National Landlords Association moves in on agents

The National Landlords Association looks set to be mounting a challenge to become a professional body within the lettings agency market.

The largest landlord organisation in the country, the NLA is now to link with the UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA), an organisation said to have around 500 letting agent members.

UKALA, which is based in Colchester, Essex, describes itself as “the professional association for the lettings industry”.

It goes on to claim that it is “a non-profit organisation registered with the government department responsible for housing”.

One of its member benefits is a special low rate is described as being at the “Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd tenancy deposit protection scheme”.

Although officially described as a “tie-up” and not an acquisition or takeover, UKALA members are to vote at their AGM next month on allowing the NLA to take over the management functions of UKALA.

Whatever the outcome, UKALA will benefit from the well-proven PR and lobbying power of the NLA’s staff, and UKALA members will also have access to client money protection insurance.

The relationship is seen by the NLA as a “channel to market”, according to one source, who said the move was tantamount to putting 'tanks on the lawns' of NFoPP.