What do we want to achieve with HMO Awards?
The HMO Awards aims to bring people across the HMO property supply chain who are helping to shape the current and future shared living landscape across the UK, together to network, learn, celebrate and grow.
Amazing things can happen when the right people come together. HMOs are on the rise more than ever. We should learn from each other and grow together as a sector serving millions of people.
on the day
What to expect
CELEBRATE
HMOs are not only about the best deals and mainstream agencies. A lot of stakeholders are involved in making an HMO successful. It’s time we give more people their due credit.
Gather with your tribe (old and new) with a relaxed festival vibe with drinks, street food, outdoor bars, and live music.
LEARN
Join and learn from some of the 8 x TED style talk sessions delivered by those who walk the talk in HMO sector.
LEARN
Join and learn from some of the 8 x TED style talk sessions delivered by those who walk the talk in HMO sector.
GROW
Meet and mingle with like-minded landlords, investors, property managers, industry influencers, mentors and suppliers throughout the day.
HMO Awards in Numbers
This isn’t a “black tie in a hotel” dinner, but a relaxing vibe where you can meet like-minded people in a beautiful location.
It’s important to us that you are comfortable in what you wear to the event, just be mindful that this is a day and night event and there will be lots of cameras.
There is a 3 minute outdoor walk across to the awards, and to take advantage of the outdoor space (if you want to), you may wish to bring a coat and suitable footwear.
Agenda
PRE-EVENT NETWORKING
Add your profile to the delegate directory when you buy your ticket to start networking before the event
1PM DOORS OPEN
Exhibition and networking
Grab bag with a simple lunch included
2PM TALKS BEGIN
Quick fire inspirational TED-style talks and plenty of networking
5PM AWARDS CEREMONY
Theatre style instead of round tables
7PM CELEBRATIONS
Celebratory drink, live band, street food main meal, soft drinks and desserts included
11PM DOORS CLOSE
LEARN
Learn from people who have perfected one specific area, with 15 minute talks with very clear take-aways you can use to improve your business.
HMO Management
in the Piano Room
Caroline Pattinson, 2PM
How to win tenants and Influence culture
Caroline has become well-known for her uncommon, but effective approach to the initial touch-points with prospective tenants. Join Caroline as she shares her secrets on how you can build a waiting-list too.
Jordi Pasqualin, 2.30PM
Scaling From 120 to 1,200 Rooms: What I Wish I Knew
When his professional rugby career ended, Jordi Pasqualin turned to property. Over the next few years he built up a Rent to Rent portfolio of over 1,2000 rooms. Join him in the Piano Room as he shares what he learned along the way.
Lee Dumbarton, 3PM
Customer Experience: What an Opportunity
We all know that tenants are expecting more in their shared houses now. Join Lee in the Piano Room as he tells us why that actually gives you a great opportunity to stand out.
Grant Amos, 3.30PM
How to Effectively Build and Manage Your Support Team… From Anywhere
To truly scale your operations you need the right team and processes in place. This should be possible from anywhere if you want to work on the business, and not in it. Grant shares his tips on how he manages properties across multiple cities.
Neil Walton, 4PM
The Secret Ingredients to Good Tenants
Renowned HMO manager Neil Walton tells the secrets of how to get the best HMO tenants for a more sustainable and hassle-free approach.
Julie Hogbin, 4.30PM
How to Consciously Manage Conflict
It can be easy to dismiss conflict by burying your head or saying “they’re all adults”, but it’s your business and other customers it can affect. Julie will share tips on how to manage conflict to not only save yourself time in the long run, but keep your customers for longer.
HMO Development
in the Temple Room
Wendy Whittaker-Large 2PM
How to Protect Yourself from the Council Tax Re-Banding
The council tax rebanding issue has become one of the largest risks facing HMO investors, and Wendy, founding member of the HMO Council Tax Reform Group, is right at the front of it. Join Wendy as she shares crucial her tips on how to protect yourself.
Matt Baker, 2.30PM
Branding: The Art of Standing Out
Best-selling author and Co-living investor Matt Baker shares the reasons he thinks branding is the key to standing out ahead of your competition and attracting investment.
Richard Nicholls, 3PM
You Will Sell One Day, So Exit On Your Terms
“Believe it or not, everybody has to sell at some point”. Richard Nicholls, founder of The Property Advantage, shares his tips on how to ensure that as you begin to exit your portfolio, you get no nasty shocks, and instead leave happy.
Andy Graham, 3.30PM
0-10 HMOs: What I Learned From The Best In Our Industry And How They Build Successful Portfolios
Through his talks, his podcasts, and his Facebook group, Andy Graham has spoken to leaders around the industry. Join him as he shares what he’s learned, and how it can help you.
Ranjan Bhattacharya, 4PM
The #1 Most Profitable Opportunity 99% of HMO Investors Don’t Know About
Renowned HMO manager Neil Walton tells the secrets of how to get the best HMO tenants for a more sustainable and hassle-free approach.
Stuart Scott, 4.30PM
The Top 3 Design Techniques You Can Use To Maximise Your Profits In A Competitive HMO Market
Its a competitive market out there and landlords need to be equipped with a new toolkit of skills to avoid falling behind. Join Stuart Scott as he shares his top 3 design tips that he learned from over 20 years heading up Innovation teams and how they can help you get the edge!
awards
All awards nominations and applications now open. There is no charge for entries, more than one award entry is accepted. Deadline for entry is 30th June.
Investor
Best Progressive Social Housing HMO Investor
This award looks to reward investors who take pride and care in the social housing HMOs they offer, looking to balance a profitable investment with a safe and comfortable home.
Best Commercial to HMO Conversion
This award looks to recognise those who have undertaken a relatively recent project utilising their skill and knowledge with commercial buildings coupled with HMO regulations.
Best HMO Investor
This award looks to recognise those who have made the most prudent investments to add to or create their HMO portfolio.
Best Residential to HMO Conversion
The Best residential to HMO conversion award looks to recognise those who have clearly identified the needs of their target tenant type...
Best Shared Living Design
This award looks to recognise those who convert property into HMO’s in a way that promotes good social interaction...
Management
Best Master Lease Operator (“Rent2Rent”)
This award looks to recognise operators who can demonstrate exceptional standards of professionalism, whilst running a high quality...
Best Student HMO Manager
This award looks to recognise leading student accommodation providers and managers that consistently and consciously aim to deliver an exceptional product...
Best Professional HMO Manager
This award looks to recognise key innovators in this sector, delivering an exceptional product and experience tailored for professional tenants.
Creating a Sustainable Future
This award looks to recognise those who consider all aspects of sustainable development as summarised by the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.
Best Community Experience
This award looks to recognise those who are creating thriving communities and providing a solid customer experience within their HMO portfolio.
Best HMO Agency
The Best HMO Agency award looks to recognise those who run and maintain a great HMO business.
HMO Manager of the Year – Tenants Choice
HMO Manager of the year- Tenant’s Choice award will recognise those managers whose tenants hold them in high acclaim...
Services
Best HMO Content or Media
This award recognises those who help further the collective HMO knowledge by providing great content to help, support, educate, or motivate others.
Best HMO Service Supplier
This Award recognises suppliers promoting excellence by providing services designed to make HMOs better and simpler for managers and housemates.
Best HMO Financial Services Supplier
This award looks to financial services, products, and advisors that recognise the additional difficulties related to HMOs.
Best HMO Technology Supplier
This award looks to recognise technology companies that have built products that greatly improve the experience of managing or living in an HMO.
Best HMO Training or Mentorship Program
This award looks to recognise businesses, organisations or individuals who provide high-quality, unbiased educational content...
Other
Lifetime Achievement
Shared living is a rapidly evolving and expanding space, made possible by many people in the past who have pioneered the concept...
judges
Adam Lawrence
Adam Lawrence is known and respected by all in the industry. Co-founder of Partners in Property and The Boardroom Club, Adam has a huge wealth of experience in property investment and management. Having bought 500 properties in the past decade, as well as owning multiple letting agencies and asset management companies, there is little about HMOs that Adam doesn't know.
Andy Graham
Over the past few years Andy Graham has put himself at the centre of the HMO community with his incredibly popular "The HMO Podcast", and his quickly growing Facebook group, "The HMO Community". Leaning on his broad experience investing in and managing HMOs, he shares this knowledge through "The HMO Roadmap", supporting others to follow in his footsteps.
Paul Shamplina
Paul is a man who needs no introduction. As a founder of Landlord Action, Chief Commercial Officer of Hamilton Fraser, and advisor to the PRS, it is surprising Paul has time to judge HMO awards. But his time hosting Channel 5's "Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords" has shown him the importance of helping further professionalism in property investment.
Mahsa Khaneghah
As a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and member of the Association of Environmentally Conscious Building, Mahsa is extremely passionate about sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development. With her first-class MSc in Global Urban Development and Planning, and diverse international career and consultancy experience, Mahsa is now Head of Planning & Sustainability at Platinum Property Partners.
Emma Stubbings
After many years in the corporate world Emma realised she could utilise her experience to build a leading property business. Now with over 20 years' experience in property, Ikon Property, Emma's design-led development company, is well-respected across the industry. Specialising in taking run down, unloved buildings & turning them into homes that people will be excited to live in, Ikon’s primary focus is on shared living for students & professionals. Emma is passionate about transforming shared living and puts innovation & customer experience at the forefront of everything.
John Paul
John Paul is probably the most acclaimed name among letting agents, and for good reason. As CEO of Castledene Group, managing 2,200 homes across 12 branches, John Paul has won Sunday Times "Letting Agent of the Year" not only once but 4 times in a row. His knowledge and credibility led to him being given a seat on the ARLA Propertymark board.
Rick Gannon
Rick is almost synonymous with HMO. He has invested in property since 1997, during which time he has authored 3 best-selling books, founded an HMO community with 23k people, founded Go Tenant property software, built a prominent training business, and hosts the daily Property News - a lot to take on for somebody managing a £7.5m portfolio with 150 tenants. Rick prides himself on helping others without any of the fluff and nonsense.
Leah Ziliak
Over the past few years, Leah has built up a name as the world's leading Community Experience Consultant for coliving spaces. With her strong passion for community and 10+ years experience in the hospitality and entertainment industry, Leah now travels the world as a digital nomad working with coliving brands to help build community within shared living spaces and create positive customer experiences.
Gary Barker
Gary Barker understands PropTech more than anyone in the industry, believing tech really needs to add value, not just be "new and shiny". In his past roles Head of IT Development for Countrywide, and Group CTO at Connells, he's seen it all, and during his 15 year stint as the CEO of Reapit, the countries largest agenty PMS, he lived it. After leaving Reapit he joined COHO's board, and set up nurtur.group tech accelerator, putting himself at the heart of the biggest PropTech innovations.
Julian Maurice
Whilst many think design is purely about a pretty-looking, Instagrammable house, Julian realises that good design is about problem-solving. As an advocate of Dieter Ram's 10 Principles of Good Design, Julian believes design should be simple but thorough, make the product useful, be long lasting, and be innovative. He also knows how to make things look beautiful. As an HMO investor himself, Julian has put these principles to action alongside providing training and consultancy to anyone from first-time landlords to letting agents.
Ben Beadle
Ben was appointed chief executive when the RLA merged with the NRA, forming the NRLA, and it's easy to understand why. With over a decade as a Justice of the Peace, Ben can take a clear and impartial view based on facts - a necessity when faced with representing nearly 100,000 members through difficult social and economic times. In his two decades in property, he's been faced with making the right decision plenty of times, a skill honed from his 9 years as a referee in FA cup matches.
Julie Ford
A highly sought after speaker, Julie understand the HMO industry front-to-back. After overseeing 3,000 properties nationwide, Julie set up her own property management company, before becoming a Housing & Homeless Law Specialist at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Recognising education as a key problem, Julie founded the Hemel Landlord Property Networking group and Gothard Rowe Landlord Services, both going strong over a decade later.
Des Taylor
When things go wrong, there's one name people know to call, Des Taylor. Whilst building up a large HMO portfolio, Des recognised that to not be caught out you need to thoroughly understand legislation - a particularly hot topic with rent repayment orders at a record high. Des now spends his time helping landlords and agents who have fallen foul of regulation, which isn't in short supply with property courses often stopping short of regulatory requirements.
Helen Chorley
You may recognise her as the property angel investor on Sky, or the co-founder of Property Sisters, or from the many speaking slots she's been requested for. Helen knows her numbers. And that's no surprise. As a former investment banker with over 20 years working in finance, she knows how to utilise financial products when the numbers stack up, building up an investment portfolio with a combined GDV of over £70 million.
Rod Turner
Having invested in and developed property for the past 15 years, Rod has honed his skills so that he can instantly spot what does and doesn't add up. Not a man who only understands one strategy, his investment firm holds a varied mixture of HMOs, purpose single lets, purpose-built rental stock that the businesses development company has built, and a broad range of commercial diversified through location, use class and tenant type. Rod has a detailed and thorough approach to investment and helps SME property businesses to plan strategically for their future.
Ranjan Bhattacharya
As host of one of the UKs largest property meets, and with over 50k subscribers on his YouTube channel, many tune in to hear Ranjan's thoughts on the latest happenings, supported by his 30+ years of experience. Ranjan has a very varied but thorough knowledge of property, and whether he is covering an event, or commentating on latest news, he knows how to personally connect with his audience to share it.
Sarah Hodge
As co-founder of Maygreen Investments, Sarah is renowned for breaking the mold of traditional HMOs, creating design-led homes of the highest calibre that encourage human connection and facilitate community. Sarah is followed by many in the industry as she shares how to follow a sustainable HMO business model, supported by her decade working in investment banking, whilst setting new standards in tenant-experience.
Stephanie Taylor
Having been featured on BBC, Telegraph, and Business Insider, Stephanie has had a journey like few others. From struggling to find a home as a teenage single mom on benefits, to building a significant property portfolio and management agency, Stephanie is a passionate advocate that ethical property investment is open to everyone. As the best-selling author of Rent 2 Rent Success, and it's namesake podcast (globally in the top 1.5% downloads) she shares her advice and knows exactly what is needed by the thousands of both grass-roots and experienced property investors she speaks to.
location
Stowe House, Buckingham (use postcode for Stowe School MK18 5EH)
Stowe House sits on a National Trust estate and grounds, and holds 300 years of rich history. It is host to Stowe School which has produced an impressive list of the rich and famous including Richard Branson and Superman (Henry Cavill).
Use postcode MK18 5EH or search for ‘Stowe School’ on Google maps to avoid going to the National Trust park entrance.
A coach service will be provided for transport from the main hotels in Buckingham to the event, and will return guests at the end to help relieve the local taxi firms. Hotel pick-up and drop-off points will be provided soon.
Accommodation
Buckingham is 10 minutes by car/ taxi to Stowe House, but where you’ll find a good range of accommodation from boutique hotels to the national branded hotels.
Please arrange early check in/ bag drop with the hotel directly. There will be a cloakroom for your luggage at the event venue for your convenience if required.
A coach service will be provided for transport from the main hotels in Buckingham to the event, and will return guests at the end to help relieve the local taxi firms. Hotel pickup and drop-off points will be provided soon.
partners
Furniture Sponsor
Landlord Furniture Co
Since 2016 LANDLORD FURNITURE CO have become a trusted supplier to the HMO landlord, developer and investors community. They deliver a tailored solution across the sector, furnishing HMO’s, SA’s and Student Lets, offering advice and design tips along the way.
Awards Sponsors
Billing Better
Billing Better set up and organise all household bills into one simple monthly payment for landlords, HMO operators and tenants. Our software gives our customers the ability to know what's happening with the utilities for their whole portfolio, whether that's understanding who the suppliers are to being clear on energy usage and meter readings.
The HMO Platform
The HMO Platform teaches The Next Level HMO® Growth Formula, which is designed to give you the confidence and skills you need to grow your portfolio and create consistently high profits. Focusing on our Tenant F.I.R.S.T. Method™, the programme covers the five key principles to becoming a Next Level Landlord™.
HMO Network
The IFA approved HMO Network is a national network of agents and property managers specialising in HMO Management. All our members are committed to improving the quality of shared accommodation across the UK and enhancing the management of houses of multiple occupation.
The Property Advantage
The Property Advantage are industry leading property investment brokers specialising in the sale of HMO properties. We offer the opportunity to buy and sell HMO's utilising our network of Landlords, Vendors and Investors in the UK, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Uplift Finance
Uplift Finance are the FCA approved HMO specialists running www.theHMOMortgageBroker.co.uk, which ranks #1 on Google search. They’re super experienced in all HMO lending, which come in all shapes. Solutions provided include HMO remortgages, commercial, bridging and refurb loans, and are not shy of the more quirky enquiries.
Behind the curtain
The HMO Awards are being organised by…
Join our mailing list
Not ready to buy a ticket yet? Pop your details into the form below and we will let you know as soon as more information becomes available.