If you’ve spent any time at all around the UK property investment world, you’ve almost certainly come across a strategy known as BRRR. That stands for Buy, Refurbish, Rent, Refinance, and Repeat. But moving forward, we’re just going to call it Burr—because let’s be honest, it’s easier to say!

Now, if you’ve heard about BRRR, you’ve probably also heard how some investors (myself included) have used it in the past to quickly build substantial property portfolios—recycling the same pot of money over and over again by pulling their cash out of one deal and rolling it straight into the next.

And if you’re not 100% clear on how BRRR works, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with a real-life example a little later in this post.

So… Does Burr Still Work in 2025?
Let’s be brutally honest: the market has changed.

Interest rates are higher. Refurb costs have gone up. And finding good deals? It’s just not as easy as it used to be. So, the big question is… does the Burr strategy still stack up in 2025?

Before we answer that, let’s quickly run through how BRRR actually works, especially if you’re new to all this.

A Quick BRRR Refresher
Buy: You’re looking to purchase a property below market value—and I really do mean below. I’ve personally bought properties at 25% (or more!) under market value. It’s all about working with the right type of seller, but we’ll come back to that in a moment.

Refurbish: You carry out a renovation to add value to the property—often this means new kitchens, bathrooms, or heating systems. Just slapping on a lick of paint doesn’t cut it anymore.

Rent: You rent the property out—typically to a single family, although more advanced strategies like HMOs can increase your income.

Refinance: This is where the magic happens. You refinance the property at its new, higher value after the refurb, ideally pulling most (if not all) of your original deposit money back out of the deal.

Repeat: You take that money and do it all again.

When this works, it’s a powerful way to grow your portfolio without needing to find a new deposit each time.

But the Market Has Changed
Let’s not sugarcoat it.

Mortgage rates are around the 5% mark (at the time of filming).

Surveyors are more cautious about revaluations.

Refurb costs have shot up—what cost £15K a few years ago might now cost you £25K.

Lenders expect you to prove you’ve added value—they’re not going to be impressed by a new kitchen alone.

Some lenders now want experience, especially if you’re working with HMOs or operating via a limited company.

And if this isn’t your first property, remember you’re paying an extra 5% stamp duty.

So… is BRRR dead?

Absolutely Not!
Yes, it’s harder. But it’s still very much doable—if you know what you’re doing.

The key today is finding the right deals, and in my opinion, that means going direct to seller. That gives you the chance to negotiate a deal that works for both of you—without the competition of other buyers snapping it up before you do.

A Real-World BRRR Deal (That’s Working Right Now)
Let me share a brilliant example from one of my coaching clients. They’ve just secured a deal on a mid-terrace house in a better part of Manchester using direct-to-seller marketing.

Here are the numbers:

Purchase Price: £148,000

Refurb Budget (incl. fixing a minor structural crack): £27,000

Estimated Fees: £10,000

Total Investment: £185,000

Post-Refurb Valuation: £260,000

After refinancing at 75% loan-to-value, they’ll be able to pull out around £195,000, meaning:

✅ Their original investment is fully returned
✅ They’ve got £10,000 in their pocket
✅ And they now own a cash-flowing rental property—for free!

The property is expected to rent at £1,300/month, leaving them with over £400/month in cash flow after all costs, or nearly £5,000 per year. Not bad, right?

Finding Great Deals in 2025
Here’s the truth: most deals don’t stack up. The days of scrolling Rightmove and stumbling on golden Burr opportunities are (mostly) gone.

Today, you need to:

Run direct-to-vendor marketing

Build relationships with estate agents (ideally independent ones)

Act fast when you find a good deal—because someone else will if you don’t

But here’s the upside: lots of investors are sitting on the sidelines right now, waiting for rates to drop or just scared off by negative sentiment. That means less competition for you.

In Summary
If you’re thinking about trying the BRRR strategy in 2025, here’s the bottom line:

It still works—but only if the numbers stack up

You’ll need to put in the work and treat it like a business

The best deals are often off-market

And if you’re playing the long game—buying and holding—Burr can still be a fantastic strategy

If this blog helped clarify how Burr fits into today’s market, that’s brilliant. Be sure to subscribe to the channel for more practical property investment insights.

And don’t forget to download our free 50-point checklist, which walks you through the key steps when buying your next investment property.

Thanks for reading—and I’ll see you in the next video!