Secret Property Club Podcast

Secret Property Club
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

The Secret Property Club helps UK landlords and investors make better decisions. Practical frameworks, deal breakdowns, case studies, updates on market shifts and regulation, with clear “what to do next” guidance. secretpropertyclub.substack.com

  1. Sep 23

    Cutting Corners Is The Most Expensive Thing You Do

    Natasha Collins spent sixteen years managing commercial portfolios before she ever put money into her own name. She’s a chartered surveyor, the founder of NC Real Estate, host of the Honest Property Investment Podcast, and author of Confident Commercial Property Investment. In this session, she walked through the due diligence she runs on every commercial deal, and most of it applies just as much to a landlord with three buy-to-lets as it does to someone buying an office block. Get the book: Confident Commercial Property Investment by Natasha Collins Find Natasha: ncrealestate.co.uk This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com/subscribe

    Cutting Corners Is The Most Expensive Thing You Do

  2. Sep 8

    What Supported Living Actually Asks of a Landlord

    I sat down with Lisa Brown, founder of the Supported Living Property Network and host of the Supported Living Property Podcast, to go beyond the “guaranteed rent” pitch most of us have heard about supported living. Lisa came into property from a nursing career, not a property one, and now both develops supported living properties herself and connects investors to the organisations that lease them. What Supported Living Actually Is Supported living sits under the social housing umbrella, but it is specifically for tenants with a support need, not tenants who are there for economic reasons alone. Some tenants need only a few hours a week, such as help registering with a GP or applying for benefits after a period of homelessness. Others need two or three support workers around them twenty-four hours a day to live independently. Every town and city has people who fall somewhere in that range, including people with learning disabilities, people who have experienced homelessness or domestic abuse, and veterans rehabilitating back into independent life. Where To Start Lisa’s own guide to finding providers is free to download from her website, and her Property Match Service lets you list a property at no cost so providers can find you directly. Her Supported Living Property Network is the lowest-cost way to go deeper. It’s just £35 a month plus VAT, with courses, monthly training, monthly community events and an annual conference where investors and providers are in the same room. Want More Than The Free Articles? The paid membership gets you past the newsletter. That means: Private coaching sessions with David and Heidi. The full course archive, including the Serviced Accommodation training series. Deal-analysis tools. Direct access to the team when you’re working through a real decision, not just reading about one. If you’re serious about doing this rather than just following along, upgrade to a paid Secret Property Club membership. START HERE This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com/subscribe

    What Supported Living Actually Asks of a Landlord

  3. Sep 3

    The Cost of Getting It Wrong

    Most landlords learn about property tax the expensive way. After the mistake, not before. So this week I sat down with Simon Misiewicz of Optimise Accountants, a property investor for 25 years and a property tax specialist for 20 of them, to go through the boring, expensive stuff properly. Keywords Making Tax Digital, Landlords, Property Tax, Section 24, Tax Efficiency, Property Investment, HMRC, Tax Relief, Allowable Costs, Incorporation property tax, landlords, tax relief, section 24, incorporation, financial planning, property investment, tax strategies, rental income, tax advice Takeaways Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a new system for tracking income and expenses quarterly. Landlords need to be aware of their gross income, not just profits, for MTD compliance. The threshold for MTD is £50,000 gross income, which includes all rental income. Many landlords mistakenly think their net income is what counts towards MTD. Using a specialist property tax accountant can save landlords money in the long run. Landlords should keep detailed records of repairs and replacements to maximise tax deductions. Section 24 limits mortgage interest relief for landlords, impacting their taxable income. Investing in good accounting software can save time and reduce errors in financial reporting. Landlords should regularly review their finances to avoid surprises at tax time. Understanding tax laws and regulations is crucial for effective property investment. Landlords need to understand the implications of Section 24 on their tax liabilities. Mitigating strategies exist to counteract the impact of tax changes on rental income. Lifestyle changes, such as relocating, can provide tax benefits for landlords. Financial planning is crucial for long-term success in property investment. Many landlords hesitate to seek advice due to perceived costs, but the cost of getting it wrong can be much higher. Embracing mistakes is essential for growth and learning in property investment. Incorporation is not always the best solution for landlords; other strategies may be more beneficial. Understanding allowable costs in property acquisition can significantly impact tax liabilities. Asking the right questions when seeking financial advice can lead to better outcomes. Landlords should focus on the big picture rather than getting lost in small tax hacks. Summary In this conversation, David Oliveira and Simon Misiewicz discuss the implications of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for landlords, emphasising the importance of understanding the difference between gross income and profit for compliance. They explore the challenges posed by Section 24, which limits mortgage interest relief, and provide strategies for tax efficiency in property investment. Simon shares insights on the necessity of using specialised property tax accountants and the benefits of investing in accounting software to streamline financial management. The discussion highlights the need for landlords to stay informed about tax laws and regularly review their finances to maximise deductions and avoid surprises at tax time. In this conversation, Simon Misiewicz discusses the complexities of property tax for landlords, focusing on tax relief, the implications of Section 24, and the potential benefits of incorporating properties into a limited company. He emphasises the importance of financial planning, understanding allowable costs, and seeking specialised advice to navigate the tax landscape effectively. The discussion also highlights the need for landlords to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and to ask the right questions when seeking financial guidance. Titles Mastering Property Tax: Insights for Landlords Making Tax Digital: What Every Landlord Needs to Know Navigating Section 24: Strategies for Landlords Tax Efficiency for Property Investors: Tips and Tricks The Future of Property Tax: Making Tax Digital Explained Landlord Tax Strategies: Avoiding Common Pitfalls Understanding Your Tax Obligations as a Landlord Maximising Deductions: The Importance of Accurate Record Keeping Sound Bites 00:00 "Landlords need to be aware of their gross income." 39:42 "Investing in good accounting software can save time." 39:50 "Regularly review your finances to avoid surprises." 40:11 "Maximise deductions by keeping detailed records." 40:32 "Incorporation for landlords: Is it right for you?" 40:36 "Mastering property tax is essential for landlords." 43:50 "You could argue this is now a double taxation." 50:40 "Don't let the tax tail whack the dog." 51:10 "The enemy of the great is the good." 56:15 "You have to stretch yourself to grow." 58:22 "It's about allowing yourself to make those mistakes." 58:28 "The cost of getting it wrong." 67:42 "You need to take advice from a specialist." 72:30 "Ask questions where you say, what would you do?" 72:54 "Incorporation may not be the solution." 76:20 "It's the big things that people miss." Chapters 00:00 Understanding Making Tax Digital for Landlords 15:06 Navigating the Implications of Making Tax Digital 29:56 The Impact of Section 24 on Landlords 38:51 Strategies for Tax Efficiency in Property Investment 40:11 Understanding Tax Relief for Landlords 44:16 Mitigating the Impact of Section 24 47:13 Exploring Lifestyle Changes and Tax Benefits 49:41 The Importance of Financial Planning 54:26 Overcoming Financial Barriers to Seeking Advice 57:25 Embracing Mistakes as Learning Opportunities 60:17 The Complexities of Incorporation 64:46 Evaluating the Cost of Incorporation 70:28 Asking the Right Questions for Financial Advice 73:34 Understanding Allowable Costs in Property Acquisition Join the Secret Property Club This is exactly the kind of practical, no-hype breakdown Secret Property Club members get every week. Real numbers, real strategy, nothing sold. If today's episode was useful, a paid membership gets you EVERYTHING on the platform, including Q&As, training courses, guides, spreadsheets, and more. Upgrade now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com/subscribe

    The Cost of Getting It Wrong

  4. Sep 1

    How Do You Source SA Units for R2R Consistently? (Lesson #12)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com This is lesson #12. The whole Serviced Accommodation Training guide is available here. Rent-to-rent serviced accommodation is where you take an ordinary house from an owner or a letting agent and run it as short-stay accommodation instead of letting it to a tenant. This lesson is about where those deals actually come from. Premium membership unlocks it, along with the full archive and the Serviced Accommodation Training Course. Upgrade here.

    How Do You Source SA Units for R2R Consistently? (Lesson #12)

  5. Aug 29

    Gas Safety Certificates: 5 Misconceptions That Get Landlords Fined

    Gas safety is one of those areas where landlords assume they know the rules because they’ve been renewing the same certificate for years, but that’s a problem, and I will tell you why. I will now tell you about the misconceptions that are catching people out and what to do instead. #1: No Gas Appliances, No Certificate Needed #2: The Certificate Means the Appliances Are Safe to Use #3: If the Tenant Won’t Let the Engineer In, That’s Their Problem #4: I’ll Renew Whenever, Within 12 Months of the Last One #5: Giving the Tenant a Copy Is Optional if Nothing’s Wrong Want the Rest of the Compliance Picture? Gas safety is one item on a list that also covers electrical checks, deposit protection, licensing, and the Renters’ Rights Act. Getting any of them wrong costs far more than getting them right. Our premium membership gets you the full archive, the Serviced Accommodation training course, our checklists and deal tools, and direct access to the team and me when you are not sure whether a rule applies to your property. Upgrade to Premium Membership This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Jul 31

    Property Q&A - Heidi Mobbs and David Oliveira

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com Heidi Mobbs and David Oliveira ran a live Q&A, and it was exactly the kind of session that makes this community worth being part of: * Real Questions * Real numbers * Real Deals * Real Investing Experience If you couldn’t make it live, or want the highlights in writing to come back to, here’s the full recap. A member asked: Is It Normal For A “Deal Sourcer” To Charge An Upfront Deposit? One of our members, who we’ll keep anonymous, was about to view a property where the agent was demanding a £2,500 mandatory deposit plus a £396 admin fee before he could even proceed, with a promise that the deposit would only be refunded if the survey came back unmortgageable or uninhabitable. He wanted to know if that was normal. Short answer from Heidi and David: No, and it’s a genuine red flag. Here’s the reasoning. A proper letting or estate agent should never charge a prospective buyer anything just to view or buy a property that’s listed on Rightmove or Zoopla. If someone acting on a property that is listed on Rightmove is asking for money upfront, they’re not really operating as a straight agent. They’re operating as a deal sourcer, and legitimate deal sourcers get paid on completion, not before. Heidi runs her own deal sourcing business and said she’s personally never comfortable asking for money upfront from a buyer, and treats it as a red flag whenever she sees someone else do it. It doesn’t square with real transparency, and she doesn’t put much emphasis in the NDAs that usually come attached to these arrangements either. There is a legitimate version of paying a sourcer, but it looks different. A sourcer with a genuine exclusive relationship direct to the vendor will use proper paired contracts, one with the vendor and one with the buyer, so they legitimately can’t be cut out of the deal. That’s a world away from taking a refundable, in theory, deposit on a property that’s sitting openly on the market. If it were genuinely a great deal, it likely wouldn’t still need this kind of arrangement to move. There was a second flag on the same property. It has a sitting tenant, but is being promised to be “sold empty.” That’s a big one, because nobody can actually guarantee a property will be empty unless the correct Section 21 or eviction process has been properly served with correct dates, and Section 21 itself is being phased out under the Renters’ Rights Act reforms. If you’re ever in this position, ask directly: Has notice actually been served correctly, are they leaving voluntarily, and what’s the real timeline? On tenanted viewings more broadly: Sashflow is king. A good, long-standing, rent-paying tenant who looks after the property isn’t automatically a problem, and sometimes it’s better to keep them than to push for empty possession. David’s own example: Before deciding whether “empty” is even what you actually want, ask the tenant for proof of five years of reliable rent payment first. A few practical viewing tips came out of this too. Remember it’s someone’s home, be empathetic, and always ask before moving their furniture. Watch for damp tells around windows: * Flaky paint. * Discoloured patches. * Walls that feel cold to touch. And if the property is tenanted, talk to the tenant directly, not just the agent. Tenants will often volunteer far more honest information about a property’s real problems, and the landlord’s actual reason for selling, than the agent ever will. David estimates this happens roughly seven times out of ten. Heidi’s tip: Go to viewings in pairs with different roles, one person builds rapport with the vendor or agent, the other talks to the tenant. That's the first question answered in full. Up next: How to start building a portfolio with next to no capital, the real numbers behind a purchase lease option (PLO) deal that generates £450 a month in cashflow without owning the property, and whether you should be buying in your own name or a limited company. UPGRADE TO KEEP READING

    Property Q&A - Heidi Mobbs and David Oliveira

  7. Jul 23

    He Saved Her Home From Repossession

    Hi all. I had Motiul Islam on the podcast this week. To be honest, we could have continued the conversation for another hour. Motiul has been investing in property for over 20 years. He started by buying a house and converting it into flats, but too soon, he ran out of money. Spent the next 20 years getting creative about how to buy property without ever owing money to anyone. Motiul doesn’t like debt, and he doesn’t like to work with investors. He told me that he has never enjoyed the feeling of owing someone money, so almost everything he’s built has come from finding ways around it. * Lease options instead of purchases. * Option contracts instead of mortgages. * Structuring deals instead of borrowing. We talked about a property he controlled through a lease option that pulled a woman’s home back from the auction block days before it was due to be repossessed. We talked about a commercial block he is negotiating right now, worth over £2.5 million, that he’s set to control for an option fee of around £200,000. And we talked about what actually happened inside his HMOs the week the Renters Rights Act made headlines, which was not what either of us expected. In this episode: 0:00 — Motiul’s 20 years in property, and the deal that taught him to hate owing people money. 5:35 — A lease option that pulled a woman’s home back from the auction block. 10:22 — When two valuers give you two wildly different numbers, and what to actually do about it. 16:03 — Why some HMO deals are far riskier than the numbers make them look. 18:14 — Inside the land strategy, including option contracts, planning uplift, and controlling a project without owning it. 24:15 — What happened inside Motiul’s HMOs the week the Renters Rights Act hit the headlines. 31:38 — Buying short lease flats, and the 80-year cliff edge nobody explains properly. Want access to everything? Everything in Secret Property Club comes with one membership. You get the training, the live deal analysis sessions, the case studies, the tools, and direct access to professional property investors. Become a member to keep reading, starting with the deal that saved a woman’s home. UPGRADE HERE This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com/subscribe

    He Saved Her Home From Repossession

  8. Jul 21

    Why does SA make money? And when it doesn't?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit secretpropertyclub.substack.com This is lesson #2. The whole Serviced Accommodation training guide is available here. THE SIMPLE ANSWER SA makes money when the gap between your income and your costs is big enough, and stable enough, to leave a real profit each month. It stops working when you overpay for the unit, underestimate costs, or rely on demand that isn’t consistent.

    Why does SA make money? And when it doesn't?
See All (39)

Trailer

About

The Secret Property Club helps UK landlords and investors make better decisions. Practical frameworks, deal breakdowns, case studies, updates on market shifts and regulation, with clear “what to do next” guidance. secretpropertyclub.substack.com

Information