Ashley Chong has built a rent-to-rent property portfolio generating approximately £12,000 in monthly profit, alongside income from serviced accommodation management and property deal sourcing. The young Welsh entrepreneur now controls or manages 14 properties and has purchased his first investment property through a joint venture. Yet just a short time earlier, he was working two jobs in London and struggling to afford his weekly groceries.
His journey shows how persistence, property education and building the right relationships can help someone move from financial uncertainty towards running their own property business.
From Working Two Jobs to Starting a Property Business
Growing up in North Wales, Ashley never imagined that he would build a substantial property business in his 20s.
After studying business psychology at university in Canterbury, he moved to London to complete a master’s degree in consumer psychology.
Living in the capital was expensive. To support himself, Ashley worked as a barista during the day and in a Chinese restaurant during the evenings.
Despite working long hours, he was living pay cheque to pay cheque.
At one point, he limited his grocery spending to just £25 per week and regularly walked 40 minutes to work to save £3 on transport.
Initially, Ashley hoped to secure a corporate job in Canary Wharf. When those applications were unsuccessful, he pursued detective training, but the demanding shifts and nature of the work made him reconsider his future.
Property investing eventually offered him another direction.
How Ashley Discovered Rent-to-Rent Property Investing
Ashley’s introduction to property education came through his mother, who had decades of experience investing in commercial property.
His parents had built a business purchasing rundown commercial properties, establishing businesses within them and eventually selling those businesses while retaining the properties to lease to new operators.
His mother discovered Samuel Leeds on YouTube and encouraged Ashley to attend a property crash course.
Initially, Ashley was sceptical.
He attended a crash course but remained unconvinced. After returning for a second event, however, he decided to invest in rent-to-rent training.
He subsequently used savings he had accumulated since childhood to join Samuel Leeds Academy.
Rather than immediately putting his savings towards a house deposit, Ashley chose to develop his property knowledge first.
What Is Rent-to-Rent Property Investing?
Rent-to-rent is a property strategy in which an operator agrees to rent a property from a landlord and, with the necessary permissions and contractual arrangements, generates income by letting or operating the accommodation.
The operator does not necessarily own the property.
Instead, their potential profit comes from the difference between the income generated and the costs of operating the property.
These costs can include rent paid to the landlord, utilities, maintenance, cleaning, insurance and other operating expenses.
For Ashley, rent-to-rent became the foundation of his growing property business.
However, this strategy still involves financial risk, operational responsibilities and legal obligations. Operators must check landlord permissions, contractual terms, relevant licensing requirements and whether their intended use is permitted.
Seven Months to Secure His First Rent-to-Rent Deal
Ashley’s first property deal did not happen overnight.
During his first two months of searching, he struggled to make progress.
By the third month, he had almost secured a deal, reaching the contract stage before the landlord decided to proceed with someone else.
The rejection was discouraging.
Ashley admits he came close to giving up several times.
However, regular accountability calls with Samuel Leeds Academy mentor Alex Price helped him review his approach and continue searching.
In his seventh month, Ashley finally secured his first rent-to-rent property and sold two property deals.
That breakthrough marked a turning point.
He began building momentum, developing relationships with landlords and estate agents and making greater use of networking opportunities.
Scaling to Nine Rent-to-Rent Properties
Once Ashley secured his first deal, he began expanding his portfolio.
Rather than relying entirely on cold calling, he focused on relationships with people already working in the property industry.
Some opportunities came through existing landlords, while others developed through estate agents and networking contacts.
At the time of his interview, Ashley reported the following portfolio:
| Property Strategy | Number of Properties |
|---|---|
| Rent-to-rent properties | 9 |
| Properties under management | 5 |
| Purchased investment properties | 1 |
| Total owned, controlled or managed | 15 |
Importantly, Ashley does not own all 15 properties.
Nine are operated through rent-to-rent arrangements, five are managed on behalf of others, and one was purchased through a joint venture.
This distinction matters because property ownership, property management and rent-to-rent operations are different business models, each with its own costs, responsibilities and financial risks.
The Property Numbers: £12,000 Monthly Rent-to-Rent Profit
Ashley has developed several property-related income streams rather than relying on one strategy.
During the interview, he shared these approximate figures:
| Income Stream | Reported Result |
|---|---|
| Nine rent-to-rent properties | £12,000 average monthly profit |
| Five managed properties | £1,500 average monthly profit |
| Property deal sourcing | Approximately £40,000 from 14 deals sold |
| Purchased serviced accommodation property | Approximately £1,500 monthly profit |
| Overall business income | Just under £20,000 per month, according to Ashley |
The deal-sourcing figure relates to approximately 14 deals sold over a period of around 12 months. It is not a monthly recurring income figure.
Ashley also explained that his deal-sourcing income varies depending on the number of transactions completed.
His reported overall monthly income should therefore be understood as an approximate figure, rather than a fixed or guaranteed monthly return.
These are Ashley’s self-reported results and are not independently audited figures.
Buying a £105,000 Property Through a Joint Venture
Alongside growing his rent-to-rent property portfolio, Ashley took an important step towards property ownership.
He met a potential joint venture (JV) partner through networking.
The investor had capital available but wanted someone with the knowledge and experience to identify and operate a suitable property.
Ashley found a three-bedroom terraced house in North Wales through an estate agent with whom he had developed a relationship.
The property was purchased for £105,000.
Ashley’s First Purchased Property: Deal Breakdown
| Property Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Property type | Three-bedroom terraced house |
| Location | North Wales |
| Purchase price | £105,000 |
| Refurbishment cost | £7,000 |
| Reported value after refurbishment | £140,000 |
| Increase in reported value over purchase price | £35,000 |
| Reported monthly mortgage payment | Approximately £350 |
| Reported monthly serviced accommodation profit | Approximately £1,500 |
| Funding | Joint venture partner |
| Deposit | Not specified |
| Equity arrangement | Shared with JV partner, exact percentages not specified |
The refurbishment included a new kitchen, flooring and painting.
Based on the reported figures, the property was valued at £35,000 more than its purchase price after the works, or £28,000 more than the combined purchase and refurbishment costs.
However, these figures do not account for stamp duty or land transaction tax, legal fees, finance costs or other purchasing expenses.
The £140,000 figure is Ashley’s reported end value, rather than a verified sale price.
The property is now operated as serviced accommodation, reportedly generating approximately £1,500 in monthly profit.
How Networking Helped Ashley Scale His Property Business
One of Ashley’s biggest lessons was recognising that property investing is not simply about finding buildings.
It is also about building relationships.
Before securing his first deal, he largely worked alone, making calls without fully engaging with the wider property community.
After joining networking events and connecting with more experienced investors, his approach changed.
He even spent four days helping another property entrepreneur who operated approximately 40 properties.
Ashley volunteered his time, assisting with administration while learning how a larger property business operated.
That experience helped him understand the systems and processes involved in scaling.
His relationship with the estate agent who sourced his first purchased property also took months to develop.
Consistent communication eventually created an opportunity to secure a below market value property.
The Role of Samuel Leeds Academy in Ashley’s Journey
Ashley credits several parts of his experience with Samuel Leeds Academy for supporting his development.
These included structured property training, accountability calls, networking opportunities and relationships with other investors.
He particularly highlights the encouragement he received from Alex Price during the months when he struggled to secure his first deal.
Ashley also explains that his mother’s experience in commercial property provided valuable guidance throughout his journey.
His story demonstrates how he combined education, personal discipline, family support and practical experience.
The Academy was one part of that process, while Ashley remained responsible for finding deals, developing relationships and operating his businesses.
What Can New Property Investors Learn From Ashley?
Ashley’s experience offers several useful lessons for anyone considering rent-to-rent, serviced accommodation or property deal sourcing.
1. Persistence Matters More Than Instant Results
Ashley waited seven months for his first rent-to-rent deal. Early rejection did not mean the strategy was impossible, but it did require him to reassess his approach.
2. Relationships Can Create Property Opportunities
His estate agent relationships, networking contacts and JV partnership all contributed to his portfolio growth.
3. Understand the Numbers Before Taking On a Property
Rent-to-rent profitability depends on more than booking revenue. Investors need to account for rent, operating costs, occupancy, maintenance and potential void periods.
4. Different Property Strategies Can Complement Each Other
Ashley combined rent-to-rent, management, deal sourcing and property ownership to develop several income streams.
5. Building a Personal Brand Can Support Business Growth
Ashley says that posting consistently on social media helped him build relationships and attract business opportunities.
Samuel Leeds’ Verdict
Ashley’s journey illustrates the potential of combining rent-to-rent property investing with deal sourcing, serviced accommodation and strategic joint ventures.
What stands out is not simply the number of properties he operates, but the determination required to secure his first deal.
He faced rejection, questioned his progress and continued developing his skills until he began building momentum.
His decision to learn from experienced investors, maintain relationships with estate agents and reinvest his time into improving his knowledge reflects a practical principle of property investing: education is most valuable when it is supported by consistent action.
For aspiring investors, the lesson is to understand your chosen strategy, assess every deal carefully and build a business that can operate sustainably.
Could Rent-to-Rent Property Be Your Starting Point?
Ashley’s story shows one possible route from working long hours in employment to operating a multi-property business.
His progress was not immediate, and his results should not be treated as typical earnings.
However, his experience demonstrates the value of learning how property strategies work, building professional relationships and continuing to improve after setbacks.
If you want to explore UK property investing, discover more Samuel Leeds success stories or visit the Samuel Leeds website to learn about available property education and training.
