Martin Roberts Net Worth 2026: Salary, Property & TV
Martin Roberts Net Worth reflects his BBC career, property investments, books, and media work. See how Homes Under the Hammer shaped his earnings in 2026.
Author:James RowleyJan 04, 20261.2K Shares105K Views
Martin Leyland Roberts was born on 20 July 1963 in Warrington, Cheshire. He grew up in the Warrington area as a school-age child, recalling that he “lived in Warrington” and enjoyed school outings to local landmarks such as the York Railway Museum and Warwick Castle.
In his teenage years at the local grammar school, a physics teacher named Mr Muscutt sparked his interest in science; Roberts later said he “enjoyed physics” so much under this teacher’s guidance that he chose to study electronics at university.
After secondary school, Roberts went on to study electronic engineering at the University of Bradford, where he completed a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree in 1985. While at Bradford he was active in student media, presenting on the campus radio station and even serving as president of the university media club. These early experiences growing up in suburban Warrington with supportive teachers and engaging in college radio helped shape his interests before his later career.
| Fact | Verified Details |
| Full Name | Martin Leyland Roberts |
| Date of Birth | 20 July 1963 |
| Birthplace | Warrington, Cheshire, England |
| Age (2026) | 63 years old |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Television presenter, property expert, investor, and author |
| Education | BEng in Electronic Engineering from the University of Bradford (1985) |
| Famous For | Long-time presenter of BBC One’s property show Homes Under the Hammer since 2003 |
| Estimated Net Worth | Martin Roberts’ exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed, |
| Major Income Sources | BBC television salary, property development, buy-to-let investments, books on property investing, radio shows, and property training seminars |
Martin Roberts Career
Martin Leyland Roberts (born 20 July 1963) is an English television presenter, property expert, investor and author. He has built a broad broadcasting career spanning three decades, first as a travel and lifestyle journalist and later as one of Britain’s best known property specialists.
Since 2003 he has been a main presenter of the BBC One property auction series Homes Under the Hammer, making him one of the longest serving hosts on UK daytime television. Alongside television, Roberts runs property investment training and regularly appears as an industry commentator and radio host. His work has made him a familiar face in both property and travel media.
Early Television And Broadcasting Career
Roberts began his media career on radio in the late 1980s and early 1990s, working for the BBC’s local stations and later on flagship BBC Radio 4 programmes. He was a reporter for travel features on Radio 4’s Breakawayand contributed to programmes across BBC radio, including guest spots on BBC Radio 2 and 5 Live.
Early in his career he also became a travel writer and editor. For 15 years he served as travel editor of Womanmagazine, and contributed to national publications and in store magazines.
On television he broke through as a presenter on ITV’s long running travel show Wish You Were Here…?, co hosting that series for eight years during the 1990s alongside established presenters. He later fronted travel news for global network CNN, presenting 100 episodes of CNN Travel News, and anchored Sky Television’s Great Escapes.
These roles cemented his reputation as a trusted travel and lifestyle broadcaster before he transitioned into property focused programmes.
In parallel with TV presenting, Roberts took on various media projects. He served on industry bodies in travel journalism. For example, he became chairman of the British Guild of Travel Writers and was a board member of organisations like the Institute of Travel & Tourism.
These leadership roles underscored his standing in travel media. By the 2000s he was also making regular appearances as an expert guest on BBC Breakfast, BBC News 24 and The One Show, offering travel and lifestyle advice.
Throughout this period, Roberts combined media work with personal investments. As a qualified electronics engineer turned journalist, he also pursued property deals on the side, renovating houses and building investment knowledge that would later define his career.
Hosting Homes Under The Hammer And Television Success
In 2003 Roberts was tapped as a presenter on a new BBC daytime show about auctioned properties. That series, Homes Under the Hammer, proved to be a breakthrough and has remained a cornerstone of his career ever since.
As a main host he has co presented the series from its inception, initially alongside Lucy Alexander from 2003 to 2016 and later with Martel Maxwell and, more recently, Dion Dublin. His approachable style and expertise helped the programme attract a wide audience.
By the mid 2020s Homes Under the Hammerhad aired over 1,500 episodes and completed more than 25 series. Roberts’s rapport with viewers and colleagues has been credited as key to the show’s popularity.
He is often on site at auctions and renovations, explaining the process and outcomes. Under his tenure the series became one of BBC One’s top performing daytime factual shows, with a weekly viewership in the millions.
Homes Under the Hammerhas run continuously since 2003, and Roberts’s role there has brought him national recognition. He shares presenting duties, but his name is closely associated with the show’s brand.
In interviews he has noted that the series started with a modest order of episodes but grew steadily due to viewer demand. The format, following bidders who purchase distressed properties at auction and then renovate them, has endured, making the show both informative and entertaining.
Roberts’s on air expertise in property investment and renovation helps demystify the auction process for the audience. His long running presence gives continuity to the show even as presenting partners have changed.
Property Expertise And Real Estate Career
Outside television, Roberts has built a substantive career in the property sector. He began investing and developing properties in the early 1990s, using the profits from renovations to fund further purchases.
Over the years he has bought, refurbished and sold numerous houses and small apartment buildings, often remarking in interviews that his father’s DIY influence inspired him to renovate his first home for profit. Roberts is a principal or director of several property related businesses.
For example, he founded a training company and has held directorships in companies offering investment advice and auction guidance. He also works as a landlord, owning buy to let properties. His experience as an active investor lends credibility to his on screen advice.
Roberts is a regular speaker and seminar leader on property investing. He runs educational courses, both live workshops and online classes, covering topics like auction bidding, renovation planning and finance.
His training programmes often emphasize ethical investing and encourage participants to consider charitable giving from their profits. In the UK property community he is known as an advocate for small investors.
He has been involved with professional bodies as a property expert. For instance, he served on the board of the Association of International Property Professionals, which sets standards in the sector.
His dual status as a TV presenter and practicing investor has positioned him as a bridge between the media and real estate industries.
In business filings he has appeared as a director of several investment and development companies, reflecting his entrepreneurial role. In recent years Roberts has also pursued a notable project.
In 2021 he purchased the historic Hendrewen Hotel in Blaencwm, South Wales, a venture he called an impulse decision. He is currently refurbishing this pub and guest house, a process documented in a BBC series.
This hands on renovation project illustrates the kind of practical property work that has underpinned his career for decades.
Books, Media Work, And Other Professional Projects
Roberts has authored several popular property guides and contributed to specialist publications. His book Teach Yourself: Making Money from Propertypublished in 2008 and its full length version Making Money from Property: The Guide to Property Investing and Developingprovide detailed advice for novices and have sold widely in the UK.
In 2016 he published The Property Auction Guide, aimed at simplifying how auctions work. These books, often reprinted or updated, have become reference titles for amateur investors.
He also wrote a monthly property column for magazines such as Practical Caravanand Somerset Life, sharing market tips and design ideas.
Beyond publishing, Roberts’s media work extends into radio and guest TV appearances. In 2016 he launched a weekend property show on London’s TalkRADIO, initially called Gazumped, later retitled Home Rule, which he hosts from his home studio.
The talk radio programme covers market trends, listener questions and investor guidance, and is syndicated beyond London. He has frequently guested as a property expert on BBC radio programmes like The Jeremy Vine Showand Money Box.
On television he has appeared on panel and game shows such as Ready Steady Cook, Hole in the Walland Pointless, but more relevantly he has been chosen to front one off factual specials, including the BBC property special How to Survive the Property Crisis.
His experience and name have also made him a popular choice to host or judge at industry events, and he has served as compere at conferences for housing and auctioneering associations.
Major Achievements And Career Milestones
Roberts’s career milestones reflect his dual success in travel media and property. In travel journalism, notable achievements include his lengthy tenure on Wish You Were Here…?and his role as CNN’s travel news anchor, as well as authorship of travel guidebooks.
In real estate, a major milestone was the launch of Homes Under the Hammeritself. He was there from episode one and continued in that role for over 20 years.
By 2023 he had presented more than 1,500 episodes, a longevity that few presenters in his genre match. His consistency on the show is often cited as an achievement.
He has publicly expressed pride in having stayed part of the series through its many revivals and format changes. In 2016 he further expanded his public profile by competing on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, finishing in the top six, which increased awareness of his television work among mainstream audiences.
Roberts’s behind the scenes achievements include chairing the British Guild of Travel Writers and serving on the boards of travel industry bodies, which recognize his leadership in media. As an author and speaker, he has won acclaim at property conferences.
He was a headline speaker at National Residential Landlords Association conferences in 2022 and 2023, sharing insights on auctions and the rental market. His books have been described as bestsellers in the property self help field.
In 2022 and 2023 he survived a serious health emergency and publicly returned to work with renewed vigor. Most recently, beginning in 2024 he undertook the large scale renovation of the Hendrewen hotel and pub in Wales.
This project, which he supports financially and creatively, is significant both personally and professionally, as it represents a new venture into property management and community development.
Martin Roberts’ Influence In Property Television
Over two decades on screen have made Roberts a familiar and trusted figure in UK property television. He is widely regarded as one of the genre’s most experienced voices, and his advice has influenced countless first time investors.
Viewers credit him with demystifying the property auction process and encouraging ordinary people to get involved in refurbishment projects. His affable presentation style, often noted for enthusiasm and plain English explanations, has helped the show build a loyal following of regular viewers, from young families to retirees.
Industry colleagues and critics have noted that his tenure on Homes Under the Hammerhelped transform the image of daytime TV property shows, proving that finance and renovation topics could draw large audiences without high drama.
Beyond Homes Under the Hammer, Roberts has helped shape the wider property media landscape. He speaks at consumer property events and on television panels about housing trends, effectively setting a standard for on air property expertise.
When new presenters or shows have emerged in the UK, they often have referenced the programme’s style as a model for engaging the public. His recognition as a celebrity landlord has also encouraged landlords and investors to speak more openly about best practices.
Through longevity and consistency, Roberts has become synonymous with practical property television, helping to elevate the field’s authority and popularity.
Current Work, Media Presence, And Professional Activities
As of the mid 2020s, Roberts remains active in broadcasting and property. He continues as a lead presenter of Homes Under the Hammer, which aired its 25th series, and still records episodes at auctions and post renovation visits around Britain.
His radio programme Home Ruleruns on most weekends, and he is a regular voice on industry podcasts and BBC radio slots. In late 2023 he was appointed director of The Tourism Society in the UK and of a community tourism initiative called Visit the Valleys CIC, reflecting his ongoing involvement in travel and regional development.
In addition, Roberts has expanded into factual documentaries. Beginning in 2024 he fronted the BBC series Oops! I Bought a Pub!, which follows his real life renovation of the Hendrewen Hotel in the Rhondda Valley.
This series combines his property knowledge with a narrative format, reaching new audiences. He has also taken part in charity entertainment projects, notably performing in ITV’s male health awareness special The Real Full Montyin 2024.
Roberts remains a sought after expert commentator on property matters in the press and on television news programs, especially when housing trends or auction records make headlines. He continues to update and market his property courses and instructional videos online.
On social media and through his website he maintains a public profile, sharing tips and behind the scenes content with followers. Throughout 2021 to 2026, Martin Roberts has consolidated his role as a multi platform property authority, balancing long running television duties with new projects and ongoing entrepreneurial ventures.
Martin Roberts Net Worth
As of 2026, Martin Roberts’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. He earns income from presenting the BBC One property auction series Homes Under the Hammerand from hosting property-focused radio programmes, including Talkradio’s Home Rule. He has also published books on property investment and children’s literature, and is involved in property development and real estate investment ventures. However, the specific earnings from these activities have not been made public.
FAQs
Who Is Martin Roberts?
Martin Roberts is a British television presenter, property expert, investor, and author. He is best known for presenting the BBC One property auction show Homes Under the Hammersince 2003. His career also includes work in travel journalism, radio broadcasting, and property investment.
What Is Martin Roberts Known For?
Martin Roberts is widely known for his long-running role as a presenter on the BBC series Homes Under the Hammer. The show focuses on properties bought at auction and their renovation outcomes. His clear explanations of the property auction process have made him a recognizable figure in UK daytime television.
When Was Martin Roberts Born?
Martin Roberts was born on 20 July 1963in Warrington, Cheshire, England. As of 2026, he is 63 years old.
What Did Martin Roberts Study At University?
Martin Roberts studied Electronic Engineeringat the University of Bradford. He graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)degree in 1985.
Is Martin Roberts Involved In Property Investment?
Yes, Martin Roberts has been involved in property investment since the early 1990s. He has bought, renovated, and rented properties while also running property education courses and seminars.
James Rowley
Author
James Rowley is a London-based writer and urban explorer specialising in the city’s cultural geography. For over 15 years, he has documented the living history of London's neighbourhoods through immersive, first-hand reporting and original photography. His work foregrounds verified sources and street-level detail, helping readers look past tourist clichés to truly understand the character of a place.
His features and analysis have appeared in established travel and heritage publications. A passionate advocate for responsible, research-led tourism, James is an active member of several professional travel-writing associations.
His guiding principle is simple: offer clear, current, verifiable advice that helps readers see the capital with informed eyes.
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