A new landlord accreditation scheme in Cumbria, the Cumbria Landlord Accreditation Scheme (CLAS), is being launched by five district councils in the region and The National Landlords Association (NLA).
The five participating district councils have agreed to work in partnership with the NLA to encourage local landlords to sign up.
The scheme will officially be launched on Tuesday 20 May at the NLA’s Cumbria branch meeting. This will be the start of a joint relationship which aims to bring professional practice to the private rented sector and help to tackle rouge landlords; part of the NLA’s new Professional Practice for Profit campaign.
Accreditation equips landlords with the knowledge needed for professional practice, according to the ever-changing regulations governing the private-rented sector, and is a more productive alternative to suggested landlord registers or further regulation of the sector.
Renee Young, Landlord Development and Accreditation Officer at the NLA, said: “We believe that education and accreditation is the best way to enable landlords to maintain a profitable and successful letting business and vital to improving standards in property management across the sector.
“After a collaborative effort we’re delighted that landlords in Cumbria are now able to access the whole raft of educational and developmental resources that will set them apart from other landlords, and provide assurance to tenants that they’re dealing with a professional that understands their responsibilities and obligations.”
Ruth Rowntree, NLA local representative, said: “The NLA is delighted that Cumbria and its five authorities have agreed to use our accreditation scheme. Purely based on landlord development and good management practice, NLA Accreditation is a national scheme which offers greater consistency for all landlords, tenants and councils to recognise.”
Ursula Seddon, District Environmental Health Officer, Eden Council, said: “There are many benefits to landlords such as the ability to advertise accommodation through the University of Cumbria as well as local incentives for landlords determined by individual local authorities.”
At the launch of CLAS, Renee Young, Landlord Development and Accreditation Officer, NLA will explain in depth what the course covers, from material which will enable a landlord to operate professionally, which is a means to a long-term profitable lettings business, to what a landlord needs to know to manage a portfolio.
Ruth Rowntree, NLA Representative will outline the NLA Online Library which is a vital reference source for private residential landlords that is completely free to full NLA members. The library is regularly updated and covers over 40 subjects of essential information about being a landlord.