The HMO Success Podcast with Wendy Whittaker-Large

Today's episode is very pertinent to the current times. With a snap election just called, and disarray over the Renters Reform Bill (now that it has been shelved) there's a lot of uncertainty around. What if we get a labour government? What will their stance be on tenants and landlords? Will the Conservatives make another stab at a RRB if they win?

My partner to discuss all of these issues is Suzanne Smith - a lawyer turned self-managing landlord with a portfolio of houses in Maidstone, Kent. She came to property investing fairly late when she “retired” as a corporate lawyer at the age of 51, after working for 25 years in senior in-house legal roles for multinational biotech companies.

Suzanne started to share what she was learning as a landlord on her Instagram account, @indie_landlord, with practical reels that also drew on her experience and training as a lawyer. This led to her setting up her blog, The Independent Landlord, in August 2022, which provides reliable, free content on all aspects of being a landlord. It’s grown to be one of the biggest blogs for landlords, with almost 20,000 click throughs on Google each month, and

Website and social media links:

The Independent Landlord website: https://theindependentlandlord.com [Please

With a wealth of experience spanning various facets of the property industry, Craig Phillips is a seasoned professional renowned for his expertise in property management. As the founder and owner of G8 Property in South Yorkshire, Craig has dedicated nearly a decade to providing exceptional property management services and coaching and mentoring property investors and letting agencies across the country.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNoytRBDtQ0KpvEenr067ww

To contact Craig: 

01226 664435

www.smartenergysolution.co.uk

LEA Property Solutions was founded two decades ago by an enterprising individual fresh out of university. It began as a personal quest for ideal accommodation for Lucy. Frustrated by the lack of suitable options in Ipswich town center, she took matters into her own hands. Sourcing a property and persuading her parents to take on a mortgage, she set up her own house share. Little did she know that this endeavour would reveal a niche market waiting to be tapped.

Within a year and a half, the solo venture had expanded to managing five properties for family and friends. The allure of this lucrative rental model prompted her to leave her job and focus solely on her property business. Her passion for HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) remained unwavering—the ethos was clear: providing tenants with a home they could be proud of.

Fast forward to the present day. and LEA Property Solutions has blossomed into a thriving enterprise. With a team of five, she operates out of the Westerfield Business Centre. Her portfolio includes over 40 properties and 250 tenancies, catering to both working professionals and student house shares. But it doesn’t end there. She offers additional property services, from sourcing to renovation management and interior design advice. Her experience and passion drive her to share insights at property events and podcasts, connecting with like-minded individuals in the industry.

To contact Lucy and find out more about what she does (and how she can help you if you're investing in Ipswich) her are her details!

Lucy Lea

Managing Director

LEA Property Solutions LTD

07811217072

Registered Company number 9022391

www.leapropertysolutions.co.uk

My guest this week has a vast financial and business background which made his entry into property investing an interesting one! Utilising his understanding and knowledge of the macro economic picture, he has been able to translate all those figures and graphs into meaningful content to help others invest wisely. 

Adam Lawrence has built a significant portfolio through adding value, leveraging safely and finding potential that others have missed. He now owns other businesses which are in the business of supporting his property investments. The central tenets are risk management and sustainable growth in a sector which is crying out for reform, efficiency, and ethical business people.

It was enlightening, educational and highly interesting to interview Adam - I discovered a lot I didn't know alongside our joint passion for seeing the 'bigger picture' when it comes to property investing. 

Ethan Roscoe originates from South Africa. He came to the UK to start a new life and soon saw the possibilities that property investing offered him. After redundancy he came to realise the power of owning assets, and in this week's interview, he shares how he has maximised the assets to their full. 

In the early days, he adopted the suggestion to use his car as a tool for marketing - until a very funny thing happened. It had me in stitches of laughter. I wonder if it will make you laugh too 😁

Ethan has experienced the highs and lows of property and he has words of wisdom for those starting out in HMOs today. I think you'll get a warm glow listening to his story and realising that HMOs are possible for us all. 

Thomas Rozycki and Isobel Ferris met at University and knew that they wanted to start investing in property as soon as they could. Their professional careers took off but were ideally suited to starting a property company and soon Easy Living was born. 

With a background in design and project management, Issie saw the potential of the brand, and with Tom focusing on the refurbishment work, they created a unique team which utilised both of their skillsets. 

I had the pleasure of being their mentor for a year - a year in which they achieved some fantastic results. It was great to catch up with them and see how far they have expanded and what their plans are for the future. 

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For more information, guidance and support to help you invest in HMOs and create a profitable property portfolio, please head on over to my website www.hmosuccess.co.uk

You'll find some free downloads to learn about HMOs as a high cashflowing strategy and how you can get started with very little money. If you want to learn more about my amazing tips which I compiled to help people just like you, you can get your own copy of my '101 Essential Tips for Running a Professional HMO' here. (Just pay postage and packing). 

For a FREE 30 minute call for any help you might need with HMOs, and to understand what I can offer you to help you progress your portfolio, please book a call here: https://fwfozt-free.10to8.com/

I look forward to hearing from you!

Wendy

Today's episode is all about the three areas of HMO Management - Finance, Property and Tenants. 

When you're scaling up your business it's easy to take your eye off the ball and forget that you are the owner, manager and leader. The buck stops with you. If there's a problem with compliance, or certificates, or the roof falls in - it's your building and therefore your problem. 

Even with a good managing agent, you will have to take more responsibility with an HMO. By addressing each of these area, you can make them work like clockwork, and you can outsource as much as possible too. By doing so, you'll free up your time to lead, strategise and develop your business. 

This is crucial, as good business design leads to good life design. 

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For more information, guidance and support to help you invest in HMOs and create a profitable property portfolio, please head on over to my website www.hmosuccess.co.uk

You'll find some free downloads to learn about HMOs as a high cashflowing strategy and how you can get started with very little money. If you want to learn more about my amazing tips which I compiled to help people just like you, you can get your own copy of my '101 Essential Tips for Running a Professional HMO' here. (Just pay postage and packing). https://www.hmosuccess.co.uk/101-book-pp

My facebook group is a lively community of HMO investors where you can find tips and tricks to investing in HMOs and you can join here. 

https://facebook.com/groups/TheUltimateHMOSuccessSystem/

For a FREE 30 minute call for any help you might need with HMOs, and to understand what I can offer you to help you progress your portfolio, please book a call here: https://fwfozt-free.10to8.com/

I look forward to hearing from you!

Join me and my partner Andy Large in this insightful podcast episode as we delve into the recent UK budget announcements. With changes to the tax and management regime for short-term lets / serviced accommodation providers, and changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and the abolishment of multiple dwellings relief, there's much to discuss.

How will these changes affect the HMO market? Will we see SA units coming onto the market in the form of HMOs? How will SA operators react to the new tax regime as they now grapple with what this means for them? 

Wendy and Andy break down the implications of these changes, offering valuable insights for small business owners and property investors alike. Tune in to stay informed and prepared in the ever-evolving financial landscape.

In my latest episode on the HMO Success Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Sue Sims, the visionary founder of award winning Genie Homes, to delve into her expertise in supported housing HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation). As an online training session, she was not only able to answer my questions, she got to grips with all the questions asked by the audience!

With a passion for creating sustainable living spaces that meet the diverse needs of individuals and communities, Sue has become a trailblazer in the realm of supported housing and HMO development in the UK. She is also the founder of Partners in Property - one of the UKs most well known and respected networking communities. 

Throughout our conversation, Sue shared invaluable insights into her innovative approach to creating homes that work exceptionally well for those in need. She discusses the pros and cons of working in this sector, what you need to know to get into this area of housing and the challenges you might face. 

If you would like to be notified when I hold another live online session and ask your questions to my expert speakers, please email me on [email protected] or visit https://www.hmosuccess.co.uk/contact/

If you want to learn more, tickets to her Social Housing debate (as mentioned on the podcast) can be reserved here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-social-housing-debate-sue-sims-sarah-walker-lisa-brown-toby-wilde-simon-tickets-848444238557?aff=erellivmlt

https://suesims.co.uk/

In today's podcast my guest is an investor who started in HMOs after a dawning realisation. I'll let him describe to you what that was!

Following this revelation, he and his wife Philippa re-imagined what student shared houses could be like. Not only so that they work as an investment, but also so those living there benefit. They launched their business, FAT properties, and have steadily built a profitable and unique portfolio, serving the student market across the North West of the UK. 

Tom Charrier is the guy I'm talking about, and I think you'll love his fresh, innovative approach. 

Their mission is simple: to create beautiful, spacious student homes to inspire. As they say: 'The perfect balance of social life and study life, they’re designed for you to succeed. At Uni, at life'.

If you're thinking about student HMOs or you've already got some but are looking for ways to stand out in a crowded market, then Tom might just be the person to help you. In today's episode he also shares ways in which he and Philippa are making inroads supporting students with their overall wellbeing and mental health. 

Inspiring, creative and thought-provoking. 

You can contact Tom here: https://fatproperties.co.uk/

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For more information, guidance and support to help you invest in HMOs and create a profitable property portfolio, please head on over to my website www.hmosuccess.co.uk

You'll find some free downloads to learn about HMOs as a high cashflowing strategy and how you can get started with very little money. If you want to learn more about my amazing tips which I compiled to help people just like you, you can get your own copy of my '101 Essential Tips for Running a Professional HMO' here. (Just pay postage and packing). 

For a FREE 30 minute call for any help you might need with HMOs, and to understand what I can offer you to help you progress your portfolio, please book a call here: https://fwfozt-free.10to8.com/

I look forward to hearing from you!

Wendy