Losing a six-figure corporate role after 30 years would shake most people.
For Mark Golder, it became the catalyst for building a property portfolio designed to generate long-term passive income, inspired by the strategies taught by Samuel Leeds.
After being made redundant from his Managing Director position in commercial real estate, earning between £140,000 and £150,000 per year, Mark made a bold decision. Instead of chasing another corporate role, he pivoted into UK property investing.
Today, he is scaling an HMO portfolio, leveraging commercial valuations, recycling cash, and even utilising a SASS pension to accelerate growth. You can watch the full interview here
This is how he did it.
From Managing Director to Made Redundant
Mark had spent nearly three decades climbing the corporate ladder. A respected Managing Director of an Australian firm operating in the UK commercial real estate space, he was firmly established.
Then redundancy hit.
Rather than panic, Mark reflected. After conversations with a property-investing friend who had already built a substantial portfolio, he began researching education and strategy. Within a week, he had committed to learning how to invest properly through the Samuel Leeds Academy.
For Mark, this was not a side hustle. It was a complete shift in direction.
The First Big Deal: A 7-Bedroom Victorian HMO
Mark’s first major project was ambitious.
A large Victorian property in Stockton-on-Tees in the North East of England. Seven bedrooms. Around 240 square metres. Completely uninhabitable.
There were no working kitchens or bathrooms. Copper piping had been ripped out. It required a full back-to-brick refurbishment.
The Numbers
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Purchase price: £95,000
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Refurbishment cost: £170,000
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Total investment including fees and staging: Approx. £280,000
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Expected commercial valuation: £380,000
By converting the property into a high-quality 7-bed HMO and using a commercial valuation based on rental income, Mark is creating significant uplift.
This is the BRR strategy in action: Buy, Refurbish, Refinance.
The Power of Commercial Valuations
One of the key lessons Mark highlights is understanding commercial valuations.
Many investors fall into the trap of accepting hybrid valuations, where 50 percent of the valuation is based on bricks and mortar and 50 percent on rental income. This can severely limit how much capital can be recycled.
Mark emphasised the importance of:
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Networking to find the right commercial valuer
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Working backwards from the valuer to the lender
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Avoiding hybrid valuations where possible
Getting this right can mean the difference between scaling quickly and getting stuck.
Building the Right Power Team
The property is four hours from where Mark lives in Milton Keynes.
That means local knowledge and trusted professionals are critical.
He built a strong power team including:
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Architect familiar with local HMO regulations
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Experienced build team
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Conveyancer
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Local HMO manager charging around 12 percent
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Commercial finance contacts
Understanding region-specific regulations in areas like Stockton is essential. What works in one part of the UK may not apply elsewhere.
Lessons From Early Mistakes: Rent-to-Rent Challenges
Before focusing on owning HMOs, Mark experimented with rent-to-rent service accommodation.
On paper, the deals worked.
In reality, they became expensive lessons.
One London apartment worth around £1.2 million encountered lease restriction issues despite agreements being in place. Another property suffered from hidden refurbishment defects and structural problems.
Losses totalled around £5,000 to £6,000.
While service accommodation can be highly profitable when executed well, Mark ultimately decided that if he was putting in serious effort, he wanted to own the asset.
Scaling to 13 HMOs
Mark’s goal is ambitious.
Two more HMOs this year. Then ten more next year.
Scaling will be supported by:
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Recycling capital through refinancing
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Leveraging a SASS pension
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Using investor funding
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Strategic joint ventures
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Targeting strong northern markets
He is currently focusing on the North East and North West of England, where yields are stronger and entry prices remain attractive compared to the South.
Using a SASS Pension to Invest in Property
A major strategic move for Mark is setting up a SASS pension, a Small Self-Administered Scheme.
This allows him to:
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Transfer existing pension pots into one scheme
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Act as trustee
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Invest pension funds into commercial property
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Loan funds back to his limited company at competitive rates
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Benefit from tax efficiency and inheritance planning
With up to £60,000 per year allowable contributions, it becomes a powerful scaling tool for experienced investors.
Advice for Anyone Made Redundant
Mark’s advice is simple.
Do not panic.
Redundancy can feel like failure, especially in your fifties. But it can also be the moment that forces you to rethink how money works.
He emphasises:
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Investing in cash-producing assets
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Not relying solely on a salary
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Educating yourself properly
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Surrounding yourself with ambitious people
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Thinking long-term about financial freedom
A job trades time for money. Assets generate income whether you work or not.
The Bigger Vision
Mark is still juggling a demanding Managing Director role alongside his property investments. However, the long-term plan is clear.
Build sufficient passive income through HMOs. Create optionality. Decide whether to stay in corporate life or step away entirely.
For him, property is not just about replacing income. It is about control, legacy, and generational wealth.
Samuel Leeds Verdict
Mark’s journey reflects exactly what Samuel Leeds teaches about property investing.
He did not rely on luck. He did not wait for the perfect moment. He invested in education, took decisive action, bought below market value, added significant value, and structured his deal around a strong refinance strategy.
Despite early setbacks in rent-to-rent, he adapted quickly and moved into a strategy aligned with his long-term goals: owning high-yield HMOs that generate strong cash flow and capital growth.
The key takeaway is this:
When you combine the right education, a solid power team, and disciplined deal analysis, redundancy can become the launchpad for financial freedom.
Mark’s story proves that it is never too late to start building wealth through property.
