AFB Virtual Seminar: UK Residential Real Estate Market Economic Outlook

The UK’s residential real estate market is navigating a challenging period. Declining profitability and tighter margins, elevated interest rates, unfavourable tax changes, and an increasingly uncertain housing market are reshaping investor behaviour and long‑term strategy. AFB, in partnership with Knight Frank, invites members to a virtual seminar that will provide attendees with a data‑driven view of what lies ahead.

Why attend?

Presenters from Knight Frank will offer expert insights on:

• The outlook for the UK real estate market and insight into current trends and market sentiment
• How rising borrowing costs and tax reforms are affecting landlord returns
• Market uncertainty and its impact on rental demand and pricing
• Strategic considerations for investors in a shifting regulatory and economic landscape
• Emerging opportunities and regional trends within the buy‑to‑let sector
• Impact of the Renters Rights Act on markets which came into force on 01 May 2026

Who should attend?

This session is intended for those who focus on business development within member firms. Given the broad nature of the topic, it is likely to be of interest to other roles and functions, including Risk, Finance, Operations and Compliance.

Speakers

Keir Waddell
Keir is a Partner and Head of the Residential Investment Desk at Knight Frank in London. He specializes in advising high-net-worth individuals, portfolio landlords, and small developers on strategic acquisitions, capital introductions, and navigating complex market dynamics. Keir provides highly tailored, data-driven advice across the entire property investment lifecycle. With a distinguished career in prime central London real estate, spanning regeneration projects like King’s Cross and Battersea, he operates as a central point of contact for complex real estate needs.

Tom Bill
Tom is Head of UK Residential Research at Knight Frank. He writes a weekly note on the dynamics shaping the UK housing market, combining property-specific analysis with insights into how economic trends, political developments and financial market movements influence prices, activity and sentiment. He also hosts Housing Unpacked, a regular podcast where guests share their expertise on a diverse range of subjects, all with one common thread – the impact on the UK housing market. As a specialist in the top-end of the sector, he writes Knight Frank’s industry-leading monthly reports on the prime London sales and lettings markets, as well as the quarterly Prime Country House price report. His comments are widely picked up in the British and international media and Tom regularly appears on radio and television to discuss key housing trends and policy issues.

Tom was a property journalist for seven years before joining Knight Frank, writing about both residential and commercial real estate. In his last role, he was responsible for the property coverage in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Reuters. He frequently speaks at public events and has presented in the Middle East, the US and mainland Europe.

Logistics

Fee:         Included in AFB membership  

Format:    Online via Zoom

Date:        Wednesday 10 June 2026

Time:       09:00 – 10:15

To submit a question for the session, please email them to the AFB at secretariat@foreignbanks.org.uk. You will receive details on how to join this session a week before the event.