The Investors Corner

Welcome back to The Investors Corner, hosted by James Rawlinson, Lettings Director at iad UK, alongside co-host Lee O'Brien.

This time, they're joined by Steve Eakins from Lumon to chat about investing overseas and why more UK investors are looking beyond the domestic property market.

With nearly 20 years of experience in currency, Steve shares what he's seeing from clients moving money abroad, buying property overseas and making the move to a new country.

They cover:

• Why places like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Dubai are attracting UK investors.
• What overseas buyers are looking for in the UK.
• How exchange rates can affect the real cost of an investment.
• The things people often overlook when buying abroad, from tax and residency to rental rules.
• Real-life examples of what can go wrong when currency and financial planning are left until the last minute.

Steve also shares a case where a buyer lost £200,000 after purchasing before securing UK residency, highlighting just how important it is to get the right advice before making a move.

It's a practical conversation about the opportunities, the risks and what investors should think about before putting their money into property overseas.

The Investors Corner, an iad UK podcast. Make the case. Show the evidence.

Challenge the assumptions. Look around the corner. Deliver the verdict.

Is building a lettings portfolio still worth it in 2026?

With rising costs, changing legislation and increasing pressure on landlords, property investment isn't what it was five years ago. But does that mean the opportunity has disappeared, or simply that investors need to think differently?

For the first episode of the relaunched The Investors Corner, hosts James Rawlinson and Lee O'Brien welcome back a familiar voice: Mike Robson, co-founder of Avocado Property and former co-host of more than 200 episodes of the podcast.

With over 20 years' experience as an estate agent, letting agent, landlord and property renovator, Mike makes the case that lettings portfolios can still deliver - provided investors adapt their approach.

We explore what makes a property investment work today, where opportunities remain, the impact of landlord legislation and whether the traditional buy-to-let model needs a rethink.

And finally, we put Mike's own investment decisions under the spotlight:

Knowing what you know now, would you build your portfolio again? And what would you do differently?

The Investors Corner an iad UK podcast.

Make the case. Show the evidence. Challenge the assumptions. Look around the corner. Deliver the verdict.

Are you sitting on property wealth but unsure how to use it or pass it on efficiently? In this episode, we're joined by Greg May to break down lifetime mortgages in simple terms and what they are, how they work, and who they're really for. We explore how property owners can access equity without selling, the impact on inheritance, and why lifetime mortgages are increasingly being used as part of estate planning strategies. We also dive into inheritance tax (IHT), why more families could be affected in the coming years, and how property wealth plays a major role in that. In this episode, we cover:

• What a lifetime mortgage actually is
• How equity release works in practice
• The pros and cons for property owners
• How interest rolls up over time
• The impact on inheritance and beneficiaries
• Using lifetime mortgages for inheritance tax planning
• Why more estates could face IHT in the future
• What property owners should be thinking about now

Whether you're planning ahead, supporting family, or simply want to understand your options, this episode will give you a clear and practical overview. If you'd like to learn more about lifetime mortgages or speak to Greg, you can find his details here.

Greg May CeRER CeMAP

Director & Equity Release Specialist at Sage Equity Release

T: 01344 306 654

E: [email protected]

W: https://sageequityrelease.co.uk/

🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348

Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

What if your building could generate income, just by using energy differently?

In Part 2, we go deeper into the technology side of Bitcoin and explore how it's starting to intersect with property and energy in ways most investors aren't even considering yet.

Jason shares insights into his business, RenewaBlox, and explains how Bitcoin mining can turn wasted energy into revenue and even heat buildings.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Bitcoin mining actually works (simple explanation)
• Turning wasted energy into profit
• Using mining heat in buildings and developments
• The link between property, energy, and technology
• The future of investing and emerging opportunities

If you want to stay ahead of where investing is going, this is where things get interesting.

Guest details:

Jason Deane

https://www.renewablox.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonadeane/

https://x.com/JasonADeane

[email protected]

🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348

Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

Is property still the best investment, or is something else taking its place?

In Part 1 of this conversation, we sit down with Jason, who grew up in a property investing family and has owned rental properties himself, but has since shifted his focus heavily into Bitcoin.

We break down the fundamentals of buy-to-let property vs Bitcoin, why some investors are rethinking traditional portfolios, and what's really driving this shift.

In this episode, we cover:

• Property vs Bitcoin as long-term investments
• Why some investors are selling property for Bitcoin
• The impact of UK regulation on landlords
• Whether property is still the best store of wealth

Whether you're a landlord or exploring new ways to build wealth, this episode will challenge your assumptions.

Guest details:

Jason Deane

https://www.renewablox.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonadeane/

https://x.com/JasonADeane

[email protected]

🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348

Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

What is really happening in the UK property market right now? In this episode, Ian Macbeth and Andy Brown sit down to analyse live sales and lettings data to understand the trends shaping both sides of the market. From the pace of property sales to rising tenant demand in the rental sector, we explore how the wider housing market is evolving and what it means for landlords, investors, and homeowners. Alongside market trends, we also discuss the growing operational risks of managing rental property in today's regulatory environment. Topics covered include:

• What the latest data says about the UK sales market
• How sales trends are influencing the rental market
• Current rental demand and supply pressures
• Why rent guarantee insurance is becoming more common
• The financial penalties landlords face if compliance is handled incorrectly
• The operational risks of property management today
• How landlords can better protect themselves financially

This episode offers a practical, data-driven look at the property market covering both sales and lettings and the risks and opportunities landlords need to understand today. 🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348 Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

If Part One explored what's changed, Part Two asks what happens next. Are smaller landlords being squeezed out, or are they evolving? Where is opportunity still hiding in what many call a challenging market? Have tenant expectations permanently shifted? And if regulation continues tightening, does that strengthen or weaken the sector long term? In this episode, we look forward and identify the traits that will separate landlords who thrive over the next three to five years from those who quietly exit. Topics covered include:

• Whether smaller landlords are being forced out or adapting
• Where investors are still finding opportunity in a tighter climate
• How tenant expectations are reshaping portfolio performance
• Whether increased regulation ultimately strengthens or weakens the private rental sector
• The five characteristics that will define successful landlords over the next 3–5 years

The sector may be becoming more complex but complexity doesn't remove opportunity. It raises the standard. Connect with Luke & Survey Network: Website: https://www.survey-network.co.uk/ Luke: https://www.survey-network.co.uk/agent-profile/luke-masters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/survey-network/?viewAsMember=true 🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348 Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

The private rental sector has entered a new phase and it's not subtle. With rising mortgage costs, tightening compliance, and the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act 2024 from 1st May including the removal of Section 21 landlords are operating under a completely different set of rules. So what's actually changed? Are we seeing smarter landlords or simply fewer willing to stay in the game? Has the balance of power shifted? And is property management now more about legal risk than rent collection? In Part One, we break down what's happened, what caught landlords off guard, and why this moment feels like a structural reset rather than a short-term wobble. Inside this episode:

• What has changed most for landlords in the past two years
• Whether the sector is becoming smarter or simply smaller
• What new investors must now understand before entering
• Why property management has shifted toward risk control
• Whether the balance of power between landlord and tenant has moved

This isn't panic commentary, it's commercial analysis of a market that has quietly reset. Part Two explores where opportunity still exists and who will win over the next five years. Connect with Luke & Survey Network: Website: https://www.survey-network.co.uk/ Luke: https://www.survey-network.co.uk/agent-profile/luke-masters LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/survey-network/?viewAsMember=true 🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348 Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

Bitcoin and the wider crypto market have gone through multiple boom-and-bust cycles. During downturns, headlines focus on the losses, but experienced investors often focus on long-term positioning and risk management.

In Part Two, we continue the conversation with James Dewar, Partner at Bridge2Bitcoin and founder of Berkshire Bitcoiners, looking at how investors approach volatility, manage risk, and decide whether Bitcoin belongs alongside more traditional assets such as property.

We also discuss practical use cases, including how businesses are using Bitcoin and the Lightning Network for payments and treasury management.

In this episode we discuss:

Why the market fell and what drove the downturn

How experienced investors manage risk

Common mistakes newcomers make

Whether Bitcoin has a place alongside property

What the next few years could realistically look like

How to learn more safely

Links to James Dewar

https://bridge2bitcoin.com/ https://bitcoinevents.uk/berkshire-bitcoiners/ https://x.com/Bitcoinshire https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dewar/

🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348

Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.

Property has been a core wealth-building strategy in the UK for decades, familiar, tangible and widely trusted.

But over the same period, Bitcoin has gone from an obscure experiment to a globally traded asset attracting institutional attention. Its volatility makes headlines, but so do its long-term returns.

In this episode, we sit down with James Dewar, Partner at Bridge2Bitcoin and founder of Berkshire Bitcoiners, to start at the beginning: what Bitcoin is, why it exists, and why investors are paying attention.

This conversation focuses on fundamentals and context, especially for property investors who want to understand how Bitcoin compares as an asset class.

In this episode we cover:

What Bitcoin is in plain English

Why it has become more widely adopted

The risks investors should understand

How returns compare with property and gold

Who is buying Bitcoin today

Whether beginners are already too late

Part Two will be out tomorrow were we discuss moves into strategy, market cycles and how investors think about risk.

Links to James Dewar

https://bridge2bitcoin.com/ https://bitcoinevents.uk/berkshire-bitcoiners/ https://x.com/Bitcoinshire https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dewar/

🎙 Listen to The Investor's Corner Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Awfoi9dUoU55k0D7uf64a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-investors-corner/id1588273348

Don't forget to subscribe for more straight-talking insights for landlords and property investors.