In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Angus Johnston, founder of LetUs, a Glasgow-based letting agency specialising in HMOs. Angus shares his fascinating journey from aspiring investment banker and full-time wedding singer to building a business managing over 120 properties – with a strong focus on the student HMO market in Glasgow.

Episode Highlights:

🏡 From Accountant to Letting Agent

• Why Angus walked away from PwC and investment banking to sing full-time

• How COVID derailed his music career and pushed him into property management

📈 Building an HMO Business from the Ground Up

• How he started with 7 properties (including his own and his brother’s)

• Scaling during lockdown with creative hustle and a sharp student focus

🔥 The Realities of Running HMOs in Scotland

• Why group lets, not room-by-room, are the standard in Scottish HMO setups

• How legislation, like the PRT, impacts lease structure and management

• Common tenant challenges — from broken vacuums to surprise guests…

📊 Crunching the HMO Numbers

• What it actually costs to convert a flat into an HMO (licensing, refurbs, furnishing)

• Why capital growth in prime locations like Glasgow’s West End makes it worth it

• The sweet spot for profitability (hint: 4- and 5-bed flats)

🏛️ Licensing & Council Process

• The reality of 12-month lead times for new HMO licences

• Key differences between existing vs. new licence applications

• How to avoid pitfalls with HMO layout, kitchens, and fire safety

🛠️ Maintenance, Void Periods, and Managing Expectations

• Budgeting £1,000+/year in maintenance and planning for 11-month lets

• Managing expectations with tenants, neighbours, and property owners

In this episode, Nick and Steven sit down with brothers Calum and Connor Clark, two investors who’ve built a thriving, family-run property business across multiple strategies — from buy-to-let and HMOs to commercial conversions and hospitality.

Episode Highlights:

🏘️ Starting Out in Property

• How they got into property without quitting their day jobs.

• The first flip project — and how it led to long-term investing

• Early challenges and how they gained experience through hands-on learning

💼 Building a Scalable Portfolio

• Focused on delivering high-quality accommodation in Dundee, Arbroath, and surrounding areas

• Tips for systematising property management in a family-run business

🏨 Hospitality & Guesthouse Strategy

• Operating a 6-bed luxury guesthouse in Arbroath with strong year-round occupancy

• Their approach to customer service, direct bookings, and standing out from Airbnb competition

• How hospitality feeds into their overall brand and business

🤝 Family Business Dynamics

• Balancing different skill sets and personalities as siblings

• The importance of communication, defined roles, and mutual respect

• What makes their partnership work — and how they handle conflict

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Prime Property Auctions – Sell your property with no upfront costs and control the reserve price.

Prime Property Auction: www.instagram.com/primepropertyauctions/

John: www.instagram.com/john_property_auctioneer/

Luis: www.instagram.com/luis_property_auctioneer/Visit Prime Property Auction website: https://primepropertyauctions.co.uk/

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Follow us on all of our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/scottishpropertypodcast

**DISCLAIMER**Please do your own due diligence on any of our guests you may decide to do business with. We interview in good faith. However, we cannot be held responsible for any credibility issues that may arise.

🤝 Visit one of our monthly networking meet-ups. We run them on the 1st Wednesday of each month and have some fantastic guest speakers.🎟 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book your place at the networking events here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hope you find content useful and we would really appreciate it if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with us on social media:🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our private Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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📩 Email us:

Steven@steven-clark.com

Nick@arcproperty.uk

In this wide-ranging and entertaining episode, Nick and Steven are joined once again by property investor and entrepreneur Davy Hutton. Known for his straight-talking approach, Davy gives us a raw, honest update on the state of the property market, social inequality, and why the rules are no longer built for the everyday investor.

He opens up about mental health, the inspiration behind his new spoken word music album, and why he believes being vulnerable is more powerful than pretending to have it all figured out.

Episode Highlights:

🧠 Mental Health & Identity

• Why Davy created a spoken word album during lockdown

• Growing up with undiagnosed anxiety and how he "faked" his way through social life

• The dangers of today’s isolated digital world for young men

• Why sharing your struggles can open the door for others

🏠 Property Market Commentary

• What’s really happening with supply and demand in Scotland

• Why the West End of Glasgow is still flying, but everywhere else is flatlining

• A 3-bed property with just one viewer: is buyer sentiment collapsing?

• The silent shift: from accidental landlords to corporate investors

📊 UK Economic Realities

• Inflation, council tax, and the slow death of the middle class

• Why local authorities and governments are “burst” – and what that means for housing

• Davy’s take on wealth inequality, tax, and why the 95% are getting squeezed

• Should the rich pay more tax? Davy’s controversial but clear answer

💬 Culture, Politics & Society

• The illusion of free speech in the age of social media venom

• How our tribal need to "belong" drives dangerous thinking

• Why politicians are no longer leaders – just mouthpieces for corporate agendas

🐍 Snake Stories & Pet Policies

• From lost pythons to rescue chickens – Davy’s home is a full-blown zoo

• Why he supports tenants having pets – and why the Greens might have a point

• How professional landlords should treat tenants like real people

----------------------------------------------------------

Prime Property Auctions – Sell your property with no upfront costs and control the reserve price.

Prime Property Auction: www.instagram.com/primepropertyauctions/

John: www.instagram.com/john_property_auctioneer/

Luis: www.instagram.com/luis_property_auctioneer/Visit Prime Property Auction website: https://primepropertyauctions.co.uk/

------------------------------------

Follow us on all of our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/scottishpropertypodcast

**DISCLAIMER**Please do your own due diligence on any of our guests you may decide to do business with. We interview in good faith. However, we cannot be held responsible for any credibility issues that may arise.

🤝 Visit one of our monthly networking meet-ups. We run them on the 1st Wednesday of each month and have some fantastic guest speakers.🎟 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book your place at the networking events here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hope you find content useful and we would really appreciate it if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with us on social media:🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our private Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📩 Email us:

Steven@steven-clark.com

Nick@arcproperty.uk