Landlord group calls for a new national representative organisation

Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 27/02/2025 – 14:13
Don’t forget, the NRLA also thought it was a good idea to update the colours on it’s logo etc., at likely silly money. The supposed updated members forum is like something from the 1990’s.

I just think those running the show are not really in it for the members as much as themselves I’m sorry to say.

Reply to the comment left by Lordship at 27/02/2025 – 14:44Are you in landlording for yourself or for the benefit of other people? Those working for the NRLA are employees doing a job, not volunteers or charity workers devoting their lives to serving the needs of others.

Voluntary work in the sector is generally limited to those involved with local landlord associations which is what you would expect.

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 27/02/2025 – 15:19
Yes, but those at the top are doing a job they are paid well for, badly with no one to answer to.

My point is, for what they offer you don’t need 140+ employees? Maybe a dozen.

Now if you had an organisation where they get to make a difference helping to shaping policy and perhaps had at least 50% of all landlords involved, then a CEO etc is justified. In my opinion.

Reply to the comment left by Luna at 27/02/2025 – 10:02
They don’t represent the majority of landlords because the majority of landlords are not members – chicken or egg?

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 27/02/2025 – 15:19
Thank you for your constructive comment.

Lest we forget, April will bring painful cost hikes to employers via NIC and NLW hikes.

In response to other posts, I feel my inner rant has been summoned:

Less than £2 pw for professional advice from a landlord association is pitifully cheap.

It won’t get me a half in my local, nor would it cover the cost of a coffee.

Those who want to winge about such a small investment to protect themselves and their business should take a good look at themselves.

Do not demand to pay a pittance, and demand no commercial activity to raise funds, when you expect landlord associations, to provide up to date documentation, member support, meetings and lobbying. These all cost money and require staff to provide.

You will expect your landlord association to
– educate you on how the RRB will impact your business
– guide you on what you need to do, or stop doing, to avoid the need for our support to help you sort it out when it doesn’t go to plan

Ask yourself, where will I get my information and documents to be compliant with the new property and landlord database and ombudsman?

Now tell me £2pw for keeping you in business and out of the courts is expensive.

Reply to the comment left by Lordship at 27/02/2025 – 15:31
Yes, well you are entitled to your opinion but I am afraid that you have no idea what is involved in running an organization like NRLA. A dozen employees would not even be able to provide the telephone advice that members take for granted.

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 27/02/2025 – 16:34
Yes, you are right, I have not had the inclination to go through what would be required to cover the service that is currently offered.

However, if you think it needs 140+, then perhaps we need to draft in Elon Musk to go through the organisation.

As I have said, the advice line, AST’s, up to date knowledge, etc is well worth the annual fee, but there are others out there offering similar without the same workforce.

Perhaps a large majority of the employees are working on the campaigning side of things! If so, perhaps it’s time for a re-think as we know how successful that has been.

This is my last year of NRLA membership. I joined the RLA over 20 years ago and cancelled this year after watching Ben Beadle at the Select Committee agree to S21.

Up to 2018, the website of the (former) RLA, touted this as their objects:
“The Residential Landlords Association is the leading voice for landlords in England & Wales. The prime objective of the RLA is to campaign in Government and Parliament on behalf of our members”

Since the merger in 2020, things have got more mundane and stay at home.

From the current website of the NRLA:

“Providing all-round support, we’re here to help you stay compliant, save time and stress, save money, and help see your rental business thrive.

The NRLA offers a vast range of expertise, resources, and exclusive member benefits and savings, campaigning and championing the interests of landlords.”

It’s not more members the NRLA need; let them do their compliance thing. But don’t confused them with having a national voice, they’ve never had that.

A new body is required, with some fire in its belly. A focus on more campaigning role, like the RLA was.

Value for money? I don’t think so. I don’t use any of their forms and if you take my membership over a 20 year period, the few times I’ve called their helpline, amounts to quite a hefty sum per call call. Probably a lot more per call than one of the top city firms.

NRLA you have failed in a most public and spectacular fashion these past few years, since the merger. Step away formally from pretending to have a national focus, and keep to the forms. We need them too.

Who exactly are these tenant rights lobbyist groups representing because the tenants I speak to have said this is having a negative impact on them. Fewer properties and higher rents. For the landlords in this for the long term – they will have the pick of the crop when it comes to securing a tenant (we receive an average of 5 applications per property available) plus ever increasing rents. Yields are becoming attractive again. Landlords just need to ensure they have Rent & Legal Insurance in place which protects any financial loss.

When I say long term – essentially the next four years. I cannot see this party getting re-elected.

Whilst the NRLA is a laudable organisation it could do a great deal more to support Landlords.

We all know that the support for tenants far outweighs that for Landlords and this has to change.

What we need is a tenant register that supports good tenants but also blacklists those who are unsuitable and who have caused damage, anti social behaviour etc. Until we get this, we are in an unfair situation. If Landlords are to be registered and subjected to initiatives like selective licenses then there also needs to be equality where tenants are licensed to rent properties.