Women now occupy approximately 25-30% of board positions within the UK property sector and 20-30% of senior leadership roles, according to research from Real Estate Balance, as the industry continues a gradual shift in gender representation.
The figures come as broader data shows female representation in FTSE 100 leadership positions increased from 32.5% in 2021 to 37.1% in 2025, a rise of 4.6 percentage points. This growth occurred despite the total number of leadership roles across these companies declining by over 8% during the same period.
UK leads international comparisons
Across the FTSE 350, women now hold around 1,262 board positions, representing approximately 43% of all board seats. This places the UK ahead of several major economies including the United States, Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia. Much of this progress has been achieved without mandatory quotas, unlike some European markets.
Capital invested in female-founded and co-founded companies in the UK has grown by around 1.6% annually, according to recent figures.
Property sector observations
Sarah Rushbrook, who has worked in property management for nearly four decades, noted that despite progress in board representation, the number of female-led businesses within the property sector does not appear to have increased significantly during this period.
Rushbrook, whose firm Rushbrook & Rathbone operates as an all-female business, outlined ten observations from her career in the sector, including changes in how lettings businesses operate alongside sales, the impact of online information on landlord behaviour, and shifts in the rental market from expatriate-owned properties to investment-led portfolios.
She noted that maintenance decision-making has slowed compared to earlier decades, when agents typically held maintenance floats equivalent to three-quarters to a full month’s rent and could authorise urgent repairs up to £200 without landlord approval—equivalent to approximately £870 today.
Sector developments
The property management sector has seen structural changes over the past four decades, with most estate agents now operating lettings divisions alongside sales operations. The tenancy landscape has undergone numerous legislative changes, with some industry observers noting similarities to earlier assured tenancy frameworks.
Organisations such as Women in Estate Agency have been established to promote equality and create professional development opportunities across the industry.
The research indicates that while progress in female representation at board and senior leadership levels is measurable, the property sector continues to show lower representation rates than the broader FTSE 350 average of 43%.
