The UK’s fast-growing rental living sector demonstrated both its maturity and momentum last week as more than 400 delegates from over 100 leading businesses gathered in Canary Wharf for the Association for Rental Living’s 10th Annual Conference.
Held at One Canada Square on 6 November, the event showcased the scale of investment, professionalisation and innovation transforming purpose-built rental living across the UK.
With two conferences running concurrently – the flagship Strategic Rental Living Conference and the new NextGen Pathways Conference – delegates enjoyed more than 12 hours of content tackling key issues from building safety and placemaking to diversity, data and the future of Build to Rent (BTR).
The opening keynote focused on safety standards and post-Grenfell reform, with contributions from Peter Clark of Ark Workplace Risk, Invesco’s Stacey Patten, and Nicky Barker of KKR. The session was moderated by Ashley Perry of Apache and featured a video address from Dame Judith Hackitt, whose landmark review shaped the Building Safety Act.
EQUALITY AND INCLUSION
Subsequent keynotes explored equality and inclusion in business and policymaking, led by Dr Nero Ughwujabo of The King’s Trust, while sector leaders – including Brendan Geraghty of the Association for Rental Living, Alex Notay of the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission, Rebecca Taylor of Long Harbour, Danielle Bayless of Quintain, and Kate Butler of the British Property Federation – debated the need to shift public and political attitudes toward the BTR model.
Panels also examined opportunities in later living, operational benchmarks, Scotland’s emerging BTR market, and the implications of the Renters’ Rights Act. Meanwhile, the sold-out NextGen Pathways Conference drew early-career professionals for sessions on procurement, mobilisation, safety culture and career progression – alongside a packed Q&A with senior industry figures.
FUTURE POTENTIAL
Brendan Geraghty, CEO of the Association for Rental Living, says: “With so many investors, operators, developers, suppliers and advisors from across the rental living sector ecosystem coming together to explore key issues, challenges and opportunities, the 10th Annual Conference was a timely reminder of the strength, innovation and future potential of the sector.
“The inaugural NextGen Pathways Conference was also a superb opportunity for the sector’s future leaders to learn, network and engage, demonstrating the bright future of rental living.”
Supported by sponsors including Vertus, WTW, NHBC, Yardi, Greystar and Related Argent, the event underscored how institutional investment and professional management continue to redefine rental living as a cornerstone of the UK housing market.
