A podcast about building long term wealth and cashflowing businesses through real estate.
Dive into interviews with industry legends, content packed with actionable tips and relaxed banter.
016 We're Now Managing Your Short Lets – Lessons from 3,000 Stays
After a two-month break, Mac and Maggie are back with a big announcement: ZEN Stays is now managing short-let and serviced accommodation properties for other owners.
First, a full property update. The Mawsley lease split has now cost £28K in legals. The Cotswolds project, filmed for Homes Under the Hammer, came in at a £1.35M valuation against the £1.2M we'd budgeted for, and Swadlincote is finally getting started. We're also honest about debt: why bridging finance nearly broke us, what it really costs in fees, and why we're shifting towards a service-based business.
Then we get into the real pain points of running short lets yourself: guest messages that never stop, weekend breakdowns, refunds that wipe out your margin, parties, neighbours, and the hardest part of all, finding reliable cleaners. We explain how we handle each one after nearly 3,000 stays with a 4.9 rating.
If you own a quality property and want someone to take the hassle off your hands, this one's for you.
27 Mar 2026
015 Design That Pays: Architecture, Interiors & GDV with Ben Richards
Ben Richards — Masters degree in Architectural Engineering, founder of Aura Architecture & Interiors, and co-host of the XP Property Podcast — joins us to break down what great design actually does for your numbers.
What we cover:
What most SME developers still get wrong about architects and design
The fundamentals that never change, no matter the scale of the project
Exactly how Aura works with clients — from brief to build
Whether premium design and interiors genuinely moves GDV, and by how much
How to select finishes — and how to avoid the "expensive reno, boring result" trap
A real-world cost and timeline breakdown: rear extension, skylights, kitchen, interiors
What Ben has learned from XP Property Podcast guests that changed how he operates
What UK developers should actually be paying attention to right now
Our companies:
ZEN Stays — £1.1m annual turnover through Serviced Accommodation
ZEN Properties — £1m+ assets with £500k own equity
ZEN Properties Podcast — real conversations on building cashflow + wealth through UK real estate
Sponsorship:
This episode is brought to you by ZEN Properties.
We develop and convert property across the UK.
Investors earn 10-15% annual, asset-backed.
Find out more: zenproperties.uk
26 Feb 2026
014 Derelict cottage conversion to holiday let
We turned a derelict cottage into a high-end holiday let — and the numbers might surprise you.
What we cover:
• Full acquisition breakdown (£543k purchase)
• Build cost reality (£430k+ SOW)
• Finance costs over 10–12 months
• Total project cost: £1.15m+
• Conservative vs expected exit scenarios
• 75% LTV refinance strategy
• £36k–£42k annual net profit projections
• 13.5% vs 29% yield explained
• What nearly went wrong
• Why design and positioning change everything
Our companies:
ZEN Stays — £1.1m annual turnover through Serviced Accommodation
ZEN Properties — £1m+ assets with £500k own equity
ZEN Properties Podcast — real conversations on building cashflow + wealth through UK real estate
Sponsorship:
This episode is brought to you by ZEN Properties.
We develop and convert property across the UK.
Investors earn 10-15% annual, asset-backed.
Find out more: zenproperties.uk
12 Feb 2026
013 Master HMOs – Central Suites Style
Most HMOs are average. Central Suites aren't. In this episode, Jack and Rob break down how they build design-led co-living homes that young professionals actually choose — and how they scale without chaos.
What we cover:
What Central Suites really is (beyond "just HMOs")
The brutal lessons from their first property
How they split roles and run multiple businesses
The exact tenant profile they target — and who they avoid
What actually makes tenants stay longer
How they stage rooms to outperform the local market
Pricing strategy: why they charge more and still fill fast
Their full HMO launch process: buy → finance → planning → compliance → build → operate
Arrears, evictions and early red flags
Whether HMOs are still worth it in 2026
Our companies:
ZEN Stays — £1.1m annual turnover through Serviced Accommodation
ZEN Properties — £1m+ assets with £500k own equity
ZEN Properties Podcast — real conversations on building cashflow + wealth through UK real estate
Sponsorship:
This episode is brought to you by ZEN Properties.
We develop and convert property across the UK.
Investors earn 10-15% annual, asset-backed.
Find out more: zenproperties.uk
29 Jan 2026
012 Screw New Year's Resolutions
This episode is a no-BS portfolio and business update — what's working, what's breaking, and what we're changing going into 2026.
What we cover:
Real portfolio updates from Mawsley, Cotswolds and Swadlincote
What actually rents fast vs what looks good on paper
Lessons from being £70k over budget (and how it could've been avoided)
Why we're restructuring our serviced accommodation businesses
ZEN Management: what it is and why we're launching it
Why New Year's resolutions are mostly a lie — and what to do instead
Reducing expensive debt without killing momentum
Getting clarity on A&L, P&L and forecasts (without accountant shock)
Systemising businesses so they run without you
Outsourcing when you think you can't afford to
How we're planning to retain more assets and finish more projects
Our companies:
ZEN Stays — £1.1m annual turnover through Serviced Accommodation
ZEN Properties — £1m+ assets with £500k own equity
ZEN Properties Podcast — real conversations on building cashflow + wealth through UK real estate
Sponsorship:
This episode is brought to you by ZEN Properties.
We develop and convert property across the UK.
Investors earn 10-15% annual, asset-backed.
Find out more: zenproperties.uk
15 Jan 2026
011 SAP, EPCs & Building Regulations Explained
Most property projects don't fail on bricks and mortar — they fail on compliance, energy performance, and details developers underestimate.
In this episode, we sit down with Productive Energy founder Nate to demystify SAP, EPCs, ventilation, airtightness, and sound testing — and show you how to get them right first time.
What we cover:
What SAP assessments really are — and why they matter more than most developers think
The biggest EPC killers in refurbishments, HMOs, and conversions
SAP Design vs SAP As-Built (and why missing documents can cost you money)
Easy, low-cost upgrades that have the biggest EPC impact
Ventilation mistakes that lead to mould, complaints, and failed inspections
Airtightness tests explained simply (and how not to overdo it)
Why sound tests fail — and proven acoustic build-ups that pass
What's unique (and risky) about commercial-to-residential compliance
How poor early design decisions massively increase costs later
How to avoid retests, delays, and Building Control nightmares
The paperwork every developer must collect during a project
The biggest EPC myths developers still believe
Our companies:
ZEN Stays — £1.1m annual turnover through Serviced Accommodation & property management
ZEN Properties — £1m+ assets with £500k own equity
ZEN Properties Podcast — real conversations on building cashflow + wealth through UK real estate
Sponsorship:
This episode is brought to you by ZEN Properties.
We develop and convert property across the UK.
Investors earn 10-15% annual, asset-backed.
Find out more: zenproperties.uk
25 Dec 2025
010 PD Conversions with Ben Richards & Jack Jiggens
PD conversions are heating up. Ben Richards & Jack Jiggens from XP Property explain how they've used Permitted Development to deliver £100m+ worth of projects — covering sourcing, finance, development, exits, and the future of PD in the UK.
11 Dec 2025
009 Real Estate Photography - Practical Guide
Learn how to take professional, high-impact real estate photos without hiring a photographer. This practical 2025 guide covers gear, settings, HDR bracketing, composition rules, editing workflow, and everything you need to produce magazine-worthy images that boost bookings, valuations, and sales.
28 Nov 2025
008 Serviced Accommodation battle with Ed & Lora from Hinkley Homes - contractors vs high-end SA
What makes more sense - contractors SA or high end SA?
Should you make your SA unit profitable enough without overinvesting, launch fast, keep simple VAT structure and move on to the next project or should you create stronger cashflow per unit by spending more time and money on reconfiguring, finishes and amenities at the expense of having more demanding guests and complicated company structure?
Join our discussion with Ed from Hinkley Homes to see what strategy would be better for you!
7 Nov 2025
007 Building business with kids, cats & babies
I'll focus on my business when my kids are older. Now it's not a good time. BULLSHIT! Cut the excuses. You can build your business having kids, babies, cats and no one outside your closest family bubble supporting you.
6 Oct 2025
006 Property investment strategies
You have decided to become a property investor. Great! But where do you start? How do you scale? Understand your investment strategy choices and make an informed decision about your next steps.
4 Sept 2025
005 Top serviced accommodation tips for 2025
Run or think of running an SA business? Tune in to learn how to streamline your SA operations and maximise your SA income.
21 Aug 2025
004 Top 14 fruckups you want to avoid
We've made tons of mistakes across our businesses. Don't make the same mistakes. We share what didn't go as planned across our projects and how to avoid fruckups. Discussing corp structure, development hurdles about delivery time, contingency, planning, leaseholds, VAT, finishes and more.
7 Aug 2025
003 Where to start in real estate
Where to start as a property investor. We cover company structure basics, compliance, high level overview of property investment strategies like Rent to Serviced Accommodation (R2SA), Buy to Serviced Accommodation (B2SA), Buy to Let (BTL) and Commercial Conversions (CC) to Residential.
24 Jul 2025
002 Commercial conversion - process, numbers and tips
How to approach a commercial conversion from start to finish. Unbiased numbers, step by step process and practical, actionable tips. What would we have done differently after delivering our first conversion from office to flats.
10 Jul 2025
001 Intro - start your business with an end in mind
How to define your end game goals and how to get there through building your own real estate portfolio. Packed with actionable tips and practical knowledge around small conversion projects and serviced accommodation business.
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