 In 1952 , the two couples discovered that Red House was up for sale , and as architects with an interest in Morris , they recognised its historic value . By this point , the Red House had been empty for 18 months , after Thomas Hills and his family had left in 1951 , and had fallen into a state of dilapidation . Deciding to share the property between themselves , they were able to afford a mortgage with the aid of a loan from Toms ' father @-@ in @-@ law ; he only agreed to provide the loan if the house was owned in Toms ' name , and thus the Hollambys became Toms ' tenants . The two families then moved in with their six children , and a seventh was born soon after . They camped in the house 's grounds while carrying out a project of renovation . 
