Ashley Humphreys’ journey into property is not the typical overnight success story. Before entering the world of UK property investment, he was a qualified physiotherapist who pivoted into full-time travel content creation on YouTube. He travelled to 60 countries, earned through ad revenue and book sales, and lived what many would call the dream.
But the income became inconsistent. The passion faded. And eventually, the numbers stopped stacking up.
That turning point led him to discover Samuel Leeds.
After watching Samuel on a podcast interview, Ashley attended a crash course in the UK. Within 12 months of joining the Academy, he had built a rent-to-rent serviced accommodation portfolio generating around £5,000 net profit per month.
Here is how he did it. Watch his interview here
Discovering Property Through Samuel Leeds
Ashley had always been interested in property but struggled to find education relevant to the UK market. Most of the content he saw online focused on US real estate.
Hearing Samuel speak about practical UK strategies such as rent-to-rent, serviced accommodation and deal sourcing changed everything.
He attended the crash course and describes being overwhelmed, in a good way, by the amount of actionable information. With no background in property, even terms like HMO and lease options were new to him.
Instead of hesitating, he invested further into advanced training.
That decision became the catalyst for his transformation.
First Deal – Rent-to-Rent Serviced Accommodation
Ashley’s first move was a rent-to-rent serviced accommodation property.
The concept is simple in principle:
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Control a landlord’s property without buying it
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Agree a fixed rent
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Let it out as short-term accommodation
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Keep the difference as profit
He admits he was nervous. After paying for training, he now had to commit to a real property deal. But he trusted the process.
The results were immediate.
First Month Performance:
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90% occupancy
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Strong positive cashflow
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Proof that the strategy worked
That early win gave him the confidence to scale quickly.
Scaling to Five Units in 12 Months
Within a year, Ashley had grown to five rent-to-rent serviced accommodation properties.
Those five units now generate:
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Approximately £3,000 per month net profit from rent-to-rent alone
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Fully self-managed for improved margins
In addition to his own units, he began managing serviced accommodation properties for other landlords, offering:
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Guaranteed monthly rent
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No void periods
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Maintenance handled by his company
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Professionally vetted guests
This created another income stream and strengthened landlord relationships.
Adding Deal Sourcing to Reach £5,000 Per Month
Alongside rent-to-rent, Ashley began packaging and selling property deals.
He currently averages roughly one deal per month or every six weeks. Combined with his serviced accommodation portfolio, this brings his total monthly net income to around:
£5,000 per month
In just over a year, he replaced his previous income and became fully self-employed in property.
For someone who previously lived in his overdraft, this was life-changing.
Why Rent-to-Rent Is His Preferred Strategy
Ashley’s favourite strategy remains rent-to-rent serviced accommodation because:
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It has a low barrier to entry
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No need to save large deposits
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Control without ownership
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Strong cashflow potential
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Scalable through management agreements
He highlights that controlling properties, rather than owning them outright, allowed him to grow much faster than if he had tried to save for deposits.
For landlords, the appeal is equally strong:
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Guaranteed rent
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No eviction complications
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Reduced wear and tear compared to long-term AST tenants
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Business-to-business contracts
It creates a win-win structure.
The Power of the Samuel Leeds Community
Ashley credits much of his growth not just to the education, but to the environment around him.
He became heavily involved in Inner Circle networking groups and built friendships with other driven investors.
His observation is simple:
When you surround yourself with ambitious people taking action daily, your standards rise automatically.
He also pushed himself outside his comfort zone through Academy activities such as public speaking, networking leadership and even boxing events.
Confidence, like property, compounds.
What’s Next for Ashley?
Ashley plans to:
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Scale his serviced accommodation management company
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Increase his deal sourcing volume
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Expand landlord partnerships
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Continue building recurring monthly income
The next milestone is growth through systems and leverage.
Key Takeaways From Ashley’s Journey
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Education accelerates action
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Early wins build confidence
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Rent-to-rent can generate strong cashflow quickly
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Community keeps you accountable
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Confidence is a skill that can be developed
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If ordinary people are doing £10k to £20k per month, it is achievable
Ashley’s story reinforces that you do not need a background in property to succeed. You need knowledge, courage and consistent execution.
Samuel Leeds’ Verdict
“Ashley is a prime example of what happens when someone commits fully and takes action quickly. He did not overthink. He implemented. By focusing on rent-to-rent serviced accommodation and surrounding himself with the right people, he has replaced his income in just 12 months. The key now is scale and systems. He has built a strong foundation.”
