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 valu...
Sep 17, 2025•26 min•Ep. 326
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 ther...
Sep 10, 2025•34 min•Ep. 325
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 05:44 Ma...
Sep 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 324
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 generated...
Aug 27, 2025•48 min•Ep. 323
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 worth i...
Aug 20, 2025•49 min•Ep. 322
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 for ...
Aug 13, 2025•45 min•Ep. 321
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 most i...
Aug 06, 2025•50 min•Ep. 320
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’ve a...
Jul 30, 2025•47 min•Ep. 319
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 lessons t...
Jul 23, 2025•26 min•Ep. 318
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 try...
Jul 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 317
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 Filtering 05:42 - Key Metrics for Evaluating HMO Deals 11:47 - Understanding Planning and Its Implications 17:39 - Refurbishment Costs and Their Impact on Deals These ...
Jul 09, 2025•29 min•Ep. 316
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 – How delegation and ou...
Jul 02, 2025•27 min•Ep. 315
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 mistak...
Jun 25, 2025•36 min•Ep. 314
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 come,...
Jun 18, 2025•25 min•Ep. 313
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 str...
Jun 11, 2025•41 min•Ep. 312
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 the ...
Jun 04, 2025•31 min•Ep. 311
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’re n...
May 28, 2025•48 min•Ep. 310
In this episode, I’m delighted to welcome back our trusted specialist mortgage broker — Ellie Broadhurst. If you've been tuning in for a while, you'll already know that Ellie’s insight into the lending market is second to none. She's right at the coalface, working with lenders and investors every day, and she has an incredible ability to cut through the noise and explain what’s really going on. Since our last conversation, the base rate has been reduced — something we anticipated might be on the...
May 21, 2025•28 min•Ep. 309
I’m sharing a recent conversation I had as a guest on The BEESPACE Podcast , hosted by my good friend Jade McNeil. Jade and I covered a wide range of topics—not just HMOs and property—but also the bigger-picture stuff: balancing life and business, navigating challenges, and the personal shifts that come with experiences like becoming a parent or facing health scares. It’s a really open and honest chat. If you're running a business, managing a property portfolio, or simply trying to keep up with ...
May 14, 2025•59 min•Ep. 308
Whether you're personally investing in property or not, most people understand just how challenging it can be to find reliable builders and contractors. And we all know – regardless of our experience in property – how difficult it is to keep project costs sensible and under control. But as HMO investors, we recognise that this is a crucial part of building a successful business. We need to be able to secure the best contractors at the most competitive prices. In this episode, I’m going to share ...
May 07, 2025•42 min•Ep. 307
In this episode, we’re breaking down the headlines and taking a deep dive into the data to uncover what’s really happening in the UK property and rental market. This is your April HMO Property Market Update—covering everything from house prices and mortgage rates to changes in tenant behaviour, the rental market, and new regulations. We’re covering it all in this episode. Whether you're a landlord, investor, or just keen to stay informed, this is your full market download to help you navigate th...
Apr 30, 2025•32 min•Ep. 306
In today’s episode, I’m really excited to be joined by Jack Jiggens of XP Property , a very experienced property investor and developer. Jack has learned a lot over the years, and today he’s sharing what it really takes to build a successful property business. Jack shares tips on finding deals, working with partners, and getting funding. We also talk about the ups and downs of the journey, and why being flexible and always learning is so important in this industry. If you’re in property—or think...
Apr 23, 2025•41 min•Ep. 305
They’ve won awards, they’ve grown their portfolio steadily and strategically, and they’ve done it all while raising a young family. Jake and Lucy of Innova Property—mentors at the HMO Roadmap and recently crowned HMO Property Investors of the Year at the Property Investors Awards—are back on the podcast! In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what’s been going on behind the scenes in their business. You’ll hear how they’ve continued to grow in a tough market, and the practical strate...
Apr 16, 2025•42 min•Ep. 304
In this episode, I shared the five most difficult aspects of investing in HMOs—and property in general. These are the challenges that have nearly made me quit on more than one occasion. If you’ve been investing long enough, you’ve likely faced some of these issues. By being open and honest about them, we can better prepare ourselves and realise we’re not alone in experiencing them. Knowing that others face the same struggles can give us the motivation to keep going. This episode is important bec...
Apr 09, 2025•34 min•Ep. 303
In this episode, we're revisiting a popular episode where I answered a question I’ve been asked many times: what would I do if I had to start from scratch, but with £100,000? This is a common question in our community, and while the answer depends on personal goals, resources, and limitations, I’m going to share exactly how I would approach it. I believe my method is adaptable to any situation, and I hope you find it useful and insightful. Reflecting on my own journey has been fun, and I’m excit...
Apr 02, 2025•32 min•Ep. 302
In this episode, I'm joined by community member Ranjit Singh. Ranjit is a civil engineer and he's been using his skills and insights and experience from civil engineering to help him build a HMO property business. I want to find out how he's been doing that, what challenges Ranjit has had to overcome to get where he is. We're also going to talk specifically about planning restrictions, about the changing and evolving landscape of the areas that he invests in and how he has been dealing with thes...
Mar 26, 2025•42 min•Ep. 301
In this episode, I’m joined by Kevin, a former mentee of mine, and his wife, Angelina. Together, they run a property business called Nouveau Living. And for the first time on the show, we’ll be discussing turnkey services. Most of our guests talk about how they’ve built their own property businesses, but Kevin and Angelina are taking a slightly different approach. While they’re building their own asset-based HMO portfolio, they also offer a turnkey service. We’ll explore what that looks like, co...
Mar 19, 2025•46 min•Ep. 300
Are you using private finance to grow your HMO property business? And are you combining that with high street or bank finance? If so, that's great! In principle, there's nothing wrong with this approach. However, if it's not set up or managed correctly, it can lead to some serious issues, especially when it comes to refinancing or trying to repay your private investors. In this episode, Ellie Broadhurst, our specialist mortgage broker will discuss the potential consequences of getting this wrong...
Mar 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 299
In this episode, we're doing things a bit differently. I'm joined by Sam and Alex from SO Properties —partners in business and in life. They’re wrapping up their very first HMO deal, and I’m excited to talk to them about that experience. We’ll be talking about the journey, the challenges they faced, and how they got started in the industry. But that's not all—we’re switching things up a little. Sam and Alex have some questions for me, so we’re going to have a mini Q&A session. I’ll be drawin...
Mar 05, 2025•47 min•Ep. 298
In this episode, I’m excited to bring you up to speed on everything that’s been happening in my businesses over the last few months, plus a general update as well. As many of you know, I’ve been on paternity leave recently, and when I first planned this update, I expected it to be a short episode with not much to report. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong! There’s been so much going on—tons of exciting developments and real progress. So today, I’m giving you a full update. There's a lot to co...
Feb 26, 2025•29 min•Ep. 297