Kate & James

Alisha's first rent to rent deal is a newly renovated three bed, one and a half bath terrace in Manchester, now stylish serviced accommodation. She shares how she found the property, the design choices she made, and how she targets the right guests, from construction workers to groups visiting the Etihad and the Co-op Live arena. She also gives her tips on negotiating, managing bookings and growing her portfolio.

Kemi is a product manager in Swindon who always wanted to get into property but didn't have the money for buy to lets. She spent two years going to free sessions, and at one event felt pressured into signing up for something that didn't feel right. Then she found Simon, and liked how simply he broke the process down. As a structured person, she followed the programme step by step, taking notes as she went. She found a landlord on OpenRent, got a viewing, and spent it getting to know him rather than pitching. When he mentioned his letting agent charged him and did nothing, she showed him her management company website. He was impressed, offered her another of his properties, and that became her first serviced accommodation deal. Two weeks later he called back to ask if she could manage 150 flats. Her goal is 10 properties and a family business for her three boys. Kemi's advice: "Stay consistent and believe that you can do it, because you can."

Simon and Celen Sullivan had wanted to start their property journey for a long time. Married for 38 years, with two daughters and two young grandchildren, they reached a stage where they wanted to build something new. Their pensions were not where they wanted them to be, and they wanted more financial security for the years ahead. Rent to rent gave them a practical way to build income from property without buying a house first. Since joining SSO, they have secured two deals and proved to themselves that it is never too late to build something new.

Meet the Grant family, Claudia, Curtis and Gary, who are turning rent to rent into a family mission. With the right education, they secured their very first deal within one month: a two bed flat in Shepherd's Bush found on OpenRent. It was not just strategy that got them there, it was teamwork. By playing to each other's strengths, they built real relationships with landlords and laid the foundation for long term success. For the Grants, this is about building a legacy and showing what a family can do together.