:32and kitchen on the other side.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Is that how it was originally laid out? No.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39This was a bedroom, and that was a bedroom as well.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Because we've got the views from the upstairs of the property,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46we thought this needed to be the living area
0:25:46 > 0:25:49so we've flipped the whole thing upside down.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52In terms of the budget and how much this cost, just give us
0:25:52 > 0:25:55a sense of what you thought it would cost and what it ended up costing.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58It was about on budget. Yeah.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02We'd planned to spend about 100,000 altogether including
0:26:02 > 0:26:05the extension and that sort of thing, and it came in around that.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09What are your top tips for trying to stretch a budget?
0:26:10 > 0:26:15I think probably weigh things up, really.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18The internet as well. Yeah.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20And when you say weighing things up, you mean prioritising -
0:26:20 > 0:26:23what you really must have and what's a luxury.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27Also mix-matching, with expensive stuff and things that aren't.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32If you were to start over again, what is it that you would change?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34I don't think there is, is there?
0:26:34 > 0:26:37I guess that is the biggest testament to planning, then -
0:26:37 > 0:26:41if you come through this and think, "We've got it all."
0:26:41 > 0:26:45It's really inspiring the way you've moved the house round to
0:26:45 > 0:26:49fit your needs, and you've got such a great result and some lovely advice.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53We'll take planning away from this. Thank you very much for your time.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54Thank you. Thank you.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55Cheers.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Having had a good look round and heard lots of advice, how are you feeling?
0:27:04 > 0:27:07What are you going to take away from today? Planning.
0:27:07 > 0:27:13Yeah, take planning a bit more seriously, and as we're going about
0:27:13 > 0:27:20just pick up anything we like the look of, and try and see how we could work it into our house.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24And looking forward, you've got everything ahead of you. Are you excited?
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Definitely. Yeah. Give us a hammer!
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Well, guys, you have a wonderful property. It's in a gorgeous location.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33It's going to make the perfect first family home for you.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35So I really do wish you the best of luck -
0:27:35 > 0:27:39keep planning, work hard - and I'm sure you'll be there very soon. BOTH: Thank you.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I think today's been really useful for Luke and Elizabeth.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Sometimes, when you're a first-time renovator
0:27:51 > 0:27:55the instinct is just to get stuck in, knock walls down
0:27:55 > 0:27:58but actually, it really pays to stand back and make sure you've got
0:27:58 > 0:28:03a proper plan, and that's the advice I think they've taken on board from today.
0:28:03 > 0:28:08Yes, by all means keep that energy - but also have a really complete vision for the home.
0:28:08 > 0:28:09And if they do that,
0:28:09 > 0:28:13I'm sure they'll have their dream place in no time at all.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd