A couple from Hull and Canada have embarked on an ambitious renovation project after accidentally purchasing a quarter of a derelict Victorian villa in Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, instead of a flat in Glasgow.
Cal Hunter, 28, and his girlfriend Claire Segeren, 26, had planned to start a new life in Glasgow. While Claire was in Canada, Cal attended a property auction but, struggling with the auctioneer's Glaswegian accent, mistakenly bid on the wrong lot. He successfully bought a share of Jameswood, a rundown property 35 miles from Glasgow, for £10,000.
Upon seeing the property, the couple were shocked to find it was in a severely dilapidated state, with a collapsing roof, rotten timbers, and a wall close to failure. Claire's father was so dismayed that he didn't speak for two days after visiting from Canada.
Despite the setback, the couple tracked down the other three owners and eventually bought the entire villa, with one owner even accepting a loss. They now live in a caravan on site while undertaking repairs, aided by friends and the local community. The restoration is expected to take several more years.
Cal, a trained carpenter, and Claire, who describes herself as an apprentice, have received support from villagers who were keen to see the long-standing eyesore restored. The couple's story features on BBC's Our Lives.
