Meet the Team Behind 450 HMO Developments
June 22, 2026
A Fully In-House Team Delivering Fully Managed HMO Properties
Behind every successful HMO development is a team with experience, structure, accountability and a clear understanding of what investors need from the very beginning. At Foot Forward Property Investments, our team has been built around one purpose: to make HMO property investment more practical, more transparent and more professionally managed for investors who want a complete service rather than a fragmented process.
As a team, we are a market-leading firm in the development of fully managed HMO properties. Our in-house team handles absolutely everything, from the acquisition of residential shells through to refurbishment, lettings, day-to-day management, cleaning, maintenance and ongoing support. That means investors work with one experienced team throughout the entire lifecycle of the property, rather than trying to coordinate separate sourcers, project managers, letting agents, cleaners, maintenance contractors and administrators themselves.
This matters because HMO investment is not just about buying a property and converting it into rooms. It involves careful property selection, compliance awareness, refurbishment planning, cost control, tenant demand analysis, room-by-room management, maintenance systems, communication and long-term operational discipline. Our experience across more than 450 HMO developments has shaped the way we work, the way we support investors and the way we manage properties into perpetuity, subject to each investor’s instructions and the relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
This article introduces the people behind Foot Forward Property Investments and our sister company, Bespoke Lettings. Together, they form the fully in-house team that supports our investors from acquisition to long-term management.
What Makes Our HMO Development Service Different?
Many property investors come to us because they do not want a disjointed investment journey. They may have seen how difficult it can be to manage separate suppliers, each with different priorities, processes and communication standards. HMO property can be highly rewarding when handled professionally, although it also requires serious attention to compliance, property standards, tenant experience and ongoing management.
Our service is designed to remove those gaps. We do not rely on any form of external teams for our operations. Our core operational process is handled in house, which gives us stronger control over quality, communication, timelines and investor support. From identifying suitable residential shells to overseeing refurbishment, placing tenants, managing rooms, responding to maintenance needs and supporting the investor over the long term, the same group structure remains accountable.
For investors, this creates a more joined-up experience. The people sourcing the property understand what the refurbishment team needs. The refurbishment process considers how the property will operate as an HMO. The lettings team understands the finished product before tenants move in. The cleaning and maintenance teams support the long-term quality of the property once it is live. Each department contributes to the same outcome: a fully managed HMO property built to perform operationally, not just look good on completion day.
From Residential Shell to Fully Managed HMO
Our work begins with acquisition. The right property matters. A residential shell needs to be assessed not only for purchase price, but also for layout potential, local demand, refurbishment requirements, operational suitability and long-term manageability. Our team uses first-hand experience across our operating areas to identify properties that may be suitable for HMO development.
Once a property is acquired, the refurbishment process begins. This stage requires planning, organisation and oversight. Room layouts, communal spaces, safety considerations, specification, finish, cost control and timescales all need careful attention. A property intended for HMO use must be prepared for real tenants, real wear and tear, and real day-to-day management.
After refurbishment, the property moves into the lettings and management phase through Bespoke Lettings, our sister company. This is where long-term performance is protected. Tenant enquiries, viewings, move-ins, queries, maintenance, cleaning, room standards and ongoing communication all become part of the management process. Because this service remains in house, we can continue to support the property after completion, not simply hand it over and walk away.
For investors looking at available opportunities, our current HMO investment options can be explored here: HMO properties for sale.
Why an In-House Team Matters for HMO Investors
A fully managed HMO service is only as strong as the team behind it. Property investment involves financial decisions, operational risk and long-term responsibility. Investors need to know who is involved, what experience they bring and how the team works together.
Our in-house structure gives investors several important advantages. Communication is clearer because departments are connected. Accountability is stronger because responsibilities sit within one group. Property knowledge is retained because the team managing the property has access to the history behind its acquisition, refurbishment and tenant setup. Operational consistency improves because the same standards apply across sourcing, project management, lettings, maintenance and cleaning.
This is especially important in HMO investment, where small operational details can affect tenant satisfaction, occupancy, maintenance costs and long-term investor confidence. An HMO is a living, managed asset. It needs attention before purchase, during refurbishment and throughout its life as a rental property.
Meet the Foot Forward Property Investments Team
Jeff Dunnill, Director
Jeff Dunnill is the visionary founder of Foot Forward Property Investments. With decades of experience in the property market, Jeff has helped shape the company into a trusted name for investors seeking professionally developed and managed property opportunities.
His experience has guided countless investors through the property investment process. Jeff continues to lead with a clear focus on innovation, high standards and long-term excellence in property investment. His knowledge of the market, combined with his hands-on leadership, remains central to the way Foot Forward Property Investments operates today.
Izabela Koblenc, Director
Izabela Koblenc is Co-Director and Co-founder of Foot Forward Property Investments. She brings a strong foundation in business and finance, developed through years of experience in banking and financial services.
Her expertise also extends into information systems, property finding, renovation and management. This combination gives Izabela a broad understanding of both the financial and operational sides of property investment. Her hands-on approach helps ensure that the business remains structured, organised and focused on practical results for investors.
James Criddle, Finance Director
James Criddle is our Group Finance Director. He brings more than 30 years of diverse professional experience across business mentoring, mergers, acquisitions, performance management, systemisation, efficiency implementation and strategic financial management.
James has worked with UK and overseas firms across public, private and third-sector environments. His financial and strategic experience supports the structure behind our investment operations, helping the business maintain the discipline needed to deliver complex property projects and long-term managed services.
Nicole Vorster, Group Administrator
Nicole Vorster is the business administrator for Foot Forward Properties. She supports the team with day-to-day operations, helping to ensure that the wider business runs smoothly and efficiently.
Nicole is known for being reliable, detail-focused and always willing to help wherever needed. Her role supports the internal structure that keeps our processes moving, from administration and communication to the many small details that help the wider team work effectively. Outside work, Nicole enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing golf and going on long walks.
Katie Beddoes, Project Manager
Katie Beddoes is our Project Manager and brings 23 years of experience in management and administration. Based in Doncaster, Katie contributes extensive knowledge, planning ability and organisational strength to the team.
Her role is central to keeping projects structured and moving in the right direction. HMO development requires close coordination, practical problem-solving and clear oversight, and Katie’s experience helps support that process. She is known for going above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Tom Abram, Group Marketing Executive
Tom Abram is our Group Marketing Executive and brings a decade of marketing experience across a wide range of sectors. His background includes technology, motorsport and other industries, giving him a broad perspective on communication, brand positioning and audience engagement.
At Foot Forward Property Investments, Tom supports the company’s marketing activity with a focus on clarity, trust and useful information for investors. His role helps ensure that our services, opportunities and educational content are communicated in a way that is practical, transparent and easy to understand.
Geoff Astin, Property Sourcer and RICS Surveyor / Commercial Building Surveyor
Geoff Astin is a retired former Chartered Building Surveyor who works part time with Foot Forward to support property sourcing. With many decades of experience in building and valuation surveying, Geoff brings deep knowledge of our operational area.
His surveying background helps the team assess properties with a practical eye. This is important because the right HMO development starts with the right property. Geoff’s experience helps us identify suitable opportunities and avoid properties that may not align with our standards or our clients’ needs.
Introducing Bespoke Lettings
Bespoke Lettings is our sister company, providing a fully managed service for our investors. Once an HMO development is complete, the property still needs professional day-to-day management. That is where Bespoke Lettings plays a vital role.
The lettings team supports tenant enquiries, viewings, move-ins, administration, communication, ongoing management and the wider tenant experience. Their work helps protect the long-term operation of the property and gives investors confidence that their asset is being managed by people who understand both the property and the wider investment model.
Meet the Bespoke Lettings Team
Amy Kilbride, Lettings Manager
Amy Kilbride is our Lettings Manager and plays a key role in the day-to-day management of our fully managed HMO properties. Her work helps ensure that the lettings process is organised, responsive and aligned with the standards expected by both tenants and investors.
A strong lettings function is essential for HMO performance. Amy’s role supports the smooth running of this process, helping properties move from completed developments into occupied, professionally managed homes.
Molly Saunt, Lettings Professional
Molly Saunt is one of our Lettings Professionals and has been with us for 4 years. She began as a lettings administrator and has worked her way up into the lettings professional she is today.
Molly works closely with the wider team and enjoys keeping busy. Her responsibilities include arranging and conducting viewings, dealing with tenant queries and supporting general day-to-day office tasks. Her progression within the business reflects her commitment, experience and understanding of the lettings process.
Emily Powell, Lettings Professional / Administrator
Emily Powell is our Lettings Professional and Administrator. She brings a fresh perspective from her background in sales and adds dynamic energy to the property industry.
Emily’s strong administrative skills help ensure that the lettings process runs smoothly. Her enthusiasm for meeting tenants in person also supports positive relationships with tenants and clients. She is a dedicated professional who is always eager to learn and grow in her role.
Steve Hartley, Cleaning Manager
Steve Hartley is our Cleaning Manager for both Foot Forward Properties and Bespoke Lettings. He arranges property and room cleaning for the lettings side of the business, as well as the completion cleans for newly refurbished properties before the first tenants move in.
As an ex-serviceman, Steve brings a proactive, can-do approach to his role. His meticulous planning supports high cleaning standards across the properties we manage. In HMO management, cleaning is not a small detail. It plays an important role in tenant satisfaction, property presentation and the long-term condition of shared living spaces.
Steve Allen, Lead Maintenance
Steve Allen leads our maintenance team and is our go-to person for property maintenance. His work covers a wide range of issues, including IT problems, plumbing, boiler problems and general maintenance.
Steve has more than 15 years of experience and will celebrate his 10-year anniversary with us next year. His long-standing role within the business gives him valuable knowledge of our properties, our systems and the standards expected across our managed portfolio.
Chris Legg, Property Maintenance
Chris Legg is part of our property maintenance team. He has more than 30 years of maintenance experience and has been with us for just over a year.
Chris supports the wider team by looking after general maintenance across our properties, fixing issues and attending callouts. Maintenance is one of the most important parts of long-term HMO management, and Chris’s experience helps ensure that practical problems are handled efficiently and professionally.
Anna Jedraszek, Cleaner
Anna Jedraszek has been cleaning professionally for 7 years and has been with the company for the past year. She is known for having the sharpest eye in South Yorkshire and never missing a spot.
Her attention to detail supports the high standards expected across our managed properties. In shared accommodation, cleanliness has a direct impact on tenant experience, property presentation and overall management quality. Anna’s work helps keep our properties looking and feeling well cared for.
A Connected Team Across Every Stage of the Investment Journey
The strength of Foot Forward Property Investments comes from the way our people work together. Each role is different, although each person contributes to the same investor journey. Property sourcing, finance, administration, project management, marketing, lettings, cleaning and maintenance all connect into one in-house service.
That connection matters. When the property sourcer understands the long-term management model, better acquisition decisions can be made. When the project manager understands how tenants will use the property, refurbishment decisions become more practical. When the lettings team understands the property from completion, tenant onboarding becomes smoother. When maintenance and cleaning are handled in house, property standards can be protected more consistently.
This joined-up structure gives investors a service that continues beyond completion. We do not simply source a property, refurbish it and leave the investor to manage the next stage alone. Our model is designed around long-term support, with the property managed into perpetuity for the investor, subject to their instructions and the relevant legal and regulatory framework.
Why Team Experience Matters in HMO Property Investment
HMO investment sits within an important financial and property decision-making category. Investors need clear information, experienced people and a realistic understanding of both opportunity and responsibility. A professionally developed HMO can provide a structured property investment route, although outcomes can vary depending on the property, market conditions, running costs, compliance requirements and tenant demand.
That is why experience matters. Our team brings together decades of knowledge across property, finance, surveying, operations, administration, refurbishment coordination, lettings, maintenance and cleaning. This is not a single-person service or a loosely connected network. It is a complete in-house team built around the practical realities of developing and managing HMO properties.
For investors, this means they can speak to a team that understands the full journey. We know what happens before acquisition, during refurbishment and after tenants move in. We also understand that investor confidence is built through transparency, communication and consistent management over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Foot Forward Property Investments do?
Foot Forward Property Investments develops fully managed HMO properties for investors. Our team handles the process from property acquisition through to refurbishment and ongoing management, with support from our sister company, Bespoke Lettings.
What is an HMO property?
An HMO, or House in Multiple Occupation, is a property rented by multiple tenants who typically have their own rooms and share some facilities. HMOs require careful management, strong operational systems and attention to property standards.
Is the service fully in house?
Yes. Our core operational service is fully in house. We do not rely on external teams for our operations across acquisition, project management, lettings, cleaning, maintenance and ongoing property support.
Who manages the property after refurbishment?
Bespoke Lettings, our sister company, provides the fully managed service for our investors. The lettings, cleaning and maintenance teams support the day-to-day operation of the property after completion.
Why is an in-house team important for HMO investors?
An in-house team helps improve communication, accountability and consistency. Because the same group structure supports the property from acquisition through to long-term management, investors benefit from a more joined-up service.
Where can investors view available HMO opportunities?
Investors can view current opportunities here: HMO properties for sale.
Work With a Team That Understands the Full HMO Journey
The team behind 450 HMO developments is not just a list of names. It is a connected group of property, finance, project, lettings, cleaning, maintenance, administration and marketing professionals who understand how to take a property from residential shell to fully managed HMO.
At Foot Forward Property Investments, we believe investors deserve a service that is structured, experienced and accountable from start to finish. Our fully in-house model allows us to support the complete investment journey, while our sister company, Bespoke Lettings, helps ensure that each managed property continues to receive the attention it needs after refurbishment is complete.
To explore current investment opportunities, visit our dedicated page for HMO properties for sale.
Important note: Property investment involves risk, and past experience or previous project volume does not guarantee future performance. Investors should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate independent advice before making investment decisions.