It’s a question that comes up a lot. And it’s usually followed by: “Airbnb is the reason young people can’t buy.” But is that really true in Newcastle? From what I’ve seen so far in my research, the impact of STRs on house prices here is minimal. Here’s why: According to AirDNA and Airbtics, there are around 750–1,000 active STR properties in Newcastle. Compare that to the city’s 130,000+ homes - that’s less than 1%. Meanwhile, developers aren’t building anywhere near enough new houses to keep up with natural demographic changes in the city. Add in higher interest rates, strong student demand, and national inflation and you start to see the bigger picture. So yes, STRs play a role. But they’re not the main driver of the sharp price increases we’ve seen. Once I’ve finalised my research, I’d be happy to share the findings if you’re interested. Because housing affordability in Newcastle is a real issue - but if we blame the wrong things, we’ll never solve it. What do you think - are STRs unfairly blamed for house price rises?

This month, we crossed £50,000 in NET bookings for September. It's a BIG number for us. 3.5 years ago, in the first 6 months, our revenue was just £3,500/m, and I thought how on earth we could achieve £10,000/m to cover the bills. And here’s the truth: Those early days were anything but glamorous. For 4 months, I was sleeping on a yoga mat in the spare room of our very first Airbnb. Not because I wanted to, but because it was the only way to cover the bills after my fintech startup was no longer viable. I still remember: Designing leaflets on Canva until 2am and posting them through letterboxes at 7am. Scrubbing bathrooms myself before guests arrived, hoping they wouldn’t notice how tired I looked. Refreshing the Airbnb app every 5 minutes, waiting for that one extra booking that meant rent was covered. It didn’t feel like a “business”. It felt like survival. Hah, I even have 2 tattoos on my clavicle saying 'Survive' and 'Adapt' Fast forward to today - we’re managing hotels, working with landlords, building a team… and crossing £50k in bookings in a single month. Has it been easy? Not even close. Guests who wrecked apartments. Deals that fell through at the last moment. Nights wondering if I’d chosen the wrong path. But every tough moment taught me something. Every setback shaped the way we run HNFC Stays today - with stronger systems, higher standards, new challenges, and a mindset that doesn’t back down. From £3.5k to £50k in 3.5 years, it's not bad in my humble opinion. It’s not just about the number. It’s about the journey from a yoga mat to managing a business I can be proud of. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned? Growth doesn’t come from comfort - it comes from persistence. What about you - what’s the milestone you’re most proud of, and what did it take to get there?

When most people think about serviced accommodation, they picture: - Weekend city breaks - Tourists looking for cheap stays - Groups booking for a night out That used to be true. But it’s changing. Fast. Here’s what we’re seeing in Newcastle and across the North East: ✅ Contractors booking 2–4 months at a time ✅ Relocations for professionals and families between homes ✅ Insurance stays where tenants need housing after floods or fires ✅ Corporate bookings from companies sending staff here for projects These bookings aren’t just longer - they’re more stable. They give landlords: - Consistent income - Less wear and tear (fewer guest turnarounds) - A safer, more predictable guest profile And they give us as operators the chance to build real partnerships with businesses - not just depend on weekend demand. That’s why we believe the future of SA in our region isn’t driven by stag dos or city breaks. It’s built on corporate and long-stay demand. For landlords, that means one thing: If your property is set up for high quality, comfort, and reliability… you’ll always have demand. What do you think — are corporate lets the real future of serviced accommodation in the North East?

I just read a piece pointing to something big in the pipeline: Britain might move away from the traditional stamp duty model and instead introduce annual or transaction-based property taxes - especially targeting homes over £500,000. https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/money/article/homeowners-could-pay-new-property-tax-instead-of-stamp-duty-927h9nc5b That could change everything. Here’s what’s on the table: - A seller or owner-occupier tax on homes above certain value bands - Possible local property levies replacing council tax in future - A more stable revenue stream for the Treasury - but a long-term cost for property owners If this goes ahead, landlords and property investors should sit up and pay attention. We’ve already seen the direction of travel here in Newcastle. The double council tax premium on second homes is already live - a clear sign that landlords and property investors are in the firing line for higher ongoing costs. So, what could this new tax mean? - Homes held longer and rented? Expect ongoing tax bills, not just one-off costs - Second homes and investment properties may face much higher tax burdens - We could see shifts in property values and tenant demand - especially in higher bands - Regions like Newcastle and the North East might benefit if London markets soften more, but we’ll need to keep our hand on the pulse This isn’t speculation - actual reform talk is happening now. It could reshape how we model investment returns. What’s your take? - If property tax changes become the norm, would you: - Review your portfolio strategy? - Rebalance towards lower-value units? - Rethink how you structure ownership and rental income? Let me know below 👇 #propertytax #landlordlife #hnfcstays #servicedaccommodation #propertyinvestment #newcastlelandlords #newcastlepropertymanagement #northumberlandproperty