Which landlord's association?

tiernsee

I just wondered if there were any particular recommendations for a landlord's association? I have looked at both the NLA and the RLA.

I know there are plenty of experienced LL around and would welcome any comments on which association they would recommend and why.

Many thanks.

gordonbennet

I looked at both too and opted for the NLA in the end.

They're much bigger and seem to have more clout. If you ever hear Landlords being represented in the media, it's usually the NLA. The landlord show at Olympia last week was even sponsored by the NLA.

They have a good advice line and regular magazine. The recently revamped website is overcrowded and confusing, but full of information (a bit like this one!)

My only grumble recently with the NLA is that they seem to be becoming more and more of a commercial organisation trying to sell me things rather than an association to represent me. Maybe that's all OK, but I worry it may take away some of their objectivity? Anyone else any views?

scottology

Hi All,

I am also wondering which landlord association is best. As a first time landlord, I have been doing my research about responsibilities etc and am looking to join a landlord's association.

With the RLA, you can see all their documents which members have access to, which seems to be a very comprehensive list for all a landlord's needs.

However, with the NLA, their list of legal documents seems to be quite small (atleast from what you can see as a non-member) but they do appear to have a comprehensive library of information.

I have heard that the RLA agreements are in plain-simple english, but thats all I know.

Does anyone else recommend one over the other? Or even other sources of all info/legal docs?

Thanks

sonastin

As a source of info, Tessa Shepperson's book on Residential Letting is great - really easy reading but full of lots of useful stuff.

My OH is about to let his house through an agency. Based on all the info gleaned from this site and Tessa's book, the agents seem to be pretty on the ball and doing everything as they should. I'm wondering if we need to bother with the Landlords Association. If we were going DIY or I thought the agency were a bit sketchy, it would be a no-brainer but as they seem to be taking care of everything properly, I think it might be better to save the money for now. Any thoughts?

may_fair

I would not join RLA because there is some insanely bad advice in their 'Guide to Tenancy Agreements' - the section headed 'Owner occupier agreements' advises granting a non-shorthold assured tenancy, something which would remove LL's right to obtain possession under s.21 HA1988.

may_fair

scottology wrote: »

Or even other sources of all info/legal docs?

http://www.landlordlaw.co.uk/home-page
http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/

Both run by the aforementioned Tessa Shepperson.

G_M

Lots of other useful links on this post here.

Some towns/areas have local LL Associations, which are often affiliated to one of the 2 big Nationals. That might sway your decision.

may_fair wrote: »

I would not join RLA because there is some insanely bad advice in their 'Guide to Tenancy Agreements' - the section headed 'Owner occupier agreements' advises granting a non-shorthold assured tenancy, something which would remove LL's right to obtain possession under s.21 HA1988.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but surely an'Owner occupier agreements' is relevant for lodgers, so the whole question of AST/non AST is irrelevant?

gordonbennet

Once you take into consideration the discount you can get on Landlords building insurance and the Tax Investigation insurance (my accountant tried to sell me the latter for over £150pa!) membership of something like the NLA pays for itself. Plus it tax deductible anyway!

G_M

gordonbennet wrote: »

Once you take into consideration the discount you can get on Landlords building insurance and the Tax Investigation insurance (my accountant tried to sell me the latter for over £150pa!) membership of something like the NLA pays for itself. Plus it tax deductible anyway!

Whilst valid points, I don't really see how this helps the OP choose between RLA and NLA?!

may_fair

G_M wrote: »

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but surely an'Owner occupier agreements' is relevant for lodgers, so the whole question of AST/non AST is irrelevant?

No, they mean letting out a property which you used to live in.

See RLA Guide to Tenancy Agreements on this link
http://www.rla.org.uk/landlord/documents/landlord_document_centre.shtml

Owner Occupier Tenancy Agreement

This is for use where you let your own home. You should only use it if you have actually lived yourself in the property and when you lived there it was your only or main home. It does not matter how long ago; nor does it matter that you did not actually own the property when you lived there. If there is more than one landlord then only one of the landlords needs to have lived in the property as his/her only or main home at the time. The agreement creates a non shorthold assured tenancy. Unlike a shorthold, the tenant does not have the guarantee of a minimum of six months right of occupation from when he/she originally moved in. However, the tenant will be able to live in the property for however long you provide for in the agreement itself (so long as they pay the rent and comply with the tenancy terms). Thus, if you give the tenant a 12 month tenancy he/she can stay there for that period even though it may be your own home. You have to give two months notice using a Section 8 Notice relying on Ground 1 to end the tenancy and obtain a Court order if the tenant will not vacate. You will not be able to obtain a Court order unless any fixed term tenancy has run out before you start Court proceedings for possession. You can serve the Ground 1 notice but you will have to wait until any fixed term has run out. It does not matter if there is a monthly tenancy in place rather than a fixed term. In that situation you can obtain possession once the two month Ground 1 notice has run its course. You can also rely on Section 8 and the other usual grounds if there are rent arrears or a breach of the tenancy terms (e.g. Ground 8 for rent arrears).

The agreement contains the statutory Ground 1 notice warning the tenant that this is an owner/occupier agreement and a Ground 1 applies. As the tenancy is a non shorthold you can take a deposit and do not need to protect it under one of the statutory schemes.

G_M

may_fair wrote: »

No, they mean letting out a property which you used to live in.

See RLA Guide to Tenancy Agreements on this link
http://www.rla.org.uk/landlord/documents/landlord_document_centre.shtml

Thanks. Wierd! Why on earth....?