At a young age, founder and CEO of Caridon Group Mario Carrozzo started his journey into the world of business by working in his father’s restaurant. Beyond the restaurant, his father also had an eye for property and construction. These experiences formed an early foundation for the development of Mario’s business acumen, learning how to work as part of a team and appreciating the value of money.
Mario bought his first property at the age of 18, having persuaded the seller to set up a loan for the deposit – effectively purchasing the property with no pre-existing capital.
Negotiating Tough Financial Times
Mario later set up a catering businesses to provide a more steady income. While continuing to invest in property, Mario managed to stay afloat without relying solely on property sales. Having moved to Croydon in the early 2000s, his companies continued to grow. During this period, Mario also won a contract to house asylum seekers from the council.
The financial crash of 2008 took a huge toll on Mario’s property and catering businesses, leading to the subsequent loss of key contracts and losing money on the stock market.
In 2008, Mario met a friend of his who was living with alcohol addiction and sleeping on the streets. Working with a charity, the St Giles’ Trust, he was able to assist his friend by housing him in his own property. Recognising that vulnerable people had little or no money and needed rent guarantors to access property, Mario saw that there were many more people out there needing help.
Subsequently, Mario was contacted by many people who had no deposit and no references. He began to sublet properties to these individuals by acting as a rent guarantor, while slowly realising the sheer scale of the problem.
Caridon Property was founded in 2009, building on Mario’s desire to make a significant contribution to tackling homelessness, helping those who live with addiction or mental health problems and people escaping domestic violence, among others.
Caridon Group – A Multi-Pronged Approach
Today, the Caridon Group encompasses Caridon Property, the Caridon Foundation, Caridon Young Living and Caridon Landlord Solutions. The Caridon Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation providing further support for vulnerable tenants, whether it’s assistance with filling in paperwork or facilitating access to mental health services. Caridon Young Living provides accommodation and specialist support for young people aged 16 to 21.
Under Caridon Developments, properties are acquired and developed specifically to provide fair and affordable housing to vulnerable people.