In conversation with Gareth Dominique, a property developer, innovator and creator.
Please note that this article was published prior to the new brand name of PREACH Inclusion® on 25 April 2024, so you will notice references to BAME in Property.
We’re thrilled to bring you an interview with Gareth Dominique, founder and director of MJ Real Estate, a property development and investment company with a focus on delivering well designed quality homes in London, Essex and Kent. Having previously worked at Berkeley Homes, Countryside Property and Southern Grove, Gareth took his experience, knowledge and drive to set up his own business in April 2022. In this candid conversation, Gareth tells us more about this upbringing, learning from his father and why growing up in East London has embedded diversity and multi-culturalism in his values.
- Let's start from the beginning, tell us about you, your upbringing and how you got to where you are today.
I am born and bred in East London, so my home football team is West Ham! I attended an all-boys Catholic School called St Bonaventure’s in Forest Gate, which was great, and I have some fantastic memories from my school years.
Being one of five siblings, my household was always loud, loving and full of parties. My mother was a full-time housewife, so took a very traditional role in the family. My dad is a builder, so my first introduction into the built environment was through working with him on weekends when he needed an extra pair of hands as a labourer. I enjoyed going on site, but I never liked getting my hands dirty, thus wearing gloves was essential for me! Ultimately, being a skilled builder was never going to be a route that I wanted to pursue, but I really enjoyed being on site and seeing the hard graft, skill and care that went into developing real estate.
"At the age of 19, I bought a house and converted the property into two flats. Unknowingly, this was the start of my buy-to-let property portfolio."
When I left college, I was a lost teenager and didn’t know what I really wanted to do. I decided to attend the University of East London and study Business Studies part time. I always enjoyed business and entrepreneurship and it made sense to study a subject that I had an interest in. Whilst studying I landed a Job in IT for a property company called Kalmars, a Southeast London commercial and residential estate agent. Within six months I was given an opportunity to try commercial agency selling and renting office space around the London Bridge and Bermondsey area. I was very successful doing this, which ignited my desire to work in Real Estate in a professional capacity and pursue a Chartered Surveying career.
It was during my time working at Kalmars that I purchased my first property at the age of 19 in Kent. I bought a house and converted the property into two flats. Unknowingly, this was the start of my buy-to-let property portfolio.
After I completed my Business Studies degree, I went on to study full time at the University of Reading to gain a master’s degree in Real Estate. I formed lifelong friends from this course and subsequently become a RICS Chartered Surveyor with my specialism being Planning and Development.
- You took the leap and started your own business. What is your focus at MJ Real Estate? What drives you in this space?
"As a family man with two young boys, the idea of being able to give them a good head start in life and to be able to hand down a property business is a true goal of mine and keeps me very focused"
MJ Real Estate is essentially a property development and investment company with a focus on delivering well designed quality homes in London, Essex and Kent. The focus for the business is to continue to acquire income producing assets, either residential or commercial properties, and to then add value to these assets either through physical enhancements, planning gain and/or active asset management. We aim to achieve strong capital growth over the medium to long term, whilst achieving and maintaining an income stream. We acquire a wide range of different assets from offices, retail, land, industrial, multi-unit freeholds, listed buildings and short leasehold flats. Throughout my property career, I have had experience in all these asset classes which gives MJ Real Estate an edge when looking at opportunities to acquire. The principle of what we do is to hold income producing assets - cash flow is king!
I have the vision to see a ‘diamond in the ruff’, so transforming a derelict property or converting a dis-used office building into well designed, quality homes is a great feeling and drives me daily to continue doing what I do.
As a family man with two young boys, the idea of being able to give them a good head start in life and to be able to hand down a property business is a true goal of mine and keeps me very focused and driven to ensure MJ Real Estate is successful.
"People with different backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge working together leads to greater innovation and creativity which everyone benefits from."
- Why is diversity important to you? What difference would it have made in your career to date?
I have always grown up in a diverse and multi-cultural environment. Being raised in the East End of London, diversity was never a question as East London is a melting pot of cultures. Mixing with people from different cultures, backgrounds and religions has led me to be a very grounded individual and to take an open-minded perspective on life, which has helped me in the corporate sector.
As we all know, people with different backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge working together leads to greater innovation and creativity which everyone benefits from, so diversity and inclusion should be on everyone’s agenda.
Thank you Gareth for you sharing your story. Stay tuned for our next interview!