The HMO Podcast

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 mistakes.Topics covered in this episode:02:51 - Key Success Factors in Growing HMO Portfolio12:08 - Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned25:26 - What I Would Do Differently-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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, you’re in the strongest possible position to get the very best return from your HMO.Topics covered in this episode:01:21 - Understanding the Right Time to Sell Your HMO02:31 - The Importance of Selling in Property Investment04:25 - Seven Reasons to Consider Selling Your HMO19:47 - Preparing for the Sale: Building a Sellable Asset-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 strengthen your applications and build better relationships with lenders.So, if you’re finding it tough to get the results you want from a lender, or if scaling your property business has hit a financing wall, then this episode is one you don’t want to miss!Topics covered in this episode:03:13 - Understanding Together Finance and Its Unique Approach07:43 - Current Trends in HMO Lending and Market Dynamics12:45 - The Importance of Relationships with Lenders17:04 - Defining a Good Deal in the HMO Market34:54 - Case Study: A Unique HMO Investment Story-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 success you’re aiming for. More importantly, I’ll be sharing practical solutions to help you overcome these challenges and move forward with clarity and confidence.Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, don’t miss this honest and insightful discussion designed to help you build the HMO business you really want—faster and more effectively.Topics covered in this episode:01:27 - The Five Strategic Mistakes in HMO Investing03:35 - Chasing Unicorn Deals11:17 - Underestimating Pre-Commencement Costs16:24 - Outsourcing Without Understanding19:47 - Not Playing the Numbers Game22:16 - Wasting Visibility Opportunities-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 not alone — it is a complex part of property investment. But with nearly 20 years of experience, I’ll help you make sense of it. Once you know the rules, it’s far more manageable, and there are real opportunities to move faster and grow your property business.So if planning has been holding you back, this episode is for you. Topics covered in this episode:03:00 Understanding Permitted Development Rights12:01 Caveats and Restrictions in Permitted Development23:46 Navigating Conservation Areas and Planning Permissions31:11 Understanding Full Planning Permission Requirements39:36 Key Considerations Beyond Planning Permission-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 horizon. So in this episode, we unpack what that change actually means. We’re talking mortgage products, swap rates, investor sentiment, market dynamics, and that all-important question: should you fix or track your mortgage?As always, Ellie brings practical advice, real-world context, and her signature no-nonsense style. Whether you're refinancing, planning your next purchase, or just trying to stay ahead in a shifting market, this episode is packed with value.Topics covered in this episode:02:54 Base Rate Reduction and Market Reactions06:02 Fixing vs. Tracking Mortgages08:52 Current Market Dynamics and Business Volumes12:02 Rental Market Trends and Tenant Behavior14:48 Future Predictions and Economic OutlookContact Ellie here, if you’re interested in discussing your HMO mortgage and finance needs.-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 everything life throws at you, I think you’ll find this episode both relatable and insightful.Topics covered in this episode:09:02 - Career Transition From Physiotherapy to Property21:05 - Building Arcvelop Investor Group27:57 - Navigating the Challenges of Property Development31:09 - Building Credibility Through Consistency33:45 - Creating The HMO Community and The HMO Roadmap39:17 - Navigating Social Media Challenges47:09 - The Impact of Fatherhood on Business-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 exactly how I go about doing this.Topics covered in this episode:01:23 - The Importance of Finding Good Contractors03:26 - Planning Ahead for Contractor Engagement12:04 - Building a List of Potential Contractors20:35 - Preparing the Information Pack31:04 - Understanding Contracts and Agreements37:39 - Building Long-Term Relationships with Contractors-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 the landscape with clarity and confidence.Topics covered in this episode:02:31 – In-Depth Look at House Prices10:05 – Rental Market Trends & Tenant Behaviour16:08 – Interest Rates & Mortgage Updates20:11 – Key Changes in Legislation & Licensing23:03 – Broader Economic Overview25:24 – Effects on the Student Housing Market-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.

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 thinking about it—this one’s packed with useful advice. Topics covered in this episode:03:00 – Jack’s Journey into Property Development10:01 – Key Insights on Building a Property Business20:02 – The Importance of Strategic Partnerships23:48 – Funding Strategies for Growth32:14 – How to Find and Structure Profitable Deals-Did you find this episode useful? Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Got any questions? Join The HMO Community on Facebook!Connect with me on Instagram or Linkedin for daily HMO tips and advice! If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join The HMO Roadmap on a Premium plan and get all-access to our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. Get instant access here.