Thursday, January 22, 2026
Economy & Markets
17 min read

Abandoned House Renovation Reveals Shocking Contents

Manchester Evening News
January 18, 20264 days ago
Couple make 'cheeky bid' on abandoned house and left stunned by what's inside

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A couple purchased an abandoned house sight unseen, making a "cheeky bid" that was accepted. Upon entering, they discovered the property was filled with "tonnes and tonnes of junk." Their renovation efforts and subsequent social media posts detailing the process have garnered significant attention.

The pair are taking on a huge renovation project A couple were left stunned by what they discovered after buying an abandoned house without stepping inside first. Ryan Knight and wife Jen Peters-McKnight, both 47, made a 'cheeky bid' on the pink property. They were pleasantly surprised when their offer was successful, before embarking on a mammoth renovation. But so far they have been tasked with removing 'tonnes and tonnes of junk'. Their efforts have seen the couple, from Anglesey, go viral on social media - with one video amassing more than two million views in six days, Wales Online reports. Jen said: "Initially we were looking for a small house so we could do a flip and sell. "But then I came across this property on Rightmove. Realising it was just down the road, we drove there next day. Sadly, the previous owners had fallen ill and the property had been empty for at least a couple of years. It was covered in bushes with vegetation growing into the house and an old caravan abandoned outside. "Unfortunately we couldn't get in because no one knew where the keys were - we asked the auctioneers several times. We managed to get through the trees and bushes so we could peer inside - but the windows were so dirty we couldn't really see anything. "We were told squatters had been using it, but the location was fabulous - beautiful woodland, two streams and a pond. So we put in a cheeky bid the same day we visited." Despite the property being listed for auction, prospective buyers could submit offers beforehand. Ryan and Jen's first offer was turned down, but this didn't discourage them. Returning home, further research uncovered an appealing characteristic absent from the marketing materials. Jen said: "We looked it up on Google Earth and, viewed from above, we discovered there was a big glass peak at the centre of the house. It was an atrium, quite a unique feature. So we submitted another cheeky bid just before the auction was due." Much to their astonishment, this second offer was accepted. The exchange of contracts took place on Friday, 9 January, 2026 and the property was immediately dubbed the 'Pink House'. When the couple first went into the Pink House they encountered an unexpected discovery. "We found a big bunch of door keys hanging up!" said Jen, "But we've changed all the locks anyway, and bought a new door to ensure the place is secure: we don't want urban explorers trying to get inside. We're here most of the time anyway. "Inside was piled high with junk - there was tonnes and tonnes of it. We don't know if squatters brought in stuff but it looks like the previous owners may have had an hoarding issue. "There was lots of brand new stuff – clothes still with tags on, rugs still wrapped in plastic. There were new towels, new bedsheets - lots of stuff. But there was also mounds of rubbish that will have to be removed in skips. It looks like the previous owners had good intentions but it never materialised." The property was littered with everything from cardboard boxes to plastic chairs, bags, spare sinks and rolled-up carpets. The sheer scale of debris made it almost impossible to navigate through the building. The couple's initial task involved trimming overgrown bushes that blocked the front entrance, followed by carving out a pathway through the interior. Only after these steps could they begin the room-by-room clearance whilst contending with 'giant spiders'. This process revealed further unexpected discoveries. "From the outside we could see it was a decent-sized house," Jen added, "But it only when we finally got inside that we realised just how big it was - there's almost 3,000ft of floor space! We found the house also had lots of big arched windows. These and other features gives it a bit of a Spanish or Mediterranean feel." Beyond its four bedrooms, the Pink House contains four bathrooms and a cloakroom near the entrance. Two generous reception rooms, an atrium and an expansive kitchen complete the layout, where grime-encrusted cupboard doors had to be prised open, exposing a substantial collection of rotting food. "Someone forgot to do the dishes!" remarked Ryan, a gundog trainer, in one of his update videos. Jen started sharing videos of the renovation journey on the day they completed the purchase and to her astonishment, her Facebook following surged from 600 to 76,500 in just six days. Recognising the significant interest, she has now established @thepinkhousediaries2026 across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. "We've had interest from all over the world," she said. "A lot of people want to know where Anglesey is! "As Ryan has an Irish accent, a few people have asked if we're in Ireland. I thought we could monetise our posts to help pay for the renovations. There's been so much interest that I'm getting a social media consultant in to see what else can be done." Currently, the pair remain filled with excitement and amazement at the remarkable property they acquired almost by chance. They face a substantial amount of work: complete rewiring and new plumbing throughout are required, whilst certain floorboards and plasterwork need replacement. Once builders and tradespeople arrive, Ryan will carry on working as a labourer. Their goal is to move in fully within 12 months. "Buying the house was a big leap of faith," said Jen, "We know it had been up for sale multiple times with no successful offers.

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    Abandoned House Renovation: Couple's Shocking Discovery