There are events, and then there are EVENTS.
This is never truer than in our industry, where it feels like every week there's a new networking breakfast or curry meetup. Events can become fatiguing, and I think I might coin the term 'networking burnout'.
But then you have the HMO Awards run by COHO. An event unlike any I have been to before, and one that is truly setting standards in the industry. Since I visited the HMO Awards, before running my own awards ceremony (The Blue Bricks Awards) this year, I entered with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I was ecstatic, especially since Blue Bricks was finalised as Best Content Provider. On the other, I felt like a musician who had just seen the headline act kill it on stage. Seeing such an incredible awards ceremony held by COHO left me with a lot to live up to at my own event!
So here's a breakdown of the HMO Awards, how it's changing the industry, and why it's the best thing since Class MA.
Changing The Industry as We Know It
What makes the HMO Awards special isn't just its prestigious location or a lineup of speakers that would put Glastonbury to shame. It's what these awards stand for, what they aim to achieve.
It's no secret that landlords don't have the best reputation. The media would have you believe that landlords are responsible for most of the economic issues we face today, especially the housing crisis. If this statement fills you with rage…you're not alone.
But no landlord has a worse reputation than HMO landlords. Even though Co-living is the future, and there are so many providers out there creating beautiful places to live and cultivating communities, this is rarely showcased.
But the HMO Awards is changing all that. At its core, the purpose of the event is to highlight and celebrate excellence amongst HMO Landlords - and as it does so it sets new performance benchmarks across the industry. An outcome that's not only good for tenants but also for landlords as better practices lead to reduced void periods and increased rental income.
It's a mission we can all get behind.
It's Like the Oscars Met TED
The HMO Awards is part awards ceremony and part conference. Set in the beautiful Stowe House, upon arrival you walk through a marbled hallway ordained with stone sculptures. To your left and right are two rooms – one dedicated to property management, the other focussed on asset management. Each room has a different set of keynote speakers, covering a unique range of topical content.
Topics covered throughout the day included everything from tenant management to outsourcing and systemisation. It's all useful stuff without any pushy sales pitches. Just pure, useful content from credible people who have 'been there and got the t-shirt' (and grey hairs) to show it.
What I appreciated most about this format was that you're not forced into any of the talks. You're given a full schedule of topics, so you can pick and choose which ones work best for you. Alternatively, if you felt like refreshing yourself and networking, then you could simply refuel your coffee and grab a snack instead, overlooking the vast expanse of gardens on the property. I loved that the day was mine to do with as I wished, and that made a nice, rare change from the strict schedules normally given at events of this calibre.
In the spirit of sharing knowledge for the industry's benefit, COHO is sharing all the talks of the event on YouTube, accessed via this playlist.
Networking Galore
There are two types of networking. There's the first type, which is meeting people who share common interests, having a social chinwag, and maybe meeting up for a coffee later down the line.
Then there's the other type of networking. The type where you meet people who can add significant value to your business, whether they be 'power team' members, investors or potential joint venture partners.
The HMO Awards offers the latter, with an event full of highly experienced individuals who are all active in the industry. The conversations I had felt like a different calibre, and although you're meeting industry giants, all conversations had a casual feel.
It's just friendly, and everyone there was so approachable. Never once did you feel like you were barging in on a conversation. It was all smiles and laughs. A warm and welcoming feel which felt in contrast to the opulence that surrounded everyone.
This casual sense of camaraderie continued into the awards ceremony, where some deserving winners collected their awards to very enthusiastic applause by their peers. And unlike some ceremonies that can drag on forever, this one went on for the perfect amount of time, keeping everyone's attention until the end.
In Summary of an Incredible Day
I loved the HMO Awards, and it was worth every minute of the travel and attendance. Moreover, I was honoured to have the opportunity to sponsor the event and see the Blue Bricks branding around the venue.
COHO are an incredible team that are deeply invested in the success of the industry &endash; and so it's perhaps no surprise that their signature event, the HMO Summit & Awards, is successfully doing its part to improve our industry and help change the perspective of HMO landlords.
The knowledge received, connections made and general enjoyment of the event made it one not to be missed. I implore you to get your tickets to the 2025 event because it'll be a day you're unlikely to forget.
This guest article was written by Sam Cooke.
