The HMO Podcast

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 property market as we head through the first quarter of 2026. 

Ellie works at the sharp end of specialist lending, so this isn’t theory or headline-chasing - it’s a practical look at what she’s seeing from mortgage approvals, refinancing activity, lender behaviour and investor sentiment right now.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• What recent lender behaviour could tell us about the direction of the market
• How interest rates, inflation, and sentiment are shaping opportunities for HMO investors
• How EPC ratings could unlock better lending terms and why many investors are missing out
• The growing risks around Article 4, planning evidence, and refinancing HMO properties

If you’re buying, refinancing, or planning your next move in the HMO market, this episode will help you understand where things stand now and what to watch closely in the months ahead.

Contact Ellie here, if you’re interested in discussing your HMO mortgage and finance needs.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• Join my Accelerator Programme: If you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can watch this video or book a complimentary strategy call with me here.
• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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 “Is this risky?” it’s “Is the reward sufficient given the exposure?”

This episode is about structure and discipline. I walk through the four core risk categories in HMO investing, share real examples of deals that escalated due to poor planning, and explain how to build a practical risk register that protects your capital, your relationships, and your long-term business.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• The four core risk categories in HMO investing
• Why risk stacking - not single events - is what sinks most deals
• How to stress-test valuations, refinance assumptions, and timelines properly
• The difference between mitigation strategies and contingency planning
• How to build and use a risk register before you exchange or commit funding

If you’re analysing a deal right now or about to commit to one, this episode will help you think more strategically about exposure, resilience, and long-term durability.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• Join my Accelerator Programme: If you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can watch this video or book a complimentary strategy call with me here.
• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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 sidelines - she’s actively acquiring, refurbishing and structuring HMO and mixed-use projects in a market that’s becoming more competitive and more regulated by the month.

We talk about how she moved from law into property during lockdown, the early setback that could easily have knocked her out of the game, and what changed in her approach as she moved from “trying to do a deal” to building a proper operation with the right partners and systems around her.

This is a practical conversation about execution, decision-making and staying consistent when results don’t come overnight.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• What it really takes to build and scale an HMO business in 2026
• The hard lessons Adriana learned from an early deal that went wrong
• Why consistency and visibility can create opportunities before you feel “ready”
• What “good sourcing” looks like (and why most deal packs aren’t good enough)
• The key ingredients of a strong HMO deal: cash flow, capital recycle, and location fundamentals
• What Adriana is seeing on the ground in the North East and how she’s adapting to the market

If you’re building or planning to build a HMO portfolio in today’s environment, this episode offers a realistic perspective from someone actively doing the work.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• Join my Accelerator Programme: If you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can watch this video or book a complimentary strategy call with me here.
• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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 a chartered surveyor before moving into research just ahead of the global financial crisis. Since then, he’s analysed every major shift the market has thrown at us, from the credit crunch to the pandemic boom, and now the biggest rental reform in a generation.

We talk about what’s structurally changed in the housing market, why regulation and tax policy have reshaped the role of the landlord, and how investors should really think about cycles, sentiment, and supply without getting pulled around by headlines.

This isn’t about predictions for the sake of it. It’s about understanding the forces at play, what the data is actually saying, and what that means if you’re making decisions with your own capital.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• How the housing market has structurally shifted over the past two decades
• Why simplistic “property cycle” narratives can be misleading
• The few core indicators that really matter right now
• What rental reform could mean for supply and investor behaviour
• Where opportunity might sit for patient, long-term operators

If you’re trying to stay disciplined and informed in a market that feels noisy, this episode will help you step back and think more clearly.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• Join my Accelerator Programme: If you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can watch this video or book a complimentary strategy call with me here.
• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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 become non-negotiable, and how better execution is already translating into stronger performance.

I share what’s been working, what hasn’t gone to plan, and why touching on portfolio performance, operational pressure, refinancing, live development projects and the reality of running a property business at scale.

If you’re building or scaling an HMO business and want a grounded, behind-the-scenes update that reflects the real challenges and decisions involved, this episode will give you clarity and reassurance that this is all part of the process.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• Join my Accelerator Programme: If you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can watch this video or book a complimentary strategy call with me here.
• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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 agencies. Today, he works behind the scenes with some of Britain’s biggest property brands and is known for his candid, often controversial views on landlords, renters, and housing policy.

We cover how being a landlord has changed over the last decade, what recent legislation really means in practice, and why the conversation around property is becoming more political than ever. No hype, no fear-mongering - just honest insight from someone who’s seen the industry from every angle.

If you’re an investor trying to make sense of the noise and think clearly about the future, this is an episode you’ll want to listen to.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• How the role of the landlord has fundamentally changed over the past decade
• The real (and often overlooked) consequences of the Renters’ Rights Act
• Why landlords have become political “pantomime villains” 
• How regulation, tax, and ideology are reshaping the private rental sector
• What this all means for rents, tenants, and housing supply over the next five years
• Why HMOs need a PR reset and how professional operators can stand out

👉 If you want clarity on your own HMO strategy and what your next move should be, you can book a Strategy Call with me here.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• Join my Accelerator Programme: If you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can watch this video or book a complimentary strategy call with me here.
• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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-making, reduce risk, and accelerate progress. Most costly mistakes in property don’t come from bad intentions - they come from lack of clarity, poor sequencing, and limited experience.

This episode is about perspective and precision. I walk through the five core benefits of mentorship, real-world examples of how the right guidance saves time and money, who mentorship is (and isn’t) for, and how to make a considered choice about who you should learn from.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• The five core benefits mentorship brings to an HMO business
• How better decisions and risk reduction change long-term outcomes
• When mentorship makes sense and when it’s too early
• How to choose the right mentor and avoid expensive mistakes

If you’re committed to building or scaling an HMO portfolio and want to accelerate results while avoiding unnecessary errors, this episode will give you clarity on whether mentorship should be part of your journey.

And if you’d like my direct input on your current or next project, you can book a complimentary strategy call with me here.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

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 don’t come from the market - they come from missed or poorly sequenced steps earlier in the process.

This episode is about clarity and control. I explain the full Find to Fill sequence, the steps investors most often overlook, and why getting the order right is what separates smooth, profitable projects from stressful, expensive ones.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• The 16-step framework I use to manage HMO projects end to end
• How to reduce risk, control costs, and speed projects up
• What needs to happen before you go to market so rooms fill quickly

If you’re building, scaling, or systemising an HMO portfolio, this episode will help you run your projects with far more confidence and predictability.

And if you want my direct input on your current or next project, you can book a complimentary strategy call with me here.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

As we step into 2026, there’s no shortage of opinions about what the property market is going to do next. Some people are calling for a boom, others are predicting a crash. 

So in today’s episode, I’m laying out how I genuinely think 2026 will play out for HMO investors based on the data, the conversations I’m having across the market, and my own experience of building and operating HMOs at scale.

This episode is about clarity. It’s about cutting through the extremes and understanding why a steady market is often the best environment to build a serious HMO business. I talk about what’s likely to happen with rents, house prices, tenant behaviour, lending, regulation, and why execution, margins, and systems will matter more than ever this year.

I also explain where I think opportunities will start to emerge as tired and overextended landlords begin to exit and what you need in place if you want to be in a position to take advantage of that.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• My predictions for rent growth, occupancy, and house prices
• How tenant behaviour is changing and why voids are the real risk this year
• The practical impact of regulation and reporting on HMO operators
• What lenders will be focusing on and how to stay finance-ready
• Why good operators will be quietly rewarded and poor execution will be punished

If you’re building, scaling, or systemising an HMO portfolio and want a clear, grounded view of what actually matters in 2026, this episode will help you go into the year prepared, focused, and confident.

And if you want my direct input on your current or next project, you can book a complimentary strategy call with me here.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!

In today’s episode, I’m joined by one of my mentees, Royce Turville, to break down exactly how he’s gone from steady, stop-start portfolio growth to building real momentum - raising more finance, doing better deals, and installing the systems needed to scale without burning out.

Royce shares the full story behind his journey: starting out as an “accidental landlord”, spending years building a base of single lets, then hitting that ceiling many investors reach - where the portfolio grows, life gets busier, and the business starts to feel heavier instead of freer. We unpack what changed from 2024 onwards, how he got clear on what he actually wanted, and the simple actions that unlocked serious progress fast.

If 2026 is the year you want to properly build your HMO business and you want a real, relatable example of what’s possible when you execute the basics consistently, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• The mindset shift that moved him from slow buy-and-hold to real momentum
• The simple change that made private finance far easier to access
• Why adding value became central to scaling sustainably
• How auctions can uncover overlooked opportunities
• The realities of operating in Article 4 areas and why early technical input matters
• How bringing in the right support removed him as the bottleneck

If you want clarity and momentum like Royce, then book a Strategy Session with me here.

💻 Resources & Mentions

• The HMO Roadmap: Feeling overwhelmed? Access 400+ tools, templates, and lessons to help you start, scale, and systemise your HMO business - all in one place. Join here.
• The HMO Community: Got questions or need support? Come and connect with 10,000+ investors inside our Free Facebook Group here.
• Social: Follow me on Instagram for daily HMO tips, advice, and behind-the-scenes updates here.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and drop a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more investors find the show!