BPF and ARL set up new BTR alliance in the UK

A new Build-to-Rent (BTR) Alliance has been established in response to slowing BTR growth across the UK. 

London

The BTR Alliance, formed by the British Property Federation (BPF) and the Association for Rental Living (ARL), will advocate for policy changes to improve investor confidence and address delivery challenges. It also plans to improve the consumer perception of BTR by implementing a new Consumer Code. The alliance aims to unify the sector's voice, address delivery challenges, and boost consumer confidence.
Recent analysis by the British Property Federation and Savills indicates a slowdown in the BTR sector, with completions surpassing new construction starts for the sixth consecutive quarter. The number of BTR projects in the planning stage has also decreased by 18% since the previous quarter, resulting in a significantly low pipeline of only 5,000 homes.
While London has seen a 16% increase in planning applications, other regions have experienced no growth, suggesting that recent planning reforms have not effectively addressed underlying viability issues, which are more easily absorbed in high-value areas like London.
Furthermore, delays at the Building Safety Regulator are hindering BTR development across England, compounding other challenges and negatively impacting investor confidence in a sector previously seen as a key solution for accelerating housing delivery.
A core mission of the BTR Alliance is to educate local authorities about the advantages of Build-to-Rent developments and foster a more supportive regulatory landscape for new projects.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, commented: "The formation of the BTR Alliance comes at a critical time for the BTR sector. BTR has been the major success story of housing delivery over the last decade but is under increasing pressure from a combination of economic and policy factors. This is now the sixth consecutive quarter where completions have outpaced starts and the number of schemes in planning has fallen. It is now clear that planning reform is not enough, and we need to see real action to address viability challenges and allow the sector to reach its full potential."
Brendan Geraghty, chief executive of The Association for Rental Living, added: "The creation of the new Alliance comes at a pivotal time for the BTR sector. Against a backdrop of increased delivery challenges, the need to speak with one sector voice has never been more paramount. But nor has the need to ensure that the benefits of BTR are conveyed far and wide, including how it can act as a catalyst for town center renewal and support a growing economy. Nor should we forget about our most important audience: the very people who choose to live in BTR. It is for that reason a central pillar of the Alliance’s work will be to establish and promote a new Consumer Code to continue to make BTR the first housing choice for many."