Is the NRLA still run for a common purpose?

Is the NRLA still run for a common purpose?

0:03 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago 24

Text Size

Hello, I posted below as a response to a topic last week but maybe this should be discussed more as many seem to questioning the actions of the NRLA in respect of the Renters’ (Reform) and the Renters’ Rights Bills.

The NRLA is a company that saw a gap in the market to make money. It is not any sort of Union.

It mostly makes money from:
(1) Those that, and sorry if this offends, are too lazy to research, learn and understand what is required to be a PRS landlord, ie the obligations and responsibilities, to amass the correct legal and regulatory documentation needed and keep abreast of the changes
(2) Running expensive courses
(3) Advertising developments and other property related matters for third parties from which, and others may be able to confirm, they obtain commission or fees.

The NRLA states it “is a not-for-profit organisation, limited by guarantee rather than by shares, which means any financial surplus it derives goes back into the business for the benefit of its members”.

In English law, an association is a group of people which is formed and acts for a common purpose. The common purpose should be the protection of PRS landlords and their activities and importantly to fight their corner.

The people that join the NRLA seem to have no say in how the company is run, nor how it is to act for a common purpose, nor has any sort of constitution, and nor is the leadership put in place by those who are members.

Call me a cynic but personally I believe that the NRLA may not now be fit for purpose as “an association” to act for the PRS landlords common good or what PRS landlords need today.

Thank you,

Judith


Share This Article


Comments

Jon Landlord

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

10:37 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

The NRLA _does_ have a constitution, in the form of Articles of Association:

https://www.nrla.org.uk/about-us/articles-of-association

Its purpose is set out in article 2. The paragraph is quite long, but the first of the organisation's aims "is to pursue, promote and protect the interests of the private Landlord;..."

Smiley

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

10:39 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

They dine out with MPs, even publish pictures, like they are high society, with us paying for this great service.....then we the people get clobbered with section 24, plus the rest, giving us hobby status, they say they didnt know about it lol we need some Trump, Farage leadership, not this lack of representation imho xxxx

WD Flatau

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

10:48 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Sorry Judith I am one of many members happy with the NRLA services and reasonable membership fees.

Taking each of your points:
1. Every decent trade organisation will keep members up to date on regulation and, changes in the law and best practice. Using the NRLA resources and services is a highly efficient use of time and insurance against making what can be costly errors in compliance
2. I don't generally go for landlord courses, but I appreciate that courses cost money to run. You need to pay staff and hire a venue as well as keep updating material.
3. There is nothing wrong with a trade body promoting partnerships, provided they are transparent that these are commercial ventures and are not formally recommended as part of the trade body.

For me, NRLA is a valuable resource that allows me to get on with the job of running a property portfolio.
If you don't like it, you don't have to join.
William

Marlena Topple

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:05 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Sorry Judith. I am a little offended. Too lazy you say? I see the benefit of having reliable information presented to me in an accessible way that saves me hours of research. You appear to acknowledge that the NRLA has the ear of government. It is perfectly reasonable to question or even criticize the NRLA; however my view is that this is best done from within the organisation.

Dylan Morris

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:05 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

I’m reasonably happy with the NRLA. Why should I waste hours and hours of my time researching, obtaining legal documents, trawling the internet for information about being a landlord when I can simply pay £99 a year (tax deductible) for somebody to do all that work for me. And I have a rental expert at the end of the phone to answer my specific questions. I’m not lazy Judith I just don’t want to be a busy fool.

Jo Westlake

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:27 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

In terms of value for money and convenience for the paperwork the NRLA is OK.
The tenancy agreement and other forms are good.
The discounts in B&Q that NRLA membership access can easily be more than the fee itself.
Discounts for NRLA accreditation when renewing HMO licenses can also be worthwhile.
The helpline is nice to have.
I'm not keen on the current method of retaining accreditation. It used to be so much better in NLA days. I still miss having access to the landlord library modules for both information and accreditation.

Whether the NRLA effectively represents us in political terms is highly questionable. We all know Section 24 is a terrible idea for tenants as well as landlords. Why doesn't the NRLA have far more to say on the subject?
Certain aspects of the Renters Rights bill are appalling and have entirely foreseeable consequences. Why isn't the NRLA more vocal in opposing some of the more ridiculous proposals?

Sangita Gupta

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:45 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by WD Flatau at 18/11/2024 - 10:48
They don't represent the views of the Landlord, that's the point being made and it's correct; NRLA just brown-nose with the politicians of the day instead of challenging them.

Dizzy

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:49 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Hi,
As others have said they provide excellent legal documentation for day to day running of rental properties and tenant eviction back up.

In my opinion they do fail sadly when it comes to non standard questions which require thinking outside of the box... I have had quicker and more accurate replies direct from the Department of energy than the NRLA.

I also feel they fail to stand up for landlords against the increasing bureaucracy we face.

As for the trade partners...Some are definitely in rip off mode and the NRLA ignore comments about this.

Sangita Gupta

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

11:49 AM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Marlena Topple at 18/11/2024 - 11:05
They MAY have the "ear" of the government - but it is highly questionable how much that ear pays attention and even more questionable is what the NRLA says and how it says it. The NRLA seems far more intent on schmoozing that making valid points on behalf of Landlords

A Reader

Become a Member

If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!

Sign Up

14:25 PM, 18th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Agree and go one further - the NRLA was never fit for purpose of truly serving members interests. I was a member of RLA before the merger and creation of NRLA.
There was no membership vote on who to elect as CEO and the news feed for announcing Ben Beadle as CEO of NRLA was: 'Ben Beadle is to be the Chief Executive of the new National Residential Landlords Association, formed from the merger of the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association. The NRLA will launch in January 2020. Ben is currently Director of Operations at Touchstone, part of the Places for People housing group. Previously he was Managing Director of TDS Northern Ireland and Director of Customer Service with the TDS, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme'.
For me experience with a large corporate housing organisation and the TDS is not what I would consider in any way supports being the right candidate for the role to represent Private Landlords and it shows. My take concurs with the Author of this article - NRLA members have no say in how the company is run, no interest in members' views and no member voted leadership. I feel that it is a covert government led and managed institution - masquerading as a members association.

1 2 3

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Automated Assistant Read More