Accreditation - Landlord
- There are different forms of Landlord Accreditation:
- Achieved by payment of membership fees and agreeing to comply with codes of practice, such as e.g. the local authority founded Canterbury Accreditation Scheme subsequently run by university of Kent UKC and renamed Home-Stamp (this folded - ended - in 2020). Arguably Home-stamp's provisions (and voluntary schemes like it) were already provided for by pre-existing legislation and such membership simply duplicated the costs and burdens to landlords - money better spent upgrading properties rather than paying unnecessary Home-stamp staff. Changes in legislation meant landlords were monitored more effectively by local authorities via the extension of Mandatory Licensing in 2018 of Large HMO properties with 5 or more tenants - Extending the Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). From 1 October 2018 mandatory licensing of HMOs was extended to include smaller HMO properties in England which house 5 or more people in 2 or more separate households.
- There are non-examination schemes of accreditation based simply on membership and payment of subscription, such as those provided by the National Landlords Association NLA, Residential Landlords Association RLA (the NLA and RLA merged to form the NRLA in 2019)
- There are also examination memberships such as Unipol which requires much online study-learning and passing 6 online exams.
- ARLA (for regulating letting agents only) renamed Propertymark also requires examination before membership. Candidates at level 2 ('O' level) and level 3 ('A' level) must sit 4 exams within 3 years covering a range of lettings knowledge and correctly answer a minimum number (70%) of multiple choice questions within a set time. At level 4 ('degree' level) there are 6 exams containing a mix of multiple-choice and written work and must all be passed within 3 years of passing the first. Failure of any one exam means re-siting any formerly passed exams together with any un-sat exams within three years of the first pass date.
- Some schemes, like the Property Ombudsman's scheme (TPO), are designed to protect landlords and tenants as opposed to agent subscribers. These require fee-paying subscribers to provide evidence of accounting practices. In addition separate client accounts are ring-fenced, to protect client landlords against letting agent impropriety. ARLA members must also be TPO members.
- The aim is to raise standards of professionalism amongst landlords by informing members of their responsibilities through training and / or examination, continuous professional development CPD, attendance at information events, etc.
- Landlord members are required to adhere to a code of conduct and rules set by each scheme, most of which overlap but have significant differences. Some landlords are members of more than one scheme, broadening understanding and reinforcing the importance of compliance.
- Tenants can seek redress by complaining to scheme organisers who will investigate and make recommendations. Failure to comply can result in scheme members being banned from membership.
Published: 5 November 2013
Last Updated: 30 November 2021