In 2013, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson began a scheme aiming to regenerate the deprived parts of the city. As part of that scheme, many empty homes were offered for sale for only £1, and so far over 2,500 people have expressed an interest in buying the latest homes to be offered for sale in the Picton area of the city.
However, these homes are in a dreadful state - some have been empty for 10 years or more - and the idea is that once they're bought, the new owner will regenerate them and bring them back into use. There is also a strict criteria that must be met to purchase these houses. Potential buyers must have lived or worked in Liverpool, must be employed and also must be first-time buyers. Those with children and good credit will have priority, but they also have to show that they have the resources available to take on the cost of the refurbishment.
The task of regenerating these homes could be quite daunting as they have no plumbing or electrics; they are pretty much an empty shell. However, this also presents an opportunity for the new owner to do whatever they like to the interior of the building.
