Brendan Geraghty

CEO, ARL

Architect, design, and development strategist Brendan Geraghty is a recognised rental living sector thought leader. He has been active in the urban and suburban rental living sector sector since 2011 and CEO of the Association for Rental Living (ARL) – formerly the UKAA – the representative body for the rental living sector, since 2022.

Brendan is known for actively championing the integration of consumer culture in BTR with a ‘brand before building’ approach. His extensive experience of the living sectors includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) work, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) matters and a keen focus on culture and people.

Brendan combines deep generalist and broad specialist knowledge, creating structured development and consumer centric BTR strategies, integrating consumer culture principles with investment requirements. He is an authority on selective licensing and rental policy and legislation and has been instrumental in the establishment of the UK’s first BTR Code of Practice, with its principles launched in March 2024.

Prior to leading the ARL, Brendan spent 16 years in senior roles, including with Centred Architecture, Optim and Geraghty Taylor Architects. Since being appointed CEO of the ARL, he has spoken at a range of rental sector events, including Urban Living News, FOOTPRINT+, London Proptech Show, Alternative Resi Conference, Short Stay Summit, Build to Rent Annual Conference, The Housing Forum, HOMES Conference, and the International Apartment Forum.

Spearheading ARL’s leadership through high quality knowledge and research, Brendan is supporting the organisation to serve as the voice of the rental living sector in the UK. Under his guidance the ARL delivers an intensive series of events, including the ARL BTR Conference and Awards, the BTR Expo, webinars, regional hub events, seminars, roundtables and more. Brendan also led the organisation through a major rebrand to the ARL which reflected its broad membership.

Brendan is also exploring new relationships with others in the residential sector with an interest in the rental living sector, including housing associations, contractors and house builders as well as pressing ESG issues such as Net Zero Carbon.

About the ARL

The Association for Rental Living (ARL), previously known as the UK Apartment Association (UKAA), represents all institutionally backed, professionally managed purpose-built rental living sectors including urban and suburban single-family and multi-family rental, co-living and later living.

Continuing the legacy of the UKAA, the ARL is the recognised membership body for the BTR sector, and its subsectors, delivering an increasingly amplified and unified voice for the purpose-built rental sector. Its vision is to redefine the very concept of rental living through the global trtansformation of the sector, pioneering a world where exceptional, sustainable homes to rent are a first choice.

ARL membership currently stands at 330 organisations across the rental living sector ecosystem, reaching 4,500+ professionals. It is committed to setting and raising standards across the BTR sector as demonstrated by the soon to be launched, BTR Code of Practice.

thearl.org.uk