The Residential Landlords Association – what are the benefits?

What is the Residential Landlords Association?

The Residential Landlords Association is a support network for Landlords in England and Wales. The Residential Landlord Association is home to over 30,000 members.

Landlords can use the Residential Landlords Association for help when they need to be pointed in the right direction.

What are the benefits of joining the Residential Landlord Association?

The Residential Landlords Association offers a wide range of benefits to its members. These include, but are not limited to, those listed below.

1. The Landlord Advice Team

The Landlord Advice Team offer free advice to all members of the Residential Landlord Association. Advice can be provided over the telephone between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, or via the Residential Landlord Association website. If you submit a query out of hours, the Residential Landlords Association aims to respond the next working day.

2. The Discussion Forum

A Discussion Forum is available on the Residential Landlords Association website. This allows members to submit a query to over 20,000 other Landlords. Members are able to respond to each other and share experiences. The Residential Landlords Association will notify members via email when someone has responded to their post.

3. Discounts

Members of the Residential Landlords Association can benefit from a number of financial discounts. These financial discounts can include contents insurance premiums, the cost of furniture repair, mortgage broker fees, supplier discounts, and Energy Saving Schemes.

4. Avoiding Penalties

Joining the Residential Landlords Association can help Landlords comply with new requirements and regulations, and consequently avoid any penalties, which they may not know have recently came into force.

The Residential Landlords Association are able to update members in relation to various regulation changes.

An example of this includes the recent changes imposing an obligation on the Landlord to provide an annual gas safety check. Landlords can face up to a £6,000 fine or up to 6 months imprisonment for non-compliance. The Residential Landlords Association website contains a helpful guidance note in relation to the changes.

5. Latest News

As the UK are enjoying the recent heatwave, and water companies are urging householders to limit their water usage, the Residential Landlords Association is offering advice to Landlords on how they can help. The article includes top tips on cutting down on water usage, and urges Landlords to pass this onto their tenants.

The Residential Landlords Association website features a column, which addresses current factors in the news, and advises Landlords on how to deal with them.

6. Local News

Members of the Residential Landlords Association are given the opportunity to sign up to local news updates. This allows Landlords to receive news updates concerning areas which they may be interested in, especially if they are letting our properties in that area. This can be extremely beneficial for those Landlords who do not live close to where their rented properties are situated.

7. E-Learning & Training Courses

The Residential Landlords Association hold training days across the UK. These courses can cover topics such as safety and regulations, finance, becoming a Landlord, and houses in multiple occupation. For those who are unable to attend, the Residential Landlords Association are also able to provide E-Courses.

8. The Residential Landlords Association Campaigns

The Residential Landlords Association engages with policymakers at different levels within the Government to discuss matters, and provide evidence when needed.

The policy areas that the Residential Landlords Association campaign on include welfare, finance, safety, and regulation and enforcement.

You can find the Residential Landlords Association’s responses to Government consultations on their website.

9. Deposit Protection

Any deposit provided by a Tenant to a Landlord in relation to an Assured Shorthold Tenancy which started after 6 April 2007 must be protected by a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. DepositGuard offers members of the Residential Landlords Association discounted rates in relation to deposit protection.

For legal advice on landlord and tenant law, please contact Rob Winder here.