A leaflet published by NFoPP has sparked a major row – because it says that members of the public should not use any type of letting agent other than an ARLA licensed agent.
The leaflet does not recommend NAEA agents who handle lettings (as most do) or non-licensed ARLA members. It even says that members of the public who do not use an ARLA licensed agent could find themselves at the end of poor advice, and could lose money as a result.
The leaflet, distributed to ARLA licensed agents at least some of whom have expressed their discomfort with it, caused uproar on our sister site, Letting Agent Today.
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In which case, I will apologise profusely in advance if I ever offend you!
Good film though.
CL, me 'n' Jason are so, so similar XX
FBA, have you just watched The Mechanic? I'm sure Jason Statham says that about judgement....
True though!
Advice for the 'marketing guru' who dreamt (dreampt or dreamed, depending on your view) up that fantastic leaflet.
If at first you don' t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
and
Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Oh well !
This tells us:
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
Has NFoPP forgotten their heritage? Big T has always been an immense force in agency and for him to be so angry made me think.
NAEA and ARLA were once in competition! NAEA members were supported in both sales and lettings - then they merged. I supported this merger.
Now that heritage is left behind and unless long standing NAEA members pay extra - they get SHAFTED by their new bedfellows in a process sanctioned by the umbrella NFoPP.
Its an UTTER disgrace and one which unless amended will lead to the down fall of the organisation.
In 25 years I have paid a lot of money to support and promote something in which I sincerely believed.
My reward? A leaflet which says Dont use an NAEA member. Trust me - my experience of lettings over nearly 30 years is immense - I am a qualified solicitor as well. But NFoPP offer me no respect and no value and didnt even have the decency to consult or let me know of their plans.
SHAME. NFoPP may not care - but I will NOT renew unless this is addressed and believe me - I will make this as public as humanly possible such is my anger.
Well! Well!
All the people at the top of NFoPP (they ARE the ones responsible) have just to read the posts on this site and they will realise how wrong they are and how confused things are, both for the various memberships and the public.
One other thougnt. It is not just about money protection.
It is about training, knowledge and experience. ARLA (lettings) and NAEA (sales) are seperate diciplines. Some train for both but nor all, therefore the NAEA logo does not guarantee the necessary qualification to the public for lettings & management and it should be sorted NOW!
@Headway - actually - that is an excellent point.
As an NAEA member - had I been president and heard that the NFoPP were publishing a leaflet undermining my organisation - I would find my position untenable.
NAEA President needs to comment to the loyal members.
As big T said - RIP. I cant imagine who suggested it and who said "Good idea"
It will be fascinating to see how this issue unfolds.
Climbdown or abandoned?
Where is our NAEA president? What is her view?
@confused - "after the "licensed" ARLA agents have taken them all away"
Now that IS funny. Even their own members are up in arms.
You contradict yourself - are you arguing with yourself as well? "2: The man in the street neither knows nor cares about the waffle of protection" So why would licensing change that?
ARLA managed to send out ONE leaflet to members and has anyone seen a press release to the public? NO
In fact - even the hierarchy of ARLA are arguing about it amongst themselves and other NFoPP members are incensed.
Personally - I don't care as no one appears to view ARLA as anything other than a self serving club of people who want freebies.
It seems many of you have too much time on your hands and worry needlessly about my blood pressure, anger management and opinion on the moon - stop worrying and get out there and serve your clients - if you have them after the "licensed" ARLA agents have taken them all away.
ARLA have shot themselves in both feet this time - thats for sure.
@confused - you seem like the type of chap who came up with this ill conceived plan as you appear oblivious to the issues the rest of us agree upon.
Diversification is key in this day and age - M&S sell food - Tesco sell clothes, both do banking. Works for them because they tell the consumer.
If everyone 'did what it said on the tin' then few business would exist today. The phone provider Orange would have to sell fruit!!
Confused
Very interesting post.
I won't put in print what I think of it. But judging from your mind-reading skills you probably already know.
However you might care to take a look round your local High Street and see how many of your competitors in both agency and letting describe themselves as Chartered Surveyors or display the lion logo, you might then get a true picture of what a Surveyor does.
Now I am confused by confused!! The angry one has missed the point entirely. But hey. Some people still think the moon is made of cheese.
Confused - You need to chill out mate. Its bad for your blood pressure.
NALS members of SAFEagents? There are many, many ARLA members & RICS member as well!
As regards your point 2 - the man on the street doesn't know the issues which is he why he doesn't care - a sad indictment of the abject failure of regulators to promote the message.
The more agents go bust, the more people WILL care. After an agent folded in one of our areas, this issue is raised by many Landlords as it was front page news and all over local forums.
And do you really think the average person differentiates between Lettings agents and Estate Agents - as many DO BOTH anyway!
Its also about raising standards and customers perceptions.
@Confused?
1: I do not know you and therefore am not your mate
2: The man in the street neither knows nor cares about the waffle of protection.
3: For the ordinary customer he "buys what it says on the tin" so arLa is Lettings. naEA are estate agents and riCS are chartered surveyors.
I can understand non-licenced ARLA members getting upset, but not NAEA or RICS since they do not spring to mind as dealing with lettings. All they have to do, if asked, is to explain the level of protection they can offer, as can agents who are NALS members of SAFEagents.
@confused the second - No mate - it really is YOU who miss the point.
A rose is but a rose and fact is RICS offer consumer protection where many organisations which include descriptive industry terms do not.
What is even more confusing is the fact ARLA imply that you should only used ARLA licensed members and suggest that you may lose money if you dont - yet their brother in the NAEA (estate agents) have the same protection.
Add in the fact that Lettings Agents are NOT estate agents in Law and arent bound by 1979 EA Act and its no wonder the public are confused.
The depth of knowledge of an RICS practioner eclipses most agents
@ ACE
Frankly I do not care how many years RICS members spent at UNI. My point was that their name says what they should do - surveying NOT letting so why would the ordinary person even think that they would?
Perhaps you are the one who is "sadly mistaken" for not understanding my initial point.
O dear Confused.
If you think RICS members undertake a 3/4 year University degree the APC, CPD etc just to do mortgage vals and HBR's you are sadly mistaken.
@Confused - good name.
The point is that RICS offer consumer protection as do the Law Society as well.
The point is emphasised by the fact that Guild of Professional Estate Agents does not - nor does the Guild of Lettings Agents.
RICS = Royal Institute of Chartered SURVEYORS.
Please tell me which bit refers to Lettings. Why would the proverbial man in the street think that you did anything other than survey? A bit like going into the butchers and asking to buy a pair of shoes!
Anon Coward - what about the Non Licensed members? They pay the same.
What about the NAEA division of NFoPP who offer the same protection?
Really?
ARLA promotes itself and its fully paid up members...
You are surprised?
Surely, isn't that what the subscription fees are for?
"We are ARLA - better than the rest."
If I were a member (I'm not) I would be REALLY ticked off if they spent all of my money saying "ARLA members are no better than anyone else really".
Deep breath and move on people.
Dave,
I am sorry to go on but I thought this forum was for all involved in Residential sales and Letting Agency.
I am not a member of NFOPP, ARLA or the NAEA. But I am perfectly entitled to do what I do and I am quite disgusted that any of these organisations would be so dismissive of the RICS qualification.
As I have said on the other thread, ARLA should be reported to the ASA if they have really made this claim and their senior people should apologise and stand down.
I believe that this massively flawed error of judgement will be recalled or amended pretty quickly so I will resist a knee jerk reaction. I can see the plan - forcing members into licensing which, for NFoPP means MORE members - simple.
Sadly, I think it will backfire on them. Even sadder - what does it say about the people in charge of NFoPP - I have lost a lot of faith in their judgement.
@Ace - I understand your point, but respectfully the article was really about the astonishing fact NFoPP are undermining their own members.
RICS are professionals - but what about the Law Society and NALS as well?
Well worth reading this one on the other site as the policy affects NAEA floggers as well as ARLA letters! Have a good day my friends! Big T (and, yes I am up already but can't find office keys - but will it matter?).
Rosalind,
Pleased to see that you are referring to this atory on this site. But it is disapointing that as in your original story you are not referring to RICS members and their role as letting agents.
We all know from previous articles that you are not very complimentary to the RICS and its publications. But we are entitled and qualified to practice in both residential sales and lettings