A couple who bought a Bulgarian mansion on A New Life In The Sun: Where Are They Now realised they’d made a huge mistake. 

Ellie and Gary, from Nottingham, featured on Monday’s episode of the Channel 4 show that catches up with buyers who have previously appeared at the start of their property developing journey.

The pair had purchased a 10-bedroom abode for £13,000 with the intention to run it as a bed and breakfast.

Although they managed to quickly attract bookings, Ellie and Gary were hit with problems relating to the plot of land next door they had bought for Linda, Ellie’s mother. 

The couple wanted to build a prefab bungalow on the plot but had to work their way through lots of red tape before they could begin.

Ellie and Gary (pictured), from Nottingham, featured on Monday’s episode of the Channel 4 show that catches up with buyers who have previously appeared at the start of their property developing journey

The pair had purchased a 10-bedroom abode for £13,000 with the intention to run it as a bed and breakfast

Ellie explained: ‘We started the mum’s house process  a year ago in January. We got the wrong type of planning permission, which we didn’t know.’

‘Bulgaria has a lot of bureaucracy and everything has got to be stamped,’ Gary added.

He revealed how Linda ‘can’t wait and she’s really excited to get in there now’.

The couple jumped through various loops to get approval and eventually started laying the foundation and put the shell of the building up.

Ellie said: ‘First we had to get documents from the electric company saying they’ll supply electric, then we had to get another document saying they would do the work, and then another one when it’s signed off.’

Gary seemed frustrated and exclaimed: ‘Look at it! Everything gets stamped, signed, stamped. There must be 50 different things.’

The flat pack nature of the property meant it could be constructed relatively quickly and soon Linda was ready to move in after a year of living with her daughter and son-in-law. 

It wasn’t a completely smooth move, however, and the water and internal doors hadn’t been fitted straight away.

Although they managed to quickly attract bookings, Ellie and Gary were hit with problems relating to planning permission for the plot of land next door they had bought for Linda, Ellie’s mother

In the end, the flat pack nature of the property meant it could be constructed relatively quickly but water connection had been delayed and Gary had to fill up the kettle with a hosepipe

This meant Gary had to fill up Linda’s kettle using an external hosepipe.  

Not everyone has struggled during their moves abroad, however, and a woman who appeared on A Place In The Sun a decade ago has revealed how the experience changed her life. 

Janice appeared on the popular Channel 4 show back in 2014 to find her perfect home in Costa Calida, Spain, and enlisted help from property expert Laura Hamilton, 42.

Read More I was on A Place In The Sun and it changed my life – I feel rich and I’ve even bagged myself a man!

Laura showed her a number of properties which ticked her boxes of having to be a ground floor apartment, have two bedrooms and an open plan kitchen.

She ultimately fell in love with a semi-detached three-bed villa in Sucina and was over the moon when her £60,000 offer was luckily accepted. 

Despite it being 11 years since her appearance, Janice revealed she still feels rich after buying her property, speaking about the experience on A Place In The Sun: What Happened Next?.

Laura jetted to for a catch up with Janice and was keen to know how much the apartment had gone up in value. 

During a chat in the pool, Laura said to Janice: ‘I tell you what is fantastic, over the years that has pᴀssed, the market has changed incredibly.

Janice (centre) who appeared on A Place In The Sun a decade ago revealed how the experience changed her life during a chat with Laura Hamilton (left) and pal Jackie on A Place In The Sun: What Happened Next?

‘So when you bought this property, you did get it for an incredible price.’ 

Janice replied: ‘Not far off £60,000.’

Her best pal Jackie, who appeared on the show with her 10 years ago during the original search, added: ‘Furnished!’ 

An intrigued Laura continued: ‘So do you have any idea what it’s worth now? Any of the neighbours put anything on the market at all?’

Janice explained: ‘Well one went not so long ago and it was one £140,000!’

Watch A New Life In The Sun: Where Are They Now? on Channel 4.