This Monday was special for me — I finally graduated with my MSc in Real Estate (with commendation). But the photos don’t show the reality behind it. Running HNFC Stays full-time. Studying full-time. And trying to stay sane in a year that honestly tested me more than any before. There were mornings I was on site at 7am dealing with leaks… then in a lecture by 10… replying to guests on the metro home… and writing coursework half-asleep at 1 or 2am. I submitted one assignment from the car between viewings. Read valuation notes at 5am because that was the only quiet hour I had. None of it was pretty — but it made me sharper. And it made me fall even deeper in love with this industry. The best part? Everything I studied went straight into the business: - Valuation → landlord reports - Planning → our development pipeline - Property law → negotiations - Asset management → better systems - Investment → scaling with confidence And somehow, through all that chaos, we still grew: 📈 Sales up nearly 30% 📦 Doubled our managed listings 🏢 Took on bigger, more complex buildings I’m honestly just grateful that now I can share this knowledge with all of you for FREE here in the community —so you don’t have to pay £18,000 in tuition fees to learn the same things. This degree didn’t just give me theory. It made me a better operator, a clearer thinker, and more confident about where we’re going next. 👉 What’s something you took on that felt impossible at first… but proved to yourself you could handle it?

When I first looked at Buy-to-Let, everyone around me made it sound like the “proper” path. Save a big deposit, buy a house, pray the rent covers everything. But when I ran the numbers… reality hit me. A BTL in the North East usually needs £25k–£35k upfront, and the cashflow is around £250–£400/month (approx figures) At that time, I didn’t have £25k spare. I barely had £3k. Literally. My first ever 1-bed deal — fully set up, furnished, supplies, TV, deposit, everything — cost me £3,000 in total (I'm still amazed how I pulled this off) That one deal changed my entire direction. And when I compared it to the cashflow… again, it shocked me: £350–£550/month from a Rent-to-Rent SA that cost a fraction of a BTL deposit. Same cashflow. 7–10x less capital. (I don't enjoy the appreciation though) For someone starting with almost nothing, that was life-changing. I still respect Buy-to-Let. I still buy when the deal makes sense. But the truth is… Rent-to-Rent is what gave me a shot. It’s what allowed me to learn fast, make mistakes cheaply, and build momentum without waiting years to save a deposit. Both strategies work. But for me, R2R wasn’t a “business model.” It was a lifeline. A doorway into property when everything else felt out of reach. 👉 What did you start with — BTL, R2R, or something completely different? P.S. *In this picture, I had to walk for 2 miles like that, and do 2 more trips. All because I couldn't afford to pay for a taxi and wanted my set-up costs to be as low as possible x

The moment you pass £230,000 in revenue, HMRC slaps you with a jump in VAT flat rate from 10% to 20%. That’s a £27,500+ extra tax bill for doing well. Ouch. But here’s what we’re doing about it (and how you can prep too): ✅ Tightened our bookkeeping – weekly check-ins, not monthly surprises ✅ Split income streams – separating management fees, cleaning, and maintenance ✅ Registered properties under separate entities (where viable) ✅ Exploring corporate lets and longer stays to reduce platform fees ✅ Reviewed pricing strategy to absorb VAT without scaring off guests Growth sounds sexy until the bills catch up. But every level has a tax. Literally. 💬 If you're nearing the threshold or already past it, share below 👇How are you navigating VAT at scale? Let’s problem-solve it together. #VATstrategy #ServicedAccomTips #ScalingSmart #VV-properties-uk #SkoolCommunity #propertyinvestment

Many people jump into property investment in the UK without understanding the risks. Here are the three biggest mistakes new investors make: 1. Not Doing Proper Market Research – Buying in the wrong location can kill your returns. Always check rental demand, local employment rates, regeneration projects, and property price trends before investing. 2. Underestimating Costs – It’s not just about the mortgage. Factor in stamp duty, maintenance, management fees, and potential void periods. Always have a financial buffer to cover unexpected expenses. 3. Overleveraging with Bad Financing – Just because you can borrow doesn’t mean you should. A bad mortgage deal with high interest rates or short fixed terms can affect your profits. Work with a specialist mortgage broker to secure the best financing. 📌 Takeaway: Property investment is a long-term game. Do your due diligence, understand your numbers, and finance your deals wisely to build a profitable portfolio.

I was washing dishes in the simple cafe for the minimum wage (back then £11.20/h) and dwelling on my 100k business debt 😱 And 30 months later this 👇started to happen 1. In 2022, I’ve got 2 serviced accommodations with £30k in gross yearly revenue. And it was a difficult start to say the least… 2. In 2024, I’m proud to say we’ve collected over a quarter of a million (£) from our guests. I estimate we’d get around £300k+ by end of this year. I could never dreamed off that we could grow to these numbers and so fast 🚀 3. We’ve only X6 our UK properties and that translated into almost 10x return! 🤩 I want you to remember, GROWTH IS NOT LINEAR! it gets easier with time and with the right team and guidance! How can we help you 🫵 today on your success?