17 June 2003
The continued importance of the rental market, boosted by the nation’s interest in Buy to Let, is attracting more and more people to make a career in lettings and residential management. Residential lettings has been described as the sunrise sector of the property industry.
Responding to this, and the demand for career development with recognisable qualifications, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, ARLA, the lead professional body for the sector, has opened up a wide range of membership categories for Individuals. This wider membership of ARLA is also expected to stimulate public awareness of the need to use letting agents that are regulated by a professional body.
The new membership categories are being introduced alongside a new industry qualification, the “Technical Award in Residential Letting and Property Management”. This is approved by the government’s Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and is designed to compliment existing ARLA qualifications.
The Association readily admits it expects new Individual members to help carry the ARLA message of high standards, proper client accounting and the benefits of qualified staff into firms of letting agents that have yet to apply for corporate ARLA membership. Corporate membership for firms is the core form of membership of the Association, which regulates some 1,500 lettings offices in ARLA throughout the country.
Announcing the new Individual membership categories, Adrian Turner, Chief Executive of ARLA, pointed out that nearly 25 years ago ARLA was formed because no other professional body was dedicated solely to the lettings market.
“Providing an option of Individual membership in the leading organisation dedicated exclusively to the sector has wide appeal to those who are committed to operating to high standards. They also want to gain from an organisation which is focussed solely on their industry and promoting their interests - not distracted by other strands of the property market. This is particularly important as the sector grows, more legislation is planned and introduced and since Buy to Let has helped to make lettings into the sunrise sector of the property industry,” Mr Turner explained.
“ARLA standards are a benchmark for the entire lettings industry, much of it framed in legislation by successive governments, and recognised by the public,” Mr Turner said. “Now, by introducing and strengthening membership categories for Individuals looking to enhance their careers and wanting to demonstrate their commitment and ability by acquiring an appropriate qualification, we aim to take the ARLA messages of standards and financial probity into every corner of the Private Rented Sector,” he added.
Evidence of the demand for career enhancing qualifications and Individual membership of the Association comes from the thousands of people attending ARLA training courses and the expanding numbers of lettings staff sitting for ARLA qualifications.
Since ARLA paved the way for recognisable qualifications for the lettings industry in 1997, over 4,300 candidates have gained ARLA qualifications at Level 1 and Level 2. On top of this already large number of successful candidates, the numbers of applicants pursuing qualifications continue to grow. A record 600 are expected to sit for the next round in July.
Said Adrian Turner, “This continuously rising demand for ARLA training and qualifications is a sure demonstration of the need and desire for Individual membership categories within the professional body for the Private Rented Sector. Much of this comes from employees of firms that have yet to join the Association.”
The new categories of individual membership are: Member, MARLA, for suitably qualified individuals working directly for a Lettings and Management firm, and Fellow, FARLA for suitably qualified individuals employed continuously in the industry for at least five years.
“We recognise that Individuals who are not employed by ARLA corporate member firms have no control over their employer’s client accounting, indemnity insurance and bonding procedures. However, with the MARLA or FARLA letters after their individual names, the public will have reason to be reassured by their knowledge and abilities. Also, hopefully, it will not be long before their employer is persuaded to become a full corporate member firm and to benefit from the increased status and business opportunities that come with the use of the ARLA logo” Adrian Turner commented.
Another category of individual membership is Associate Member, AARLA. This is for individuals with a suitable qualification but who work in specialist areas supplying technical services and products to the Private Rented Sector. There is also an Honorary Individual membership. This is for those who have retired, who are no longer involved in the industry or who have made a significant contribution to the industry or the Association.
Full details of the membership categories, the qualifications and syllabus and the benefits of Individual membership on career development in lettings and residential management can be downloaded from
www.arla.co.uk . Job opportunities within the Private Rented Sector can be found at
www.lettingcareers.com
