Consultations & Engagement

The FCA have published a consultation on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector. Click here to find out more about the consultation and how members can contribute to AREF's response.

The FCA have published a consultation on implementing the Overseas Funds Regime. More details can be found here.

The European Commission (EC) have published public and targeted consultations on the implementation of SFDR. AREF welcomes members views on SFDR for its response to the targeted consultation. Also, the ESAs have published their Final Report on draft RTS n the review of PAI and financial product disclosures in the SFDR Delegated Regulation. In October 2023, AREF held a webinar and produced guidance advice on the SFDR process for real estate funds. More details can be found here.

The FCA are consulting on their guidance for their Anti-Greenwashing rule. More details can be found here.

The FCA have published their Policy Paper on Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and investment labels (PS23/16). More details can be found here.

In the Autumn Statement 2023, the Government set out legislative changes it will bring forward in the Finance Bill, coming into force from 6 April 2024, to reform the Construction Industry Scheme. Find out more here.

On 22 November 2023, the Government responded to its call for evidence on how DB schemes could use their assets more flexibly. Click here for more details.

As part of the Autumn Statement 2023, the Government published a Policy paper detailing amendments to the tax rules applying to REITs, including some of the conditions that determine whether a company qualifies as a REIT.

The Transition Plan Taskforce are consulting on draft Asset Manager Sector Guidance. They have requested feedback on the guidance by 29 December 2023. More details can be found her.

In November 2023, the Government's published its response to its consultation on Financial promotion exemptions for high net worth individuals and sophisticated investors. More details can be found here.

The FCA have confirmed that they will not be taking forward their proposal to exclude FSCS cover for regulated activities relating to LTAFs at this time. Click here for more details about this and the Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF) in general.

RICS have published their 2023 edition of the UK National Supplement to the Global Red Book. This will become effective 1 May 2024. Find out more here.

In October 2023, AREF submitted proposals for unlocking DC pension investment in advance of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement. Find out more here about this and the government's work to enable DC pension schemes to invest in illiquid assets

The FCA's Chair gave a speech in October 2023 on the FCA's priorities for updating and improving the UK regime for asset management.

Find out more about the review of the UK Funds Regime by the Government and the FCA.

PRA are consulting on reforms to the Matching Adjustment which aim to improve the flexibility for life insurers to make more productive, long term investments. More details can be found by clicking here. AREF would welcome Members' contributions to their response to this consultation.

Read the latest on reforms to UK Solvency II and the lobbying being undertaken by AREF.

RICS have published the second edition of the Whole life carbon assessments in the built environment. Find out more here.

Find out more about the policy work being undertaken by governments, regulators and standard setting bodies in relation to sustainable finance and climate-related disclosures.

The National Planning Policy Framework was updated on 5 September 2023. This followed a Government consultation which AREF responded to. Details of updates regarding onshore wind development in England have been published. A formal response to the other wider proposals in the consultation will be published in the autumn of 2023.

AREF has some profound concerns regarding some of the recommendations in the above FSB consultation report. A copy of AREF's response and more details about the FSB consultation report can be found here.

In AREF's response to the above IOSCO consultation concerns were raised with the proposals on guidance for the greater and more consistent use of anti-dilution liquidity management tools for open-ended funds. The response and more details about the consultation can be found here.

In 2024 a new Luxembourg-UK double tax treaty will be coming into effect. This will align the treaty with other UK treaties in terms of not providing an exemption from the UK Non-Resident Capital Gains Tax (NRCGT) rules for indirect disposals of UK property.

The Central Bank of Ireland have published a discussion paper on the approach to macroprudential policy for investment funds. More details can be found here.

New guidance on the application of the Genuine Diversity of Ownership (“GDO”) condition was published by HMRC in July 2023. The GDO condition is relevant for a number of fund tax regimes. Click here for more details.

DWP have published its response to its consultation on Extending Opportunities for Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Pension Schemes. Click here for more details.

DWP are consulting on a proposed Value for Money framework for DC pension schemes. More details can be found here.

Details of consultations on ESG Ratings and Data Providers can be found here including the latest one from the ESG Data and Ratings Code of Conduct Working Group (DRWG) on a voluntary Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Product Providers.

The Government published a consultation on the proposed introduction of an unauthorised co-ownership contractual scheme, referred to as the Reserved Investor Fund (Contractual Scheme), or RIF.  (Formerly known as the Professional Investor Fund or PIF). AREF's response can be found here.

Find out more about the review of the ELTIF regulations here

The FCA have published a discussion paper on firms' sustainability-related governance, incentives, and competencies. Please see here AREF's near final response.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published a consultation on High Street Rental Auctions. More details can be found here.

HM Treasury are reviewing the legislative aspects of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR). In parallel, the FCA and PRA are reviewing the operational aspects of the regime. More details can be found here.

The Investment Association are consulting on proposed updates to the stock transfer form for collective investment schemes. Click her for more details.

In March 2023, PCAF, CRREM, and GRESB released technical guidance for "Accounting and Reporting of GHG Emissions from Real Estate Operations"

The Government are implementing a Building Safety Levy. Click here for more details.

AREF has responded to HM Treasury's and HMRC's technical consultation on VAT in Fund Management. More details can be found here.

Find out here about the trust registration rules. The updated Trust Registration Service Manual in January 2023 clarified that only UK authorised unit trusts with no UK tax liability benefit from an exemption from trust registration.

The Government have published their response to their consultation on Broadening the investment opportunities of DC pension schemes. More details can be found here.

The proposals within the paper on ESG Metrics for Real Estate have been updated in January 2023.

ESMA published a consultation on 17 May 2022 to seek views on draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) and Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) in relation to cross-border marketing and management of AIFs and UCITS within the EU.

The Productive Finance Working Group was convened by HM Treasury, the Bank of England and the FCA to develop practical solutions to the barriers to investment in long-term, less liquid assets. Click for more information on what they have been working on.

ISOCO have published the Final Report from their Thematic Review of their Liquidity Risk Management Recommendations. Click for more information.

The FCA have published a Policy Statement on improvements to the Appointed Representatives (AR) regime. A response is still awaited from HM Treasury on their Call for Evidence on the AR regime.

The FCA have published their Consumer Duty rules. This is the first of 5 milestones to prepare for the new rules to take effect.

AREF has brought its Guidance on Expense Ratios in line with the Total Global Expense Ratio (TGER ) Click to view the proposed guidance, the Q&As and example of the changes

In June 2022 the Government Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published the response to its consultation on Climate and Investment reporting: setting expectations and empowering savers. Click for more details.

On 11th May 2022 the Governments Department for Levelling up, Housing & Communities has released policy paper Levelling Up and Regeneration: further information. 

In December 2021 the European Commission published their draft directive for rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes. They have invited comments on this until 6 April 2022.

The Government have published its Summary of Responses to its Call for Input on its review of the UK funds regime. Find more details here.