ARLA’s reaction to NLA recommendations for a National Landlords Register

ARLA’s reaction to NLA recommendations for a National Landlords Register

Having launched their own licensing scheme for Letting Agents earlier this year ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) have thrown their weight and wholehearted support behind the NLA’s (National Landlords Association) campaign for a National Landlord Register.

Ian Potter, operations manager of ARLA comments:

“Protection for the consumer is paramount - ARLA launched its own licensing scheme for letting agents earlier in the year for this very reason. Exploitation of vulnerable tenants by a small minority of landlords undermines the professionalism of the broader sector and creates the negative consumer perceptions that have sometimes blighted the rental market.

“Consumer awareness is central to the success of both the NLA and ARLA’s endeavours in this area; as we found with our own research, 95 per cent of consumers were unaware that you need absolutely no qualifications to be a lettings agent. As the body representing the UK’s licensed lettings agents, ARLA would offer strong backing for a database of landlords – another important step in ensuring that the nation’s tenants are protected from bad practice and that consumer awareness is raised.” (source www.arla.co.uk)

Rob Wellstead, Managing Director of Lenwell Property Services and ARLA Regional Representative commented, “I can’t agree with Ian more!  Anything we can do to ensure that our industry raises its standards can only be a good thing.  The protection of consumers is of the upmost importance and should be at the forefront of our endeavours.”