The Investors Corner

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...

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...

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:

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:

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 m...

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 f...

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 l...

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 t...

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...

Mortgages are no longer a one-size-fits-all decision and the market has shifted more than most people realise.   In this episode, we sit down with Harvinder from Mortgage Tribe to unpack the current mortgage landscape and what it means for buyers, landlords and property investors.   We discuss what's happening behind the scenes with lenders, how swap rates are influencing mortgage pricing, and why banks are approaching risk very differently to just a few years ago.   The conversation also covers how to make a mortgage work for you, not just by chasing the lowest rate, but by understanding structure, flexibility and strategy. We b...

Is buy-to-let really dead or are investors just looking in the wrong places?   In this episode, we break down the UK property market as it stands in and cut through the noise around landlord exits, rental shortages and rising regulation.   We kick things off with a snapshot of the current rental market, looking at supply levels, lending appetite and what the numbers actually say, not just the headlines.   From there, we ask the big question: is London now a dead market for buy-to-let investors?    We compare the capital to the regions and explain why yield, leverage and rental demand matter more t...

The UK rental market has shifted more in the past 12 months than most landlords realise and the data behind it is eye-opening.

In this episode, Andy, Cindy and Ian sit down to break down everything that's changed over the last year, from stamp duty and the UK budget to the growing impact of the Renters' Rights Act. We cut through the headlines and focus on what the numbers are actually telling us about risk, opportunity and where the market is heading next.

We uncover the fact that 25% of all new lets in the UK are no...

Welcome back everyone. Today we're diving into the part of the Budget that barely got any airtime but massively impacts landlords: inheritance, pensions, and long-term planning.

From 2027, unused pensions will now be hit with inheritance tax. And from 2031, the freeze on inheritance tax thresholds ends, which sounds good but actually creates a bit of a ticking time bomb for landlords with growing portfolios.

So, to make sense of it all, we've brought in an estate planner who deals with this stuff every single day. We'll run through the key Budget changes, bu...

After weeks of confusion, headlines, and half-baked social media takes… what does the 2025 Budget actually mean for landlords and their mortgages?

In this episode, we sit down with Tom from Mortgage Tribe to cut through the noise and break down how the Chancellor's announcements really impact borrowing, affordability, tax planning, and long-term strategy.

Frozen tax thresholds. Rising property income tax. Higher dividend tax for company landlords. Savings tax changes. It's a lot but this episode makes it simple.

If you're a landlord with remortgages coming up, thinking about incorporating, or just trying to work...

Today we're diving into something every landlord and property investor in the country needs to have on their radar. There are some pretty heavy rumours swirling around about the 2025.   Budget… and they're not small tweaks,  we're talking potential tax hikes, new levies, and changes that could seriously shift the economics of the private-rented sector.   Nothing is confirmed yet, but these whispers are loud enough that it's worth getting ahead of the curve. So, if you've got a portfolio, you're thinking about buying, or you simply want to protect your returns, stick around. This episode is going to help you make sense...

This week we're breaking down the brand-new Renters' Rights Act, the biggest shake-up to renting in decades.

We'll explain what it means for landlords, when it's coming in, and how to avoid the new penalties. From rent bidding bans and the end of fixed terms to pet requests, upfront rent rules, and £40,000 fines, this episode covers the lot.

If you own or manage a rental property, you can't afford to miss this

In this episode:

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is now law, and it completely changes the gam...

Everyone's asking the same question right now, is it a good time to buy property? 

In this episode, we're cutting through the noise with a clear market update for investors. 

We'll show you why opportunity exists even in uncertain times, how debt can be a powerful tool instead of a trap, and the big mistake landlords make when they overpay their mortgages instead of using equity to grow their portfolio. If you want to understand where the market's heading, and how to make smart moves that build long-term wealth, you don't want...

Most landlords step into property believing it'll bring them passive income.

But the reality? For many, it's just another full-time job with late-night tenant calls, endless compliance, and unexpected costs.

In today's episode, we're unpacking The Landlord Success Triangle  time, money, and freedom. Because real success as a landlord isn't about chasing yield or maximising rent, it's about striking the right balance that gives you profit and peace of mind.

We'll challenge how you look at income versus capital growth, why self-management might be costing you more than it saves, and the...

For years, buy-to-let was the UK's favourite investment. 

But with higher taxes and tougher rules, some say it's finished. 

At the same time, stocks and shares have been booming. 

So today, we're putting them head-to-head: income, growth, costs, effort, and flexibility. No jargon, just the facts.

Is buy-to-let still worth it, or should landlords be moving money into stocks and shares?

In this episode we put property and equities side by side:

* Rental yields vs dividends

* House prices vs stock market growt...

Landlords, brace yourselves the government's latest move could cost you an extra £885 per property in London and £722 elsewhere. 

Yes, we're talking about National Insurance on rental income.

In this episode of The Investor's Corner Podcast, we cut through the noise to explain:

Short, sharp, and straight to the point,  everything UK landlords and...

Welcome back to the podcast. Today we're diving into something that doesn't always get talked about in the property world but absolutely should Wills and estate planning.

If you're a landlord or property investor, you've worked hard to build your portfolio. But what happens to it when you're gone? Without proper planning, your family could face unnecessary tax bills, delays, or even lose out on rental income.

Most landlords focus on mortgages, tenants, and tax returns, but few think about the bigger picture: what happens to their property portfolio when they're no longer...

This week, we're joined by Tom Ashton from Mortgage Tribe to unpack the massive changes happening in the landlord mortgage market in 2025.

Buy-to-let lending has surged 47% in Q1 alone, hitting £10.5bn, and there's a real sense that the landlord sell-off might finally be over. But what does this mean for investors and property owners looking to finance their next move?

We cover everything from new build mortgage criteria, gifted deposits, and record mortgage choice for landlords, through to second charge 

mortgages and the new mortgage guarantee scheme.

...

This week we're joined by Adam Colvin, one of Avocado's experienced partner agents, for a proper behind-the-scenes look at the estate agency world and it gets real.

Off the back of the recent BBC Panorama documentary, 'Undercover Estate Agent', we dig into what's really going on in the industry, from conditional selling and pressure tactics, to what landlords and buyers need to watch out for when working with estate agents.

We also cover how to make your property investment actually work for you, how to spot red flags, and how to align...

We're back with Part 2 of the UK's most Googled landlord questions  and this time we're digging into the juicier topics.

Why landlords are selling, who helps with evictions, what happens with deposits  and even whether the rental crisis is real.

Whether you're a hands-on landlord or just keeping an eye on the market, these are the answers people are actually searching for in 2025.

We wrap up the 14 most Googled landlord questions in this second episode, covering the legal, financial, and political issues landlords face today.

Qu...

"What do people really want to know about landlords in 2025?

Ian put Andy to the test with Google's 7 most searched landlord questions and we're breaking them down with real talk, no legal waffle.

From rent increases to pet bans, mould problems to tenant checks, this episode gives landlords and tenants a clear view of where the law stands and what's changing.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we answer the most searched landlord questions in the UK, based on real Google data.

Questions answered:

...

In Part 3, we wrap up our conversation with Phillip Coburn by focusing on strategy. What do successful landlords do that others don't? How do you keep legal costs under control while protecting your investments?

From agent selection to legal timing and real-life case wins and losses, this episode is full of lessons from the frontline of landlord law.

In This Episode:

In Part 2 of our three-part conversation with solicitor Phillip Coburn, we dive into the legal traps that catch landlords out and often cost them serious money. From missed deadlines to possession delays, this episode is packed with hard lessons and practical fixes.

What You'll Learn:

In this first episode of our 3-part series, we're joined by Phillip Coburn, a civil litigation solicitor with nearly 30 years' experience helping landlords navigate the legal minefield of property disputes. From tricky tenant claims to possession battles, Phillip has seen it all.

We talk about the end of Section 21 and what it really means for landlords. Will you lose control over your property? What's changing in the new Renters Reform Bill? And what should you do right now to stay protected?

Topics we cover:

If you're wondering where the smart money is going in property, this episode has the answers.
In Part 2, Umesh Kalra shares how he's building his portfolio strategically—and why the Midlands is firmly on his radar for future investment.

In This Episode (Part 2):
In Part 2 of our conversation with investor Umesh, we dive into the strategies that are working right now for building a profitable property portfolio—without chasing unrealistic returns or overcomplicating the process.

We also explore why more savvy investors are looking towards the Midlands as the next area of oppor...

He didn't have a massive bank balance or millionaire contacts. Just belief, hard work, and a willingness to take risks.

Here's how Umesh left the 9–5 and built a full-time property business—including the hard lessons you won't find on social media.

In This Episode (Part 1):
We sit down with HMO and buy-to-let investor Umesh Kalra, owner of MoneyRow Properties,  to uncover the real story behind leaving his 9–5 and going all in on property.

He shares how he made the leap, the reality of his first deal, and why HMOs are still work...

An ex-electrician shares how he built a profitable rental portfolio while working full-time, raising a family, and dreaming of early retirement. No hype — just the honest truth about juggling life, saving for deposits, and building long-term wealth through property

In this episode:

Big moves happening behind closed doors – the Renters' Rights Bill is at committee stage right now, and some very surprising amendments have been proposed. From bringing back fixed-term tenancies to keeping Section 21 for small landlords, these changes could completely reshape the direction of the Bill.

Nothing's passed yet – but if you're a landlord, this is your heads-up on what's being debated, what could come next, and how it all affects you.

Show notes: As the Renters' Rights Bill moves through the House of Lords, a wave of proposed amendments has sparked huge debate in the...

Imagine starting from zero: no money, no contacts, no properties. You're left with just your knowledge and experience. What's your next move?

In this episode, Andy is joined by Ian and Mike as they break down exactly how they'd rebuild a successful property business from scratch.

🔍 What's Covered in This Episode: ✔️ The exact 30-90 day blueprint we'd follow from day one ✔️ What property strategy we'd start with (HMO? Rent-to-rent? Sourcing?) ✔️ How much cash you really need to get going ✔️ What we'd absolutely avoid this time around ✔️ Red flags, hard truths, and actionable advice for beginners

...

Sick of the 9-5 grind? Here's how to use property to buy back your time

We break down the exact steps needed to transition from a secure £100,000 salary to building a property investment business that funds your lifestyle — without taking reckless risks.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why leaving a 6-figure job doesn't have to be scary

• How to turn £100,000 of starting capital into multiple rental properties

• The BRRR strategy explained (Buy, Refurbish, Rent, Refinance)

• Where to invest for high returns (and avoid dead z...

Thinking of investing in buy-to-let property? In this episode, we're joined by mortgage expert Tom, who shares crucial insights on the UK mortgage market, fixed vs. tracker rates, and the biggest mistakes landlords make when securing a mortgage. We also discuss refinancing strategies, the impact of interest rates, and how landlords can maximise their returns in 2025.

Whether you're an experienced investor or just starting out, this episode is packed with valuable advice to help you navigate the buy-to-let market effectively!

Topics Covered: ✔️ Fixed vs. tracker mortgages – which is smarter in 2025? ✔️ How interest rates impact buy...

Thinking about investing in property or stocks? In this episode of The Investor's Corner, Ian is joined by Ryan and Sanjay avocado property's Bracknell partners, we will look at the Bracknell property market, investment strategies, and what new investors should know before buying. Plus, we discuss the best ways to invest £100,000 in 2025 - from property and index funds to emerging market trends.

Whether you're a first-time investor or an experienced buyer, this conversation is packed with valuable insights!

Topics Covered:

✔️ The current state of the UK property market

✔️...

In this episode of The Investor's Corner, we're back for part two with James Dewar. We look into the basics and beyond of Bitcoin, focusing on protection, privacy, and the future of finance. James shares his thoughts on where Bitcoin is heading, why asset protection matters, and how businesses can prepare for a Bitcoin-driven economy.

Whether you're new to cryptocurrency or already investing, you'll discover practical tips and fresh insights in this discussion!

Key Takeaways:

Bitcoin's Long-Term Potential: Bitcoin is more than just a currency—it's a st...

In this episode of the Investors Corner Podcast, we talk about smart investment strategies for 2025, focusing on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. This is part one of a two-part series, where we'll cover the latest trends and predictions to help you stay ahead. We're joined by James Dewar, a cryptocurrency expert, who shares his thoughts on Bitcoin's potential this year and how it can be a valuable part of your investment plan.

In This Episode:

In this episode of the Investors Corner Podcast, we dive into the key investment strategies for 2025. Whether you're focused on property, crypto, or expanding your portfolio, we've got practical tips and insights to help you get ahead this year. Stay up to date with the latest market trends and set yourself up for success.

In This Episode:

Welcome back to another episode of The Investors Corner Podcast!

It's now 2025, and in this episode, we take a look back at the podcasts from last year and share our key takeaways. We also dive into property market stats and podcast performance stats.

In this podcast episode, we look at our favourite episodes of the year and what they taught us.

We revisit key moments and insights from some of our top conversations, reflecting on lessons that can shape your property journey in 2025.

Highlights of This Episode: