People, Places, and Profit
At Goldfinch, property is never just about numbers. It’s about people, places, and the long-term outcomes those choices create. Yet every investor or developer knows the tension: sometimes the financial case stacks up, but the values don’t. This blog reflects on that reality — and why we are committed to showing that profitability and social responsibility can work together, without compromise.
Not long ago, we turned down a potential joint venture partner. The deal looked good on paper: the financials worked, the spreadsheets balanced. But the values weren’t right. For us, that made it a non-starter.
When I mentioned this decision to my daughter, she responded with a blunt observation: “Of course — all rich people have no morals.” It was a harsh comment, but also a revealing one. It reflected the suspicion many people hold about wealth and property, a suspicion we’re determined to challenge.
This isn’t a new tension. Years ago, I sold a small house of mine to a landlord rather than to a young couple desperate to buy their first home. The landlord offered £2,000 more. I chose profit over people, and to this day I regret that choice.
In a market as unforgiving as property, good intentions are easily bent out of shape. Supported accommodation is a case in point. Right now, “HMO studios” with en-suites and kitchenettes are being heralded as the next big thing. They achieve higher rents per room, flip well with a solid lease, and minimum space standards are not published for HMO studios – the landlord will derive an income based on a housing authority rate for one person in an HMO studio of 14 m squared, which for a single let rental property is supposed to be 37.5 m squared. But what’s missing? Communal space, dignity, stability. A kitchen worktop doubling as a bedside table may maximise profit, but it rarely restores confidence or creates a sense of home.
Andy and I come from care backgrounds. That perspective remains our lens. We are not just providing rooms — we are rebuilding lives. And we know many landlords share the same dilemma: how do you make a living while still doing what you feel is right?
At Goldfinch, we believe property can restore dignity as well as deliver returns. We invite partners, charities, and investors who share this belief to work with us in creating safe, stable homes where both people and profit thrive.