Rob delves into the topic of leasehold properties and whether leasehold is a dying concept in the real estate market. He talks about the issues surrounding leasehold properties, such as escalating service charges, ground rent fees, and unscrupulous developer practices, emphasising the importance of thorough research and due diligence when considering purchasing a leasehold property, and highlighting the potential pitfalls and risks involved. KEY TAKEAWAYS Understanding the differences between le...
Apr 17, 2024•13 min•Ep. 470
Rob looks into the topic of garage conversions and whether or not planning permission is required for such projects. He explains the concept of integral garages and how they are integrated into the dwelling, and highlights the importance of checking with local councils, planning consultants, and architects to determine if planning permission is needed based on factors like covenants, Article 4 restrictions, and parking issues in the area. KEY TAKEAWAYS Garage conversions may or may not require p...
Apr 14, 2024•10 min•Ep. 469
Rob discusses recent proposals by the SNP in Scotland that could potentially impact landlords and tenants. He delves into the idea of giving tenants the legal right to keep pets and redecorate their rented homes, however, he strongly criticises the SNP's plan to ban landlords from hiking rents, citing historical evidence and economic principles that suggest such interventions are ineffective. KEY TAKEAWAYS Landlords in Scotland could potentially be banned from rent hikes under the SNP clampdown....
Apr 10, 2024•10 min•Ep. 468
Rob discusses the return of 99% loan-to-value mortgages, specifically focusing on a fee-free deal offered by Yorkshire Building Society for first-time buyers. While this may seem like a great opportunity, Rob stresses the importance of understanding the potential risks and economic factors involved in high loan-to-value mortgages. KEY TAKEAWAYS 99% loan-to-value mortgages are back, but it's crucial to consider the potential risks and implications. Yorkshire Building Society is offering a fee-fre...
Apr 07, 2024•9 min•Ep. 467
Rob delves into the topic of solar panel installations and explores why 16% of homeowners with solar panels claim that the technology isn't saving them money on their energy bills. He highlights key factors to consider when installing solar panels, such as roof space, compass position, shading, equipment placement, cabling, and living habits, emphasising the importance of proper installation and understanding how to maximise the benefits of solar panels based on individual circumstances. KEY TAK...
Apr 03, 2024•10 min•Ep. 466
Rob discusses the impact of the Tory planning reforms in the UK housing market. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has removed mandatory house building targets and reduced the land supply councils need to allocate for housing. This has led to a decrease in planning permissions and an increase in rejected applications, ultimately exacerbating the housing crisis. The episode highlights the challenges of increasing housing supply and the potential political undertones influencing these d...
Mar 31, 2024•10 min•Ep. 465
Rob discusses the council cladding chaos in the countryside, highlighting the challenges faced in balancing heritage and sustainability in property development. He focuses on a case study of a homeowner in Wiltshire who was ordered to remove £32,000 worth of cladding due to its unsympathetic appearance in a conservation area. The homeowner had installed the cladding to combat black mold and improve energy efficiency, but faced opposition from the council. The episode raises questions about the c...
Mar 28, 2024•10 min•Ep. 464
Rob discusses the government's plans to double council tax for empty homes in an effort to bring more properties into use and address housing shortages. The Department for Levelling Up is proposing to reduce the time before charging double council tax from two years to one year for empty properties. However, inherited properties will be exempt from this increase for up to 12 months to support grieving families. The Strengthened Empty Homes Premium is set to take effect in April 2024, with the in...
Mar 25, 2024•9 min•Ep. 463
Rob discusses the impact of government policies on the cost of boilers and heat pumps for homeowners, landlords, and tenants. The government's Clean Heat Market Mechanism, aimed at promoting heat pumps and reducing carbon emissions, has led to fines for boiler manufacturers if heat pump installation targets are not met. In response, boiler companies have increased their prices, passing on the cost to consumers. The episode highlights the disconnect between what the government wants and what peop...
Mar 21, 2024•10 min•Ep. 462
Roib discusses the cavity wall insulation claims scandal that has been affecting homeowners, particularly in Halifax. The episode delves into how unscrupulous companies have taken advantage of government incentives for cavity wall insulation, leading to poorly done installations and negative impacts on homes. Rob highlights the importance of doing thorough research before agreeing to any cavity wall insulation work, especially for those on benefits or low incomes. and raises questions about the ...
Mar 18, 2024•12 min•Ep. 461
Rob discusses the government's plans to introduce new controls on holiday lets starting from the summer. The aim is to make housing more affordable for local residents, but Rob questions whether these measures will effectively address the issue, highlighting the importance of increasing the supply of housing as a long-term solution to the housing crisis. KEY TAKEAWAYS The government is looking to introduce new controls on holiday lets from this summer to help local people afford housing in their...
Mar 14, 2024•10 min•Ep. 460
Rob examines into the recent announcement by Michael Gove regarding the ban on no-fault evictions by the next election. With a critical eye, he questions the government's motives behind this decision, suggesting it may be driven by a desire to secure votes rather than genuinely improving the rental system. KEY TAKEAWAYS Government's Motive for Banning No-Fault Evictions : Robquestions the government's motive behind the decision to ban no-fault evictions, suggesting it may be driven by a desire t...
Mar 11, 2024•9 min•Ep. 459
Rob looks into the repercussions of rent controls in Scotland, highlighting the imminent challenges faced by tenants and landlords alike. He dissects the government's decision to implement price controls and the subsequent impact on the housing market. KEY TAKEAWAYS Rent controls in Scotland are set to expire in April, leading to potential rent hikes and mass evictions. The imbalance between housing supply and demand in Scotland, similar to the rest of the UK, is a key factor driving rent increa...
Mar 07, 2024•9 min•Ep. 458
Rob looks into the government's plans to scrap size limits for heat pumps and electric car chargers, highlighting the potential impact of these changes on noise pollution and the challenges faced by homeowners in installing heat pumps. KEY TAKEAWAYS The government are planning on scrapping size limits for heat pumps and electric car chargers under new government plans. The government are looking into installation of bigger units without planning permission to minimise noise pollution. We also ha...
Mar 04, 2024•8 min•Ep. 457
Rob delves into the declining trend of construction cranes in the US and its potential implications for the commercial property sector. With a critical eye, he highlights the significance of this shift, suggesting that it may signal challenging times ahead for the economy. KEY TAKEAWAYS The decline in construction cranes in major US cities signals potential challenges in the commercial property sector. Decrease in construction activity in the US may foreshadow similar trends in the UK commercial...
Feb 29, 2024•8 min•Ep. 456
Rob dissects the recent UK inflation figures and shedding light on the discrepancies in the reported data, unraveling the flaws and limitations of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and mainstream media's portrayal of inflation. KEY TAKEAWAYS Rob highlights the limitations of the reported inflation figures, pointing out that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) does not account for essential expenses like fuel, mortgages, and rent, leading to a potentially underestimated inflation rate. Inflation tends to...
Feb 26, 2024•8 min•Ep. 455
Rob delves into the pressing issue of social housing and its impact on health. The episode begins by discussing the Housing Ombudsman's call for a reestablished link between housing and health, shedding light on the alarming statistics surrounding the conditions of social housing. Rob expresses frustration at the lack of mainstream media coverage on the topic, emphasising the severity of the situation faced by social housing tenants. KEY TAKEAWAYS Social housing sector faces significant challeng...
Feb 22, 2024•12 min•Ep. 454
Rob discusses the recent changes introduced by the government regarding planning permission and permitted development for solar panels. He explains that homeowners can now install solar panels on their roofs without going through the lengthy process of planning permission, but only under certain circumstances. However, there are limitations to this new rule, as it only applies to flat roofs, which not everyone has. Additionally, even if you have a flat roof, the panels still need to be angled co...
Feb 19, 2024•9 min•Ep. 453
Rob highlights three new net zero measures introduced by the government that may impact landlords and homeowners. The first measure is an increase in the grant for boiler upgrades, specifically for heat source pumps, from £5,000 to £7,500. However, Rob questions the effectiveness of this grant considering the high cost of installing heat pumps. The second measure is the delay of the ban on installing oil, LPG boilers, and new coal heating for off-grid homes from 2026 to 2035. Rob argues that thi...
Feb 15, 2024•11 min•Ep. 452
Rob discusses the current situation in the Scottish housing market where Scottish councils are proposing to raise rents by as much as 8.4% to cover their costs, while private landlords are constrained by rent caps. Rob highlights the unfairness of this situation, as landlords face high mortgage rates and are unable to take advantage of the rent cap loophole. The episode explores the consequences of these policies, including landlords selling their properties and decreasing the supply of rental h...
Feb 12, 2024•10 min•Ep. 451
Rob talks about the three essential reasons why rents are rising, challenging the mainstream media's portrayal of landlords and delving into the economic factors driving the increase in rents. KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the main reasons for rising rents is the decrease in supply caused by landlords leaving the market. This imbalance between supply and demand leads to an increase in rental prices. Access to home ownership has become more expensive due to higher mortgage rates. As a result, more people ...
Feb 08, 2024•10 min•Ep. 450
Rob discusses the recent scrapping of the new energy efficiency rules for rental properties in England, highlighting the impact this decision has on property portfolios and the rental market. Rob explains that the implementation of energy efficiency rules created uncertainty and led to landlords selling off their properties, reducing the housing supply and contributing to rent increases. While the decision may mean that tenants will continue to rent properties with poor energy efficiency, it pro...
Feb 05, 2024•11 min•Ep. 449
Rob is joined by Chris Grant, an experienced property investor with a portfolio worth over £10 million. Chris shares his journey in the property industry, from starting as an estate agent to building his own portfolio through flips and investments. The focus of the episode is on the topic of rent-to-rent and rent-to-rent service accommodation, which Chris refers to as a ticking time bomb. He highlights the potential risks and liabilities that landlords may face when entering into rent-to-rent ag...
Feb 01, 2024•32 min•Ep. 448
Rob interviews Kevin Whelan, an economist, author, and founder of Wealth Builders. Kevin is an expert on SSAS pensions and shares valuable insights on tax-efficient pension strategies. He explains the difference between a SSAS and SIPP's, highlighting the benefits of using a SSAS to build wealth and become financially independent. Kevin discusses various strategies, such as the buy, borrow, and bridge strategies, that can be used within a SSAS to invest in property and generate income. He also e...
Jan 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 447
Rob and special guest, guest Sarah Poynton-Ryan discuss debt reduction, debt management, and Sarah's personal journey from financial struggles to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the property industry. Sarah shares her experiences of starting a photo booth business, facing debt and business challenges, and ultimately finding success through property investment. She emphasises the importance of understanding money mechanics and differentiating between good and bad debt. Sarah also highlights...
Jan 25, 2024•37 min•Ep. 446
Property investor Mark Winship of Gateway Accommodation shares his journey from elite sports coaching to property investment. Mark discusses how his background in coaching tennis and performance coaching has influenced his approach to property. He explains the concept of apart hotels, which are converted guest houses that offer self-catering facilities and automated self-check-in. Mark also shares his experience with planning applications and the importance of building a strong power team. KEY T...
Jan 22, 2024•33 min•Ep. 445
Rob is joined by Marc Champ of Wharf Financial, to discuss their predictions for the year 2024. They start by highlighting the positive signs in the property market, such as reduced interest rates and increased activity. They also mention the expectation of a decrease in the base rate and the potential impact of political events on the economy. They then go through a series of predictions, including inflation rates, the Bank of England base rate, the Prime Minister, average house prices, the US ...
Jan 18, 2024•21 min•Ep. 444
Rob talks about the growing national debt in the UK and its potential consequences, drawing parallels between the current situation and the financial challenges faced by Britain in the 1970s. Rob highlights the unsustainable path of increasing debt, rising inflation, and mounting public debt, and discusses the possibility of a debt reset and the potential return to a gold standard. KEY TAKEAWAYS Britain's debt is a ticking time bomb that is increasing and becoming unsustainable. The current debt...
Jan 15, 2024•17 min•Ep. 443
Rob shares various strategies and actions that listeners can take to improve their financial well-being in the coming years, and explores two assumptions: one for listeners who have no property and suggest acquiring property as a first step towards building wealth and security, and another assumption for those who already have a buy-to-let portfolio and encourage diversification into other property strategies and income streams. KEY TAKEAWAYS Building wealth and security in 2024 requires taking ...
Jan 11, 2024•18 min•Ep. 442
Rob delves into the key differences between landlords and property investors, highlighting three main areas of distinction: role and focus, income generation, and involvement and time commitment. Landlords primarily focus on property management and rental income, while property investors have a broader spectrum of investment strategies. Landlords rely on rental payments as their main source of income, whereas property investors may also generate income through selling properties, mentoring, or o...
Jan 08, 2024•10 min•Ep. 441
