Property Investors Podcast

FREE Training & More : https://linktr.ee/russellleedsIn this episode of The Property Investors Podcast, the speakers, Russell and Anna, discuss the UK's housing crisis, focusing on the difficulty and high cost of development. They share personal experiences with planning permission issues and suggest solutions for both small-time developers and the government.Key Topics and Timestamps:Introduction to the UK Housing Crisis: The speakers note that developers are unable to afford to build in many UK cities, contributing to the housing crisis. The goal was to build 300,000 houses, but only 200,000 were built, leaving a shortage of 100,000 houses per year.Planning Permission Problems: The speakers discuss how hard it is to get planning permission on land, noting that they have owned land for years and are still waiting. They provide an example of a rejected planning application in Leeds, even after a previous application for more apartments on the same site had been approved. They believe the problem is that the government and councils are "not on the same page," with local councils often resisting new housing.Delays in Planning: The speaker gives an example of a Grade II listed building where coordinating a meeting between the developer, English Heritage, and the council took six months, only for English Heritage to cancel and reschedule for another six months, resulting in a year's delay just for a meeting.Cost to Build vs. House Prices: Since 2020, building costs (materials) have increased by 40%. Meanwhile, house prices have mostly stagnated or slightly dipped, leading to a "silent crash".Financial Feasibility in Areas like Liverpool: The average cost to build a house is about £2,500 per square meter, meaning a 100-square-meter house costs £250,000 to build. The issue is that in places like Liverpool, a 100-square-meter house would not sell for £250,000, and building costs do not differ significantly enough between the North and South to compensate for the difference in house values.Hidden Costs and Risks: Development costs also include buying land (which may be worthless even with planning permission in some areas) and planning permission fees.11Shortage of Builders: The speakers note a shortage of builders, with some booked up for two years. Labor costs have also increased by 25% to 30%.Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): The CIL is another tax on development, costing up to £100 per square meter in some areas.Solution for Small Developers: Buy, Refurbish, Finance (BRF): The speakers advise small-time developers to use the Buy, Refurbish, Finance strategy instead of new development. For example, in Liverpool, buying a rundown house for £100,000 and spending £50,000 on renovation results in a property worth £200,000 and a £50,000 profit, whereas building a new house would cost £250,000 (plus fees) and be worth only £200,000.Government Solutions: Planning Reform: The speakers propose reforming planning by taking it off the councils, making it faster and cheaper, and using AI to help identify buildable areas and give instant decisions.Government Solutions: Financial Incentives: The speakers propose removing CIL and other taxes in areas where development is not financially viable, like Liverpool or Wolverhampton. They also suggest government grants to top up development projects so that a standard profit (e.g., 20% net profit on the end value) can be achieved. They argue that a better planning system and government grants would solve the housing crisis overnightFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.instagram.com/russellleeds/https://www.instagram.com/anna.n.leeds/

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Russell and Anna Leeds of The Property Investors Podcast discuss a powerful, but soon-to-be-closed, loophole that landlords and investors are using to get free property refurbishments and massively increase their property value.
The government planned to close this opportunity on the 31st March this year, but it has now been extended until the end of the year, giving you more time to take advantage of it!
The core strategy discussed is a type of Buy-Refurbish-Finance (BRR) deal, focusing on how a government grant can cover the costs of increasing a property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.

What You'll Learn:
* What the Buy-Refurbish-Finance strategy is and how it works.
* Why finding properties with problems can be a massive investment advantage.
* The HMRC deadline extension for the loophole.
* The massive value uplift seen in different areas of the UK when improving an EPC rating.
* How to qualify for the Eco4 grant and get your refurbishments paid for by the government.

Timestamps:
* 00:00 – Welcome and what the show is about
* 00:13 – HMRC update and the deadline extension10
* 00:41 – What the property loophole is (Buy-Refurbish-Finance)
* 01:42 – Why you shouldn't buy the best house on the street
* 02:39 – Why houses that are a "wreck" are great for BRR
* 04:49 – Summary of the BRR strategy
* 07:32 – Adding value by improving EPCs
* 08:56 – Explaining Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
* 10:44 – How this can be a massive advantage, not doom and gloom
* 11:13 – Case Study: Rob's £140k property with an EPC rating of * 15:09 – The rules to qualify for the grant
* 15:23 – Rule 1: Find a freehold property
* 15:52 – Rule 2: Property must have a poor EPC (E, F, or G)
* 16:09 – Rule 3: Tenant must be on benefits
* 17:29 – Value added by improving EPCs in different regions
* 18:14 – High-value uplift areas (Southeast and London)
* 19:32 – How to apply for the grant (Elite Energy)
* 20:36 – The benefit for existing landlords with large portfolios
* 22:05 – The conflict between EPC rules and renting to a tenant
* 22:42 – Advice for applying while renting out a property with poor EPC
* 23:47 – Note on Elite Energy's service area
* 24:55 – Summary of the new laws and the extension
* 26:04 – Why now is the time to take advantage
* 27:57 – Closing thoughts and call to subscribe
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In this episode of the Property Investors Podcast, Russell and Anna Leeds analyze the current property market in 2026.
They discuss whether it’s a good time to invest, the potential for a market crash or boom, and historical trends in property prices. They review data from Rightmove, showing a 2.8% increase in average asking prices in January 2026, the largest January rise on record. The hosts delve into reasons for recent fluctuations, such as economic policies and investor sentiment, and share personal stories of past investments and market trends.
They touch on the impact of inflation, the behavior of rich investors, and the importance of timing in property investment. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to share their experiences and thoughts on the property market.
Time Stamps00:04 Analyzing the 2026 Market Trends
00:17 Historical Market Insights
00:26 Current Market Statistics
01:37 Landlords and Market Dynamics
02:06 Why Now is a Good Time to Invest
02:32 Historical Property Price Trends
04:43 Lessons from Past Market Crashes
06:20 Personal Investment Stories
10:07 The Silent Crash Post-COVID
11:03 Impact of Inflation on Real Estate
11:24 London's Housing Market Takes a Hit
12:17 Current Market Trends and Predictions
12:40 Investment Strategies and Advice
13:01 Expert Opinions on Future Market
13:45 Financial Calculations and Returns
14:41 The Importance of Long-Term Investment
16:12 Dubai vs. UK Property Market
18:02 The Role of Big Investors
22:07 Community Feedback and Final Thoughts
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Are HMRC's New Powers A Privacy Invasion or Necessary Measure?
In this episode of the Property Investors Podcast, Russell and Anna Leeds discuss the shocking new powers of HMRC and their potential impact on property investors and the landlord community.
They explore the introduction and implications of AI software, 'Connect', detailing how it meticulously monitors various financial aspects including bank accounts, social media, DVLA records, and more.
The duo debates the ethical concerns around privacy invasion versus tax compliance, and the practicality of these measures in preventing tax evasion.
They also provide tips on how to manage these changes and ensure compliance with tax laws.
00:00 Introduction to the Property Investors Podcast
00:01 HMRC's New Powers: An Overview
01:19 The Connect System: AI in Tax Surveillance
02:18 Global Bank Account Monitoring
05:58 Social Media and Lifestyle Scrutiny
07:34 AI and Privacy Concerns
08:12 Comparing Tax Evasion to Theft
09:01 AI's Impact on Personal and Business Finances
09:59 Alexa and Modern Surveillance
12:54 Grouping and Analyzing Taxpayers
14:45 The Power of Financial Control
15:20 The Move Towards a Cashless Society
15:54 Global Perspectives on Cash Usage
17:33 Property and Tax Regulations
18:49 The Role of Technology in Tax Enforcement
20:33 The Consequences of Tax Evasion
26:17 Tips for Managing Your Taxes
27:49 Final Thoughts and Advice

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Landlords in England face huge new fines in 2026, up to £35,000 per offence and many of them apply even if you didn’t mean to break the law.
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In this episode, we explain the new landlord rules for 2026, the Renters’ Rights changes, and the most common mistakes that trigger fines under the Housing Acts.

What you’ll learn:
• When landlords can be fined £35,000 for unlawful eviction or harassment
• Why fixed-term tenancies are no longer allowed• How to legally regain possession in 2026 (and what NOT to do)
• The £6,000 mistakes landlords make just by saying the wrong thing• “Selling” or “moving in” grounds that can trigger £25k–£30k penalties
• HMO, selective licensing, and overcrowding fines explained simply
• Why many landlord offences are strict liability, intent doesn’t matter

Key takeaway: You don’t have to be a bad landlord to be fined.You just have to get it wrong.

Who this episode is for:
Landlords • Property investors • HMO landlords • Accidental landlords • Anyone renting property in England in 2026
If you’re a landlord, this episode could save you tens of thousands of pounds.
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