Conference Programme

Tuesday 2nd June

8.30am – Breakfast, Networking and Registration

9.30am – Start of the main conference programme

1.00pm – Networking Lunch Session for speakers & attendees

2.00pm – Conference programme continues

4.15pm – Conference Close and Single Family Housing UK Drinks Reception

The Growth of UK Single Family Rental in 2026 – Where Are the Opportunities?

Politics, Policy & Planning – What Does It Mean for Single Family Housing?

How is the Labour Government’s accelerated housebuilding agenda reshaping land supply and planning for SFR?
What impact is planning reform having on Section 106 negotiations, affordable housing requirements, and viability?
How does SFR align with national housing delivery targets and suburban growth strategies?
What does the Government’s focus on renters’ rights mean for institutional landlords versus small private landlords?
How are local authorities responding to institutional SFR compared to traditional BtR and private landlords?
What does the post–Renters Reform Act environment mean in practice for possession, compliance, and operational risk?
How will EPC regulation uncertainty and future Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards affect underwriting and portfolio strategy?

Single Family Rental in the UK – Where Has the Market Got To and Where Is It Going in 2026?

How has the higher-for-longer interest rate environment reshaped SFR deal structures and returns?
How are forward funding and JV structures evolving between housebuilders and institutions?
Where does SFR now sit relative to multifamily BtR, PBSA, co-living and affordable housing?
What have we learned from slower transaction volumes and repricing in 2025–2026?
Are yields stabilising and what does that mean for portfolio expansion?
What are the key deals of the last 12–18 months and what do they tell us about investor appetite?
How are build costs, land pricing and contractor availability affecting pipeline viability?
What is happening with rents, affordability ceilings and household income constraints?
Which regional towns and cities offer resilient rental demand with sustainable rent-to-income ratios?
Are suburban commuter markets still outperforming city cores?
How will SFR perform when the for-sale market strengthens — substitution risk or complementary tenure?

Affordability, Rental Reform & Market Structure – A Structural Reset?

With Section 21 abolished, how are operators adjusting risk management and arrears strategy?
What impact are stronger tenant protections having on institutional underwriting?
How are compliance burdens and regulatory complexity reshaping smaller landlord participation?
Is institutional SFR benefitting from private landlord exit?
How does rental affordability pressure interact with wage growth and inflation?
What is the impact of benefit caps and LHA gaps in family rental markets?
How are operators balancing rental growth with political and reputational risk?
Are we entering a phase of moderated rental growth after the sharp increases of 2022–2024?

Delivery, Management & Operations – Lessons from a Tougher Cost Environment

How have operational costs evolved (insurance, repairs, utilities, compliance, staffing)?
What are the emerging best practices in managing dispersed portfolios efficiently?
What does best-in-class asset management look like in 2026?
How are void periods trending as affordability pressures rise?
Are tenancy lengths stabilising or extending?
What technology is genuinely reducing operating costs at scale?
How is AI being used in leasing, arrears management and maintenance diagnostics?
How flexible are UK tenants geographically in a hybrid working world?
How do we manage arrears and risk without damaging customer satisfaction?
What does professionalisation mean in practice for resident experience?

ESG, Net Zero & Futureproofing the SFR Product

How are investors pricing climate transition risk?
What is the real cost of delivering EPC A/B homes at scale?
How do we retrofit legacy SFR portfolios if standards tighten further?
Are tenants willing to pay a premium for energy-efficient homes?
What is the role of embodied carbon in new-build SFR schemes?
How are biodiversity net gain and green infrastructure requirements affecting suburban schemes?
How do ESG reporting requirements differ for institutional owners versus private landlords?
How do we align affordability and sustainability in a viable delivery model?

Understanding the Wider UK Rental Market in 2026

How much of the UK rental market is now institutional (BtR + SFR)?
Is the private rented sector structurally shrinking?
How many small landlords have exited since 2023 and where has that stock gone?
What is the evolving relationship between housing associations and institutional SFR?
What is “core rental housing” in a post-reform environment?
How does the UK compare to mature European rental markets in institutional ownership?
What lessons can be drawn from the US SFR market regarding scale and operational efficiency?
Is the UK culturally shifting toward longer-term renting for families?

Housebuilder & Developer Panel – Viability, Partnerships & Exit Routes

Is bulk SFR now embedded in housebuilders’ medium-term strategy?
How are developers balancing open market sales versus bulk PRS deals?
How have land bids adjusted for institutional forward funding?
What does viability look like under tighter planning obligations?
What forms of JV structures are working in 2026?
How is build specification changing for rental durability and lifecycle cost efficiency?
Are SME builders participating in SFR delivery?

Investment Panel – The 5-Year Outlook (2026–2031)

Discussion Panel – The Future of Rental Living & the Role of Single Family Housing

What have we learned from 20 years of BtR and PBSA institutionalisation?
Is SFR the stabilising backbone of the professional rental market?
How do we deliver family rental housing at affordable price points without subsidy?
What does “resident wellbeing” mean in suburban rental communities?
How do we build genuine communities rather than dispersed stock?
What role will technology, data and predictive analytics play?
Is scale essential for success — and if so, how large is “large enough”?
What risks could derail SFR growth over the next decade?
Where is the sector in 2035?