If you haven't spotted a romantic ruin down the road, don't worry - there are still ways to unearth properties with potential in your area. There are websites, such as www.pickupaproperty.com, that list fixer-uppers in your area. Signing up costs from £15 a month and you'll be emailed details of properties in three areas of your choice. www.empro.co.uk also lists empty properties and is free to use, but currently only covers west London and Birmingham.
www.plotsearch.co.uk (0870 870 9991) is the leading source for plots of land for self-builders, or try www.propertyspy.com. Keep your eyes open for a gap in a street, or a space that has potential.
Auctions are another way to pick up properties in need of a bit of TLC and plots of land for sale. Try the Essential Information Group (0870 112 3040; www.eigroup.co.uk), UK Auction List (www.ukauctionlist.com) and www.propertyauctions.com for listings of upcoming sales. Slightly more time-consuming is to hit well-known property websites, such as www.rightmove.co.uk, but you'll have to trawl through all types of houses to find the run-down properties that are around. Get to know your local estate agents - they don't tend to put the wrecks in the window and if they haven't got what you want, they may be able to tip you off about what else is around.
Adventurous types may be interested in renovating a historic building and there are various listings for these. Damned Beautiful and Heaps of Delight are published by Save Britain's Heritage (SAVE). English Heritage publishes Buildings at Risk, which is available at here..
We all want our homes to be safe, which is why adhering to the appropriate Planning Permissions and Building Regulations is important. The structure of the building, electrics and plumbing, and its environmental efficiency clearly need to comply. If you discover a commercial property that oozes potential, you'll need to make a formal 'change of use' application to your local planning department, although they aren't guaranteed to grant it.
Buying land with a house on it that you plan to pull down should pretty much assure a green light for permission to build a new dwelling. Greenfield sites have historically been more risky to gain permission for, but John Prescott's house building push means the odds may be improving. The most sought-after plots are near to existing residential land, as they benefit from a good infrastructure, roads and amenities. Take a look at the Communities and Local Government website for more information.
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