Around eight years ago, we wanted to move back to the village where I grew up to be near my dad, and Andrew saw the family of the previous owner clearing out this bungalow,’ explains Louisa. ‘He approached them and asked what the situation was. The elderly owner was moving into a residential home, and we were able to negotiate moving in at a very agreeable rent.’
The house, however, was in a terrible state, with a condemned oven and large staining on the carpets. So, Andrew and Louisa took the plunge and invested in a budget kitchen and replaced the carpets. ‘We took the risk of refurbishing the kitchen for £1,200, picking up sections of units and worktop offcuts from a B&Q sale, which Andrew pieced together in his genius way,’ says Louisa. If the rental had only lasted a short time, it would have been a big investment, but they continued to rent the house for seven years. ‘When
