20th April 2004

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Following adverse reports of expensive Buy to Let teach-ins, ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents, has stepped in to fill the education gap for investors in the Private Rented Sector. Investor landlords already signing up for the day long Masterclasses state that they believe there are significant gaps in their knowledge of the legal and technical details of investing and renting they would like to cover.

The ARLA Masterclasses for Buy to Let investors will start in the North West next month. The first of the full day seminars is at the Manchester Conference Centre on May 13. This will be followed by London (May 21), Brighton (May 26) and Bristol (June 15). The programme will be rolled out in the Autumn to cover all the major centres of Buy to Let activity in the country.

As the lead professional body for the lettings industry, ARLA has been able to draw in experts from all parts of the industry to link up with ARLA member letting agents from each region. Senior executives from the mortgage, legal and insurance industries will take classes and be available to meet delegates face to face between the sessions.

Household names connected to the lettings industry who are providing speakers include leading Buy to Let members of the ARLA panel of Mortgage lenders like Paragon Mortgages, nationwide mortgage brokers, The Money Centre, and specialist insurance brokers for the Private Rented Sector, Letsure.

Said Masterclass organiser Sheila Manchester, "We have set out to find the most knowledgeable experts in this specialised area of property investment to take delegates through the details that every Buy to Let investor should know. This includes financing and protecting property investments to marketing and maximising returns and complying with legal requirements and landlord's obligations."

Mrs Manchester said that it was very apparent that a good many investor landlords, both new and experienced, are uncertain about various aspects of renting and of their obligations and rights.

Many of the subjects will be examined by solicitors who specialise in property law and experts in the health and safety requirements for rental property. There will also be look at the impact of the Budget on Buy to Let, especially the provisions for Real Estate Investment Trusts, REITS, and the potential for change likely to brought about by Self Invested Pension Plans, SIPPS.

Said Adrian Turner, Chief Executive of ARLA, "It is most important that ARLA, as the professional body for the sector, takes the lead in providing the latest and best guidance possible to those investing in residential rental property. We hope that anyone planning on making property investments will take full advantage of the expert views on offer and take the time to meet the local ARLA members who can help them to source the right properties and find good covenant tenants."

Full details of the ARLA Masterclasses are available on www.arla.co.uk or by calling the ticket hotline number 087 06 07 07 11. The ticket price for a full day of Masterclasses including all courses, full documentation, lunch and refreshments is £200 per delegate including VAT. There is a reduction for two tickets booked together of £25.

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