New UK real estate body, RE:UK, set for 2026 launch

Following widespread approval from their members, a new representative body for the real estate sector, Real Estate:UK (RE:UK), will be formed.

London

An overwhelming majority voted in favor of the merger, with 100% of AREF members, 99.5% of British Property Federation (BPF) members, and 92% of Investment Property Forum (IPF) members supporting the initiative.
RE:UK will act as a unified voice for the entire real estate sector, encompassing institutional and private investors, property companies, developers, asset owners, managers, and advisors. Its core activities will focus on advocacy, research and data, thought leadership, networking, training, and setting standards.
With this member endorsement, the Chairs of AREF, BPF, and IPF will now collaborate to appoint a chair for the inaugural RE:UK Board and a Chief Executive.
RE:UK is scheduled to launch on January 1, 2026. Members will initially hold dual memberships, with 2026 serving as a transitional year for the full integration of the organizations.
Anne Breen, chair of AREF, said: “The response from the memberships of AREF, BPF, and IPF has been overwhelmingly positive and a strong endorsement of our vision for a single, amplified voice for the real estate sector.”
Simon Carter, president of BPF, said: “I am delighted that BPF members have expressed their overwhelming support for the creation of RE:UK. I look forward to working with AREF and IPF over the next few months to turn our shared vision for a new powerful body for the sector into reality.”
Clare Thomas, chair of IPF, said: “On behalf of the IPF board, I would like to thank IPF members for taking the time to consider the proposal and then giving the merger their strong support. This is the culmination of significant work by all three organizations, and we look forward to the launch of RE:UK in 2026 as an important step forward for the real estate industry.”