Association for Rental Living

What Association for Rental Living does

The Association for Rental Living (ARL) is the UK trade association for the Build to Rent (BTR) sector, founded in 2016 originally as the UK Apartment Association and subsequently rebranded. Headquartered in London, the organization represents 300+ corporate members and maintains a network of 5,000+ individual contacts across the full BTR value chain, structured into five membership categories: Investors, Developers, Operators, Suppliers, and Advisors. Its core function is to convene, represent, and set standards for an asset class that remains structurally distinct from traditional UK residential lettings.

ARL's product surface has expanded from pure membership and events into a portfolio of data and standards products. Core offerings include the BTR Operational Dataset (launched 2025-04), the ARL Market Directory (scheduled 2026-06), and the BTRA Code of Practice (scheduled 2026-05) as a sector-wide operational standard. Content and thought leadership is delivered through the ARL Conference, BTR Roundtables, and the BTR Women initiative, with a dedicated AI Guide published in 2025-11 addressing AI adoption in BTR operations. ARL also co-develops Build to Rent professional qualifications with TPI, creating a certification revenue stream. International expansion has begun with the establishment of an Australia Hub.

The business model is a non-profit subscription-and-sponsorship structure. Revenue derives from tiered corporate membership fees across the five segments, event and conference sponsorships, and emerging data and qualifications product income. ARL is not PE/VC backed and operates with a lean team of 9 staff. A strategic alliance with Real Estate:UK (announced 2025) consolidates advocacy and extends the association's reach within UK real estate policy.

Name

Association for Rental Living

Legal name

The Association for Rental Living Ltd

Website

https://thearl.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association for Rental Living is a UK non-profit trade association serving 300+ corporate members across the Build to Rent value chain—investors, developers, operators, suppliers, and advisors—delivering membership services, sector data, professional qualifications, and industry standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: ARL generates revenue primarily through membership fees from corporate members across categories including Investors, Developers, Operators, Suppliers, and Advisor & Agency. Membership provides access to the Best Practice Guide, events, working groups, research, and thought leadership outputs.
2. BTR Operational Dataset Participation: Annual participation fee of £2,000 for contributing to and accessing the sector-wide operational benchmarking dataset.
3. Events and Conferences: Revenue from ARL Annual Conference, study tours, webinars, and other networking events for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Association for Rental Living is the UK membership body for the Build to Rent sector, selling corporate membership subscriptions across Investors, Developers, Operators, Suppliers, and Advisor & Agency segments. Members gain access to the Best Practice Guide portal, sector events, working groups, regional hubs, policy advocacy, the ARL Market Directory, and a programme of standards, data, and educational resources developed by and for the BTR sector.

Product overview

The Association for Rental Living (ARL) offers a comprehensive suite of resources, tools, and services for the Build to Rent (BTR) sector. The core offering includes the Best Practice Guide (an industry compendium of knowledge covering development, operations, and management topics), the ARL Market Directory (a supplier discovery platform), and the Build to Rent Alliance Code of Practice (an industry compliance framework). Supporting resources include the Guide to Build to Rent, BTR Glossary, AI Guide for BTR, and EDI Strategy white paper. Data services include the BTR Operational Dataset and Market Intelligence Map. Education offerings comprise TPI Build to Rent Qualifications (Level 2 and Level 4). Events programming includes annual conferences, webinars, study tours, and BTR n Brew local networking sessions. Membership provides access to these resources plus forums, working groups, and regional hub activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BTR n Brew: ARL's local network for member operator teams and on-site staff, providing informal peer-to-peer discussion on BTR operational challenges and best practice.
• Build to Rent Alliance
• A Guide to Build to Rent
• BTR Glossary
• Market Directory
• ARL BTR Operational Dataset

Products and services

• Corporate Membership Annual corporate membership subscriptions across five categories (Investors, Developers, Operators, Suppliers, Advisor & Agency) providing access to the Best Practice Guide portal, Market Directory, events, working groups, regional hubs, policy advocacy, and sector resources.
• Best Practice Guide Members-only portal providing the industry's compendium of knowledge for the BTR sector covering Build to Rent 101, Construction, Customer Experience, Design, Development, ESG and Sustainability, Insurance, Next Generation Rental, Operations, Place Nature and Public Realm, and Public Policy and Planning.
• ARL Market Directory Public supplier discovery platform that improves supplier discoverability across the rental living ecosystem, enabling direct connections with investors, operators, and purchasers for better BTR business outcomes. Accessible to over 5,000 contacts across 300 corporate members.
• Build to Rent Alliance Code of Practice Voluntary compliance framework for the BTR sector in England and Wales setting benchmarks for service, quality, sustainability, security, and good governance, enabling operators, owners, and residents to engage effectively and fairly.
• TPI Build to Rent Qualifications Professional qualifications tailored for the BTR sector delivered with The Property Institute (TPI), including the Level 2 Foundation Course in BTR for on-site and office-based support teams and the Level 4 Member Course and Exam in Build to Rent with MIRPM designation. Nationally accredited by Ofqual.
• ARL BTR Operational Dataset Sector-wide data service providing objective, anonymised performance data reflecting real-world operations of BTR assets, supporting better decision-making, investment confidence, and policy engagement. Annual participation costs £2,000 per organisation.
• Market Intelligence and BTR Map Searchable map of open and operating BTR schemes accessible by ARL members, with search by local authority, scheme size, date of completion, and HomeViews ratings, plus market intelligence reports including BTR Market Snapshots, Open and Operating Reports, Single Family Market Snapshot, and ONS Tracker.
• Events and Networking Annual Conference, study tours, webinars, and regional hub events covering topics including Scotland Hub Summer Seminar, immigration compliance, operational efficiency, and other BTR sector professional development subjects.
• BTR n Brew Local networking service for ARL member operators and on-site teams running BTR communities, offering informal peer-to-peer discussion on operational issues including resident experience, leasing, staffing, mobilisation, customer service, local market trends, and operational best practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• BTR sector potential: up to 2 million additional quality homes and £300 billion in long-term investment for the UK economy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Real Estate:UK (RE:UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Formation of the Build to Rent Alliance (BTRA) between ARL and Real Estate:UK to develop and launch a ground-breaking Code of Practice for the BTR sector in England and Wales. The Code was launched at UKREiiF 2026 following nearly four years of development.
• TrustedStayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA partnership venture providing a platform for ARL/UKAA members to make their properties available globally to the Corporate and Government Lets market. This income stream with a potential value of around £8bn is exclusively available to members of UKAA and STAA. The platform connects professional home rentals with government and business stays.
• The Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership through TrustedStays platform enabling corporate lets exclusively for UKAA and STAA members.
• The Property Institute (TPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARL collaborates with TPI, the professional body for property management, to deliver BTR qualifications tailored for the BTR sector. Known as TPI Build to Rent Qualifications, designed by the sector for the sector. ARL has embedded requirement for relevant qualifications into its Code of Practice.
• GreystarcoreOthersFounding Partner of ARL - global real estate investment management firm specializing in multifamily/BTR
• YardicoreTechnology or IntegrationFounding Partner providing property management technology and websites for BTR operators. Yardi provides specialized BTR websites and property management solutions.
• Nirvana GroupcoreOthersGold Partner and Facilities Management Partner, supporting the ARL Market Directory development and providing maintenance services to BTR operators
• Ark Workplace RiskminorOthersGold Partner providing workplace risk and health & safety services to the BTR sector
• TechnogymminorOthersGold Partner providing fitness equipment and wellness solutions for BTR amenity spaces
• TouchstoneminorOthersSingle Family Housing Partner supporting ARL's suburban BTR initiatives
• BekominorOthersSilver Partner and Appliance Partner supplying appliances to the BTR sector
• HomeViewsminorOthersSilver Partner providing resident review and ratings platform for BTR schemes
• BidwellsminorOthersSilver Partner providing property advisory and market intelligence services, co-developer of BTR Map
• CentrickminorOthersSilver Partner and BTR operating company providing property and asset management services
• BTR NewsminorOthersMedia Partner providing news coverage and content about the BTR sector
• Urban Living NewsminorOthersMedia Partner providing news coverage for the rental living sector
• ShowhouseminorOthersMedia Partner covering property and rental sector news
• REalysecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in the BTR Map and Market Intelligence platform, providing data and analytics for the rental living sector
• Dr. Nero UghwujabominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Strategy Adviser - EDI at The King's Trust, collaborated with ARL EDI Committee to develop the EDI in BTR white paper

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Apartment Association: US federation representing the multifamily rental housing industry, with similar member categories (owners, operators, suppliers), advocacy, education (CAM, CAPS designations) and standards-setting functions analogous to ARL.
• Community Associations Institute: US-based international trade body for homeowner and community associations, offering advocacy, education, credentials and best-practice publications — a structural analogue to ARL as a membership body setting standards for managed residential communities.
• National Multifamily Housing Council: US trade association for the apartment industry, providing advocacy, research, and best-practice standards — the closest direct counterpart to ARL in a different geography, serving institutional multifamily/BTR operators, investors and suppliers.

Others

• Propertymark: UK professional body for property agents, offering qualifications, regulatory compliance support and member services — adjacent peer in providing standards, education and advocacy services to UK property professionals, similar in scale and revenue model to ARL.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): UK-chartered professional body for property professionals, setting global standards (the Red Book, International Standards) and accrediting property qualifications — a peer in standards-setting and professional credentialing for the property sector, though broader than BTR.

Broad incumbents

• British Property Federation: The leading UK real estate trade association covering commercial and residential property; broader than ARL but an obvious peer as the incumbent UK property industry body with overlapping investor/developer membership and policy-advocacy role.

Regional players

• Property Council of Australia: Australia's peak industry body for property, covering investment, development and operations across the built environment. Highly relevant peer because ARL operates an Australia Hub and serves overlapping institutional real estate audiences in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theARL731
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thearl
• Instagraminstagram.com/thearliving
• Xx.com/TheARLiving

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association for Rental Living