The HMO Success Podcast with Wendy Whittaker-Large

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. ---------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------- 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 wendy@hmosuccess.co.uk 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/ https://partners-property.com/

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/ ------------- 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

I met Paul a few years ago at a property networking event and he has become a firm friend, confidante and amazing supporter! He and his wife Liz set up Property Angels in Leeds a few years ago and rapidly built a strong HMO portfolio, eventually owning and managing over 260 rooms. They decided to scale back, pay down debt and consolidate their portfolio when they realised that neither of them were achieving what they wanted to with such a large and occasionally cumbersome portfolio. Since then, Paul has launched his own breakfast networking group in Leeds which he hosts monthly, taken up surfing, and as a family they are keen travellers sharing motorhome life with their daughter, Millie. Their courage to ask what they really want in life and to do it, is a shining example of a lifestyle rather than an empire business. Paul is a great advocate of finding what you're good at and doing it well. And letting others do the rest! He shares how he is using his knowledge of investing, money markets and property to ensure that his income and wealth are protected and growing whilst still having an amazing quality of life and lots of fun doing it! I find Paul inspiring, lovely and insightful and I was so pleased to have him once more as my guest on the HMO Success Podcast. Contact him via his website - https://paullanfear.com/

In this insightful and informative episode of the HMO Success Podcast, Wendy Whittaker-Large, the host, interviews renowned tax-saving expert and chartered accountant, Shaz Nawaz. Drawing on his personal experiences as a property investor and tax specialist, Shaz shares practical recommendations on how to significantly minimize tax liabilities in property investments, from point of purchase through to operation. Shaz simplifies complex tax scenarios, focusing on capital allowances for property investors, incorporating unique real-world examples. He shares invaluable resources for a deeper understanding of tax allowances and reliefs. The episode delves into a range of tax-related topics such as stamp duty land tax (SDLT) breaks, practical strategies to evade stamp duty land tax, and the benefits of incorporation relief. Continuing the enlightening discussion, this episode broadens into refinancing strategies, fixed deals, and tax predicaments. It provides an in-depth exploration into a practical case study demonstrating tax-saving mechanisms in the property arena, thereby uncovering the lesser known prospects of property incorporation. The podcast transitions into detailed, real-world examples demonstrating how capital allowances can drastically decrease future tax liabilities. It discusses the benefits of land remediation relief, especially for asbestos contamination. Beyond this, Shaz shares his experience with negotiating with local councils for rate relief and tips on intelligent business tactics like strategic decision making on property to secure tax benefits. This episode of the HMO Success Podcast is filled with practical advice and hands-on examples aimed at property investors looking to maximize their investment returns while minimizing their tax liabilities. Tune in to gain invaluable knowledge on tax efficiency strategies for property investment. To contact Shaz you can email him at shaz@aa-accountants.co.uk You can buy his book on Amazon here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Property-Investors-Tax-Guide-Progressive/dp/1909846678#:~:text=Written%20in%20a%20straightforward%20and,and%20examples%20from%20real%20life.

How the Post Office Scandal has similarities to the HMO Council Tax miscarriage of justice. A discussion! In this episode of the HMO Success Podcast, Wendy Whittaker-Large delves into the mounting challenges that landlords across the UK face, drawing an insightful correlation between the recent post office scandal and the complexities surrounding HMO and council tax. Addressing the repercussions of systemic disparities and exploring potential resolutions, Wendy dissects the complexities of the system that influence landlords, tenants, and millions of UK residents. Unravel the correlation between the post office scandal and the impending HMO council tax reform in this riveting session. Discover what led to the government's scramble in 1992 to move on from poll taxes, resulting in the current poorly defined and misunderstood council tax legislation affecting landlords and tenants alike. Understand how systemic miscarriages of justice mirror this scandal. Through compelling dialogue, Wendy articulates the dire consequences of the flawed system that stifle ordinary citizens, hinder fair representation, and maintain dubious rulings. Emphasizing the urgency of legal aid accessibility for those affected by wrongful decisions, this episode further delves into the unaddressed matter of backdated council taxes. Drawing parallels between the post office scandal and council tax, the conversations underline the necessity of collective action for systemic change. Highlighting the powerhouse of the HMO Council Tax Reform group, this episode stands testament to their relentless fight for fair representation, reminiscent of the historic Magna Carta. Ending on an optimistic note, Wendy brings forward affirming updates from the HMO Council Tax Reform Group, showing commitment to righting the system's imbalances and injustices. Tune in for an enlightening discussion about the course for a just system for all those grappling with the complexities of the HMO council tax legal framework.

How a single mum went from broke to being a property multimillionaire! Susie Cole on health, wealth and happiness. Susannah Cole started in property because she had a problem to solve. As a head of household with two little children, her month and money were only just meeting (and sometimes there was a gap) and she wanted more time with her family rather than having to swap her time for money at work. She could see property could deliver that, so she set to! She started The Good Property Company in 2011, as a kitchen table start-up. At first the goal was to source deals for investors, work on JV flips and then invest in property for herself and her family, to reach Financial Freedom and get to her personal goal which was more time with her family and loved ones, and the relatively passive money coming in, to not worry about money! In the first four 1/2 years of being full time in property, The Good Property Company sourced more than 200+ properties, all in Bristol, with a value of over £45 million, at a purchase price of £30 million(before refurb).She was asked by Wendy, who became her first student, to share her simple step-by-step-systems, and since then she has taught thousands of student to flip, deal source, JV, find investors and undertake the journey to get to Financial Freedom, so they can reach their goals, and spend more time with their family and friends, and live life on their terms.She has a fantastic YouTube channel (Susannah Cole / The Good Property Company), and a super helpful website where you can download helpful property checklists and packs, and join her online 60 Day Academies, as well as watch her motivating and helpful property webinars on Deal Sourcing, Flipping, and Investing. Not bad for a start up! Since then. life has taken its various turns and Susannah shares candidly about her recent health scares and how she has pulled through with her usual tenacity and wisdom. A fantastic guest who shares her enthusiasm for both property and entrepreneurialism, who is not to be missed! To find out more about Susannah Cole and her company, The Good Property Company ,here are your links: Website:https://thegoodpropertycompany.co.uk/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheGoodPropertyCompanySusannahCole Insta:https://www.instagram.com/susannahcoleuk Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SusannahColeTGPC

Unlocking the Secrets to HMO Mortgages - Exclusive Interview with a Specialist HMO Mortgage Broker! Getting access to the right finance before, during and at the end of your project is key to success. Without the right kind of finance and financial advice, you could find yourself haemorrhaging money during the refurb, or leaving too much money in at the end of the project. Knowing when to execute the re-finance, along with the characteristics that make a feasible project for pulling all your money out is the specialism of my guest today. As a Specialist Property Finance Broker, Henry Barley from Advocate Finance has helped us multiple times to get the right finance for our HMO and development projects and also for many of my clients. He knows masses about HMOs and in particular the wide range of products that are available for you if you're creating HMOs. To contact Advocate call 01206 544333 or go to their website www.advocatefinance.co.uk Address: Office 5 Aster House, Lanswood Park Business Centre Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7FD ------ If you would like to reserve your space on one of my upcoming events (HMO Discovery in Birmingham or London) please email me at wendy@wendywl.uk and I will send you the link to book and pay for your special place. At just £99 +vat for a full day's interactive training, complete with refreshments, lunch and loads of tips, tricks and tools, you'll have an amazing day and get 2024 HMO investing off with a bang!

The Top 10 HMO Mistakes not to make in 2024! Avoiding problems is just as important to success as having results. In this episode I go over the top 10 mistakes that I often see HMO investors make and how and why they happen. Whether you are a seasoned investor or you are just getting started, I'm convinced that these top 10 mistakes can be avoided, which could be vital to your progress. Over the years I've been investing, I've seen HMO businesses come and go, and the ones that last the course seem to be able to incorporate these lessons effectively year after year. Please leave me a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you find this episode useful. Share, like and comment! Got any questions? Please get in touch via wendy@wendywl.uk (I answer all emails personally). If you want to join my 1-2-1 mentoring program, you can enquire here. New to HMOs? Come along to my HMO Discovery Day where you'll learn my unique 5 Step System to creating a profitable HMO portfolio. Just email me for more details!

Why I don't set goals and I don't think you should either - Episode 106 This is an outrageous claim Wendy! What do you mean, you don't set goals and you don't think I should either?! Well, simply put - because, just like New Year's Resolutions, they often don't work! Instead, I use a simple action based planning system that helps me get into an excellent routine early in the year. And then I stick to it throughout the year. I have an accountability buddy who holds me to account and I track my activities each and every week this way. It creates a routine, a system and embeds useful habits. All of which enable me to run a healthy, harmonious home and business. Listen now to hear what I do, and get in touch if you would like to know more! Wishing you an amazing 2024 and a very Happy New Year! from Wendy xxx --------------

Why You Need a Five Step System to Create a Successful Portfolio of HMOs A SYSTEM saves you stress, time, energy and money. HMOs are the same - legislation, regulations, housing standards, design, location, processes for managing, scaling up; a recipe for success. A tried and tested recipe is a recipe for success not disaster. This is my Five Step System: All steps lead neatly from one to another Each is perfectly worked out. I’ve written 2 books about my system, and I have learnt from my actions and taking risks and making mistakes so you don’t have to. I’ve raised £ millions from investors to grow my portfolio and you can learn how to do this too in the Fund it section of the system. I’m running a Discovery Day 27th Jan in Bham and 24th Feb in London - The investment is just £99 plus vat Please email me on wendy@hmosuccecss.co.uk to express an interest and you’ll get my very special and unique 16 Weeks to Success Action Plan for coming along - absolutely free.

HMOs in 2024 - What are the stats telling us? Looking at the wider macro economic picture is crucial to understand where interest rates and property values might go. In addition there are a number of other statistics that help us as HMO investors to see the way the wind is blowing and what the opportunities and threats are to the HMO landscape. In this episode you'll learn what other factors are vital when looking at the economy and specific features that will affect HMOs in 2024. To access the slides that accompany this podcast you can do so here ------------------------------------ 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! Wendy

Today is the DAY! The Legal Battle is Won! Episode 103 In case you missed the HMO Council Tax Reform Group's webinar last week about the changes to legislation and what you can do if you are still battling away, here it is! Today is the day when the law is officially changed so that no room in an HMO can be individually banded for council tax. We have been battling this for over two years but we found out a few weeks ago that legislation had passed into law and it gets enacted today! In today's episode you will hear the recording of a webinar we ran to answer questions about the process. We also have a FAQ document you can download here. Please forward any questions to us via wendy@hmosuccess.co.uk or join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/hmoct We look forward to hearing from you and listening to your stories. We will continue to support anyone who has been affected and are here to educate, inform and support. We're planning a big celebration event early next year, so if you want to be on the guest list please complete the Contact Us form on our website here: https://hmosandcounciltax.co.uk/getinvolved/ And thank you if you did anything to support this amazing campaign!

Creating a Funnel for your HMO Business - Episode 102 You may not have realised that a funnel is a key part of your process to find investors, clients or properties. By learning how exactly to create a funnel, you can find the right properties and people to work with in your HMO business. Whether you are an investor, a developer or a sourcer - you need deals and you probably also need money. Networking is a fantastic way to find lots of people - but are they RIGHT for you, and are you RIGHT for them? In this episode I go into what makes up a successful funnel and how you can save yourself oodles of time and money creating one of these before spending hours on the road, or hundreds of pounds on advertising. Having done this a number of times myself, I can teach you exactly what to do and the steps you need to take to get your business onto the next level. -------------------------------- 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!

SPECIAL EPISODE - We Won Our Fight Against Council Tax on HMO Rooms! I am SO delighted to be releasing this podcast episode (even whilst away on holiday) as I just HAD to share the amazing news of our campaign win. In the extraordinary 2 years since we set up the HMO Council Tax Reform Group, so much has happened, but we are excited beyond measure that our campaign has landed and the Government is changing its approach to banding individual HMO rooms for Council Tax. In today’s unedited and special episode, I’ll explain exactly what the government has said, and a few questions that still remain to be answered! Overall the news is fantastic for HMO tenants and landlords. We still have some work to do in tidying up what has been going on for the last few years. But we’ll get there! “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead ————————- Official Press Release Government set to axe multiple council tax bills on HMO properties End of the ‘Tenant Council Tax’ Welcome news has emerged that the Government is changing the law on council tax being imposed on individual rooms in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) . This change in the law will protect tenants in HMOs from being taxed on their bedrooms and returns to principles on which the council tax was established. Earlier in the year the Government announced an accelerated consultation on reforming council taxation of HMOs after thousands of landlords and tenants were being adversely affected by a Valuation Office Agency policy of making individual bedrooms in shared houses liable for council tax. The policy increased the council tax payable by an HMO by many thousands of pounds, often making continued use as an HMO unaffordable. The Government has now announced the outcome of the consultation and is pledging to change the law by the end of the year. The Govt stated: “The amendment to legislation will ensure that HMOs will be valued as a single property, creating consistency in the sector, and provide certainty for councils and households moving forward. This should also help ease administrative burdens for councils as the council tax liability should remain with the landlord in the usual way, rather than moving to individual tenants who may only occupy the property for a short period of time.” These changes will reverse a policy by the Valuation Office Agency on taxing HMOs first put into practice in 2015 whereby randomly selected properties were being hit with multiple bills, one council tax bill for every bedroom, making the house liable for seven or eight times the original tax. Variously dubbed ‘Poll Tax Mark II’ ‘Bedroom Tax Mark II’ or the ‘Toilet Tax’ (when applied to en-suite bedrooms) the practice only targeted selected HMOs. Mistakes in law and fact were rife with, in some cases, cupboards and utility rooms being made liable for council tax bills. The impact of the policy has been to drive out tenants unable to meet the bills, cause overcrowding and in some cases forcing the closure of entire HMOs, reducing the supply of available accommodation for tenants on low and middle incomes. In other cases landlords were being suddenly chased for multiple bills by councils and debt collecting companies collecting the tax. Effectively, this will protect both landlords and tenants from excessive tax demands living in HMOs and prevent rooms without washing or cooking facilities being banded as flats with individual flats liable for tax. This has been hailed as a victory by the HMO Council Tax Reform Group who have been campaigning tirelessly for this practice to end. Alan Murdie, legal advisor and barrister for the group commented ‘This is excellent news in so far as it indicates that the government has recognised that VOA policy needs to view HMOs as a single property. We wait to see the implementation in practice.’ Wendy Whittaker-Large and Daryn Brewer said...

Kirsty Darkins MRICS E: kirsty@kdcommercial.uk W: www.kdcommercial.co.uk About Kirsty ... I am a Chartered Surveyor by profession, starting in property in 1999 at an independent firm Innes England in Nottingham. During my career I have worked for blue chip companies including Boots, CBRE and Hammerson. I have a broad range of property and business experience having managed multi million commercial and residential property portfolios across the UK and Ireland for over 20 years. Over the last 6 years I have built my own consultancy business and portfolio of commercial property investments including retail, office and mixed use properties. I took a career break in 2014, travelled in Europe and did a lot of self-development education. This was the beginning of my transition from property professional to property investor. Having achieved my professional goals I knew that working for someone else exchanging time for money was no longer what I wanted to do. In 2016 I set up my own property consultancy and began investing in apartments on a Rent to Rent basis in Nottingham running them as Serviced Accommodation. I also launched Progressive Property Network, a monthly network meeting in Birmingham and have built a strong investor network and contact base as a result. Today I have a twin focus, my commercial property consultancy KD Commercial and building my own commercial property investment portfolios with my business partners Jamie MacPherson in JK PropCo for commercial investments and Jon Ballard in Wem Commercial for commercial and mixed use developments. I have also transferred my pensions to a SIPP investing jointly with other SIPP investors in commercial property flips.