The Association for Rental Living has announced the next instalment of its ongoing work to support AI developments in the Build-to-Rent sector with a summit in Manchester.
Taking place on Monday 28 September 2026 at the XYZ Building in Spinningfields, the summit will examine how AI is reshaping the entire BtR lifecycle. The one-day summit will look at everything from identifying investment opportunities and designing smarter communities to accelerating lease-up, enhancing resident experience, improving operational performance and informing long-term asset strategy.
With a keen focus on Manchester’s role as a leader in the UK BtR revolution, the summit will bring together expert local and national operators in one of the country’s most established BTR markets.
AI expert Antony Slumbers will deliver the opening keynote, before ARL Chief Executive Brendan Geraghty discusses designing smarter communities with Gensler’s John Badman, Millie Dodd from Shared Voice and Quod’s Richard Frudd.
Roundhill Capital’s Tom France and Tom Leggatt from Rund will then talk about the role of AI in delivering smarter investments, followed by a Manchester market spotlight session featuring senior leaders from Greystar, Planit, L&G and Chapman Taylor.
In the first of two sessions chaired by the summit’s headline sponsor, Yardi, delegates will look through an AI lens at leasing and stabilisation, with contributions from Verbaflo, Colby River and Trowers & Hamlins. In the second, experts from Livingway, VervLife, urbanbubble and Ark Workplace Risk will explore what it takes to deliver operational excellence through AI before a final session, looking at the future of the AI-enabled BtR lifecycle.
The summit comes shortly after the ARL published the Second Edition of its Guide to AI in Rental Living and follows the successful ARL AI Tech Conference in London earlier this year. The AI in Rental Living Summit in Manchester is expected to be a key event for regional rental living professionals and is open to both Association for Rental Living members and to non-members.
Brendan Geraghty, Chief Executive of the Association for Rental Living, commented: “The Summit has been intentionally designed to create an engaging and valuable learning experience. Bringing together AI experts and senior leaders from across the rental living sector, the summit will connect the people influencing investment decisions with those responsible for operational strategy and the adoption of new technologies, supporting a joined-up approach that acknowledges the rapidly evolving role of AI in BtR.”
Tickets to the Manchester AI in BtR Summit 2026 are available to book on the ARL website.
