Rent-to-rent serviced accommodation helped Shannon transform not only her career, but her entire direction in life. After struggling with severe postnatal depression and spending months unable to take action, she went on to build a portfolio of 25 serviced accommodation units, secure a 10-bedroom hotel and begin negotiations on an 83-bedroom hotel opportunity.
Perhaps most remarkably, at one stage Shannon and her brother secured 17 deals in just four weeks.
Her story demonstrates what can happen when property education is combined with networking, persistence and consistent action. It also offers some valuable lessons for anyone researching how rent-to-rent serviced accommodation works in practice.
Watch Shannon’s Full Property Success Story Here
You can also watch more property success stories on the Samuel Leeds Success Stories YouTube channel.
From NHS Clinical Manager to Property Entrepreneur
Property was not originally Shannon’s ambition.
She had worked within the NHS since she was 16, qualifying as a nurse in 2017 before becoming what she describes as the youngest clinical manager in the Northwest in 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was asked to become a clinical manager at NHS Nightingale Hospital North West in Manchester, helping oversee a 610-bed facility and around 250 staff.
Her direction changed after becoming a mum.
Shannon experienced severe postnatal depression following the birth of her daughter. During this period, her husband discovered Samuel Leeds through YouTube and suggested they attend property training together.
Initially, Shannon thought property was going to be his venture.
Instead, she accidentally registered herself for the training rather than him.
That mistake ultimately changed the direction of her career.
Joining the Samuel Leeds Academy
Shannon subsequently joined the Samuel Leeds Academy, although she admits she was initially highly sceptical.
Coming from a working-class background in Liverpool, investing a significant amount in property education felt like an enormous decision.
But joining the Academy did not instantly produce results.
For around seven months, Shannon says she barely took any action as she continued struggling with depression. Other Academy members noticed she had disappeared, while accountability calls were repeatedly booked and cancelled.
Eventually, a fresh mentoring session helped her break the process into manageable steps.
Instead of being overwhelmed by the idea of building a property business, Shannon focused on simple actions, such as searching Rightmove and contacting an agent.
That led directly to her first deal.
How Her Rent-to-Rent Serviced Accommodation Portfolio Started
Shannon found her first rent-to-rent serviced accommodation opportunity through Rightmove.
The property was advertised as suitable for a company let. She viewed it with her brother and submitted an application. The landlord, who was a GP, decided to give her an opportunity.
According to Shannon, that first property remains one of the best-performing properties in her portfolio.
Her brother then began using his network to find further opportunities.
One connection led to a landlord with a block of six flats. From there, referrals and word of mouth began creating more opportunities.
The result was extraordinary.
Within four weeks, Shannon says they had secured 17 deals.
Rather than relying solely on social media or paid marketing, much of this early growth came from simply asking people whether they knew landlords or property owners.
Shannon's Property Portfolio in Numbers
| Metric | Shannon's Result |
|---|---|
| Serviced accommodation units | 25 |
| Deals secured during four-week growth period | 17 |
| First hotel/property project | 10 bedrooms |
| Original advertised hotel rent | £3,400 per month |
| Negotiated rent | £2,900 per month |
| Rent reduction negotiated | £500 per month |
| Larger hotel opportunity | 83 bedrooms |
| Properties owned by key landlord contact | Approximately 500 |
| NHS Nightingale facility Shannon helped manage | 610 beds |
| NHS Nightingale staff | Approximately 250 |
Revenue and net monthly profit across Shannon's 25-unit portfolio were not specified in the interview, so no figures have been estimated.
Turning a 10-Bed Property Into a Hotel
One of the biggest developments in Shannon's rent-to-rent serviced accommodation journey started with another Rightmove search.
She discovered a large 10-bedroom property that had previously operated as a mother and baby unit.
The advertised rent was £3,400 per month.
Shannon partnered with fellow property investor Dale Carter and decided to pursue the opportunity. When childcare fell through on the day of the viewing, Shannon took her daughter with her.
For Shannon, that moment represented exactly why she had chosen property. She wanted a business that could work around motherhood rather than having to separate the two.
After building rapport with the agent, Shannon and Dale negotiated the monthly rent down from £3,400 to £2,900.
That saved £500 per month, or £6,000 over 12 months, before considering any other costs or income.
From Rent-to-Rent to a Lease Option
The relationship with the landlord became even more valuable.
After seeing how Shannon and Dale had transformed the property, the landlord indicated that they could potentially purchase it when their lease ended.
This created a lease option opportunity.
The relationship also opened another door. Shannon says the landlord owns around 500 properties and was looking to reduce his exposure to some larger assets.
That led to discussions around an 83-bedroom hotel, which Shannon and her partners were negotiating at the time of filming.
It is an important example of why relationships can become as valuable as the original deal.
One successful property can lead to another opportunity, a joint venture, a referral or access to an entire portfolio.
Scaling Rent-to-Rent Serviced Accommodation Through Relationships
Shannon's growth demonstrates that finding rent-to-rent serviced accommodation deals does not have to revolve entirely around cold calling.
During a period when she found phone calls difficult, she used email to contact agents instead.
Her brother concentrated heavily on networking and word-of-mouth opportunities. Once they developed a reputation locally, landlords and contacts began approaching them with properties.
The lesson is simple: investors can play to their strengths.
You can use agents, Rightmove, direct-to-landlord approaches, networking, referrals and existing contacts. The important part is having a consistent method of finding and assessing opportunities.
How Shannon Optimises Her Serviced Accommodation
Securing a property is only one part of the strategy. Shannon also focuses heavily on improving how her accommodation performs.
One of her key principles is understanding who the guest is actually likely to be.
For a Liverpool city-centre apartment aimed at tourists, for example, she recommends highlighting landmarks and attractions people are likely to search for rather than relying solely on the name of a less familiar local area.
She also stresses the importance of:
- Professional property photography
- Optimised listing titles and descriptions
- Competitive overall guest pricing
- Encouraging genuine guest reviews
- Developing direct bookings
- Building relationships with local organisations
- Regularly updating listings
- Understanding seasonal demand
For one hotel opposite a theatre, Shannon contacted the theatre directly about accommodation for performers and staff.
That outreach resulted in a 42-night booking.
For anyone operating short-term accommodation in England, it is also important to understand the applicable rules and responsibilities. The UK Government publishes current guidance for self-catering and short-term accommodation, covering areas including planning, fire safety, tax and business rates.
Building a Business Around Serviced Accommodation
Shannon has expanded beyond simply operating her own rent-to-rent serviced accommodation units.
Her business now includes deal sourcing, serviced accommodation management, cleaning, linen services, staging and listing optimisation.
She and her brother have deliberately brought several services in-house.
Their different skills complement each other. Shannon concentrates on management, technology, guests and business operations, while her brother sources opportunities and handles many of the practical property issues.
Shannon has also become an Inner Circle leader in Liverpool, giving her the opportunity to help other property investors and strengthen her local network.
The Role of the Samuel Leeds Academy
Shannon is particularly open about the fact that joining the Academy did not automatically make her successful.
For seven months, she says she did very little.
Her progress began when she started engaging again, accepted support, created a new business plan with a mentor and began taking manageable actions.
She credits the Samuel Leeds Academy community, mentoring and property education with helping her move forwards, but her story also demonstrates the importance of implementation.
Training only becomes useful when somebody acts on it.
For people who are at an earlier stage and want to understand different property strategies before deciding which route suits them, Samuel also offers free online property training.
What Property Investors Can Learn From Shannon
Shannon's rent-to-rent serviced accommodation story provides several useful lessons.
Firstly, you do not need to follow somebody else's prospecting method exactly. Shannon adapted her approach when she did not feel comfortable making calls and used email and Rightmove instead.
Secondly, relationships compound. A single 10-bedroom opportunity eventually introduced Shannon to a landlord with hundreds of properties and discussions about an 83-bedroom hotel.
Thirdly, scaling is not simply about accumulating more units. Shannon is now considering whether she should continue expanding, systemise more of the operation or reduce the number of serviced accommodation units and concentrate on larger projects and property ownership.
Finally, success does not have to mean owning the largest portfolio.
For Shannon, success means something much simpler: peace.
Samuel Leeds’ Verdict
Shannon's story is a powerful example of using rent-to-rent serviced accommodation as a cash-flow strategy while continually looking for ways to build relationships and progress towards larger opportunities.
What stands out to me is not simply that she built a 25-unit portfolio or secured 17 deals in four weeks. It is the way she adapted.
When phone calls felt overwhelming, she emailed. When childcare fell through, she took her daughter to the viewing. When her brother proved strong at finding opportunities, they divided the business around their individual strengths. And when a landlord relationship developed, she looked beyond the immediate rental deal towards a potential lease option.
That is a property-investor mindset.
You work with the circumstances you have, build relationships, solve problems and keep taking the next sensible step.
Shannon started this journey during one of the most difficult periods of her life. Today, she has built a substantial serviced accommodation business, is helping other investors and is considering much larger projects.
Most importantly, she has created something she values more than any headline financial figure: greater freedom and peace in her life.
