HBF was formed in 1948 (known then as the Federation of Registered House Builders).  It was an amalgamation of three pre-war bodies and represented the housing element of the National Federation of Building Trades Employees (NFBTE).

The HBF President, Ron King made the first moves towards an HBF independent from the NFBTE.

HBF formed NHMB and purchased Housebuilder magazine forming HBP (now Housebuilder Media HBM)

NFBTE replaced by the Building Employers Confederation (BEC) as a response to pressure from HBF.  The sectors (i.e. Federations) were now the members rather than individual companies.

HBF formed HBF Ltd and took over the employment of staff from BEC to HBF Ltd.

HBF introduced its own subscription system purely for housebuilders.

Construction Confederation (CC) replaced BEC.

HBF votes to leave the CC and hands notice to the CC of its intention to sever the constitutional link.

In December 2002, HBF becomes wholly independent, no longer linked to the CC by constitution but it maintains a commercial relationship whereby services are purchased as required.

HBF's head office moves to St James’s Street. HBF rebrands its logo.  HBF achieves the Investors in People Standard in June.

Following a strategic review in 2005, HBF changed its name from the House Builders Federation to the Home Builders Federation to better reflect the wide range of accommodation the industry provides in the 21st century.

HBF's head office moves from St James's Street to 27 Broadwall on London's Southbank.