NLA or RLA – which is better?

Where are you based Paul?

Search Google for Property118 landlords associations list, there are more alternatives than you might think. I'm a member of ELA, Eastern Landlords Association

My feeling is that Landlord Associations are very important, not just as a support mechanism for landlords, but for representing our interests at a political level.

I have engaged with both and I am now firmly in the RLA camp. I think their CEO, Andrew Goodacre, has a very good vision for the RLA going forwards and he is going to implement changes to better serve the needs of Landlords.

Any organisation is only as good as the people who work for it. Only NLA has 50 local representatives who not only work with local authorities and all other agencies who can have an impact on the PRS they also feed back to HO to ensure that the reality of being a landlord is known to them. This is important because Localism has devolved a lot of powers to local authorities and community groups and decisions are often made at that level. Those 50 representatives also run regular local meetings with are free for any landlord or agent to attend - you don't have to be a member. They also work with individuals and groups of landlords to resolve issues that can only be resolved by those with knowledge of the local market/local authority. NLA also has a representative in Europe who works on behalf of UK landlords to fight proposed European legislation. A good example of success would be the fact that NLA stopped them bringing in legislation that would have meant that not only could property with an EPC below E not be rented after 2018 it could also not be sold - this is what the EU proposed.

If more landlords joined their trade organisations these associations would have more power to bring about change. If you don't join the club you can't change the rules.

I am the West Midlands Regional Representative for NLA and I can say, without false modesty, that I have worked very hard for over 25 years to make a difference for landlords and tenants in my area. Local landlords are well aware of what I have achieved for them and they know that I am always here to help when they need to sit down and talk rather than ring the advice line. I have NEVER sold membership, services or products the only thing that I sell is support and that comes as part of the £100 annual fee but I have never turned away a landlord who needs help just because he is not a member. The products and services that landlords associations offer help to provide funding to pay for people like me, the advice line staff and those who work hard with Government at national level. £100 a year is hardly worth talking about especially since it is tax deductible and could save you thousands in legal advice.

If more landlords joined there would be the resource to support more campaigns but as it is the NLA and RLA have to chose which battles to fight to ensure that membership fees are spent to the best advantage of the maximum number of member and at the moment that means Selective and Additional Licensing, Article 4 Directions and other local schemes that are having a negative impact on our members businesses.

If you want them to do more - JOIN

If you want to know which one to join ask other local landlords who actually know which organisation has achieved results for them.

----------------------------

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

The perfect present for property investors @ £4.64. My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is available on Amazon title. Property For Rent – Investing in the UK: Will You Survive the Mayhem? http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

Well said Mary and well done for all you have done at a local level for 25 years.

I know thousands of landlords have benefitted from your input, both on-line and off-line and you are a shining light in this regard.

Keep up the wonderful work you do! x

Reply to the comment left by "Vanessa Warwick" at "28/02/2014 - 13:53":

I echo your sentiments Vanessa, Mary is probably the best advocate the NLA have ever had.

Keep up the good work Mary, it's just pity you're not running the NLA as their CEO as I suspect their membership would double very quickly if you were 🙂
.

Thank you Vanessa and Mark. I did not post to "big myself up" I wanted to make the point that it is representatives like me - and I can honestly say that I am not the best NLA rep - who make the NLA the best landlords association in the country. I have colleagues who knock spots off me and their local members would all confirm that. You may not have heard of them but believe me that are working away behind the scenes every day and they DO achieve great results for local landlords. This team comes at a cost and NLA would not be investing this level of money if they were not confident that it was in the best interest of our members.

I don't want to be CEO, I am a worker bee and I am happy buzzing away on behalf of my local landlords under the guidance of the grown ups darn sarf. I have in the past worked at Government level and I know that I achieved some success but I no longer have the patience to wait while the wheels turn slowly I want results for landlords and I want them now before we go out of business waiting for Government to realise that the PRS are the bedrock of this country - like it or not renting in the UK is here to stay and the PRS are now the major providers. We must succeed. I am worth more to NLA and to landlords doing what I am good at doing.

When I help people on line I do so in my own time because I enjoy sharing and learning.

-----------------------------

Follow me on Twitter@landlordtweets

The perfect present for property investors @ £4.64. My book, where I warn about the storm clouds that are gathering for landlords is available on Amazon title. Property For Rent – Investing in the UK: Will You Survive the Mayhem? http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1484855337

A local landlord association is invaluable for personal, practical, experienced on the ground support. I know I would have had many more problems without mine, especially in the early years. If you don't have one then I agree with the previous posters that its the local rep who can make the biggest difference and then the links you can develop with other local landlords, so check them both out and see which of your needs they can help you with.
For what its worth the NLA evolved from the NFRL which was originally set up by the SLA, Darlington & District Landlords Association and others. We parted company with them about 10 years ago due to the politics at the time but I believe they are better now and national representation is a good thing.

im a member of both. nla annoys me the way they let us down about newham licensing whereas RLA had the balls the fight in margate (although they lost that case newham IMO was a much better test case). nla also push products from their sponsors like envirovent mercilessly without acknowledging there are other products. nla have still not replied to my complaints about hidden fees charged by their mortgage brokerage. nla are more expensive for deposit protection and my wife who deals with this says the rla scheme is better than nla my deposits (we have done both). therefore...the winner is...RLA.

I just wanted to add that the landlord association meetings are a much healthier and safer way for a newbie to enter the property arena, than via the wealth creation "networking" meetings, that are thinly veiled sales events where newbies are often exposed to "get rich quick" schemes.

The landlord association meetings are authentic networking and keep landlords up to date with the latest legislation etc.

Any newbie starting out would be well advised to join one of the landlord associations from day one to ensure they get authentic and supported advice, not dreams of "get rich quick"!

Like the forums, the landlord associations have an important role to play in keeping newbies safe and helping them build a profitable and compliant portfolio.

I totally agree with Vanessa.

The snake oil salesman may be present but you are far less likely to find them presenting at the front of the room.

If you meet people at landlords associations offering deals or courses beware, ask the committee members of the landlords association whether they would get involved and ask them to give you their reasons.
.