012 Screw New Year’s Resolutions
ZEN Properties Podcast
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...
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011 SAP, EPCs & Building Regulations Explained
ZEN Properties Podcast
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 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...
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010 PD Conversions with Ben Richards & Jack Jiggens
ZEN Properties Podcast
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.
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009 Real Estate Photography - Practical Guide
ZEN Properties Podcast
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.
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008 Serviced Accommodation battle with Ed & Lora from Hinkley Homes - contractors vs high-end SA
ZEN Properties Podcast
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!
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007 Building business with kids, cats & babies
ZEN Properties Podcast
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.
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006 Property investment strategies
ZEN Properties Podcast
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.
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005 Top serviced accommodation tips for 2025
ZEN Properties Podcast
Run or think of running an SA business? Tune in to learn how to streamline your SA operations and maximise your SA income.
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004 Top 14 fruckups you want to avoid
ZEN Properties Podcast
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.
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003 Where to start in real estate
ZEN Properties Podcast
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.
info_outlineThis 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