kerbut Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Out of interest I was wondering (after reading a post on Landlordzone ) how many of us on this forum are members of the NLA , I am not and don't know if it is beneficial or not as there so many ways to get information ,documents etc.now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grampa Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 I would say it is very advisable for every private landlord who doesn't use a agent to join a landlord organisation at some time. I would say the same for agents also. How else can you keep up to date with all the changes in law and best practices and tips. Other than using this site of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richlist Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 No, never been a member, don't feel like I've missed much and unlikely to ever join. However, I'm always open to persuasion if there is a compelling argument in favour of joining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melboy Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 I'm with Richlist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerbut Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 How else can you keep up to date with all the changes in law and best practices and tips. Other than using this site of course. Well, that exactly it Grampa, there is so much to be learnt from the various forums, Landlord zone website ,Tessa Shepperson @Landlord Law etc , I wondered it if it is worth it ,I am pretty well up to speed on the rules and regulations and if I dont know will as the question on a forum. Edit to add : I belong to a local "Landlords Club" which is run by our local district council (I think its just the councils way to win landlords to take benefit tenants , didnt work here ) and I am now an accredited Landlord as I am a member of the "club" which is affiliated to NLA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richlist Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 I think membership would be a big help for new landlords as I suspect it offers lots of good advice and benefits such as forms & legal support etc......but I'd really like a list of the benefits of joining. Many of us here are seasoned landlords who have been round the block a few times and I'd need to be convinced that the (tax deductible) membership fees were going to provide a worthwhile return. And.....before anyone suggests that I'm just being arrogant..... none of us know all the answers and I still learn something new almost every week but that in itself is just not a sufficient reason to join the NLA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I had thought I was a bit small for this expense but now see that free Associate registration is offered by NLA and I may reconsider. Helpful NLA Code of Practice is available to view on their site without registering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melboy Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 That's a lovely word........free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richlist Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Nothing in life is really 'free'......someone, somewhere is paying and often its the recipient of the 'free' service via the back door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerbut Posted August 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I think the only free bit is : That’s why we are making our approved tenancy agreements (which cover England, Wales and Scotland available to you for free), along with the other sample forms and letters which a landlord may need during the life cycle of a tenancy. Which we all have already . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortitia Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 I'm not a member and don't intend to join - for a few forms? - and their legal not as good as you will find on LLZ by some top legal bods for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdh198 Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 I'm a member! It's only £98 a year to be a member, and once you are there is an enormous amount of reliable advice and assistance available to you. There are also discounts for a whole variety of products landlords need from rent insurance to legal advice. One benefit of membership I regularly use (although I'm not sure if it might be available via other routes to non-members) is their extremely comprehensive search engine for buy-to-let mortgages. I always use that resource to sort out my mortgages. It's free, and you even get a cash incentive each time you take a mortgage out that has been sourced through that route (usually between £80 to £250, so that, by itself, easily covers the yearly membership fee). Every time I have used it I have had access to all the best rates (which I’ve checked with independent mortgage brokers), so you'll be saving money there too. One final benefit of being a member is the collective political influence. As membership of the NLA has grown so too has its political influence, and that alone I think makes it worth every 9800 pence of its membership! As landlords, we need to stick together and stand up for our interests (especially when we are always blamed by certain sections of the media for everything from providing slum conditions to increasing house prices at the expense of first time buyers). The NLA is an excellent association for that purpose. For that reason alone every landlord in the country should be a member! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortitia Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Well does it have any political influence? Often on TV news items the head of the NLA is briefly interviewed not covering the main issues that affect most of us and that is it. He is just a suit and probably an estate or letting agent! Not exactly at the grass roots of landlordism. (Spellcheck does not like that word.) I don't see this government taking a lot of notice of anything let alone landlords having to deal with fey judges and laws on the matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richlist Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 One final benefit of being a member is the collective political influence. Can you name three (3) advantages for Landlords that have been achieved by the NLA through political influence ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melboy Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 One final benefit of being a member is the collective political influence. Can you name three (3) advantages for Landlords that have been achieved by the NLA through political influence ? 'erm? No I can't. So no surprise there then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdh198 Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Do these count? http://www.landlords.org.uk/about-nla/aims-achievements I know it’s only the NLA singing their own praises (and it also looks a little out of date!), but there is a wider point and that is landlords need some form of collective presence. So far the NLA is the only one we have. Without the NLA we are left as individuals commenting on internet forums about negative, misinformed or hostile comments in the press which no one in Government or the wider public will ever hear, let alone listen to. The NLA is not perfect, but it’s an important step in the right direction. Its membership is steadily growing year on year and if we all get involved we can help the NLA become the pressure group and representative body we want and need. I heard David Lammy in a radio interview yesterday (he’s a Labour MP in London and now a candidate for London Mayor in 2016). His views on housing really do need to be challenged and an effective way of doing that is through organisations like the NLA. Fortunately I’m also a London resident so I can at least put one vote against him should he become the official labour candidate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdh198 Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I don't see this government taking a lot of notice of anything let alone landlords having to deal with fey judges and laws on the matter. I think you'd be surprised how many Conservative MPs are landlords: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ad1a739c-0f1c-11e2-9343-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz3CRoj73pg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortitia Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 That my dear Solent means nowt. An MP will take money wherever he/she can and if that means renting out something they will - that does not mean they will campaign for fairer deals for landlords and I wonder just how many are renting to HB tenants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melboy Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 I can't think of one thing over the years that has improved the lot/life of being a landlord. It has all been about more and more legistlation some good...... most bad. The problem is like everything else in life it is the minority that spoil it for the majority and so it is with bad minority landlords. This Government and any other Government wouldn't give two hoots about any organisation that was against their proposals and future legistlation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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