I build products that solve real-world problems — in property, education, and beyond.
For the last decade I’ve led product teams for some of the biggest names in tech, and today I use that experience to create AI-powered tools that make complex journeys simpler for the people using them.

I’m the Co-Founder of Netmo (landlord + agent automation) and YoYo (AI-assisted language learning). Both are born from the same belief: great product design starts with understanding real behaviour, not adding more features.

Across my work I focus on:

Turning messy workflows into clean, automated systems

Applying AI in ways that actually help users, not overwhelm them

Shipping quickly, learning faster, and keeping things human

Bridging the gap between digital products and real-world operations (especially in property)

Alongside product, I build and manage high-quality rental properties, giving me hands-on insight into the challenges that Netmo is solving — compliance, maintenance, communication and scale.

Whether I’m working with founders, agencies, or operators, my goal is always the same:
make the experience better, reduce the friction, and deliver something people genuinely want to use.

If you’re working on something in product, AI, automation, edtech or proptech, I’m always open to conversations.

Interest-only isn’t “risky”, it’s a tool. But only if you run it like a business.

I prefer interest-only when the numbers support it: strong cash flow, predictable demand, and a clear plan for how capital is being used elsewhere.

In those cases, freeing up cash allows for reinvestment, and flexibility, particularly in portfolios that are still actively acquiring and scaling HMOs.

The only time I would choose anything other than interest-only is when I’m no longer buying, and the focus shifts to consolidating the portfolio rather than growing it.

Interest-only magnifies discipline just as quickly as it magnifies mistakes.

The conditions I insist on are simple:

The property must comfortably service the debt

Demand must be stable and proven

There has to be a long-term plan, not just a low monthly payment

Tools don’t fail portfolios.
Poor systems do.

That’s also where platforms like Netmo play a role, giving landlords clearer visibility over performance and operations so financing decisions are based on reality, not assumptions.

Do you treat interest-only as a strategy, or just a cheaper repayment?

#propertyfinance #landlordstrategy #ukproperty #realestateinvesting #netmo #proptech

Benjamin Fountain

A data driven Senior Product Owner specialising in conversion and funnel optimisation using AB and Multi variant testing. A proven track record of delivering high impact results. An agile professional, certified Product Owner (CSPO) and Scrum Master (CSM) with over 15 years experience of building successful online products and applications. 

Formerly a UX designer and founder of a subscription based tech startup which grossed £1m in its first 2 years, winning an Ecommerce award from the Department of Trade and Industry. Transitioned to develop SaaS products which are still in use and valuable assets to some of the biggest companies in the world.

Last position working in Barcelona for eDreams Odigeo focusing on the optimisation and personalisation of the booking funnel. Using continual AB / Multi variant testing from qualitative and quantitive data to increase conversion and revenue. With my team of 10 we delivered over 200% against target and over €30million uplift EBITA winning the annual award for business impact. Transformed the booking funnel, personalising the booking process for a high traffic channel, increasing conversion from 8 to 14%, resulting in record booking numbers. 

Before returning to the UK I was a nominee for the prestigious "eDo Global Awards" of 2020. Now available to consider contract offers in eCommerce or SaaS based products with remote working options.


Founder @ Netmo | Being a Landlord May Never Be Passive — But With Netmo AI, It Gets a Whole Lot Easier!

Your HMO community WhatsApp is your public reputation.

Most landlord problems don’t start with major failures.

They start in group chats.
A slow response becomes frustration.
Frustration gets validated publicly.
One unresolved issue turns into a shared narrative.

At that point, you’re no longer managing a repair, you’re managing perception.

Tenant group chats are where operations and retention collide.
If communication is unclear, delayed, or inconsistent, the story gets written for you, in real time, in front of everyone.

But when things are handled properly:

Issues are acknowledged early

Updates are visible to everyone

The conversation never turns toxic, because it never gets the chance to.

Ignore tenant chats, and you lose control of the story.
Design them intentionally, and they quietly compound trust, stability, and retention.

Need a better way to manage tenant communication without being dragged into every conversation? Check out Netmo.

#propertymanagement #hmo #landlordlife #proptech #propertyoperations #realestateops

Void months hurt, but admin drag bleeds you daily.

Most HMO landlords focus on the obvious risks: voids, arrears, big repairs.

But the real ROI killer is quieter.

Admin drag.

It shows up in small, constant ways:

Coordinating repairs across multiple tenants

Chasing contractors and invoices

Answering the same tenant questions repeatedly

Together, they create friction, slow decisions, and mental load.

This is why automation is so underrated in HMOs.

Not because it replaces landlords, but because it removes the repetitive work that distracts from actual decision-making.

When routine admin is handled systematically: issues get resolved faster.

HMOs fail from leak value through hundreds of small inefficiencies.

Where do you feel admin drag the most in your HMOs?

#hmo #propertyoperations #proptech #propertymanagement #rentalbusiness

Limited company or personal name? The tax reality is rarely as simple as it sounds.

Owning property in your personal name can still make sense, especially for smaller portfolios, lower income brackets, or long-term holders who value simplicity.

A limited company, on the other hand, offers flexibility. Corporation tax, retained profits, and expense treatment can be advantageous, but only when the structure matches the scale, and long-term strategy of the portfolio.

It also brings additional costs, reporting obligations, and complexity that many underestimate.

The mistake landlords make is treating this as a tax hack.
It’s not.

It’s a strategic decision that depends on cash flow, exit plans, reinvestment goals, and risk tolerance & not just what looks good on a spreadsheet this year.

There’s no universally “better” option.
There’s only the option that fits your situation.

If you’re reviewing your ownership structure, get proper advice before changing anything.

#propertytax #landlordfinance #propertystrategy #uklandlords #realestateplanning #portfoliostructure

Property management software doesn’t fail on features. It fails on behaviour.

Real property management happens in the small, everyday moments:

Maintenance issues being logged properly.

Reminders being read, not ignored.
Messages that reduce tension instead of escalating it.

When tenants don’t log jobs correctly, problems get missed.

That’s why most landlord apps struggle.

Good property software quietly nudges people toward better habits:
Clear prompts instead of vague instructions.
Neutral, consistent messaging instead of emotional exchanges.

At Netmo, we think less about features and more about how landlords and tenants actually behave.

Automation isn’t there to replace people, it’s there to guide better decisions, reduce friction, and create calmer, more predictable outcomes for everyone involved.

Curious how small behaviour shifts can transform property operations? Let’s talk.

#propertymanagement #landlordtools #propertysoftware #automation #uklandlords #netmo

When a “5-bed HMO” is marketed as a 3-bed, I get suspicious.

This happens more often than people realise.

Sellers and agents sometimes downplay the number of rooms to avoid drawing attention to licensing requirements, planning constraints, or historic non-compliance.

Fewer rooms on paper can mean fewer questions, at least initially.

But it’s rarely harmless.

An under-described listing can signal issues like an HMO licence that doesn’t match the actual layout, rooms that were added without approval, or conditions attached to a licence that haven’t been met.

This is why I always sanity-check listings beyond the headline:

Compare floor plans to room descriptions

Cross-check council HMO registers

If the numbers don’t line up, there’s usually a reason, and it’s a risk that transfers to the buyer.

Happy to share how I pressure-test listings before taking them seriously.

#hmolandlords #propertycompliance #ukproperty #landlordinvesting #hmo

Most neighbour disputes happen because someone misses a deadline.

The Party Wall Act gets a bad reputation.
People hear “notices,” “surveyors,” and “disputes”, and assume complexity.

In reality, it’s mostly a timetable.

Things usually go wrong not because landlords or owners act badly, but because steps are taken out of order or too late.

The basic timeline is simple:

Serve notice before works begin

Allow time for neighbours to respond

Act based on that response, consent, dissent, or no reply

Miss one step, and a routine process turns into friction.

The one thing I always do to stay compliant is treat notices like project milestones, not paperwork.
Dates are logged, responses are tracked, and nothing moves forward until the timeline says it should.

The Act isn’t there to stop progress.
It’s there to stop surprises.

How do you track compliance timelines on works affecting neighbours?

#partywallact #propertycompliance #ukproperty #landlordlife #propertyoperations #realestateops

Self-managing doesn’t mean doing everything alone. And it definitely doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks.

Self-managing landlords often gain more control, better visibility, and lower costs.
But without the right safety net, that control can quickly turn into stress.

Every self-managing landlord needs three things in place:

Clear processes:
When something goes wrong, there should be no guesswork. Repairs, tenant communication, compliance checks, and renewals all need defined steps.

Reliable support:
You don’t need an agent for everything, but you do need trusted contractors, advisors, and services you can rely on when issues arise.

Real-time visibility:
If you only find out about problems when they become urgent, the system is already failing. Early insight prevents escalation and protects both tenants and assets.

If you’re self-managing and want fewer surprises, let’s connect.

#selfmanaginglandlord #propertyoperations #landlordlife #riskmanagement #rentalproperty #propertysystems #realestateadvice

Self Managing doesnt mean doing everything alone.pdf

Most of the frustration in property management doesn’t come from big problems.
It comes from small, repetitive tasks that drain time and attention.

That’s where automation matters.

We focus on removing the parts landlords and agents dislike most: constant follow-ups, fragmented communication, reactive maintenance, and unclear visibility across properties.

Automation allows routine actions to happen in the background, issues are logged properly, updates are shared automatically, and patterns are identified before they turn into urgent problems.

The result isn’t “hands-off” management.
It’s fewer interruptions, better information, and decisions made with clarity instead of guesswork.

By automating the repetitive work, landlords and agents can focus on what actually needs human judgement & not chasing processes that should already be working.

If you want fewer distractions and better control, happy to share how this works.

#propertyautomation #proptech #landlordtools #propertymanagement #automationinrealestate #smarterwork #realestateops

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