Corporate Membership

• I've heard that ARLA is a bit elitist - more like an exclusive club?

  Not true! Perhaps a perception encouraged by some others but not by us!

  • It is true - that becoming an ARLA Member is not just a case of ticking a few boxes in a form and sending in a cheque; we are not in the numbers game. ARLA has a reasonable but rigorous and robust application process that helps sustain the recognition, the integrity and respect which membership brings.
  • It is true - that ARLA sets, monitors and regulates the highest standards in the industry, and expects certain levels of professionalism and commitment to customer service from its membership – that helps us, and our members, differentiate ourselves from others in the marketplace.
  • It is true - that because of ARLA’s position, recognised by government, consumer groups and the media as the leading voice in the industry, our members are seen as being at the forefront of the sector; ready, willing and able to comply with existing and anticipated government legislation.
  • It is true - that it doesn’t matter if you are letting property at rents of a few hundred pounds a month or a few thousand pounds a week! We are all doing basically the same job and if you are committed to doing it properly and professionally ARLA are keen to hear from you and you should be keen to join ARLA - and become part of the leading voice in the industry.
• Who else are Member Firms of ARLA?

  Most of your main competitors probably already are! ARLA membership encompasses a broad range of Firms or Companies – all benefit equally - membership ranges from smaller one or two office firms through to regional and local multi-office independents as well as national chains such as Bradford & Bingley and Countrywide Residential Lettings.

  We have firms who deal mainly with Housing Benefit and/or Asylum Seeking tenants; we have firms who specialise in the exclusive top end corporate market.

• Why does my Firm or Company need to belong to ARLA? What are some of the benefits and services my Firm or Company will gain from belonging to ARLA?
  • Over the last twenty-five years the ARLA name and logo has grown to be recognised as the leading kite mark or benchmark symbol of accreditation in the lettings industry representing high standards and good practice.

  Here are a few more of the ARLA benefits and services: -

  • Latest Guidance and Interpretation on Legislation & Regulations
  • Automatic cover under the unique ARLA Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme
  • Consultation with, and lobbying of, Government on existing and forthcoming legislation
  • Exerting influence in the Private Rented Sector through involvement with Industry Commissions, Forums, Steering Committees, Working Groups etc
  • Customer recognition and consumer confidence leading to increased business opportunities.
  • National, Regional & Local media coverage – every month of the year ARLA and its members get a mention on hundreds of occasions in newspapers and magazines across the UK, on TV and Radio.
  • Access to a wide range of topical Training Courses – supporting and developing Education & Qualifications in the industry
  • A national network of member offices supported by a local regional structure providing excellent networking and feedback opportunities
  • Automatic access to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme for Regulated Agents (TDSRA)
  • The ARLA website – a source of information and business referrals; including the members only section for up to date news, information and links to legislation etc.
  • Free “health-check” of Tenancy Agreement and Terms of Business – Do yours take account of the latest legislation and regulations?
  • Lettingcareers.com – the jobsite for people in property – discounts for ARLA members
  • ARLA Conference & Exhibition, Seminars
  • Automatic qualification for acceptance into the National Approved Letting Scheme
  • Agreement Magazine – the bi-monthly ARLA member’s journal full of useful information
  • Promotional/Information Brochures & Leaflets
  • Buy to Let – the initiative invented by ARLA that has helped galvanise investment in the Private Rented sector over the last ten years. Free copies of the 224 page glossy A4 Buy to Let magazine for distribution to your clients.
  • Quarterly member surveys – your opportunity to provide feedback and statistics to help us promote and protect your interests
• We operate lettings from more than one office; does each office have to join individually?

  No; your firm or company joins and all the offices from which you are actively offering and carrying out lettings and/or management services will need to be paid for and come into membership.

• What are the basic criteria for my Firm or Company to comply with, and to successfully complete, the application process?

  To be eligible to be offered and subsequently elected to membership a firm or business must: -

  • Be trading in the business of residential letting and/or management mainly on behalf of third party clients (e.g. not just your own personal portfolio), usually for at least a minimum of six months (See more info [1] below)
  • Be operating from premises that are rated for business purposes and to which the public have access.
  • Be able to demonstrate compliance with our various Accounting rules e.g. to maintain at least one, designated pooled Client Bank Account separate from your Office or Trading account. (See more info [2] below)
  • To be able to provide an appropriate [New Member] Client Accounting Form completed and signed off by an Accountant registered as an Auditor. (See more info [3] below)
  • Provide evidence that it holds Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance, at the levels and scope of cover laid down by the Association. (See more info [4] below)
  • Have satisfied and completed the Association’s other current general application procedures, e.g. references, interview (See more info [5] below) etc.

  At the point of coming into membership, to confirm acceptance of the Associations Byelaws and rules of membership, as amended from time to time, but which include; the Code of Practice, accounting rules & requirements, complaints procedures etc. To have paid any relevant monies due by way of application fees, subscription charges, levy, bonding premiums relevant to membership.

  More info

  1. As a new company, the Association expects applicant firms to have, and be able to demonstrate, suitable knowledge of the lettings industry and to be reasonably experienced in operating their office systems, practices and procedures before applying for membership. This means that sufficient lettings and management operations as well as your client accounting processes or transactions will have been completed. The figures from these accounting processes can then be used to complete a Client Money Accounting form on application to ARLA.
  2. From your Bank we will require a standard letter to state that your client account(s) is/are set up in the correct manner and separate from your office or trading bank account(s). (A draft copy of this letter for you to get your bank to use will be provided to you on receipt of your application.)
  3. Included with the Application Form is a Client Money Accounting form which needs to be completed and signed off by your Accountant and will provide us with valuable information about your client accounts.
  4. Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance depends on your firms approximate annual (projected) fee income turnover. If your turnover is up to and including £150,000 then the Association requires that you have a PI minimum limit of £150,000. If your fee income turnover is in excess of £150,000 your PI limit needs to be at least £500,000.
  5. The Interview takes a maximum of an hour and a half, and follows a standard format to ensure a consistent and standard approach that allows the Applicant firm representatives the opportunity of demonstrating their knowledge of their business practices, procedures and the relevant legislation. The interview is broadly divided into five sections; (a) The firms Business Activities/Set-up/Staffing levels etc; (b) Basic Legislation & Technical Knowledge; practices and procedures relating to (c) Letting, (d) Property Management, (e) Client Accounting.
• How long does the application procedure take from submission to completion and what is the process for applying for ARLA membership for my Firm or Company?

  The timescale will depend on how quickly all the various bits of information can be provided by you; checked and collated by us and the process, including the interview, completed. Usually it takes between a minimum of five weeks to a maximum of nine weeks.

  • Firstly, obtain and complete an application form; return it to ARLA admin office with your cheque and as much of the relevant required documentation as you are able to provide at that stage.

  The following is an approximate guide to what happens next; naturally the timescales are dependent upon each individual case; the quality of the information required and how promptly it is supplied: -

  • During weeks 1 & 2 Provisional assessment of application; process of gathering and checking references etc commenced; notification to applicant firm of any additional or missing information or supporting documentation which will be required.
  • During weeks 3 & 4 Arrangements for Interview agreed, collation of documentation etc completed and signed off.
  • Week 5 & 6 Applicant Firm representatives attend Interview – final submission of any outstanding information/documentation followed by decision on offer of membership.
  • Week 7 + Applicant Firm informed of decision relating to offer of membership
• What are the costs involved?

  What are the costs involved?

  Download our guide to the Application Costs - 140K

  Application Fee

  There is a one-off application-processing fee £217.38 (incl. VAT of £32.38)

  New Member Subscription

  For new member firms joining during the year the amount due is calculated on a pro-rata basis from the date that the Membership commences up to and including next 31st March. Each subscription year starts from 1st April. (Subscription levels are reviewed annually)

  For the 2007 - 2008 year

  First or Main/Head Office	£406.55	(inc VAT of £60.55)
  Additional Branches	£138.65	(inc VAT of 20.65)

  Every existing member firm of ARLA has already contributed a single initial levy payment in order to help create our unique Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme. All new Member Firms are therefore required to make a similar initial contribution levy to the Bonding Scheme fund upon being offered membership.

  Initial Levy - Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme £150.00

  All ARLA Member Firms (except those who subscribe to the RICS Client Money Protection Insurance Scheme or, those firms who can demonstrate net capital assets in excess of £3 million pounds) must subscribe to the ARLA Bonding Insurance Scheme as a condition of membership. This levy helps contribute, along with amounts paid by the Association itself, towards maintaining the ring-fenced pool of funds, which can be called upon to help meet claims on the Bonding Scheme.

  Annual Premium - Client Money Protection Bonding Scheme

  £60 inclusive of IPT

• My lettings business operates from home, can my business join?

  Yes, as long as your premises have any necessary consents etc and your local council has the premises (or the specific office area or annexe etc) registered and rated for business purposes. Being rated for ‘Business Purposes’ will also mean that your office must be a place where members of the public can visit you.

• My company is purely Internet based - it doesn’t have any actual offices or branches or face-to-face public contact - will my business be able to join?

  At this point in time, we do not accept such firms. The legislation and regulations around letting and managing property and such things as the accounting rules make it an unsuitable industry for such an operation.

• What about franchised lettings operations?

  Because of their slightly different business model and the varying relationships with their head franchisor we consider such applications on a case-by-case basis but it will depend on the following main factors:

  1. The ability and/or degree of each franchisee to meet the application requirements and criteria for full Member Firm status, including ongoing requirements and obligations.
  2. The links and/or control and monitoring of the franchisor over the training, paperwork, processes and procedures of the franchisee.
  3. Specifically, the role, relationship and responsibility between the parties to the franchise agreement for the monitoring and compliance with the Association’s Client Accounting Byelaw (3).
  4. Specifically, the arrangements relating to the ending or termination or the reallocation of a local franchise and particularly the controls and processes relating to informing clients and customers of such changes to ensure that all client monies are properly accounted for and transferred as appropriate.