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UK: The Build to Rent Alliance, formed last year between the Association for Rental Living and Real Estate:UK, has launched a new Code of Practice for the BTR sector.
The Code for England and Wales marks an industry first and follows nearly four years of development, initially led by the ARL, with key industry participants and relevant stakeholders, to produce a comprehensive framework for industry compliance. It will continue to be developed and refined during 2026 through further consultation and testing, ahead of it formally coming into force.
The Code has been created to provide residents within BTR communities with a clear, verifiable standard of accommodation, amenity provision and lifestyle experience significantly above the statutory minimum. This will ensure that those living within the BTR sector are living in the most rigorously accountable homes and communities within the private rented sector.
For operators, investors, regulators and key stakeholders, the Code will ensure that they each have confidence in the sector’s ability to deliver high standards, self-regulate and hold itself to account in an effective, transparent and self-improving manner. This is viewed as critical in seeking to differentiate BTR from the wider PRS in terms of its ability to be scrutinised and be measured to drive an improvement in standards.
From an operational perspective, the Code establishes a voluntary framework that enables operators, owners and residents to engage effectively and fairly, and sets a new benchmark for service, quality, sustainability, security, and good governance. It has received an expression of support from sector-leading firms, including L&G, Moda Living, Quintain and Grainger among others, reflecting an endorsement of the direction and ambition of the Code at launch.
The Build to Rent Alliance says that the Code will set the gold standard for the BTR sector as the signatories will pledge to deliver homes and communities that enrich lives, strengthen society, address the housing crisis, and minimise environmental impact.
Central to the new Code is the Charter of Commitments which it will enshrine. These have been formed following extensive consultation with operators, owners, investors and residents and form the overarching set of commitments that every Code member is expected to strive towards in their ongoing operational delivery.
The seven core commitments are:
- Fair and reasonable renting – providing transparent terms, limiting deposits, ensuring quick returns and supporting residents.
- High-quality, safe homes – delivering and maintaining properties above national standards, never directly passing on safety-related costs by default wherever appropriate.
- Sustainability and decarbonisation – committing to measurable goals, including net zero by 2050, improving efficiency, minimising resource use, upgrading and maintaining homes to EPC C or higher.
- Professional, accountable service – ensuring responsive repairs, respectful notice before entry, and dedicated, qualified teams supported by inclusive hiring and ongoing training.
- Community and wellbeing – fostering vibrant, inclusive neighbourhoods by engaging residents and locals, supporting social and economic opportunities, respecting heritage, and measuring social impact.
- Transparency and governance – upholding accountable practices, fair employment, responsible supply chains, and a culture of inclusion, wellbeing, and continuous improvement.
- Championing the Code – embedding these standards across our organisations and advocating for consistent, high-quality practices across the rental sector and to support the transparent governance of this Code so that our commitment can be independently verified.
The Code forms part of the BTR Alliance’s wider work on improving the consumer experience and perception of BtR as a housing tenure of first choice. This, alongside advocating for the policy and regulatory changes needed to improve investor confidence and tackle current viability and delivery challenges, given the pivotal role BtR has to play in wider housing delivery and facilitating urban regeneration.
Danny Pinder, director of policy at Real Estate:UK, said: “The launch of the new Build To Rent Alliance Code marks a milestone moment for the sector where we see a transformational shift towards greater verifiable accountability and a conscious desire to significantly exceed minimum regulatory standards. This not only reflects the ambition of BTR to be seen as the consumer destination of first choice, but also in playing a leading, industry-led role in driving up standards and outcomes across the whole sector. This new Code is more than just a set of measures for technical compliance, it is about shaping the culture of the industry to deliver excellence for residents while also setting and leading high standards across the housing sector.”
Brendan Geraghty, chief executive of the Association of Rental Living, added: “The launch of this new Code comes at a pivotal time for the Build To Rent sector as it continues to mature and attract more and more consumers who wish to experience the unique benefits BTR living provides, along with the quality of provision that the sector is now becoming known for. Central to this growth is the continuation of the upward trajectory in terms of quality and standards we have come to expect from the sector, which is why this Code provides a framework that will not only effectively measure excellence, but ensure that the industry strives for it.”
Highlights:
- The Build to Rent Alliance, formed last year between the Association for Rental Living and Real Estate:UK, has launched a new Code of Practice for the BTR sector
- The Code has been created to provide residents within BTR communities with a clear, verifiable standard of accommodation, amenity provision and lifestyle experience significantly above the statutory minimum
- The Code for England and Wales marks an industry first and follows nearly four years of development, initially led by the ARL, with key industry participants and relevant stakeholders
