Our Story
About 53 Degrees Property
I started 53 Degrees Property in November 2019 with less than £5,000 and a hunch that there was a smarter way to build a property business, one that didn't depend on owning bricks and mortar or taking on mortgage debt.
We solve a simple problem: property owners want consistent, high-yielding returns without the headache of running short-stay accommodation themselves, and most operators in the market do it badly.
Our background spans property investing, property management and lettings, three disciplines that come together in everything we do. We know what landlords need because we are landlords ourselves.
A Family Business
Built by the Buddens, for the long term.
53 Degrees Property has always been a family business. What started in 2019 as Daniel and Sally working evenings and weekends, photographing properties, writing listings and personally meeting every guest, quickly grew into something bigger than either of us could manage alone.
As the business expanded, the family stepped in. Andrew, Daniel's brother and a chartered financial professional, joined to take ownership of the numbers and build the systems that make a property portfolio scalable. Sophie came on board as Director to drive strategic growth and keep us focused on what landlords actually want.
Four Buddens, one business, and a small but seriously talented team around us. Decisions are made over Sunday lunches as often as they are in the office. That's not marketing spin, it's just how we work, and it's why landlords get founders on the phone, not a call centre script.
Being a family business means we think in decades, not quarters. We're building something we want our kids to inherit, which forces us to make decisions you'd never make if your only goal was a short-term exit.
What We Stand For
Three values, applied to every property.
Transparency
No surprises, full visibility, always. Clear statements, honest projections, plain English.
Professionalism
Five-star standards on every clean, listing and stay. The detail compounds.
Genuinely Hands-Off
Most landlords hear from us once a month, by design.
Going International
From the North West to the World
After six years of refining our model across the UK, we're taking 53 Degrees international. Same family, same standards, two of the most exciting short-let markets on the planet.
Launching May 2026
53 Degrees Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the world's most desirable short-let destinations, combining year-round tourism, a favourable exchange rate for international owners and a strong domestic market. We're launching in May 2026 with a hand-picked portfolio in the City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard and Winelands.
Launching 2026
53 Degrees Dubai
Dubai's short-let market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with strong yields, zero income tax for owners and exceptional year-round demand from international visitors. Our Dubai operation launches later this year, focused on Downtown, Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
The Team
The people behind the properties.
Daniel Budden
Co-Founder
Daniel leads strategy, growth and partnerships. With a background in property investing and management, he focuses on building a service that delivers real returns for landlords.
Sally Budden
Co-Founder
Sally heads operations, guest experience and standards. Her lettings background ensures every property is run with care, consistency and proper attention to detail.
Sophie Budden
Director
Sophie drives business development and strategic direction. She brings a sharp commercial eye to scaling operations while keeping the landlord experience at the centre of every decision.
Andrew Budden
Chief Financial Officer
Andrew oversees finance, forecasting and commercial reporting. His background in financial management ensures every property's performance is tracked, measured and optimised.
Jonny O'Regan
CEO
Jonny leads the overall direction and growth of 53 Degrees Property, driving operational excellence and expanding our footprint across the UK short-let market.
Stuart Preece
Operations Manager
Stuart ensures the day-to-day running of every property is smooth, from coordinating cleans and maintenance to managing guest check-ins and last-minute requests.
Emily Carpenter
Acquisitions Manager
Emily sources and evaluates new properties for our management portfolio, building relationships with landlords and investors to grow the business.
Our Group
More Than Just Property Management
53 Degrees Accounts
Our specialist accountancy firm, run by Daniel and Andrew, built exclusively for Airbnb management firms, short-let operators and property investors.
We understand the unique tax landscape of short-term lets, from VAT considerations and furnished holiday let rules to revenue recognition across multiple booking platforms. Whether you run one property or a hundred, we make your numbers work harder.
53 Degrees Maintenance
Our specialist maintenance company for Airbnb management businesses, landlords and investors across the North West.
From rapid-turn cleans and emergency repairs to full property refurbishments, we keep short-let properties guest-ready year-round. Fast response times, trusted local contractors, and the scale to handle multiple properties across Cheshire, Staffordshire, Manchester and beyond.
Honest
We're New. Here's Why That's a Good Thing.
You get founders who are personally invested in every property we manage. Not a call centre. Not a faceless operation. Just people who care deeply about doing this properly from day one.
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Want to work with a team that treats your property like their own?
Free, no-obligation conversation. We'd love to hear from you.
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