Government support needed to boost BTR delivery

As the representative body for the build-to-rent (BTR) sector, the UKAA supports considered, evidence-based regulation that sets standards and expectations for the rental sector as well as offering protection to both landlords and customers.

Making renting a good and positive experience is our collective responsibility and we are supportive of those who raise standards across the sector. The UKAA remains willing to engage positively with policymakers to improve the performance of the rental sector and welcomes the clarity set out in the bill.

Most individual landlords already operate to a high standard, and we stress that institutional-backed BTR operators, which the UKAA represents, have quality and customer satisfaction at their core, meeting and exceeding most of the proposed requirements.

The BTR sector’s objective is to create, maintain and professionally manage high-quality homes in the long term, for the benefit of customers, local communities and investors. We are leading the development of a code of practice for BTR operators, setting out standards in quality of accommodation, customer service, response to resident issues, communication and wellbeing as well as clear and fair terms of tenancy.

It is also worth noting the BTR sector is adding significant numbers of high-quality homes sought after by the government, with more than 82,500 completed and a further 168,400 in the planning and delivery pipeline (Savills, May 2023).

We call on government to further recognise the uniqueness of the BTR proposition and do more to support the delivery of BTR homes across the UK.

Brendan Geraghty, chief executive, UKAA