Safeguarding Framework
The Samuel Leeds Academy
The purpose of this safeguarding framework is to protect students, reduce risk and ensure that beginners take safe and informed steps in property. These safeguards create a structured environment where students can progress confidently while avoiding common dangers.
This framework also shows potential students, journalists and researchers that the Academy operates to a high professional standard.
1. Mandatory Survival Guide
Course: The Survival Guide. Avoiding Catastrophes in Property and Business
Every Academy member must complete this training as soon as they join.
It covers:
- Common red flags
- Deal pitfalls
- Legal and financial basics
- Risk factors that most beginners overlook
This ensures that students do not search for deals without understanding the dangers.
2. Mandatory Training Before the Financial Freedom Challenges
Students must complete the relevant modules before they are allowed to take part in any Financial Freedom Challenge. This prevents beginners from racing into deal finding without the training needed to make safe decisions.
This requirement protects students from overwhelm and reduces the chance of mistakes caused by lack of preparation.
3. Rate My Deal Review
Before a student buys a property or packages and sells a property, they must submit it through the Rate My Deal service.
Rate My Deal checks for:
- Hidden risks
- Incorrect calculations
- Compliance issues
- Unrealistic assumptions
- Blind spots that beginners often miss
A mentor or specialist reviews the deal and provides guidance. This step removes avoidable errors and saves students from dangerous commitments.
4. Fourteen Day Cooling Off Period for Deal Sourcing
All deal sourcers who sell deals to Academy members must provide a fourteen day cooling off period.
This protects students from impulse buying or pressure. It gives them time to complete due diligence and reconsider decisions calmly.
5. Property Investors Mediation Service
When Academy members do business together and something goes wrong, they can access the Property Investors Mediation Service.
This service:
- Reviews the issue
- Mediates between parties
- Works toward a fair resolution
- Provides an adjudication if needed
This keeps the Academy a safe and fair environment and stops disputes from escalating.
6. Suitability and Threshold Awareness
Although we allow freedom for students to choose their strategy, mentors and staff highlight suitability issues based on:
- Capital
- Experience
- Risk tolerance
- Time availability
This helps beginners avoid taking on strategies that do not match their current position.
7. Mentor Conduct and Boundaries
Mentors must:
- Maintain professional boundaries
- Give guidance only within property education
- Avoid personal financial involvement with students
- Advise based on safety and suitability
- Encourage due diligence instead of shortcuts
These standards protect both the student and the mentor.
8. Clear Channel for Concerns
Students can raise concerns at any time through the support email or through the portal. Concerns are handled promptly and if needed escalated to the mediation team.
This ensures student safety and transparency.
Why this safeguarding framework works
- It prevents beginners from taking risks they do not understand
- It improves deal quality
- It reduces disputes inside the community
- It builds trust with serious buyers
- It shows responsibility to the public
- It improves outcomes which means more success stories