scottish property podcast Archives - Scottish Property Podcast

Are Property Flips Still Worth It in 2026?

Scottish Property Podcast on September 14, 2026

Episode Overview

Are property flips still worth pursuing in 2026—or have rising costs and tighter margins made the strategy too difficult?

In this listener Q&A episode, Nick and Steven examine the reality of flipping property in today’s market. With Scotland’s 8% Additional Dwelling Supplement, higher material prices, increased trade rates, bridging costs and tax on the eventual profit, investors now need to buy at a much deeper discount and control every expense carefully.

They explain why straightforward, lower-value flips have become harder to find, while assisted sales, profit-share partnerships with builders, larger renovation projects and properties with potential for layout changes can still produce opportunities. They also answer listeners’ questions about sourcing fees, legal costs, purchasing portfolios, transferring letting agents and business banking.

Episode Highlights

Whether property flips are still worth pursuing in 2026
How one SPP episode helped a listener reduce their maximum auction bid
Why construction insolvencies and rising trade costs matter to investors
How Scotland’s 8% ADS is squeezing flip margins
Why materials, labour, finance costs and tax must all be included
How managing individual trades can help make the numbers work
Why assisted sales can reduce upfront costs and avoid ADS
How profit-share partnerships with builders can create opportunities
Why bridging delays and collapsed sales can wipe out expected profit
How architectural design and layout changes can unlock hidden value
Why larger renovation projects may now face less competition
Why lower-value “easy flips” are becoming harder to find
When a portfolio sourcing fee could be justified
What investors should expect from a paid property sourcing service
Typical legal costs and extra charges buyers often overlook
Why Nick and Steven use multiple business banks
What to check when buying a portfolio with an existing letting agent
Whether buying or renting commercial property makes more sense

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Listener Q&A and a property deal saved by due diligence
01:37 – Are property flips still viable in 2026?
02:10 – Construction insolvencies and rising trade costs
03:45 – Why flips have become more labour-intensive
04:53 – Assisted sales and profit-sharing with builders
05:46 – ADS, bridging finance and holding costs
07:13 – Finding creative opportunities in the flip market
09:14 – Are the easy property flips disappearing?
10:41 – The time, risk and rewards involved in flipping
11:32 – Tax and first-time-buyer flipping strategies
13:26 – What is a reasonable property sourcing fee?
14:17 – Typical sourcing fees and VAT
15:00 – What should investors receive for a £4,000 fee?
16:46 – Typical legal fees when buying property
17:30 – Business banking and spreading financial risk
19:29 – Buying a portfolio with an existing letting agent
24:30 – Nick’s search for a new office
26:17 – Buying commercial property versus renting

Useful Links

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Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you still take on a property flip in 2026, or choose a different investment strategy? Let us know in the comments

From Property Flips to a Scottish Aparthotel Development

Scottish Property Podcast on August 24, 2026

Episode Overview

Michael Mower built his property career by taking on the projects other people avoided—from tired Glasgow flats to fire-damaged auction purchases. After years of running a stressful renovation business, he and his wife Liana decided to start building assets for themselves.

That change led to successful property flips, buy-to-lets and serviced accommodation. Michael shares the numbers behind a Glasgow flat bought for £39,000 and sold for approximately £85,000, as well as a Newtown Mearns home bought for £350,000 and sold for £650,000.

Now, Michael is converting a long-empty B-listed building on Callander Main Street into serviced accommodation, commercial space and offices. He talks Nick and Steven through the £100,000 purchase, estimated £250,000 refurbishment and targeted £630,000 end value. He also speaks openly about alcohol addiction, rehab and recovery.

Episode Highlights

From plumbing apprentice to running a renovation company
Why Michael and Liana stopped renovating for clients and began investing for themselves
His first Glasgow flip: bought for £39,000 and sold for approximately £85,000
Why their one-bedroom flips typically produced profits of around £35,000–£40,000
The Newtown Mearns home bought for £350,000 and sold for £650,000
Moving from flips into buy-to-let, auctions and serviced accommodation
Michael’s honest experience of alcohol addiction, rehab and recovery
Why his serviced accommodation can also work as long-term rental property
Callander units listed at approximately £270 and £210 per night
Transforming a B-listed building that had been empty for approximately 25–30 years
The planned serviced accommodation, commercial and office spaces
The £100,000 purchase, £250,000 refurbishment and targeted £630,000 end value
How extensive dry rot affected the work and bridging-finance plans

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Michael Mower
00:56 – Michael’s background and early life
04:58 – From plumbing apprentice to building contractor
09:23 – Leaving client renovations behind
11:40 – Flipping property in Glasgow’s south side
17:08 – The figures behind Michael’s flips
18:28 – Moving from flipping to holding property
20:11 – Launching a salon and renovating in Newtown Mearns
23:16 – Buying property at auction
25:46 – Alcohol addiction and the road to recovery
34:35 – Michael’s property portfolio today
35:25 – Moving into serviced accommodation
37:28 – Nightly rates for the Callander units
39:45 – The Callander aparthotel development
42:50 – The planned layout of the building
44:35 – Purchase price and due diligence
46:23 – Refurbishment costs and unexpected dry rot
48:23 – Funding the development
49:46 – The targeted £630,000 end value
50:58 – Local reaction and the planned opening
53:24 – What comes after the development
54:20 – Where to follow Michael

Useful Links

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Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you take on a derelict B-listed building, or stick to smaller property projects? Let us know in the comments

Why High-Leverage Property Investors Could Be Trapped at Refinancing

Scottish Property Podcast on August 19, 2026

Episode Overview

How can you scale a buy-to-let portfolio without leaving yourself dangerously exposed if the property market changes?

In this episode, Nick and Steven discuss the risks of using 80% and 85% loan-to-value mortgages to grow a property portfolio. They explain how arrangement fees, falling valuations and changes to lending criteria could leave highly leveraged investors needing to inject substantial amounts of cash when refinancing.

They also share practical ways to reduce risk, including investing in high-demand areas, maintaining cash reserves, stress-testing mortgage payments and using conservative end values. From researching comparable properties to calculating every purchase, renovation and holding cost, this episode explains the due diligence investors should carry out before committing to a deal.

Episode Highlights

What the 18-year property cycle suggests about the current stage of the market
Why 80% and 85% LTV mortgages can create extra risk for property investors
How arrangement fees can push effective leverage even higher
What could happen if high-LTV mortgage products are unavailable at refinance
How negative equity could leave investors trapped on a lender’s standard variable rate
Why strong rental demand, transport links, schools and employment should form part of area research
The importance of stress-testing mortgage payments against higher interest rates
Why BRR investors should use conservative end values rather than optimistic valuations
How to compare properties using construction type, condition and square metreage
Why investors should research local employers, regeneration plans and school performance
The purchase, holding and refurbishment costs investors often overlook
Why every deal should still work when tested against higher mortgage rates

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Scaling buy-to-let safely in a changing market
01:20 – The 18-year property cycle and crash predictions
03:53 – Why 80% and 85% LTV mortgages raise concerns
05:40 – How mortgage fees push leverage even higher
07:27 – The refinancing risk across a large portfolio
09:22 – BRR valuations and recovering all your money
11:23 – Negative equity and product-transfer risks
13:37 – Could investors become trapped on a 9% variable rate?
14:38 – Investing in high-demand rental areas
15:44 – Stress-testing, cash reserves and avoiding overleverage
17:53 – Why longer fixed-rate terms can reduce risk
18:31 – Due diligence and conservative end values
19:21 – Comparing properties accurately
21:08 – Testing current demand with listings and estate agents
22:22 – The landlord costs investors frequently overlook
23:23 – Jobs, regeneration and school performance
26:43 – Getting every deal number right
28:02 – Purchase costs and property holding costs
30:04 – Renovation budgets and choosing quality materials
31:40 – Calculating the property’s true rental cash flow

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you use an 85% loan-to-value mortgage to scale faster, or keep more equity in each property? Let us know in the comments

Rent Controls Backfired — And Landlords Changed Their Strategy

Scottish Property Podcast on August 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven are joined by Dr John Boyle to discuss rent controls in Scotland, why they have backfired, and how landlords have changed their strategy in response. They also look at what this means for the wider private rental sector, tenants and property investors. In addition, the conversation touches on housing supply, build-to-rent, student accommodation and whether current policy is helping or making the rental market more difficult.

The conversation also touches on housing supply, build-to-rent, student accommodation and whether current policy is helping or making the rental market more difficult. As a result, this episode gives a practical look at how rent controls in Scotland, wider regulation and market conditions can shape long-term property investment strategy.

Overall, this episode gives a practical look at how rent controls in Scotland, wider regulation and market conditions can shape long-term property investment strategy.

Episode Highlights

What Scotland’s housing emergency actually means, and why homelessness and temporary accommodation are increasing
Why housing costs of around 25%–30% of gross income are generally considered affordable
How annual housebuilding has fallen from around 25,000 homes before the financial crash to fewer than 20,000
Why Scotland’s 2026 house-price growth forecast was revised from 3.5% to around 0%
Why Dr John Boyle does not believe the 18-year property cycle will cause a house-price crash in 2026
How Aberdeen’s property market changed so dramatically, and why transactions are now beginning to recover
Why landlord registration figures may not give a reliable picture of landlords leaving the sector
How rent controls encouraged landlords to raise rents to market value between tenancies
Why the 8% Additional Dwelling Supplement affects new landlords while producing record tax revenue
Why rent controls caused institutional build-to-rent investment in Scotland to stall
How student accommodation and co-living could provide alternative housing options

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Dr. John Boyle
01:08 – Scotland’s housing emergency explained
04:04 – Why Scotland is not building enough homes
07:08 – The rising cost of social housing
10:55 – Scotland’s property-market outlook
14:32 – Will the 18-year property cycle cause a crash?
18:25 – What could trigger the next property crash?
21:39 – What happened to Aberdeen’s property market?
25:31 – Finding growth areas and interpreting property data
30:28 – Are landlords really leaving Scotland?
35:23 – How the 8% ADS is affecting investors
37:47 – Why rent controls caused rents to rise
40:11 – The future of rent-control zones
44:57 – Build-to-rent and institutional investment
53:03 – Why build-to-rent schemes are struggling
56:47 – Is Glasgow building too much student accommodation?
59:49 – Could co-living help address the housing shortage?
01:00:52 – Where to connect with Dr. John

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Do you think Scotland is heading for a property crash, or will the housing shortage keep prices resilient? Let us know in the comments below

Bridging, BRR and Property Sourcers — Your Questions Answered

Scottish Property Podcast on August 3, 2026

Episode Overview

What would Nick and Steven do with £40,000 to invest—and would they choose a vanilla buy-to-let over stocks and shares?

In this listener Q&A episode, Nick reveals that he currently owns 12 buy-to-lets and is still aiming for a portfolio of 20 producing around £5,000 in net monthly cash flow. Steven explains why he focuses less on the number of properties he owns and more on cash flow, loan-to-value and paying down debt.

They also discuss first-time buyer advantages, what makes a BRR deal stack up, how bridging finance works, whether 5.7% is a reasonable refinancing rate, and how to find trustworthy property sourcers.

Episode Highlights

Nick’s goal of owning 20 buy-to-lets producing approximately £5,000 in net monthly cash flow
Why Steven focuses on cash flow, loan-to-value and debt reduction instead of property numbers
Houses versus flats—and why tenant turnover, factor fees and capital growth matter
What Nick and Steven would do with £40,000 to begin building a property portfolio
How first-time buyers can use low deposits, house hacking and live-in flips to their advantage
Their five and ten-year plans for acquiring properties and reducing portfolio debt
The discounts, added value and refurbishment costs needed to make a BRR deal work
How bridging finance works, including arrangement fees, monthly interest and exit costs
How to check a property sourcer’s track record, compliance and investment figures
Why tenanted properties require due diligence on both the building and the tenant

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Nick and Steven answer listeners’ questions
01:15 – Portfolio targets and monthly cash-flow goals
04:03 – Houses versus flats
06:12 – BRR versus buying quality property
08:21 – Loan-to-value and paying down portfolio debt
10:52 – Prime Property Auctions
13:09 – Buy-to-let versus stocks and shares
20:49 – What would they do with £40,000?
23:03 – The advantages of being a first-time buyer
25:56 – Nick and Steven’s property-buying criteria
30:23 – Their five and ten-year property plans
36:18 – How to borrow, buy and recover your investment
38:32 – How bridging finance works
42:47 – Is 5.7% a reasonable refinancing rate?
46:10 – Kitchen versus bathroom refurbishment
49:56 – How to find a trustworthy property sourcer
55:28 – Nick and Steven’s perfect day

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

If you had £100,000 to invest, would you choose buy-to-let or stocks and shares? Let us know in the comments

Diagnosed With Cancer at 27 — Then Property Changed Her Life

Scottish Property Podcast on July 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven are joined by Ally Wilkes to discuss property refurbishment in Scotland, BRR deals, project management and how property changed the direction of her life.

After being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at 27, Ally began to rethink time, security and the future she wanted to build. She went on to complete a flip that made just under £30,000, used the BRR strategy to build her own portfolio and eventually left the NHS to run ACG Property, managing renovation projects for investors.

Episode Highlights

How a cancer diagnosis at 27 changed Ally’s outlook on work, security and life
The numbers behind her first flip: bought for £81,000, spent around £17,000 and sold for £135,750
How that first project produced a profit of just under £30,000
Her first BRR: bought for £66,000, refurbished for around £30,000 and revalued at £130,000
What happened when her first buy-to-let tenant trashed the property after only eight weeks
Leaving the NHS and adjusting to the lack of routine that comes with self-employment
Why Ally charges 15% of the refurbishment cost for project management
Why Ally budgets roughly £15,000–£20,000 for a good two-bedroom refurbishment with kitchen and bathroom upgrades, excluding electrics, windows and boiler or heating work
The hidden problems investors cannot always spot before work begins, including thermal bridging
Why Ally prioritises good-quality assets instead of growing a portfolio for appearances

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Ally Wilkes
01:47 – Wanting to work in property from a young age
06:38 – The cancer diagnosis that changed everything
15:37 – Why property became Ally’s next chapter
18:27 – The numbers behind her first flip
21:49 – Moving from flipping to BRR and buy-to-let
22:16 – A £66,000 purchase revalued at £130,000
22:53 – The nightmare first tenant
27:23 – Leaving the NHS for property full-time
33:26 – How networking brought Ally her first clients
35:42 – Building a personal brand by being authentic
38:19 – Why investors use a project manager
39:27 – Project-management fees and realistic budgets
43:17 – What a two-bedroom refurbishment costs today
45:09 – Thermal bridging and other hidden problems
48:12 – Kitchens, bathrooms and timeless design
51:53 – Managing a refurbishment for a remote investor
53:23 – Ally’s plans for ACG Property and her portfolio
55:29 – Where to connect with Ally

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you leave a secure career to pursue property full-time? Let us know in the comments

How an Architect Spots Hidden Value in Property Deals

Scottish Property Podcast on July 20, 2026

Episode Overview

Most investors look at a floor plan and see a two-bed. Ross McIlvean looks at the same layout and sees hidden value in property deals that others might miss.

In this episode of The Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven are joined by Ross McIlvean of LTJ Architecture to discuss how architecture, planning knowledge and practical design can help investors unlock value. Ross shares his route into property, his first flip, building a portfolio in Dunfermline, solving an illegal attic conversion and using layout changes to turn two-bed properties into three-beds.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Intro: Ross McIlvean joins the podcast
00:34 Ross’s background and route into architecture
01:22 Why buildings and local architecture matter
04:35 Architecture that adds commercial value
05:11 Ross’s first step into property investing
06:17 Property education and learning the basics
07:49 Ross’s first flip in Cowdenbeath
10:26 Why flipping is harder in today’s market
11:45 Using architecture to unlock hidden value
13:13 Pricing refurbs and understanding project costs
17:48 How architects price their work
19:57 Building a portfolio after the first flip
21:12 Turning two-bed properties into three-beds
23:52 Removing chimneys and changing layouts
26:34 Minimum bedroom sizes and practical layouts
28:51 Solving an unofficial attic conversion problem
31:13 Undoing bad work to make a property compliant
33:44 Rental growth in Dunfermline
35:39 Ross’s static caravan investment
38:37 Moving from employment to self-employment
42:13 Working with Jay Alexander and the Flour Mill project
45:36 Starting LTJ Architecture during Covid
48:34 Planning delays and the council process
49:50 Planning permission vs building warrant
52:01 Retrospective building warrants and why they’re risky
54:21 Building control inspections and completion certificates
55:12 Ross’s role through the design and approval process
56:20 AI, architecture and design visuals
59:57 What’s next for Ross and his portfolio
1:04:56 How to connect with Ross
1:05:47 Final thoughts

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you buy everything in one street like Ross? Drop it in the comments

The Property Accountant With 54 Buy-to-Lets

Scottish Property Podcast on July 13, 2026

Episode Overview

He’s your accountant by day and a 54-unit landlord by night. And he charges less than you’d spend on a Friday night out. 🏠

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Matt Herbert — qualified property accountant and 54-unit investor across Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Matt covers everything from his dad being made redundant and discovering property by accident, to doing refurbs after work in his finance job, building a 54-unit portfolio, and why he’d rather help investors structure their businesses properly than charge a fortune for it.

If you’ve ever wondered what a property accountant actually does for your portfolio — this is the episode to watch.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Matt Herbert — accountant and 54-unit investor
00:14 – Qualified property accountant at the Glasgow networking events
00:28 – 54-unit buy to let portfolio across Aberdeen and Edinburgh
00:52 – Why Aberdeen is controversial — and Matt’s take on it
01:30 – Growing up: dad moved from Wales to Aberdeen for oil and gas
02:06 – Dad made redundant and retrained as a teacher — the lesson it taught Matt
05:54 – Dad’s first property: rented to his girlfriend
06:54 – Oil and gas crash 2015 — everyone made redundant
10:40 – First investment property — and the finance stories
12:41 – The First Home Fund: government equity stake explained
14:03 – Planning to buy a bigger home — and how it changed
15:30 – First refurb: doing it himself after work in Edinburgh
16:59 – What clients actually want: financial freedom and passive income
21:45 – Ex-council and social housing stock — what to know
24:27 – Aberdeen market deep dive — buying flats under £40k
24:43 – Partnering with Aiden — sourcing and project management
26:39 – Finding deals at offers over £45k and getting them down
27:57 – Target ROI: 20–25% on all capital invested
28:42 – Aberdeen pitfalls: what to watch out for
28:52 – Structural issues in Aberdeen stock — the same problems everywhere
37:43 – The condemned street nobody saw coming
40:34 – Porous concrete explained — and why it’s a serious problem
42:38 – Net cash flow reality: why Aberdeen yields aren’t always what they seem
48:41 – Edinburgh: inflated rents and the Alex Walker connection
55:33 – Shareholder structure: getting the limited company right from day one
57:40 – Year end tax planning: what to do when the bill hits £50k
1:00:15 – Mortgage strategy: 75% LTV, five-year fixes
1:00:33 – Set and forget — why Matt loves boring, stable assets

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you do your own refurb to save money? Drop it in the comments

From Managing 70 Short Term Lets to Building a New Boutique Hotel Brand

Scottish Property Podcast on July 6, 2026

Episode Overview

He built a short term let business to 70 units and 20 staff — then walked away at 29 to start from scratch. The very next day he went to view a hotel.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Laurence Malyon — founder of Moment aparthotel brand — for one of the most wide-ranging conversations they’ve had on the show. Laurence covers everything from running concerts for the neighbours at age 5 and rebranding his family’s fire suppression business at 15, to building Donnini Apartments with his uni flatmate Jake, exiting after seven years, and launching a hospitality brand that just did a £2.325 million deal on Edinburgh’s George IV Bridge.

This one is packed with lessons on business partnerships, aparthotel strategy, STL licensing, commercial funding, and why Glasgow and Edinburgh are completely different beasts.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome back to Laurence & what he’s been building since
01:08 – Exiting Donnini & launching Moment hotel brand the very next day
01:58 – Growing up in a rundown farmhouse near Beattock
02:59 – The family fire suppression business
03:36 – Rebranding the family business at 15
05:15 – Why London and Dubai are the real competition
07:41 – Running concerts for the neighbours at age 5
09:01 – Selling fruit and veg to teachers for profit
10:39 – First flip at uni with Jake
13:47 – Discovering Airbnb as it was becoming a thing
14:10 – Touchstone / Progressive property training
16:59 – The rent to rent model that started it all
17:26 – STL legislation: why serviced accommodation is so much harder now
19:40 – Planning consent: licences, planning, or both
28:45 – The plan to go beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow
33:25 – Becky, the business conversation that changed everything
34:22 – The Moment trademark — what it means and why he owns it
35:00 – 12 George IV Bridge Edinburgh — the flagship deal
38:07 – £2.325 million on practical completion
39:39 – RBS as main lender — the journey to get there
40:22 – Oak North bank and how they got funding over the line
47:28 – First hire CJ — building the team
50:00 – Remote team in the Philippines
52:41 – 18% management fee — how it’s structured
59:01 – Sonder went bust: lessons from the big operators
1:01:18 – Stay Cool: what the brand offers and why it’s different
1:03:40 – Expansion plans: Lisbon, Paris and beyond

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Would you have walked away from 70 units to start again? Drop it in the comments

Pension Funds Are Buying Rental Homes — So Is Buy-to-Let Really Dead?

Scottish Property Podcast on June 29, 2026

Episode Overview

Pension funds are quietly buying up rental homes across Scotland. If buy-to-let was dying, nobody told them.

Nick and Steven are back with the June market update — running on two hours sleep after Scotland vs Brazil — covering the Prime Minister change, house prices, the rental market, the LHA rate freeze that’s about to hit 45,000 households, and a £10.8 million build to rent deal in Edinburgh backed by your pension fund. Yes, yours.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Scotland vs Brazil, two hours sleep, six episodes to record
01:25 – What’s coming up: PM change, house prices, rents, LHA & build to rent
01:50 – House prices & rental market overview
01:58 – Local housing allowance — why it matters to landlords
02:36 – Build to rent & pension funds flooding into Scottish property
03:27 – Keir Starmer resigns — what happened
04:18 – Andy Burnham likely next PM — and his history with rent freezes
04:28 – Rent controls in England: why Scotland is one step ahead
05:21 – Capital gains tax: what a new Labour leader could mean for landlords
14:20 – Fred Harrison’s 18-year cycle — five months left for the 2026 crash prediction
15:36 – SpaceX IPO: Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire
20:01 – First Home Fund launched this week — will it empty in days again?
21:56 – Land Registry data: Scotland up 2.2%
23:57 – Bitcoin at $59k — down 50% from its peak
31:15 – LHA rate freeze: 87 of 90 regions can’t cover the bottom 30% of rents
34:30 – Scotland’s discretionary housing payment — sticking plaster or real solution?
35:52 – 45,000 households and 31,000 children affected
35:57 – Scotland puts in £8.7m in support
36:43 – Avant Homes sells 41 Edinburgh homes to Thriving Investments for £10.8m
37:52 – £263k per home — and who’s actually funding it
38:19 – Is mid-market rent exempt from rent controls? The question nobody can answer

Useful Links

Join our monthly property networking events across Scotland and connect with investors, landlords and industry experts. View Upcoming Events

Know someone selling a property? You could earn £1,500 by introducing them to Prime Property Auctions. Visit Prime Property Auctions

Listen to more episodes of The Scottish Property Podcast and explore conversations with investors, landlords and industry experts across Scotland. Browse Episodes

Do you think Andy Burnham will target landlords? Drop it in the comments

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