The HMO Podcast

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 Investing
• 03:35 - Chasing Unicorn Deals
• 11:17 - Underestimating Pre-Commencement Costs
• 16:24 - Outsourcing Without Understanding
• 19:47 - Not Playing the Numbers Game
• 22:16 - 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 Rights
• 12:01 Caveats and Restrictions in Permitted Development
• 23:46 Navigating Conservation Areas and Planning Permissions
• 31:11 Understanding Full Planning Permission Requirements
• 39:36 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 Reactions
• 06:02 Fixing vs. Tracking Mortgages
• 08:52 Current Market Dynamics and Business Volumes
• 12:02 Rental Market Trends and Tenant Behavior
• 14:48 Future Predictions and Economic Outlook

Contact 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 Property
• 21:05 - Building Arcvelop Investor Group
• 27:57 - Navigating the Challenges of Property Development
• 31:09 - Building Credibility Through Consistency
• 33:45 - Creating The HMO Community and The HMO Roadmap
• 39:17 - Navigating Social Media Challenges
• 47:09 - 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 Contractors
• 03:26 - Planning Ahead for Contractor Engagement
• 12:04 - Building a List of Potential Contractors
• 20:35 - Preparing the Information Pack
• 31:04 - Understanding Contracts and Agreements
• 37:39 - 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 Prices
• 10:05 – Rental Market Trends & Tenant Behaviour
• 16:08 – Interest Rates & Mortgage Updates
• 20:11 – Key Changes in Legislation & Licensing
• 23:03 – Broader Economic Overview
• 25:24 – 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 Development
• 10:01 – Key Insights on Building a Property Business
• 20:02 – The Importance of Strategic Partnerships
• 23:48 – Funding Strategies for Growth
• 32:14 – 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.

They’ve won awards, they’ve grown their portfolio steadily and strategically, and they’ve done it all while raising a young family. Jake and Lucy of Innova Property—mentors at the HMO Roadmap and recently crowned HMO Property Investors of the Year at the Property Investors Awards—are back on the podcast!

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what’s been going on behind the scenes in their business. You’ll hear how they’ve continued to grow in a tough market, and the practical strategies they’re using to stay on track and scale sustainably.

If you’re looking to grow your own property business—whether it’s recycling more cash, accessing funding, finding great deals, building better systems, or simply freeing up your time—this episode is packed with actionable insights. Especially if you’re trying to juggle it all alongside family life, travel, or other commitments.

Topics covered in this episode:

• 02:59 – The challenges of scaling a property business
• 06:02 – Diversifying your property portfolio strategically
• 11:56 – Systemising operations to boost efficiency
• 15:09 – Knowing when it’s the right time to sell
• 18:06 – The importance of rental confidence in today’s market
• 20:30 – How the HMO landscape is evolving
• 25:14 – The three key pillars of successful property investing
• 28:09 – How to build and nurture strong investor relationships

Listen to other episodes with Jake & Lucy:

Ep 14 - Jake & Lucy - Building A Portfolio Using Parallel Strategies & A 25% ROI Case Study

Ep 143 - More Properties, Bigger Projects And Even Better Results with Jake And Lucy 

Want to join Jake & Lucy’s 1-2-1 mentoring program? You can enquire here.

-

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 shared the five most difficult aspects of investing in HMOs—and property in general. These are the challenges that have nearly made me quit on more than one occasion.

If you’ve been investing long enough, you’ve likely faced some of these issues. By being open and honest about them, we can better prepare ourselves and realise we’re not alone in experiencing them. Knowing that others face the same struggles can give us the motivation to keep going. This episode is important because the issues we’re discussing are serious.

Topics covered in this episode: 

• 03:01 The Five Difficulties in HMO Investing
• 05:54 Planning Challenges
• 12:08 Financial Risks 
• 17:54 People Management 
• 22:01 Finding Deals in a Competitive Market
• 25:46 The Importance of Resilience 

Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us celebrate this milestone!

-

Got any questions? Ask us in The HMO Community Facebook Group or follow me on Instagram @andygraham.hmo for daily HMO tips and advice! 

If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. 

New to HMOs? Join The HMO Roadmap on a premium plan and unlock our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business. 

In this episode, we're revisiting a popular episode where I answered a question I’ve been asked many times: what would I do if I had to start from scratch, but with £100,000? 

This is a common question in our community, and while the answer depends on personal goals, resources, and limitations, I’m going to share exactly how I would approach it. 

I believe my method is adaptable to any situation, and I hope you find it useful and insightful. Reflecting on my own journey has been fun, and I’m excited to share tips and strategies that can help you, no matter your business stage.

Please leave us a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoy this episode!

-

Got any questions? Ask us in The HMO Community Facebook Group or follow me on Instagram @andygraham.hmo for daily HMO tips and advice! 

If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. 

New to HMOs? Join The HMO Roadmap on a starter or premium plan and unlock our award-winning library of 400+ resources to help you start, scale and systemise your HMO business.