About us

What is the Ethical Property Foundation (EPF)?

The Ethical Property Foundation provides expert, independent charity property advice to charities and community groups across the UK.

We help organisations understand and manage property issues so they can focus on delivering their services. As a result, charities gain the knowledge and confidence to rent, buy, let, or manage property effectively and sustainably.

What charity property advice and services does EPF offer?

We provide a range of practical support designed specifically for charities and community organisations. We offer:

• Independent, jargon-free guidance on a wide range of property issues, supported by resources such as the Weston Property Manual.
• Practical property training through our capacity building / property education programme of webinars and seminars.
• Tailored, one-on-one support for over 250 organisations each year through our Ask a Property Expert service and by attending funder fairs.
• Online Help resources with clear, step-by-step property guidance.
• Property consultancy services, including lease reviews, building surveys and property strategy support.

These services help organisations make informed decisions, manage property risks, and plan for the future with confidence.

Our aim is to equip charities and community groups with the knowledge, confidence, and resilience they need to manage property successfully over the long term.

What impact has EPF had on the charity sector in 2025?

In 2025, we made a significant difference to the charities we support:

• 15% said our advice was critical to their charity’s survival.
• 95% said that EPF adds value to the voluntary sector.
• 87% were very satisfied or satisfied with our support.
• 85% successfully resolved property issues after receiving our advice.

These results show how expert property guidance helps charities remain stable and sustainable.

How has EPF improved property knowledge and confidence in 2025?

Our support has significantly improved both knowledge and confidence. Property knowledge increased from 20% to 69%. Similarly, confidence in property decision-making increased from 14% to 63%. Therefore, charities feel better equipped to manage property and plan for the future.

What types of property issues do charities typically seek help with?

Charities contact us for support with many property matters. Most commonly, these include:

1. Renegotiating or renewing a lease
2. Ending a lease
3. Securing a new lease
4. Working with local authority landlords
5. Governance and trustee responsibilities

What is EPF’s vision and mission?

• Vision: A voluntary sector that manages its premises sustainably, with resilience, knowledge, and confidence.
• Mission: To deliver high-quality advice and education to voluntary organisations in England and Wales, enabling them to manage their premises sustainably for long-term success.

What is EPF’s core belief?

We believe well-managed property is essential for a strong and resilient voluntary sector. Therefore, we help organisations ensure their buildings support their mission, rather than create risk or uncertainty.

Why choose EPF?

With over 20 years of experience, EPF is a trusted provider of charity property advice for charities and community organisations. We combine professional expertise with a clear understanding of the voluntary sector. As a result, we provide practical, ethical advice that saves organisations time, money, and stress.

Whether you need advice, training, or consultancy support, we are here to help.

Timeline of our journey:

2003: The beginning

The Ethical Property Foundation (EPF) was incorporated, launching a free property advice service in London and Bristol to support charities with expert property guidance.

2008: Developing the Fairplace Award

To generate income for our charitable activities, EPF partnered with Kingston University to create the Fairplace Award, a workplace quality mark promoting ethical property management.

2012: Expanding nationwide

EPF expanded its free property advice service across England and Wales, reaching more charities in need of support.

2014: Fairplace Award goes live

The Fairplace Award was officially launched and adopted by major organisations, including RBS, EMCOR, RICS, and Shaftesbury Plc, reinforcing our commitment to ethical property management.

2015: Recognised by key institutions

EPF became a referral partner for the Charity Commission, providing expert land and property advice. We were also named a preferred supplier to the Lloyds Bank Foundation.

2016: Launching the National Programme for Property Education

To further support charities in areas of multiple deprivation, EPF introduced free property workshops across England and Wales, equipping organisations with vital knowledge.

2018: Refocusing on core activities

The Fairplace Award was discontinued, allowing EPF to concentrate on our core mission—helping charities navigate property challenges.

2020: Adapting to the pandemic

As COVID-19 disrupted operations, we transitioned all educational programmes online, ensuring continued support for charities. This year also saw the development of our property consultancy service, responding to the increasing demand for cost-effective expert property advice.

2023: Pioneering the Weston Property Manual

We launched the Weston Property Manual, the UK voluntary sector’s first interactive guide for charities managing property. Our innovative approach was recognised, making us finalists for IT innovation awards at the Charity Times and Third Sector Awards.

2024: Celebrating 21 years of impact

Marking our 21st anniversary, EPF stands as the UK’s only dedicated property advice charity for the voluntary sector. Our mission continues to empower charities with ethical, expert, and practical property support.

2025: Expanding our Help resources and growing our reach

We reorganised our website into dedicated Help pages and strengthened our SEO strategy. As a result, more charities can now find and access our expert property advice online.

Get expert property support

For expert guidance, visit our Ask a Property Expert service, explore our Help pages, or learn more about our training and consultancy services