The face of residential management Michael Lawton, MARLA, ANAEA
Meet Michael Lawton, head of our group’s latest company, Gateway Residential. Busy overseeing and growing business, Michael takes time out to talk about his property career over 13 years, including setting up and running his own estate agents. Invaluable experience for the next Gateway chapter.
“Property has always been a family concern,” explains Michael. His father managed an overseas’ portfolio and an interest in the sector soon rubbed off. It was no surprise that, when leaving school, Michael looked to his local high street and the collection of estate agents for his first job. “The overriding feedback was to come back once I’d gained some experience supporting customers.” This is exactly what Michael did, returning to property after a period spent working in a contact centre for retirement homes.
Immersing himself in the property business, Michael proved a fast learner. “I focused on lettings and property management mainly, but also had a successful spell in residential property sales,” he adds. Always entrepreneurially minded and ambitious, it wasn’t long before Michael was running his own estate agency. “It was a challenging time and marketplace and I learned a lot in that period, including about myself.”
Having sold the business in 2013, Michael joined Gateway Property Management to run a portfolio of blocks. “I was particularly drawn to Gateway because the group offered the range of services a property landlord, serial investor or developer needed. This was a compelling proposition. The company was also ambitious to expand and keen to help its people progress, which was appealing.” Funded and supported by Gateway, Michael achieved his professional qualifications. He continues to look for opportunities for ongoing professional development. Another career highlight was taking on and turning around a large regional site, which Michael still manages today. To these achievements, Michael adds establishing the new Gateway Residential business, working closely with the group’s management team to put the business plan into action and meet all the necessary regulations and stringent business requirements. “This was the culmination of ambitions we’d had for some time in this area, so we’re raring to go.”
Right now, Michael is busy overseeing the management of residential properties on the new company’s books and expanding the nationwide portfolio with the team. “The outlook is extremely encouraging, even in these early days,” says Michael. “In fact, we recently found a home for a League Two football club manager. It’s exciting to see Gateway Residential on Rightmove. Along with buy-to-let investors, we see huge opportunity partnering with property developers further, supporting their rental requirements with a full lettings and property management service and beyond.” Michael regards the Gateway Group as a real strength. “We’ve established a solid customer-first service ethos and a proactive approach to property management that really stands our business out.” Added to this is the scope of expertise on offer. “We can help from the beginning of a property development, optimising leases through to assisting with the marketing of new homes, as well as delivering exemplary residential lettings and management. We look forward to making our name in this sector over the next few years and supporting each client and every tenant.”
