NRLA member Mandy recognised in New Year Honours list
Landlord and NRLA member Mandy St John Davey,has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for her dedication to supporting and mentoring women in property.
Mandy, from South Wales, is being awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her role as national Chair of Women in Property and services to working women.
She has been a member of the group for more than a decade, having also been Chair of the South Wales branch during this time.
Women in Property aims to create opportunities, expand knowledge and inspire change for women working in the property and construction industry.
Mandy has mentored women and men through her own business for several years, helping and guiding them with their own investment journeys, building up portfolios, and renovating properties.
After her tenure as the national Chair at Women in Property ended, she took on a role as National Mentoring Champion, sharing her advice and expertise with others in property, business to business, and speaking to University students.
Delighted and deeply honoured
Mandy says she had to keep the news a secret for several weeks. "I found out at the beginning of November but wasn’t able to tell anyone", she said. "Keeping it secret from my family and friends was really difficult, especially over the festive period when we come together a lot more.
"When I opened the envelope I had to keep reading it over and over to make sure I had read it correctly. Naturally I am delighted and feel deeply honoured to have received such an accolade."
Volunteering
As well as her work with Women in Property, Mandy continues to volunteer as a mentor for The Princes Trust, and as a Welsh Government construction role model.
"I believe it is important to raise awareness around finance for young girls, to encourage children and young women to aspire to a career in the property and construction industry", she says.
Property journey
Mandy has been a landlord for 25 years, with her current portfolio along the M4 corridor and within the South Wales valleys.
She said: "I started my property journey having been forced to leave a corporate environment due to ill health. I had recently moved into a new home, with all the usual outgoings per month and, being single, had to find a way of supporting myself.
"I’d had a demanding career and knew I would need to re-think my lifestyle if I was to improve my health. My old house, which I had part-exchanged for the house I was living in, had been rented out.
"That was the first I had heard about buy to let. I had missed a trick and that was the lightbulb moment. In a nutshell, I researched all about buy to let, attended some courses and set about creating a plan.
"I pride myself on renting out good quality homes, not being greedy and treating my tenants with respect, which is how I would like to be treated if the shoe was ever on the other foot."
Mandy has been a member of the NRLA and its legacy organisation the RLA for 25 years - near enough her entire career as a private landlord and will be awarded her MBE later this year.
• Find out more about how the NRLA supports landlords in Wales here.
