The Scottish Property Podcast

Alex Walker grew up in Govan with holes in his shoes and free-school-meal tickets. Determined to give his own children a different life, he worked in Glasgow’s fish market, built a business with three fish vans and later earned commission at Sky before accidentally becoming a landlord. What began with a Livingston flat he could not sell and a former council house bought for £9,000 has grown into a...

What really happens when a property deal goes wrong—and who should take responsibility? Matt Morrison returns to the podcast after completing more than 700 property deals. He also revisits a Borders investment that did not go entirely to plan, sharing his perspective on how the strategy changed from buy-to-let to serviced accommodation, why the refurbishment costs increased and what everyone invol...

Is serviced accommodation really a safer investment than a traditional buy-to-let—or does the potential for higher income come with significantly more risk? In this listener Q&A, Nick and Steven compare the predictability of vanilla buy-to-let with the fluctuating nightly rates, seasonal demand and contractor-led markets associated with serviced accommodation. They explain why buy-to-let may b...

Could a self-employed estate agent build a six-figure business without sacrificing the personal service sellers expect? Fraser Kelly, founder of Kelly Residential, joins Nick and Steven to explain how he moved from corporate sales and property sourcing into estate agency. In five years, the business has grown to an 11-person team with five self-employed agents and six operations staff, while becom...

From 6 October 2026, private and social landlords across Scotland must follow strict new timescales when damp or mould is reported: investigate within 10 working days, provide written findings within three working days and begin any required repairs within five working days of the investigation. Paul Newing of PRN Water Services joins Nick and Steven to explain Scotland’s implementation of Awaab’s...

Jordan Kynoch started investing in property at just 23, with no money, no experience and a long-term goal: to build enough freedom to be fully present when he eventually became a father. Thirteen years later, Jordan owns more than 30 properties across Scotland and Liverpool. The journey involved countless hours on the road, sleeping on building-site floors and using private investment to fund ever...

Are property flips still worth pursuing in 2026—or have rising costs and tighter margins made the strategy too difficult? In this listener Q&A episode, Nick and Steven examine the reality of flipping property in today’s market. With Scotland’s 8% Additional Dwelling Supplement, higher material prices, increased trade rates, bridging costs and tax on the eventual profit, investors now need to b...

Amy Russell has built a seven-figure property portfolio—but with her money continually being reinvested, she still describes herself as “skint”. Her biggest cash-flow scare came from a sourced property bought for £62,500. The refurbishment was expected to cost approximately £20,000 but finished closer to £30,000, with little warning from the project manager. Amy then received an £85,000 valuation—...

Scotland-wide rents have fallen slightly—but some local markets are still recording strong growth. So where is tenant demand holding up, and what should property investors take from the latest figures? In this August market update, Nick and Steven examine the latest Citylets rental data and Zoopla house-price figures. They discuss why Glasgow’s one-bedroom flats are outperforming the wider market,...

Michael Mower built his property career by taking on the projects other people avoided—from tired Glasgow flats to fire-damaged auction purchases. After years of running a stressful renovation business, he and his wife Liana decided to start building assets for themselves. That change led to successful property flips, buy-to-lets and serviced accommodation. Michael shares the numbers behind a Glas...

How can you scale a buy-to-let portfolio without leaving yourself dangerously exposed if the property market changes? In this episode, Nick and Steven discuss the risks of using 80% and 85% loan-to-value mortgages to grow a property portfolio. They explain how arrangement fees, falling valuations and changes to lending criteria could leave highly leveraged investors needing to inject substantial a...

Is Scotland heading for a property crash—or does the country’s chronic shortage of homes make that unlikely? Dr. John Boyle, Director of Research & Strategy at Rettie, joins Nick and Steven to examine the data behind Scotland’s housing emergency, house prices, rental growth and the future of the private rented sector. From Aberdeen’s dramatic fall and the 18-year property cycle to landlord exi...

What would Nick and Steven do with £40,000 to invest—and would they choose a vanilla buy-to-let over stocks and shares? In this listener Q&A episode, Nick reveals that he currently owns 12 buy-to-lets and is still aiming for a portfolio of 20 producing around £5,000 in net monthly cash flow. Steven explains why he focuses less on the number of properties he owns and more on cash flow, loan-to-...

At just 27, Ally Wilkes was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer—an experience that completely changed how she viewed time, security and the life she wanted to build. After years working in the NHS, Ally took the leap into property. She completed a flip that made just under £30,000, used the BRR strategy to build her own portfolio and eventually left her job to run ACG Property, managing renovatio...

Most investors look at a floor plan and see a two-bed. Ross McIlvean looks at the same floor plan and sees £15,000–£20,000 of hidden value nobody else spotted. 🏗️ In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Ross McIlvean of LTJ Architecture — property investor, architect, and one of the most practically useful guests to appear on the show. Ross covers everything...

He's your accountant by day and a 54-unit landlord by night. And he charges less than you'd spend on a Friday night out. 🏠 In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Matt Herbert — qualified property accountant and 54-unit investor across Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Matt covers everything from his dad being made redundant and discovering property by accide...

He built a short term let business to 70 units and 20 staff — then walked away at 29 to start from scratch. The very next day he went to view a hotel. 🏨 In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Laurence Malyon — founder of Moment aparthotel brand — for one of the most wide-ranging conversations they've had on the show. Laurence covers everything from running...

Pension funds are quietly buying up rental homes across Scotland. If buy-to-let was dying, nobody told them. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Nick and Steven are back with the June market update — running on two hours sleep after Scotland vs Brazil — covering the Prime Minister change, house prices, the rental market, the LHA rate freeze that's about to hit 45,000 households, and a £10.8 million build to rent deal in...

He had $300 to his name, sleeping on a mate's floor in Perth, Australia. Then a stranger in an empty pub changed everything — and 23 years later he owns 46 properties and manages 800 more. 🏠 In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with David Lamb — founder of Orange Sales and Lettings in the North East of England. David's journey takes in steelworks appr...

A complicated miscarriage. A goodbye in a hospital room. Two years of everything going wrong. Then they bought their first property — Claire eight months pregnant, the world in lockdown. 🏠 In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Claire and Dan MacDonald of Cladan Property — a husband and wife team who started investing in 2020 with no strategy and a sold ca...

He owns 12 properties. He lives in his mate's spare room. And he accidentally bought a Chinese restaurant from an airport while flying back from Japan. 🏠 In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Isaac Cross — a former offshore worker and CERN technician who saved £140k, came off the Scottish Property Podcast course in January, and went all in on property...

The last time Scotland launched this fund it had £60 million and it was gone in eight days. This time they've got £100 million. Nick and Steven give it two weeks. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿In this month's market update, they break down exactly how the £10k First Home Fund works, what the catches are, and why investors should be paying attention too — because when first-time buyers pile into the 80–100k mark...

No guests. No filter. Just Nick and Steven saying what everyone in property is thinking. From deal sourcers pressuring investors to buy in minutes, to buyers pulling out of flips at the last second, dodgy sourcers, LinkedIn inbox chaos, ego-driven cliques in the Scottish property community, and yes — American tipping culture at Starbucks drive-throughs. This is the Scottish Property Podcast rants...

17 years in the Royal Air Force. Iraq. Afghanistan. The Falklands. Then he walked away — 3 years short of a guaranteed pension — to go all in on property. 🏠In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Ross Orrock — deal sourcer, property investor, and one of the most honest voices in the industry. Ross doesn't just talk about wins. He talks about the Samuel...

At 23 years old, Taylor McNeillie has built a £700k property portfolio — mortgage free — while running a retail business doing over £1 million a year. And he still lives at home. 🏠 In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Taylor to hear the full story: from reselling Yeezys at 12 years old and skipping class to cop Supreme drops, to opening Empire Glasgow at...