Our Story
Aura Ventures, led by Matt Baker, specialises in repurposing unloved buildings and underutilised land into vibrant, high-quality living spaces across the UK. With a design-led approach, the company transforms spaces, builds thriving communities, and delivers exceptional returns for investors. Aura Ventures’ Founder, Matt Baker has delivered £8.3m GDV to date, with £20m in projects already agreed for 2025 and beyond.
Matt Baker is well-known for his previous role as one half of Scott Baker Properties, where he built a reputation for excellence. His work there earned multiple awards, including the prestigious Best Coliving Deal of the Year at the 2022 Property Investors Awards. Building on this success, Matt founded Aura Ventures to focus on larger developments, including commercial-to-residential conversions, coliving spaces, and new-build homes.
As a multi-award-winning developer, mentor, and best-selling author, Matt is one of the UK's leading experts on HMOs and co-living. Through his education business, The HMO Platform, Matt has delivered hundreds of rooms across the UK, alongside his clients. He is also a prominent figure in the property community, having won multiple awards at The HMO Awards and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 as part of the HMO Reform Group. This group successfully lobbied for legal changes regarding council tax treatment of rooms in HMOs.
Our Mission
Unlocking value and transforming unloved land and property into sustainable, premium living spaces for thriving communities.
Our Core Values
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Innovation: Transforming neglected properties into premium living spaces.
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Sustainability: Creating eco-friendly developments for long-term impact.
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Community: Building vibrant, thriving homes.
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Integrity: Ensuring transparency and honesty in all dealings.
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Excellence: Delivering high-quality results for investors and residents alike.
"At Aura Ventures, we approach each project with a vision to transform and a commitment to excellence—ensuring both value for investors and quality living for tenants." – Matt Baker
Next Level Landlord
Matt’s expertise extends beyond development – he is also a judge at both the HMO Awards and Property Investor Awards, where he continues to advocate for small developers. His best-selling book, Next Level Landlord, is considered essential reading for property investors, offering insight into:
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Managing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
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Identifying ideal properties for investment
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Navigating financing, licensing, and local councils
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Creating desirable rental spaces
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Marketing effectively to tenants
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Ensuring steady cash flow
Having been both a tenant and a landlord for many years, Matt’s personal experiences have shaped his successful ‘Tenant First’ methodology, which prioritises the tenant experience to maximise returns.
At Aura Ventures, we maximise project value through meticulous planning and strategic use of permitted development rights, ensuring strong risk mitigation and multiple exit strategies. Our team is renowned for identifying hidden value and consistently delivering high-quality results for both tenants and investors.
Our Achievements
Our Team
Aura Ventures collaborates with a network of esteemed strategic partners, each bringing specialised expertise to ensure the highest standards of excellence and sustainability in our developments. Through this collaborative approach, we leverage advanced knowledge and resources to deliver exceptional value to our investors while creating thriving communities.
CEO of Aura Ventures
Matt Baker
Matt is an award-winning property developer and best-selling author with a track record of delivering high-quality developments across the UK. Matt has specialised in transforming underutilised buildings and land into vibrant living spaces, including commercial-to-residential conversions and co-living projects. With a focus on creating thriving communities, Matt is committed to raising the standard of shared accommodation and delivering exceptional returns for investors.
Project Manager
Dennis Smith
Dennis is a skilled project manager specializing in residential refurbishments, commercial-to-residential conversions, and new-build developments. He manages the full project lifecycle—from appraisals and feasibility studies to planning, design, and construction—ensuring investors maximize returns. Thriving in high-pressure environments, Dennis is passionate about delivering successful, high-quality projects.
Managing Director at Merranti Accounting
Jason Fudge
Jason, Managing Director at Merranti Accounting, leads a team offering comprehensive accounting and consulting services. With over 13 years of experience and as a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting, he specialises in creative problem-solving and deal-making, aiming to improve business performance in property, construction, and related industries.
Private Client Partner at Nexa Law Ltd
Joy Savill
Joy is a Chartered Legal Executive specialising in Property Law and Private Client Law. Qualified since 2003, she has built her career in East Anglia, advancing from Legal Secretary to Partner. With expertise in Conveyancing, Probate, and Trusts, Joy now focuses on property investment and estate planning. Her interest extends to legacy planning and resolving complex title issues.
