

The Property Podcast
Rob Bence and Rob Dix from The Property Hub
The Property Podcast from Property Hub (propertyhub.net) is the podcast for all property investors – new or experienced. Rob Bence and Rob Dix discuss a different property topic and property news item each week, passing on their knowledge and experience to the listeners. They both invest in UK Property so they practise what they preach. No hard sell, no bull just straight talking property investment advice!
Episodes
Mentioned books

5 snips
Nov 19, 2020 • 24min
TPP401: What are property funds and why do they attract billions of investment? (Plus: CGT bombshell?)
Dive into the world of property funds and discover how they allow you to invest in real estate without the hassles of ownership. Explore the benefits like diversification and reduced risk, while also weighing the emotional toll of fluctuating investments. Learn about the differences between open-ended and closed-ended funds, and what Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) can offer. The discussion also touches on potential capital gains tax changes, making it a vital listen for both seasoned investors and newcomers eager for simpler investment strategies.

Nov 17, 2020 • 9min
ASK262: Should I use bridging or a mortgage for this project? PLUS: How do I fire my agent?
Last week we had a question on using bridging finance and this week on Ask Rob & Rob we’ve got another. Kicking things off this week is Marika. The strategy she’s looking at is flips. So she’s looking to purchase a property that needs a substantial renovation before selling it once the work is completed. She’s been looking at getting a bridging loan, however she’s worried that once the refurb is complete, the market will collapse. By which point she won’t be able to, or want to, sell the property and getting a buy-to-let mortgage might be difficult. So, right now should she be looking at a standard buy-to-let mortgage instead of a bridging loan? Next up we’ve got Claire. Since listening to The Property Podcast Claire has taken the plunge into the property investment world and has acquired three properties over the last 18 months - well done, Claire! Claire self manages the most recent property and the other two are with a management company. However, she’s come to realise after speaking to her tenants that the management company aren’t handling things in the correct way. So now Claire wants to take on the other two properties and self manage them all. But, how does she go about relieving the management company of her two properties without getting into a legal battle or being held liable for anything? Can Claire just simply fire her management company or is there a specific protocol she needs to follow? Tune in to find out. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 12, 2020 • 23min
TPP400: Our investment journeys: Surprising changes and why you need to adapt
It’s episode 400! So we’re taking a look at Rob & Robs property investment journeys The Robs property investment journeys have been going for much longer than 400 episodes. But what have they experienced along the way? Luckily for you, The Robs are sharing their investment journeys with you as well as their experience. So when you make your own mistakes, not only will you learn from them, you’ll also profit from them. Here’s what to expect on this week’s property podcast episode Not only are Rob & Rob sharing their personal story and what they’ve learnt, they’re also taking a look at what’s changed in the property market over the last eight years. When you hit a milestone like 400 podcast episodes, it’s a good time to reflect and take a look back on where you’ve come from. So here’s what The Robs are taking a look at in this week’s episode: The 18-year property cycle Is the 18-year property cycle still on track or will there be a crash in 2021? In this past podcast The Robs shared how to predict future property prices. Is that still the case? Never sell a property In the early days of The Property Podcast this was a firm opinion of Rob & Rob. You can even listen to that podcast episode here. Even Robert Kiyosaki said the same thing not so long ago on The Property Podcast. Is that still the case? Plus… Rob & Rob will also be discussing assets and the top performing cities. What were they 400 episodes ago and what are they now? Tune in to find out. In the news This week we’re talking about what others seem to have missed: ‘Bank of England pumps more stimulus into economy in bumper QE round’. Another £150 billion of QE has been pumped into the economy which is just crazy. Back in 2009 of the financial crash, £200 billion of QE was put into the economy, and we all know how bad we thought that was. In total, the amount of QE in 2020 as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic has totaled £450 billion.More than double the amount of the 08/09 financial crisis! We can’t get over why this hasn’t been made more of a big deal. If you’re interested in QE then go back to this podcast episode where Rob & Rob discuss how it impacts property prices. Hub extra This week for Hub Extra, we’ve got a bit of a follow on. Previously Rob D has recommended a book called ‘A Bit of a Stretch’ by Chris Atkins which took the title of his favourite book of the year. But now there’s a new podcast with the same name and on the same topic. So, if you didn’t read the book, give ‘A Bit of a Stretch - The Podcast’ a listen. Let’s get social We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. Make sure you’ve liked and subscribed to our YouTube channel where we upload new content every week! If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 10, 2020 • 9min
ASK261: Should we remortgage our home to raise investment funds? PLUS: Is £20k enough to get started with?
It’s Tuesday and that means The Robs are back for another episode of Ask Rob & Rob. First up this week we’ve got Jason and Stacie. They’re considering setting up a limited company with the goal to have around 20 buy-to-let properties in six to eight years. They want each property to bring in a £200 profit, once they’ve deducted all costs from the income. At the moment they have £10,000 in savings and their own residential property where they owe £72,000 on their mortgage, and the property has been valued at £120,000. They’re wondering which option is best for them. Remortgaging their home to release the equity, or use that equity as a deposit for bridging finance and remortgage the buy-to-let property, in order to repay the bridging finance? Now we know Rob & Rob are all about using leverage, but what do they think about bridging finance? Our second question this week is from Dave. He’s doing the background work on wanting to buy his first property investment and he wants to know if £20,000 is enough money to get started? However, he’s wondering if this is even realistic as even the cheaper properties require refurbishing which naturally costs money. So, is it possible to start your property investment journey with £20,000? Tune in to find out. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 5, 2020 • 18min
TPP399: November market update
Here’s what the November market update has in store for you Lockdown begins. We all go on a mortgage holiday. Boris promises a new mortgage product. Surveyors downvalue properties by 20%, but the experts say the market is on the up! And that’s not even the half of it. There’s so much to cover on the November market update, we could be here all week. Here’s what to expect on this week’s property podcast episode To wet your taste buds, here’s a brief overview of what Rob & Rob are discussing on the November market update: The new lockdown Extension of the mortgage holiday Evictions have been delayed again Boris is bringing back 95% mortgages Stamp duty backlog Down-valuations House prices Lloyds house price forecast There’s certainly plenty to get through this month. So make sure you’re comfy as we dive straight into the November market update. Coming soon We’re excited to announce that from next week we’ll be bringing you brand new weekly webinars that are completely free. These webinars cover everything you need to know about getting started in property. You may be thinking, ‘how is this any different to all the other free content you’ve shared around this?’ Well, these webinars will bring you a framework to work off and give you the opportunity to ask questions you’ve always wanted answering. If you’re new to property and are wondering how you get started, or even if you’ve been doing it for a while but feel like you’re lacking direction and strategy, this is the webinar for you. It covers everything you could possibly want and need to know. They’ll be running three times a week at various different times so you’re bound to find a time that suits you. If you’d like to secure your free virtual place for next week, go and do it right now, right here. Let’s get social We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. Make sure you’ve liked and subscribed to our YouTube channel where we upload new content every week! If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 3, 2020 • 7min
ASK260: Has the mortgage market changed or am I just unlucky? PLUS: I want to buy in London, but I know it’s not the best investment – what should I do?
Welcome back to another fantastic episode of Ask Rob & Rob! Kicking off the podcast this week we’ve got Alex from London who has a question regarding mortgages. She’s been struggling to get one at a 75% loan to value rate. Her broker has informed her that’s where the market is at and she’ll have more options at 70%. Is this the case, or is her broker steering her in the wrong direction? Next up we’ve got Rosa who has a question about buying in London. She knows that she 100% wants to own her own property in London as that’s where she was born and raised. However, she’s aware that investing in London probably isn’t the smartest of moves right now. So, can Rob & Rob offer Rosa some advice on a compromise between getting what she wants and making a smart investment? Tune in to find out. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 29, 2020 • 22min
TPP398: Getting your property let during lockdown
Getting your property let is key to being a successful landlord But when it comes to getting your property let during lockdown, that’s a bit trickier. So why not try and turn this situation on it’s head and make the most of a bad situation? We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again... in times like this you need to innovate and adapt to the challenges you face. You need to work smarter and harder. And, if you do this now and continue to do it when the world goes back to some form of normality, you’ll be in an even stronger position. Here’s what to expect on this week’s property podcast episode If you’ve got a property that you’re struggling to get let, or you’ve just had a tenant that’s handed in their notice, fear not. This week on The Property Podcast, The Robs are giving you their tips and tricks on getting your property let, each and every time. In this episode the guys are going to take a look at what you need to do before, during and after marketing your property. Keen to find out what the top tips are for getting your property let? Tune in to find out. In the news If you’re not a fan of fury friends then you may not like the news story we have for you this week. ‘MP launches Bill to outlaw pet discrimination by landlords’. The aim behind this Bill is to stop landlords from outright refusing a tenant application who owns a pet. Now they’re not saying you have to allow people with pets, but you will have to consider them like you would anyone else. As you can probably imagine, this hasn’t gone down too well with landlords. In some cases, landlords would charge a higher deposit to a tenant with pets in the event of any damage. But now you can’t even do that due to the five week deposit cap. Whether or not this Bill will pass, we’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, there is a thread on this topic over on the forum so make sure you head over there and give your views on the matter. Hub Extra This week, Rob B has got a couple of book recommendations for you. These books are ideal for anyone who runs a business, is high up in a business or just simply wants to understand business. They are, Rockefeller Habits and Delivering Happiness. Both books are very different. Rockefeller Habits will give you an idea on how to run a business and Delivering Happiness will guide you on how you can deliver a great service. Let’s get social We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. Make sure you’ve liked and subscribed to our YouTube channel where we upload new content every week! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 27, 2020 • 7min
ASK259: My house isn’t selling – should I cut the price? PLUS: Will cladding issues affect my remortgage?
Welcome back to Ask Rob & Rob! It’s Tuesday, and that means we’ve got another two property questions that need answering. First up this week we’ve got Pauline from Gothenburg in Sweden! She has a property in the UK which she purchased 5-6 years ago thinking it would be her forever family home. The property is in a rural part of Scotland where demand isn’t that high in terms of renting or purchasing. It’s been on the market since the beginning of lockdown and it’s just not selling. The agent has now suggested that Pauline turn it into a rental. However, she already has four other rental properties in other parts of Scotland that have the fundamentals, whereas the location of this property, doesn't really have the rental fundamentals needed to make it a success. So now she’s wondering if she should drastically drop her asking price and take a loss, or if she should put it on the rental market? Next we’ve got Jeremy who’s got a concern about his potential remortgage offers. He’s got a couple of apartments in developments that have cladding issues, following on from the Grenfell disaster. Now Jeremy is wondering if the cladding is going to cause issues for him, should he want to remortgage? More so if he’s looking to pull money out of the properties and refinance. So, will cladding issues affect the ability to remortgage? Tune in to find out. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 22, 2020 • 19min
TPP397: We reveal the area with the worst rental arrears in the UK (and two big news stories)
What impact has coronavirus had on rental arrears? It’s safe to say that coronavirus has had the opposite effect on house prices than what we originally thought it would. But what about rental arrears? Understandably, tenants have struggled more than ever to pay their rent. The government has even put in considerable measures to stop you from taking action against those tenants. But what impact has the coronavirus actually had on rent arrears? Here’s what to expect on this week’s property podcast episode There’s been a lot of contradicting surveys out there which makes it harder to actually know what the real impact has been. But Rob & Rob have recently come across a report from Pay Prop which gets into this data - and that’s what The Robs are going to be picking apart. The data looks at actual transactions from thousands of different tenants, so you can guarantee it to be more reliable than the numerous surveys asking landlords for their individual thoughts. While the effects of coronavirus are being felt across the country, this led us into looking at tenant arrears as a whole. If you’re a long-time listener, you’ll know that choosing where to invest is one of the most important things you need to consider when investing in property. Because, believe it or not, there are a few areas in particular where a huge one in four tenants are in arrears. Where are these areas? That’s exactly what Rob & Rob are discussing on today’s episode. Tune in to find out. In the news Maybe it’s the time of year, but we’ve come across one news headline that’s terrified us. ‘Boris Johnson’s 95% mortgages will put Britain back on course for a house price crash’. Like Rob B, many others thought it was going to support the market when in actual fact it’s going to cause a crash! However, like all good headlines, there is one major factor that The Guardian have missed out of this story. The fact that 95% mortgages will first bring about a property boom and then a crash. Which shouldn’t surprise you if you know how the 18-year property cycle works. There’s a crash after every boom. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve found another headline which might not seem as interesting, but has the potential to be a bigger story. ‘John Lewis to build and furnish private rental properties’. The standard of the rental market seems to constantly be upping its game. And it seems that John Lewis wants a piece of the pie. The owners of the company also own Waitrose and therefore already own a lot of land and they want 40% of their annual income to come from somewhere other than retail. Hence why they’re turning to property. Not only will all properties be furnished with John Lewis furniture, there will also be a food delivery service for tenants from Waitrose. These are certainly going to be high-end properties. Hub Extra Do you hate cookies? No, not the biscuit kind. The ones that pop up on every website you visit. Well, so does Rob B and after moaning about it to Rob D, he was introduced to this nifty little tool. It’s a browser extension called I don’t care about cookies. It works across all major browsers, simply just install it and the majority of those annoying pop ups will be blocked. So now the only cookies you need to concentrate on are those that you’re dunking into your brew. Let’s get social We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. Make sure you’ve liked and subscribed to our YouTube channel where we upload new content every week! If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 20, 2020 • 6min
ASK258: How can I get a buy-to-let mortgage with no income? PLUS: Is Cardiff good for property investment?
This week on Ask Rob & Rob we’re talking about buy-to-let mortgages with no income and whether Cardiff is a good investment hotspot. So, our first question this week is from Michelle. Michelle and her partner now have the money to invest in property and they think that now or January 2021 is the perfect time to purchase their first buy-to-let property. They’re not currently married and at the moment Michelle is a stay at home mum, but she does have a professional background. She doesn’t have a mortgage in her name, so therefore thinks it makes sense to put the investment property in her name to avoid stamp duty costs. Her partner is also a 40% tax payer so it also makes sense for the rental income to come through Michelle. But what Michelle now wants to know is, how can she get a mortgage without an income? Is it even possible? The second question this week has come in from Alex. He currently lives and invests in Cardiff as he believes it has all the fundamentals. Alex has noticed that Rob & Rob have never touched on Cardiff, or any city in Wales for that matter, on any of the podcasts. So he’s now wondering if that’s because The Robs don’t see Wales as a good investment location, or just because there are better opportunities in other cities. Do Rob & Rob just not like Wales? Or is there a reason they’ve never chosen a Welsh city as one of their property hotspots? Tune in to find out. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.