The British Property Federation (BPF) has outlined policy recommendations for the Autumn Budget to address a development viability crisis, with Build-to-Rent (BTR) data showing only 2,600 rental homes started on site in the first half of 2025, compared with 26,000 in 2022. The BPF calls for the reintroduction of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) support for high-density housing, the removal of council tax on newly developed empty homes, and a halt to new development taxes and levies. The organisation cites policy instability—including the removal of Multiple Dwellings Relief, new development levies, and delays linked to the Building Safety Regulator—as factors making previously viable schemes uneconomic.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has called on the government to set a long-term framework for the decarbonisation of the UK’s older building stock and to deliver new green energy infrastructure in next week’s Budget announcement. The BPF has warned that the UK’s commercial and residential building stock accounts for 25% of carbon emissions, meaning the government’s net-zero by 2050 target will not be achieved without action on decarbonisation. In particular, the BPF has called for changes to the Real Estate Investment Trust rules which would unlock private capital investment into green energy infrastructure. The BPF has also called for incentives such as a zero rate of VAT on residential repairs to support green retrofit projects and an upfront ‘green tax credit’ to support energy efficiency improvements to commercial properties.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has commented on the second reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The Chief Executive of the BPF, Melanie Leech CBE, highlighted that several MPs expressed concerns about the proposed ban on Upward Only Rent Reviews. The BPF noted that the measure was announced without prior consultation and primarily affects the office and logistics sectors, rather than retail leases, and could potentially impact long-term investors’ ability to invest in modern workplaces. The BPF stated it will continue discussions with MPs and peers as the Bill progresses through Parliament.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has commented on and analysed the Labour Party’s general election manifesto, as it did previously for those of the Liberal and Conservative Parties.

Policy director at the British Property Federation (BPF), Ion Fletcher has expressed concern over the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill’s proposed ban on upward-only rent reviews (UORRs) in commercial leases. While acknowledging the Bill’s broader ambition to devolve powers to regional governments and improve local development outcomes, Fletcher warns that the sudden inclusion of the UORR ban—without prior consultation—risks undermining investor confidence. UORRs are a common feature in longer commercial leases, offering income predictability that can de-risk development and refurbishment work. Fletcher argues that removing this mechanism introduces uncertainty at a time when the sector is already facing economic pressures.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has launched a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Board to lead advocacy for the sector and engage with national, regional and local government. The Board comprises eight senior representatives from leading PBSA providers representing over 250,000 beds, with Joe Lister, Chief Executive Officer of Unite Students, appointed as Chair. The Board aims to enhance understanding of PBSA's contribution to students, universities, communities and the UK economy, demonstrating how PBSA provision supports government housing supply objectives by reducing pressure on local residential housing markets while supporting skills agenda by enhancing the UK's appeal as a global study destination. The founding members include executives from Unite Students, iQ Student Accommodation, Watkin Jones, Student Roost, Empiric Student Property, UPP, The Dot Group and Homes for Students. The Board will work alongside BPF's Executive team and existing Student Accommodation Committee to advocate for the sector, which provides professionally managed homes to over 450,000 students with approximately £90bn invested since 2015.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has stated its opposition to provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill that would ban upward-only rent reviews in all new commercial tenancies. The Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Lords this week and will be discussed in Committee by Peers in January 2026. The BPF argues the ban was introduced without consultation or evidence base and does not address the stated problem of struggling high streets with vacant shop units. The organisation contends the measure risks reducing investment predictability for pension funds and insurance companies, potentially hampering commercial property investment and development activity. The BPF is working with Peers across the House of Lords to amend the Bill to enable future secondary legislation to target the measure more precisely while avoiding adverse impacts on property investment and development.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has published a blog post as part of its Spotlight Series, providing insights from its Director of Policy, Ian Fletcher, on the Building Safety Levy (BSL). The blog explains what the BSL is, when it will take effect, specific exemptions, how the government plans to use the money raised, and the BPF's view on the BSL. The BSL, set to take effect in autumn 2025, is a charge that residential developers will pay when seeking building approval, with the government aiming to raise £3bn over ten or more years. The blog outlines certain exemptions, such as affordable housing and care homes, among others, and notes that a substantial reduction is expected for developments on previously developed land. It explains that the BSL is part of the government’s plan to recover costs allocated to the Building Safety Funds. The BPF advocated for the BSL to be based on floorspace and secured the reduced rate for previously developed land, but expressed disappointment that Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, Build-to-Rent, and communal spaces were not exempted.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has published a blog post as part of its Spotlight Series, analysing the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee's recent report on Land Value Capture. The post discusses the committee's recommendations for reforming existing Land Value Capture mechanisms, which primarily operate through section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in England. The BPF supports several of the committee's recommendations, including greater standardisation of s 106 agreements, increased CIL transparency, the immediate publication of the Long-Term Housing Strategy, access to funded Level 7 planning apprenticeships and confirmation of initial New Towns funding in the upcoming Autumn Budget 2025. However, the BPF expresses concerns regarding recommendations to mandate specific levels of social rent and affordable housing provision in New Towns, citing potential pressures on development viability, and also questions the effectiveness of the proposed dispute resolution scheme. The government is expected to respond to the committee's report within two months.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has published a blog post, announcing the launch of its Heat Network Network on 4 March 2025 at an event in London. The network aims to support the property sector in preparing for the new regulatory framework introduced under the Energy Act 2023 (EnA 2023). As part of this framework, the government is consulting on the implementation of heat network zoning in England, which would require certain buildings within designated zones—such as new buildings, existing communally heated buildings, and commercial buildings with significant heat demand—to connect to heat networks. The full consultation response is expected in Spring 2025. At the event, panellists discussed the policy, the need for clarity in the real estate sector to facilitate informed decision-making, and how heat network zoning will ensure greater demand certainty.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has published a blog post as part of its Spotlight Series, providing insights from its Head of Communications, Dominic Curran, in response to the government’s 10 July 2025 announcement of a proposed ban on Upward Only Rent Reviews (UORRs). The blog explains what UORRs are and their intended purpose, examines the government’s rationale for the ban, and discusses the potential implications for investment, borrowing costs and development viability within the property sector. It also sets out the BPF’s response, including correspondence with the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, expressing industry concerns. The BPF is currently gathering evidence from its members ahead of the Bill’s second reading on 2 September 2025.

The British Property Federation (BPF) has published a blog post as part of its Spotlight Series, providing commentary from the BPF’s Assistant Director of Policy (Finance), Rachel Kelly, on the implications of the 2024 Autumn Budget for the property sector. Kelly outlined the BPF’s recommendations to the government ahead of the Budget on 30 October 2024, including reforms to business rates, support for energy efficiency retrofits, and tax changes to facilitate institutional investment in new homes. She emphasised that, with the appropriate tax and regulatory environment, the Build-to-Rent (BtR) sector’s contribution to housing supply could potentially double from 15,000 to 30,000 new homes per year, calling on the government to reinstate SDLT Multiple Dwellings Relief for BtR. In addition, she urged the government to take steps to transform business rates into a form of Land Value Tax.