Photo by Turville Properties
Struggling to scale your HMO portfolio because you’re buried in admin?
Many HMO landlords reach a point where managing tenants, chasing rent and keeping on top of compliance starts eating into the time and headspace needed to actually grow. The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way.
In this case study, I’m sharing how one HMO landlord used a UK property-experienced virtual assistant to free up time, reduce stress and unlock real momentum in his business. Whether you’re managing a handful of properties or a growing portfolio, this story shows what’s possible when you outsource the right way.
Royce Turville, a HMO Roadmap member, found himself in that exact position. He and his wife Ella manage a portfolio of 20+ properties (including three HMOs) across the Midlands. Like many landlords, they’d grown steadily over the years – but found themselves increasingly bogged down in the business, rather than working on it.
Tenant turnover meant a constant stream of tenancy admin, compliance deadlines, maintenance coordination and document filing. Even with systems like Podio and SharePoint in place, Royce was still being pulled into time-consuming tasks that drained his energy and motivation.
“I realised I was spending hours on paperwork instead of being out there finding the next deal.”
By the end of 2024, they hadn’t completed a single acquisition – not because they didn’t want to, but because there simply wasn’t the capacity.
They’d previously tried bringing in part-time help, but it hadn’t worked out. The workload was inconsistent, and managing someone else just created more work. What they needed was flexible, experienced support that could hit the ground running – someone who understood the property world and didn’t need micromanaging.
That’s when they reached out to us at Beam Virtual Property Support – a team of HMO-savvy virtual assistants who specialise in property admin. We matched Royce with Kelly, one of our brilliant South African VAs, and within a few weeks she was handling everything from tenancy paperwork and arrears chasing to compliance reminders and maintenance tracking.
“Just sat on a beach in Montenegro and Kelly is keeping things moving while we’re here – exactly what we wanted.”
The result? Growth. Real, measurable growth.
With the operational side handled and the mental load lifted, Royce and Ella were able to refocus – and made four acquisitions since December:
- Two single-lets (including a refurb with land and planning potential)
- One HMO conversion into a 7-bed
- One flip project
What began as a way to claw back a few hours each week quickly became an essential part of their business structure.
“We’re making real progress – things are coming together nicely and I’m really happy with how Kelly is evolving into the tasks.”
Why this matters
Even with great systems, trying to do everything yourself eventually limits your ability to grow. Royce didn’t just gain admin support – he gained back time.
“If I’d had more time, I’d have been out there booking viewings and looking at acquisitions. Now I can.”
Whether you’re managing fifteen rooms or fifty, having someone reliable to take care of the day-to-day allows you to focus on the strategic side of your business – or even just enjoy a bit of breathing space.
Thinking this could work for you?
If you’re ready to free up your time and refocus on growth, take a look at Beam Virtual Property Support, or feel free to message me directly in the Roadmap community.
We’d love to help you make that shift – from feeling stuck in the day-to-day, to finally working on the business again.
About the Author:
Jane Scroggs is the founder of Beam Virtual Property Support, in partnership with The HMO Roadmap. Her team of virtual assistants handles all aspects of lettings, compliance, credit control, and property maintenance, always focused on streamlining your operations. Learn more about Jane here.