From jumping out of planes with the Parachute Regiment to delivering thousands of bespoke furniture sets across the UK each year, my journey into business has been anything but typical.
Today, Landlord Furniture Co is one of the most trusted names in the UK for house in multiple occupation (HMO), serviced accommodation (SA), and student property furnishings. But rewind a decade, and this company was nothing more than a frustration-turned-idea, and one I was determined to bring to life.
I left school at 16 and joined the British Army, where I served in the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment’s elite Patrols and Reconnaissance Platoons. I spent served 9 years and multiple operational tours around the world before deciding it was time to see what civilian life had to offer.
I found myself driving HGVs for Warburtons in my hometown of Shaw. It gave me space to breathe and more importantly, time to figure out my next move.
That move turned out to be property.
From 2013 to 2018, I built a HMO portfolio in Oldham with a business partner, growing to 56 rooms and two flats. Alongside, I also added several single and corporate lets too. Managing the properties gave me a real understanding of tenant needs from small business tenants to NHS professionals, and just how demanding rental accommodation can be on furniture.
In 2012, as I was growing my portfolio, I partnered with a friend who was using one of my commercial units to make sofas. I didn’t have a background in manufacturing, but I did have the leadership skills I’d picked up in the army, and a real passion for building something from the ground up.
Together, we scaled that business quickly, and before long we were producing over 80 handmade sofa sets per week for the general public. Through that experience, I found myself working more with landlords and developers, and that’s when I noticed a recurring problem: they were all struggling to find durable, attractive, ready-to-go furniture for their rental properties.
That pain point lit the fuse for what would soon become Landlord Furniture Co.
As a landlord myself, I’d had enough of flimsy flat-pack furniture that wasn’t fit for purpose. I’d already been supplying sofas to other landlords, so why not create a complete furniture solution designed specifically for our sector?
A conversation with a client who made kitchens gave me the spark I needed, and in 2016, Landlord Furniture Co was born.
From the beginning, I was clear on our mission: to provide the best quality furniture and the best service possible. No shortcuts, no compromises. Everything we produce is made to order from robust 18mm melamine faced chipboard (MFC), with cam and dowel construction for maximum strength. We don’t do flimsy backs or quick fixes, our furniture is made to last.
Because we manufacture the majority of our products within 50 miles of our HQ in Oldham, we’re able to offer a truly bespoke service. Whether it's wardrobes to fit into awkward alcoves, extra-tall units for high ceilings, or full custom ranges to match a particular look - we make it happen.
In the 2024 financial year alone, we delivered nearly 4,000 bedroom sets and travelled more than 125,000 miles, that’s about five times around the world!
We don’t just drop off a van full of flat packs and leave you to it. We offer a free design consultation for every client, complete with mood boards, layout ideas, and even paint colour advice. And our friendly in-house teams deliver and install everything for you.
It’s the full-package approach, along with our dedication to quality and customer service, that’s earned us our reputation as the go-to, trusted supplier for landlords and developers across the country.
We're also proud to give back. We recycle all delivery waste, donate furniture to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice twice a year, and regularly welcome local school students for work experience placements. Supporting the community that’s supported us has always been part of our ethos.
After nearly a decade of leading the company day to day, I’ve stepped back slightly. My wife Lisa now heads up the business alongside our brilliant management team: Dave, Jemma, and Lynch. They do a fantastic job of keeping everything running smoothly while upholding the standards we’ve built our name on.
These days, I’m focused on growing Wild Interiors, our new venture that brings the same made-to-order quality to the general public, and continuing to grow my property portfolio.
It hasn’t been an easy road. There’s been sleepless nights, tough calls, and a lot of learning the hard way. But I wouldn’t change a thing.
For the past nine years, we have gone from strength to strength, celebrating a record year in 2024. We are so excited to be sponsoring Blue Bricks Magazine in 2025 and building winning relationships with the Blue Bricks Community. To kickstart the partnership, we are offering Blue Bricks members 5% off their first order over £3,000 + VAT with code BB5.
Website: https://landlordfurnitureco.co.uk/
Instagram: @landlordfurnitureco
Email: info@landlordfurnitureco.co.uk
