For many UK house-hunters, getting onto the property ladder can seem like an impossible task. But if you know where to look and don't mind a little bit of hard work, you could snap up a real estate bargain at auction. From a charming Cornwall cottage to a family residence in London, these properties will soon go under the hammer. So, if you’ve got the nerve (and the budget), one of these affordable properties could soon be yours. Costs listed are guide prices and buyer's fees usually apply.

This two-bedroom red-brick property in the town of Ferryhill goes up for online auction on 29 April through Harman Healey and could make a good starter home for a first-time buyer. Located on the edge of the limestone escarpment of the East Durham Plateau, there are beautiful local walks in the area, plus the A167 into either Durham or Newcastle makes this residence a good commuter option.

There’s no denying, it's in need of a total home renovation. There is a reception room downstairs, but buyers will need to add a new kitchen and bathroom. However, without rearranging the layout too much, it could make a neat home, with a small backyard leading off from the kitchen area and two bedrooms upstairs.

The £14,000 guide price is a snip, but there are clearly some issues involving damp and structural movements that will need to be addressed. Other two-bedroom houses on this road have sold for over £35,000, so there is some scope for making money, depending on the cost of the remedial work needed. It's always a good idea to arrange a structural survey before you make a bid.

Going up for online auction on 12 April with Auction House South Yorkshire is this extended two-bedroom house in the popular commuter town of Wombwell. Though it's definitely in need of general refurbishment, the house does benefit from new roofing and a gas combi central heating system.

The old-fashioned kitchen, though in need of love, comes with some fitted units and has access to a handy cellar area. The ground floor hallway leads out to the garden, while entry to the property is through the lounge. Upstairs, there are two double bedrooms, each with double-glazed windows.

However, the biggest selling point of this house is the long, fenced garden to the rear, which has plenty of potential. Even allowing for additional fees, there's scope to make a tidy profit here – a similar-sized property on the street recently sold for over £70,000.

If you are looking for a serious fixer-upper project for a second home or possibly a holiday let, this two-bedroom Grade II-listed stone cottage, which goes up for auction with Sunderlands on 28 April, may tempt you. From the outside, the characterful structure exudes charm, but before you sign on the dotted line, you might want to venture inside.

The rural property, which sits next to an old church, has been empty for a period of at least 20 years and it shows. But while the internal decoration of the property is in a somewhat deteriorated state and will require investment to make it suitable for modern living, the internal fabric of the building appears to be in relatively good order. However, a building survey has not been carried out – we'd recommend arranging one prior to the auction.

Situated in rural Brecon, Bethel Cottage lies on the outskirts of Pwllgloyw, a pretty village just north of the tourist hotspot of the Brecon Beacons. The property comes with a small garden, plus a further area of land on the other side of the stream. With other detached properties going for upwards of £200,000 in the area, and with a guide price of £30,000, this could be a smart buy for someone willing to invest time and money.

Don’t be put off by the crumbling exterior of this property, which admittedly has a bit of the house of horrors about it. With its elevated position and verandah, the double-fronted house could look very different with a fresh paint job and new doors. The residence, which goes up for auction on 6 May with Auction House London, occupies a large plot that offers the potential to extend.

Inside, there's a lot of space and hints of what a grand property this would once have been – and may be again. There are three reception rooms on the ground floor, plus a kitchen and utility room, while four bedrooms and a bathroom are on the first floor. There's also scope to convert the attic room into a fifth bedroom.

This fixer-upper will need a brand-new kitchen and other major works to make it habitable, but it’s close to local shops and other amenities – Ebbw train station, around a mile away, offers direct trains to Cardiff in an hour. Four-bedroom properties in the town have sold for in the region of £240,000 in the past year.

This semi-detached cottage goes up for auction with McHugh & Co London on 15 April. Situated in the pleasant rural village of Cranberry near Cotes Heath, it does require complete modernisation, but it would make a beautiful home for someone with the right vision.

Inside, the country cottage is spacious, with the ground floor accommodation comprising a kitchen, living room, bathroom and sun room, which could be a glorious place to enjoy your morning coffee after a thorough overhaul. There are also three bedrooms upstairs, so there's plenty of space for a family to stretch out.

Inside, you can glimpse a few stand-out period features, including original fireplaces, wooden floorboards and a freestanding Victorian bath, which could lend vintage charm to a restoration. The property also comes with a good-sized garden that, with a little elbow and landscaping, could be a beautiful spot to soak up the sun. Similar properties in other West Midlands villages in good decorative order go for in the region of £200,000.

With a guide price of £60,000-£70,000, expect stiff competition when this house goes up for auction on 5 May with Kivells. Not only is it in an excellent spot for holiday lets thanks to its location on the edge of Bodmin Moor in the small Cornish town of Liskeard, but it's also in reasonable condition and has lots of traditional appeal.

Offered to the market for the first time in 50 years, the property is a little like a time capsule inside, with cute and cosy living areas that benefit from views across the garden. But beyond the old-fashioned décor, there's no shortage of potential here.

As well the sitting room, there’s a separate dining room with its own wood-burning stove, a kitchen, three bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom with a cast-iron bath. The property sits on a generous corner plot and has far-reaching countryside views to the front. Semi-detached three-bedroom homes in the area go for upwards of £170,000.

Going up for auction with McHugh & Co on 15 April is this beautiful end-of-terrace house with bags of potential. Sited between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire in the small village of Gamlingay, it's within walking distance of a nature trail and a conservation area, as well as a good primary school, making it a lovely place to raise a family.

Inside, the property has no shortage of accommodation, including two reception rooms, a kitchen, a front garden, a rear garden and three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. The bathroom and kitchen require a complete overhaul, but otherwise the rooms are a good size and simply in need of updating.

The house is situated at the end of a private driveway and occupies a scenic and secluded spot. Local shops and other amenities are just a short walk away in the village of Gamlingay, while the town of Sandy is just six miles away and offers more choice. Three-bedroom houses in Gamlingay go for over £330,000 so there is a real opportunity to see a sizeable return on your investment.

Properties of this size for less than £300,000 are like hen’s teeth in London, so keep your eye on this three-bedroom house when it goes up for auction with McHugh & Co on 15 April. Bromley is becoming an increasingly popular hotspot of Greater London, particularly for families looking for more space.

This promising home is located close to Grove Park train station, making it ideal for commuting into Central London, plus it's within easy access of an array of local shops. It has excellent potential for someone wanting to put down roots in the capital or benefit from the profitable rental market in the area.

The house comes with three bedrooms on the first floor, while on the ground floor there's an entrance hall, a reception room, kitchen, bathroom and a separate toilet. There's also a front garden and a rear garden. For its bargain price tag, it obviously requires quite a lot of work, but most of it appears to be aesthetic and with other three-bedroom homes on this road going for £365,000, you’d be silly not to throw your hat into the ring.

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