There’s a lot of fear in the market right now. Everywhere I look, investors are sitting on their hands or even thinking about selling up. The media is full of doom and gloom, interest rates are high, the Renters Reform Act is looming, and costs are up across the board. But here’s the truth - this is exactly when real opportunities appear. When everyone else is frozen, the smart investors are looking the other way. In this episode, I dive deep into why I genuinely believe we could be standing ...
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Taylor of Parable Property, who spent years working as a GP before deciding it was time for a complete change. Michael shares how he left behind the security of medicine to take on the uncertainty of building his own property portfolio - something many people dream about but few have the courage to actually do. What I love about Michael’s story is how honest he is about the journey. He faced big setbacks at the start, but instead of walking away, he ...
If you’re in property long enough, something will go wrong and I’ve been there more times than I can count. Builders have disappeared, finance has fallen through at the eleventh hour, planning has thrown me curveballs, and valuations have come in soft. The truth is, these challenges aren’t the exception… they’re the rule. In this episode, I’m sharing the simple framework I use to deal with setbacks without letting them knock me off course: the 3 R’s of Resilience - React, Reframe, Recover. Ov...
This week, we’re shaking things up. Instead of focusing on a single topic, I’m sharing some of the most thought-provoking debates and discussions happening right now inside the HMO community. The truth is, the best ideas don’t just come from me sitting here deciding what to talk about — they come from you. From the questions you’re asking, the challenges you’re tackling, and the creative strategies you’re putting forward. And because we don’t always agree, the conversations are all the more v...
Today, I’ve got Ellie Broadhurst, our specialist mortgage broker back on the show. With the media shouting about property crashes, falling prices, lenders pulling deals, and down valuations, I wanted to sit down with Ellie to find out what’s really happening. Because on the ground, it feels very different. In this episode, we dig into the truth behind the headlines: what’s going on with interest rates, how valuations are looking, what lenders actually think about HMOs right now, and whether t...
Is property investment dead, or is it just changing? In this episode of The HMO Podcast, I dive into the challenges facing investors right now - from economic pressures and new legislation to shifting market dynamics. But it’s not all bad news. I’ll share why a low-sentiment market can actually present some of the best opportunities, and why taking a long-term perspective is key to navigating today’s property landscape. Here’s what we cover in the episode: 02:50 Current Economic Climate...
Today I’m joined by Sam Carter of SJC Property Developments, who’s showing us that it’s absolutely possible to make property deals work—even in one of the most expensive parts of the country. Sam and his family are building a thriving business in Cambridge, and their latest project is nothing short of remarkable. They secured a property that was originally on the market for £725,000 at a bargain price, applied a smart strategy with multiple exit options, and turned it into a deal that generat...
In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Kazy from Property by Kazy for a no-holds-barred conversation about my journey in property and what it’s really taken to build the businesses I have today. We cover it all—the hard truths, the challenges I’ve faced, the mistakes I’ve made, and the realities that don’t often get talked about. But it’s not all doom and gloom—we also dive into the exciting opportunities ahead for property investors and why, despite the ups and downs, this journey is wort...
Today, I’m joined once again by a familiar face on the podcast — Rebecca Alcock. You might remember Rebecca from our January episode. She’s a former mentee of mine who, alongside her husband Jolly, has gone on to achieve some incredible things in the HMO world. This time, Rebecca’s back with some very exciting news to share. I won’t spoil the surprise just yet, but I was keen to dig into exactly how she’s built such success, the challenges she’s overcome, and the strategies that have worked f...
Emma Estill and her husband Dan from Stylish Living started their property journey in 2019 with simple three-bed terraces. Just a few years later, they’re developing £3 million sites, running their own build team, and managing multiple businesses in property. In this episode, Emma shares how they scaled through challenges, stayed family-focused, and built success by taking on tough projects. We’ll also discuss their standout deal — a derelict nightclub with planning and access issues that mos...
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most important pillars of property investing – risk. It’s the foundation behind every decision we make, yet too many investors spend far too little time thinking about what risks they face, where they come from, and how to manage them. After nearly 20 years in this game, I’ve learned that becoming more risk-aware doesn’t mean doing fewer deals – it means doing better ones. As I’ve grown older, with more to lose and more people depending on me, I’v...
In this special rewind episode, I’m sharing what is hands down one of the most important and most downloaded episodes I’ve ever recorded. Originally a talk I gave at the HMO Awards, it’s packed with the 5 biggest lessons I’ve learned from scaling my own portfolio and from some of the most successful investors I know. If you're working towards 10 properties, aiming for that £10K/month milestone, or just need a bit of motivation to cut through the noise, this one's for you. These are the lesson...
In today’s episode, I’m sharing one of my honest, no-filter business updates. It’s been a while since the last one in February, and there’s a good reason I’ve waited until now. I’ll be lifting the lid on what’s been happening in my world: from the latest in my development and HMO businesses, to everything I’ve been juggling outside of work. These updates are my way of keeping things real and transparent with you. Yes, I’m a property investor and business owner, but like many of you, I’m also ...
If you're spending way too much time looking at HMO deals that just don’t stack up, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down the exact 60-second check I use to quickly filter out the rubbish - and trust me, this will save you hours (and probably a few headaches too). Here’s what we cover: 02:20 - The Importance of Efficient Deal Filtering05:42 - Key Metrics for Evaluating HMO Deals11:47 - Understanding Planning and Its Implications17:39 - Refurbishment Costs and Their Impact on DealsThese q...
Are you working harder than ever on your HMO business, but still not seeing the progress you expected? You’re not alone and this episode is here to help. We’re diving into the reasons so many HMO investors get stuck spinning plates, and the practical steps you can take to finally break through and scale towards that £10k-a-month milestone. Here’s what we cover: 01:36 – The key challenges holding your HMO business back 10:35 – Proven strategies to overcome stagnation 11:06 – Ho...
In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own journey scaling from 5 to 50 HMO rooms. I’m rewinding the clock and sharing exactly what I’d do differently if I had to do it all over again. You’ll hear the honest truth—what really worked, what I got completely wrong, and the lessons I learned the hard way. Most importantly, I’ll walk you through a practical, no-fluff playbook for growing your own HMO portfolio in a smarter, faster, and more sustainable way—without repeating my mis...
In this episode, we’re talking about when it might be the right time to sell your HMO – and why holding on to it could actually be holding you back. At some point, the decision of whether or not to sell your assets is something you'll need to give serious thought to. So today, we’ll explore the different scenarios where selling could be a smart and timely move. But to be clear – this isn’t about convincing you to sell. Far from it. It’s about helping you prepare, so that when the time does co...
In this week's episode, I’m joined by Ryan Etchells from Together. Ryan is the Chief Commercial Officer at Together, one of the UK’s leading specialist lenders. With a huge lending book, a strong appetite for HMOs, and years of experience in the sector, they really know their stuff. What you’ll discover today is that Ryan brings a unique and valuable perspective from the lender’s side of the table. He shares some brilliant insights—and, more importantly, practical advice—that could help you s...
Struggling to Get Your HMO Business Off the Ground? You're Not Alone... In this episode, we’re tackling some of the biggest challenges investors face when trying to grow their HMO businesses. If you’re finding it hard to build momentum, if costs are rising, timelines are stretching, and the numbers just don’t look as promising as you expected—this one’s for you. I’ll be breaking down the five most common strategic mistakes that I see time and time again, which could be holding you back from t...
In this episode, we’re talking about planning permission — and how you can use permitted development rights to get the most out of your property projects. I’ll explain what you can do without needing full planning, and highlight the key caveats that can limit those rights. We’ll also cover the types of projects that always require full planning permission, and the important considerations even when permission isn’t technically needed. If planning has ever felt confusing or overwhelming, you’r...