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Phoebe Jobling

BBC Homes Under the Hammer's Dion Dublin refuses to go inside 'incredibly filthy' rat-infested home

Homes Under the Hammer presenter Dion Dublin refused to go inside a home he branded 'incredibly filthy'.

On a recent episode of the BBC show, the former Manchester United player turned TV presenter visited an uninhabitable semi-detached home that was set to go to auction.

But after appearing outside the run down two-bed property in Stoke-on-Trent, Dion revealed both he and the crew would not be entering as it was rat-infested and a 'huge hazard'.

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Viewers were first shown a glimpse of the outside of the home which was completely overgrown and being used as a dumping ground. The property could barely be seen behind all of the debris.

"Behind this bushy, overgrown greenery is the property I'm here to see. Apparently, it is a two-bed semi-detached," Dion, 52, revealed.

"In the auction catalogue it said it's in need of 'renovation and repair'. That is probably why it had a guide price of just £20,000 at auction."

Dion refused to go inside (BBC)

Despite looking as though he was going to enter the derelict home, Dion turned in the opposite direction.

"Now I am not going to go in there because there is sewage, it is incredibly filthy and there is signs of rat infestation as well," he told viewers.

"Neither me or the film crew will be going in there because it is a huge health and safety hazard."

Not willing to go inside, Dion had to use both his knowledge and imagination to describe the current state of the home.

"The auction catalogue says downstairs has a reception room and it uses the word 'potential' when describing the kitchen and shower room. Upstairs there is space for two bedrooms," he said.

Dion then said this was a project only suitable for an experienced developer as it is likely to 'throw up' many unexpected surprises.

“When you take on a property like this, in this condition, the first thing you’re going to have to think about is skips and how many you’re going to need," he said.

"It all needs to go before you see what you’ve got to work with."

The home was uninhabitable (BBC)

Later at the auction the property sold for £43,000 to HGV driver Yan, who said that doing up homes was his 'hobby'.

"It’s like a hobby for me to do houses. I did houses with friends before, so I’m looking to do it in my free time. Let's say it's like a playground for me," Yan said.

"So when I saw it, I was thinking 'that’s the right project for me'.

"There is nothing in there. No plumbing, no electricity, so everything needs to be done. At least I don’t have any trash in the house.

"Upstairs are two bedrooms, pretty big ones, so there is the option to turn it into a three-bed house."

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Yan then revealed he was planning to spend between £30,000 and £35,000 on the renovation project, with a timescale of six months to a year.

Dion and the Homes Under the Hammer crew returned to the Stoke property one year later - and it was completely unrecognisable from its former self.

The exterior looks completely different (BBC)

All the junk and debris had been removed from the outside to create a large driveway with stones either side.

Dion then went inside the home for the first time, and although viewers weren't able to see its full state before, the finished look was very impressive.

Yan had created a new entrance area to the front, with a bright hallway, a modern open-plan kitchen living area and a luxury bathroom to the side of the kitchen. The property had a gorgeous black and white interior design theme running throughout.

The open-plan kitchen area (BBC)

The property renovation hobbyist had also converted the home to three bedrooms and added another bathroom upstairs.

Yan spent a total of £89,000 on the property and was now renting the house out to a 'nice family' for £800 per month.

Read the latest TV news here.

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