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We unpack the most common landlord questions from forums and give clear, practical answers you can evidence. From who chooses the tenant to EPC rumors, deposit pitfalls, and rent rises, we share what to do, what to document, and what to avoid.

• landlord retains final say on tenant selection, no discrimination, consistent affordability criteria
• provide and certify safe cooking facilities, control installation, document compliance
• meter photos and timely notifications prevent liability for outgoing tenants’ utilities
• smoke and CO alarms must be restored promptly once notified, evidence all actions
• protect deposits within 30 days or face one to three times penalties per breach
• insured vs custodial deposit schemes, control versus simplicity trade-offs
• EPC only required when marketing, plan low-cost upgrades, watch 2030 policy shifts
• maintain gas safety during possession efforts, record all access attempts
• serve notices via email if permitted, plus hand delivery with timestamped photos
• raise rents annually with Section 13 and comparables, avoid painful catch-up jumps
• rent guarantee insurance covers arrears and legal costs, claim before 30 days, not retrospective

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

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We trace Graham Lindley’s path from engineer and would‑be trader to building Prim Short Stays, scaling from a single Nottingham block to nearly 300 units by prioritizing systems, people, and pragmatic pivots. We dig into post‑COVID market shifts, the rise of GuestFlow, and how thinking bigger turns chaos into opportunity.

• origin story from engineer to property operator
• first SA deal via networking and technical credibility
• launch through risk, borrowed capital, and fast validation
• switching from rent‑to‑SA to management model
• scaling to 150 units, pressure, and messy growth
• COVID contraction, white‑label overnight support
• building GuestFlow to manage real operational workflows
• hiring to strengths, culture, and servant leadership
• changing demand patterns and diversifying stock
• OverNightly and long‑stay B2B placements
• fitness, calendar design, and calm decision‑making
• thinking bigger with developers and block deals
• action over perfection, reframing problems as challenges
• compounding effort, mentorship, and annual recalibration

Please do check out the ultimate SA, a business builder. It is our complete blueprint that takes you from complete novice and will show you in steps, stages, and blueprints exactly how to build yourself a successful service accommodation business with our coaching support

We keep things very, very cost effective because we believe that you should be spending your money on property investing rather than training and education

Feel free to reach out to me at mark@markfitzgerald.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

Send us a text

Most rent-to-rent failures start before the contract is signed—by chasing the wrong type of property with the wrong plan. We pull back the curtain on how to find cash flow quickly without sinking money into someone else’s asset, and why converting buy-to-lets into HMOs is a fast road to delays, compliance headaches, and long paybacks. Instead, we map out a smarter path: target ready, licensed HMOs and pre-existing serviced accommodation units where your operational edge—not a heavy refurb—creates the margin.

We dig into the practical rules that protect your downside: a six-month maximum payback target, strict quality filters, and area due diligence that matches tenant or guest profiles to the streets you’re actually renting. You’ll hear a candid case study of a great house in the wrong area, how we repositioned it by marketing to local factory teams, why a break clause saved the upside, and what made us exit on friendly terms. We get specific about SA: when furniture spend makes sense, how to inherit setups from burned-out owners, and the exact levers—listings, photos, pricing, and ads—that turn underperforming calendars into steady bookings.

If you’ve been told to “add value” with refurb, we’ll show you a better lever: time-to-cash. Modern HMOs demand higher standards; dated four-bed layouts with repurposed lounges won’t cut it. With a few clear underwriting rules, a consistent follow-up pipeline, and the right stock, rent-to-rent becomes a lean, resilient cash-flow engine. Subscribe for more step-by-step strategies on HMOs, serviced accommodation, and winning deals without gambling your upfront capital. If this helped, share it with a friend and leave a quick review to tell us your biggest rent-to-rent hurdle.

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

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Want a serviced accommodation playbook that still works when leisure rates dip and the slow season bites? Mark sits down with Emily McTamony to map a practical route from first home and lettings lessons to high-performing SA units, social housing partnerships, and care-provision leases that stabilize cash flow when others scramble. Emily explains why the real winners aren’t the glossy one-bed apartments, but the clean, modern three- and four-bed houses with parking that appeal to contractors, relocations, and insurance stays. We break down how to source smarter—filter by age of kitchen, location, and time on market—then run conservative numbers so you only chase properties that pass a stress test.

Emily brings a rare edge: optionality. When a head lease blocked short-term lets, she pivoted a unit into a housing association agreement and kept income flowing. She also walks through Placement Finder, where she sources long-term homes for care providers supporting children with complex needs. We talk candidly about damage, standards, and why these bookings are repaired to SA quality and paid by the provider. The big unlock is a hybrid model—operate as SA in peak periods and switch to housing association or care placements on flexible terms through slower months—so you smooth occupancy, protect rates, and keep operations consistent.

You’ll hear precise, actionable insights: why Derby underperforms on nightly rates, how to compete in saturated Nottingham with below-market rents and superior staging, and why professional setup beats DIY every time. We also dig into mindset: slow down, prove one concept, then scale with confidence. If you’re navigating rent reform headlines, rising competition, or seasonal whiplash, this conversation gives you the tools to pick better stock, build stronger demand channels, and design resilient revenue streams.

If this helped you think differently about SA and social housing strategy, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what city should we analyze next?

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

Send us a text

Creative property investing strategies depend on building strong relationships with estate agents who understand and support non-traditional deals. Success comes from speaking their language, addressing their priorities, and ensuring they get paid for their work.

• Estate agents primarily care about getting paid and serving their client (the seller)
• Avoid using investor jargon like "purchase lease option" or "rent-to-rent" when first approaching agents
• Present creative deals in terms of benefits to the seller and the agent
• Highlight that agents get paid faster with creative deals than traditional sales
• Not all agents will understand creative strategies - focus on those who do
• Be patient and persistent - relationship building takes time
• Always communicate clearly throughout the deal process
• Use heads of terms documents to lock in agreements before spending money on solicitors
• Follow up with agents even after they say no to a specific deal
• Build your toolkit with multiple strategies to fit different property opportunities

Try Education to Action for just £1 for 14 days access to over £30,000 worth of property education resources and coaches. Visit educationtoaction.com to learn more.

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

Send us a text

We trace Bolaji’s shift from rocky buy-to-lets and a rogue agent to a focused rent-to-SA strategy powered by solid training, better sourcing, and a dependable operations partner. Cash flow comes first, then diversification into HMOs and creative control tools to build a safer portfolio.

• social housing background and first buy-to-lets
• council schemes, reliable rent, and a difficult tenant
• the agent nonpayment issue and hard lessons learned
• training paths, networks, and why accountability matters
• direct-to-landlord outreach and delayed response reality
• filtering deal sourcers and Article 4 planning discipline
• landing a rent-to-SA with pro management and strong bookings
• next steps: more SA units, then R2R HMO, PLO as a tool
• using expert calls, live workshops, and deal reviews to de-risk
• mindset: value over cost, systems over hustle, community over guesswork

Check out educationtoaction.com to explore the community and training. Questions? Email support@educationtoaction.com

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

Send us a text

Rent-to-rent deals offer landlords guaranteed income, professional property management, and freedom from day-to-day hassles while providing operators significant cash flow potential. This strategy works because it addresses landlords' pain points including void periods, maintenance headaches, and the desire for reliable passive income.

• Landlords have specific pain points: self-management fatigue, void periods, maintenance issues
• Explain benefits clearly: guaranteed income, professional property management, no voids
• Show the total guaranteed income over the contract term (potentially £70-90k over 5 years)
• When negotiating, help landlords understand their actual net income after expenses
• You don't need massive capital to start, but some funds or credit access is helpful
• Request rent-free periods when improving properties to offset initial costs
• Proper due diligence ensures properties are in suitable areas for your target market
• Break clauses protect you if a property underperforms
• Many successful operators run rent-to-rent businesses alongside full-time jobs

If you need help with your property investing, whether it's rent-to-rent, deal sourcing, serviced accommodation, HMOs, or refurbishments, check out Education to Action for free guides, tools, resources and our supportive community.

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...

Send us a text

Nicola and Matthew Reeves share their transformative journey from professionals working for others to property entrepreneurs building their own investment business. They discuss how their backgrounds in planning, building regulations, and architectural draftsmanship provided the perfect foundation for property success, while emphasizing that mindset growth has been their biggest challenge.

• Nicola and Matthew invest primarily in Bristol, focusing on assisted sales, lease options, and flips with planning gain
• They emphasize the importance of proper education and training rather than trying to learn everything from YouTube videos
• Their current project involves flipping a house while gaining planning permission for a new build on the same plot
• Building relationships with the right professionals has been crucial to their success
• Mindset challenges have been their biggest obstacles – Nicola struggled with confidence at networking events while Matthew battles with self-belief
• They overcome mindset hurdles through gratitude practices, physical activity, and taking consistent action
• Their future vision includes creating tenant-buyer opportunities to help young people get onto the property ladder
• Their power team has developed through networking and relationships built over time
• They rejected a potential investor despite proof of funds because the relationship didn't feel right
• Their top book recommendations include The Compound Effect, Atomic Habits, and Property Magic

Contact Nicola and Matthew at hello@r4properties.co.uk if you'd like to learn more about their property journey.

VALUABLE RESOURCES:

Let me help you build your property business, Check out how I can support your investing now.

• Visit https://www.thepropertyunleashed.com/home
• My Property Investing Community called Property Education To Action, This is the best place to achieve your property goals and build the life you desire. https://educationtoaction.com
• You can learn and take action on your property goals for just £1
• Visit www.educationtoaction.com to explore free Property Ebooks and guides in Rent-to-Rent, Serviced Accommodation, Deal Sourcing, PLOs and more and also our FREE training masterclasses to help you generating a sustainable income through property.
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/816926952556608 to meet like-minded property investors and be a part of the community.

CONNECT WITH ME:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.fitzgerald.7921
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfitzgeraldentrepreneur/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fitzge...