The HMO Podcast

This week's episode is a little different. I recently joined Dan Hill for a Six Rounds episode of The Blueprint Podcast, where the format is simple: six surprise topics, no preparation, and no idea what's coming next. It made for a really honest conversation as we shared our thoughts on property investing, entrepreneurship, AI, the UK economy and what it really takes to build long-term w...

Most investors focus on finding the perfect deal. But after nearly 20 years of investing, I've learned that long-term success has far less to do with chasing the biggest returns and far more to do with building the right strategy. In this special episode, I join Ant Lyons from Your Property Network (YPN) for an honest conversation about how my approach to property investing has evolved, why I...

Property development can be an incredible way to build wealth, but it's also one of the toughest paths in real estate. The challenge isn't just finding great opportunities, it's building a business that can consistently create capital, generate cash flow, and give you the freedom to scale. In this episode, I sit down with one of my mentees, property developer and investor Jon Fish ,...

Most property investors don't struggle because they can't analyse deals. They struggle because they don't know how to make a decision once the analysis is done. Should you buy it? Are you paying too much? Have you missed something important? Or are you simply stuck in analysis paralysis? In this episode, I share the exact 9-step decision-making framework I use to assess property opp...

Finding great HMO deals has become harder over the last few years, but creating enough value to recycle your capital and continue growing your portfolio is arguably an even bigger challenge. In this episode, I sit down with our specialist mortgage finance expert Ellie Broadhurst to discuss what's happening in the lending market right now and where opportunities still exist for investors looki...

It’s been a challenging few months in the property market. Rising tenant arrears, stubborn interest rates, contractor failures, affordability pressures, and continued uncertainty around legislation are creating new challenges for landlords and investors across the UK. In this episode, I pull back the curtain and share a completely honest update on what's happening inside my own businesses rig...

Most investors hear the words “Article 4” and immediately assume the opportunity has gone. But the reality is very different. Some of the strongest and most valuable HMO markets in the UK are under Article 4 directions, and experienced investors are still buying in these areas every single day. In this episode, I break down what Article 4 actually means, why so many investors misunderstand it, and...

Building a property portfolio is one thing, but scaling into larger commercial projects is a completely different challenge altogether. The numbers get bigger, the risks increase, and suddenly every decision carries a lot more weight. It’s no longer just about buying another property. You need to understand finance, planning, construction, risk management, and how to create projects that genuinely...

Most people think successful property investing is all about knowledge, deals, or finance. But after nearly 20 years in property, I’ve realised the investors who consistently succeed operate very differently from everyone else. In this episode, I break down the five key traits I see in the most successful property investors - the habits, mindsets, and behaviours that help them spot opportunities,...

Ever wondered why a deal that looks great on paper still ends up underperforming? After reviewing over a thousand HMO deals, I can tell you - it’s rarely bad luck. It’s the same mistakes showing up again and again. In this episode, I break down exactly where investors are going wrong. Not with complex, unpredictable issues but with the fundamentals. The assumptions, the numbers, and the gap betwee...

Ever feel like the rules of the game have changed overnight and you’re not quite sure how to keep up? With the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force, that’s exactly where many landlords and investors find themselves right now. The landscape is shifting fast, and what worked before simply won’t cut it anymore. In this episode, I break down what this new era really looks like for HMO investors - not...

Ever feel like you’re putting in the work but getting nowhere? I see it happen all the time. Investors make great progress early on, build momentum, and then suddenly things slow down. Deals dry up, raising finance feels harder, distractions creep in, and before long, frustration and doubt start to take over. In this episode, I break down exactly what a plateau really looks like, why it happens, a...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most important and most misunderstood parts of HMO investing: valuations and revaluations. Now, if you’re buying HMOs, adding value, and relying on pulling your money back out to go again, then your valuation at the end of a deal is absolutely critical. It’s what determines how much capital you’ve got to reinvest and ultimately how quickly you can s...

Building and scaling a HMO business can look great from the outside, but when you’re actually in it, the reality is very different.  Costs increase, challenges come from every direction, and the margin for error gets smaller the bigger you go. It’s no longer just about finding a deal that works on paper. You need to manage risk, build in contingency, and create assets that perform over the long te...

In today’s episode, I’m unpacking what’s really happening in the property market right now and how I’m personally navigating a rapidly changing environment. Just a few weeks ago, things were starting to feel stable again. Inflation was easing, rates were coming down, and confidence was returning. But with rising global instability, that picture has shifted quickly. Rates are climbing again, uncert...

The HMO market can feel increasingly uncertain when you’re in the middle of it. Regulation is tightening, standards are rising, tenants have more power, and the margin for error is getting smaller. It’s no longer enough to create a property that works on day one - landlords need HMOs that can stand up to scrutiny, perform over the long term, and remain profitable for years to come. In this episode...

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down one of the most important and often overlooked skills in property investing: knowing when to walk away from a deal. Many investors know how to analyse a deal. They can model yields, cash flow, refinance projections, and ROI. But long-term portfolio performance isn’t determined by how many deals you do or how profitable they look on paper. It’s determined by th...

The market can feel uncertain when you’re in the middle of it. House prices move in small increments, rents start to soften, lenders shift appetite quietly behind the scenes, and it becomes harder to know whether things are improving or whether that’s just wishful thinking. In this episode, I sit down with mortgage and finance expert Ellie Broadhurst to unpack what’s really happening in the proper...

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down one of the most misunderstood aspects of property investing: risk - where it actually sits in your HMO deals, how it stacks up, and how professional investors manage exposure before they commit. Risk isn’t something to fear or avoid entirely. It’s embedded into every return we chase. Higher yields exist because something could go wrong. The real question isn’t...

Property can look straightforward from the outside. Find a deal, add value, refinance, repeat. But anyone who’s actually building a business in this market knows it’s rarely that simple. In this episode, I sit down with Adriana Cafasso , an investor operating in the North East who’s scaling both her own portfolio and a high-volume, end-to-end investment business. She’s not watching from the sideli...

Let’s be honest, going into 2026 there’s been a lot of noise in property and not much clarity. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Lucian Cook , Head of Residential Research at Savills and one of the most respected data voices in the UK housing market, for a clear-eyed conversation about where things actually stand as we move through 2026. Lucian has spent his entire career in property, starting as...

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a business update and giving you a real look at what’s happening inside my portfolio and wider businesses as I head into 2026. This year isn’t about experimenting or chasing new ideas. It’s about execution, efficiency and tightening what’s already been built. I talk through how changes in my personal capacity have reshaped my role, why focus and discipline have beco...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Russell Quirk, a well-known property expert and one of the UK property industry’s most outspoken commentators, for a straight-talking conversation about where the housing market is really heading. Russell started as an estate agent at 16 in his family business, went on to run his own traditional agency, and later founded Emoov, one of the UK’s first online estate...

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the real role mentorship plays in building a successful HMO business - what it actually does, when it makes sense, and how it can materially change your results if used properly. Mentorship isn’t a silver bullet. It won’t magically fix a broken strategy or replace hard work. But used at the right time and in the right way, it can dramatically improve decision-...

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down my 16-step Find to Fill process - the exact system I use to take an HMO project from identifying the right property through to launching it and filling rooms fast. If HMOs were as simple as buy, refurb, advertise, and move tenants in, far fewer investors would be dealing with delays, budget overruns, planning issues, and long voids. In reality, most problems d...