Best Landlords Association To Join In 2025?

Landlords Association to join in 2024?

Most associations only represent residential landlords. The British Landlord Association represent the Residential and Commercial sectors.

The commercial sector needs less support from a professional organisation for several reasons.

Most commercial properties are let on a long lease under a full repairing and insuring lease.

Most commercial properties are let on leases that use forfeiture clauses. This means that court action may, in some instances, be unnecessary as a consequence of rent arrears.

Commercial tenants do not have the same protection as residential tenants and do not have as many charities supporting them.

If you own one property or an extensive property portfolio, joining a professional organisation from the list below is worth considering.

Membership consists of 1 person membership, company membership, business membership, letting agent membership well and family membership.

The membership fee can be paid monthly or an annual membership fee.

What is a landlord’s association?

It is a support network for private and corporate professional landlords, including letting agents. Its role is to provide support, educate on managing rental properties, raise standards, and represent the private rental sector.

Representation for its members is usually done by lobbying local and central government.

The board of directors and board members hold frequent monthly meetings and annual general meetings, at which members can attend and discuss any relevant issue.

They provide resources such as documents, Legal advice, legal obligations and courses, update their members with relevant legislation, and adopt best practices for managing rental properties.

They also play a crucial role in informing their members of new or pending legislation. The Tenant Deposit scheme is a good example. Many get caught out where they were not aware of the new law.

In the last few years, the Government has phased in new housing laws and introduced new tax rules for the real estate industry.

Are these landlord organisations useful?

They offer expert advice about tenancy issues or the rights and responsibilities of their members.

There is no let-up in the number of new legislation that affects how they can run their business.

They generally know the impact and challenges new legislation may have on their members and, crucially, what they must do to comply.

The private rented sector finds these organisations incredibly useful; they allow members to meet fellow landlords and property owners and learn what is happening in the property investment community.

The association campaign provides a positive collective voice and a valuable support network for its members.

They collate information and views about both the significant and minor developments in the buy-to-let market and the experiences encountered by their members.

By disseminating this information, they can help members better understand and prepare themselves for current market conditions and difficulties.

They function as a valuable resource for members where they can offer advice, practical tips and suggestions.

They speak to their members and, in turn, essential decision-makers such as the Government, local councils, and other associations.

They function as an influential pressure group for its members to voice concerns. They can use the pressure to influence decision-makers to consider their members’ interests.

What to consider when joining an association?

What are the benefits of joining?
What is a national landlord’s association?
What is the cost of joining?
How are national associations funded?
List of associations in the UK
Which associations can I join?

They are keen to ensure all members know any new legislation and best practices relevant to them.

What are the benefits of joining an association?

Generally, they may offer the following membership benefits:

The telephone helpline provides legal advice to members on all property-related issues, including rent arrears.
Gives members peace of mind, especially when meeting other like-minded people.
Help and guidance for private as well as corporate landlords.
Some offer access to discounted Deposit Protection Schemes.
Information for members on regulations and current legal requirements.
Good relevant source of case law for England, Wales & Scotland
A broad selection of documents with various assured shorthold tenancy agreement templates.
Wide range of discounts on 3rd party member services
Advice on a periodic tenancy
Meet fellow investors, national or local, to listen & discuss landlords’ issues.
Strengthens the community’s voice, which can be particularly useful when petitioning against unfair regulations.
Be a voice for its members and seek to influence draft legislation.
Best practices for property management
Landlord Training Courses & Accreditation Scheme
They can help you with difficult tenants.
Access the latest section 21 eviction notice template, including the section 8 eviction notice.
Tenant credit & reference checks for prospective tenants through approved providers.
Landlord insurance and access to lenders who specialise in buy-let mortgages.
Most national landlords’ associations can help members with the court possession process.
Health & Safety HSSR Guidance.
Discount on events relevant to members
Universal Credit & Direct payment procedure guidance
Gas inspections: Discounted gas safety certificate
Property development advice (General)
Leasehold property, lease negotiation basic advice

Letting agents can benefit from joining an organisation like ARLA. Some discounts on products available to members offer considerable savings for letting agents.

It is crucial for letting agents, landlords and property managers be aware of the new legislation so they are compliant.

The consequences of non-compliance with most of the new legislation include a financial penalty, in some cases, of up to £30,000, and potentially, a section 21 notice will be invalid. These are just some of the recent legislation:

What is a national landlord’s association?

A national landlords association will cover England, Wales, and Scotland members. The two national associations are:

The British Landlord Association – The BLA
The National Residential Landlord Association – The NRLA

You can find out from your council housing department if you have any local or regional organisations in your area.

Local and regional organisations generally do not have the same resources, support, or influence as the national ones.

However, local ones have a good knowledge of local issues and a much better understanding than the national associations.

Local associations are significant; some work alongside national ones to provide a better service with a louder voice.

The BLA and the NRLA are one of the largest membership organisations in the UK.

The BLA claims to be the fastest-growing national landlord organisation in the UK. Given its impressive list of free services and competitive membership, its rapid growth is unsurprising.

How are the National Landlord’s Association funded?

Generally, they are funded by fees charged to members who join. They also receive payments for the products sold through them, such as building insurance, credit referencing, deposit protection, and data sales to third parties for marketing purposes.

The BLA does not sell its member’s data.

Revenue is also generated from advertising through various media that associations use.

British Landlords Association – (The BLA)

The BLA is a national landlord association and is the only one that covers the commercial & residential sectors. The membership is available for landlords or letting agents can join.

They currently have just over 40,000+ members. It is one of the fastest-growing associations when it comes to members.

National Residential Landlords Association

The NRLA is an organisation for landlords in the UK, with over 65,000 members.

The two associations, the NLA & RLA, have recently merged to create the NRLA. The total membership is likely to be around 65,000+.

The NRLA’s campaigning skills and reach far exceed those of other associations. The NRLA runs a helpline for members Monday through Friday.

iHowz iHOWZ is not a national association. However, it is another excellent organisation. Founded in 1974, iHOWZ seems to have a solid, loyal member base.

We were not able to ascertain their total membership numbers. iHOWZ offers numerous services, all of the primary services others provide.

It is an association that is enthusiastic about what they do and the service they provide. Their website states: “Many organisations do similar, but iHowz exists purely to help, not make a profit nor pay directors large sums”.

You can choose which one best suits you and your requirements.

Resident Landlord Association

Resident landlord associations are popular, relatively small, and local. Resident property owners are those who rent a room in their homes. Resident landlord associations can be a great asset for homeowners, who can receive practical advice on letting lodgers.

They offer their members, who are all private landlords, telephone advice on various topics, such as gas safety certificates, electrical safety reports, EICR, and mediation services.

The benefits of joining a resident landlord association are:

Landlord Advice
Notice periods advice for resident landlord
Rental property insurance
Lockdown restrictions advice
Health & Safety guidance
Free forms to download.
Housing benefit landlord advice

The disadvantages of a resident landlord are obvious: a lack of homeowner privacy, potential abuse of utility, and compromised security.

Commercial Property Landlord Association

The property industry has two sectors: residential and commercial. Commercial landlords seem professional, usually full-time landlords with long-term investment property portfolios.

Members who require landlord advice have access to commercial property solicitors. The other membership benefits are the same as those for residential members.

What is the cost of joining an association?

The cost of joining a national association varies. However, there are many small local ones too. The only downside to obtaining membership with a local organisation is you are unlikely to receive the benefits you would receive by joining a national association.

The information and list provided will help you choose which one best suits you. The membership fee varies from full free membership to membership costing £160 to £75. The fee structure depends on which association and level of membership you take.

Membership benefits vary from local and national organisations, with national ones providing a more comprehensive range of services.

Is there a good association that I can join?

To our knowledge, the BLA does not take a commission on eviction services, legal services, and so many other products.

This, of course, means members will receive 100% of the discount passed to them. The BLA does not allow advertising through its website or social media platforms. The only exception to this is charities the BLA supports, like (CAP) Christians Against Poverty.

The BLA staff, including the CEO and its lawyers, are 100% dedicated to helping members and campaigning for landlords to be treated fairly. They are unpaid volunteers working full-time, which allows them to offer a unique service to landlords nationally.

How do I join a national association?

You can join by visiting the website or contacting them by telephone. The two national associations, The BLA and the NRLA are happy to discuss their benefits and products with you.

Once you join and become a member, log in to your membership account. Apart from legal advice, you can do most things online.

Which are recommended for membership?

Which one you should join is a matter of preference.

However, I would say the BLA provides the best value for its members, and the services it offers in some areas are the best among all others.

Ihowz and the BLA members seemed the happiest with their membership out of the ones I spoke to. Due to the time factor, I could only find details of a few members from each organisation listed, so my finding may not be accurate.

The British Landlord Association (The BLA) and the NRLA cover Scotland too. The NRLA has formidable resources and campaigning experience.

List of associations in the UK 2025

Please let us know if we have missed any organisations on this list. To access the websites, click on the links above.

Reasons why to Join the British Landlords Association

Legal Support: The British Landlords Association offers comprehensive legal support, including advice on tenancy agreements, eviction procedures, and landlord rights, helping you navigate complex legal matters with confidence.
Tenant Screening Assistance: The British Landlords Association provides tools and resources for effectively screening potential tenants, reducing the risk of renting to unreliable individuals and minimising vacancy periods.
Legislative Updates: Stay informed about changes in legislation affecting landlords with timely updates from the British Landlords Association, ensuring you remain compliant with evolving regulations and laws.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow landlords through networking events, forums, and online communities facilitated by the British Landlords Association, fostering valuable relationships and knowledge-sharing.
Educational Resources: You can access a wealth of educational materials, including workshops, seminars, and online courses covering topics such as property management best practices, maintenance tips, and financial strategies.
Negotiated Discounts: Benefit from exclusive discounts and deals negotiated by the British Landlords Association with various service providers, including insurance companies, maintenance contractors, and property management software providers.
Tenant Dispute Resolution: Receive guidance and support from the British Landlords Association in resolving tenants’ disputes, helping mitigate conflicts and maintaining positive landlord-tenant relationships.
Advocacy Representation: The British Landlords Association actively advocates for landlords’ rights and interests at local, national, and governmental levels, influencing policy decisions and legislative initiatives that impact the rental market.
Property Investment Advice: Tap into expert advice and insights from seasoned property investors and industry professionals affiliated with the British Landlords Association, empowering you to make informed decisions and maximise investment returns.
Community Support: Join a community of like-minded landlords who share your passion for property investment and rental management. The British Landlords Association provides support, encouragement, and camaraderie.

To Join the BLA, click here; its only £79.95 per year.

Date: 1st of January 2025

British Landlords Association