Meet the Speaker - Doug Hall
With less than a month until the NRLA's UK Housing Conference, with our 'Meet the Speakers' series introducing you to some of the experts you'll hear from on the day. Today we talk to Doug Hall, director of 3mc, who brings decades of finance expertise - and a message of optimism – to the table.
Doug Hall has been in financial services since the 1980s - "man and boy" as he puts it. As director of 3mc, a specialist mortgage provider, he's witnessed the sector through multiple cycles of boom, bust, and everything in between. That long view is exactly what makes his perspective so valuable right now.
Cutting through the noise
This won't be Doug's first NRLA conference - he's attended every one . But what he brings to his lightning session on 5th November is something landlords struggling with negative headlines desperately need: clarity backed by data.
Lightning sessions at the conference are fast paced, focused smaller presentations, held in breakout rooms, on specific topics like finance.
"As landlords, our resilience is always underestimated," Doug says. "Yes, there are headwinds, but I do believe from a finance point of view, we are in a more favourable environment."
It's a bold statement in the current climate, but Doug has the numbers to prove it.
Doug's session will focus on the finance landscape, and he comes armed with evidence that contradicts the doom and gloom.
According to Moneyfacts data from September 2025, there are currently 4,600 different Buy-to-let (BTL) products available - the highest number on record since 2011.
"There's good product choice for landlords, better rates for landlords," he explains. "The opportunities are there."
More than that, he's predicting that 2025 will be the busiest year for new BTL lending in recent years.
Since March 2025, swap rates have stabilised, giving the market the predictability it's been craving. After three Bank of England base rate drops in 2025, he is seeing an environment that, while not returning to the ultra-low rates of the past, is settling into something sustainable.
Perspective from experience
What makes Doug's insights particularly valuable is his historical perspective. He's lived through interest rates that would make today's landlords run for the hills, - including the 15% rates of the Margaret Thatcher era.
"If you've been in the market longer than three or four years, you've been used to an artificially low interest rate environment," he points out. "The interest rate environment we're currently in is more normal."
For newer landlords who've only known rock-bottom rates, this reframing is crucial. Doug will help attendees understand that while economists predict rates will probably average around 3.5% over the next two to three years - and we're currently at 4% - this isn't a crisis. It's the reality of running a property business.
Practical business thinking
Doug's approach is refreshingly pragmatic. He'll be encouraging landlords to think about their portfolios as what they are: businesses that need proper management.
"We all need to make sure we run each of our properties as an investment" he says. "It's a business." That means ensuring you're charging market rent, securing the most competitive finance available, and truly understanding your interest cover ratios.
His message isn't about weathering a storm until things return to "normal" - it's about recognising that this is normal, and adapting your business model accordingly.
What to expect
The NRLA’s annual conference is in its fourth year and has gone from strength to strength since the inaugural event in 2022. Former speakers have included then-Housing Secretary Michael Gove, former Dragon’s Den star James Caan CBE and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
This year’s conference will be hosted by the award-winning business journalist Steph McGovern, with speakers including property guru and property expert Sarah Beeny.
To secure your place at this year’s UK Housing Conference click here.
More information
For all the latest announcements on speakers, check out our website and follow us on social media.
