association of residential letting agents

The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) was formed in 1981 as the professional and regulatory body for letting agents. It was seen that so detailed and specific were the requirements of the residential lettings market that a separate organisation was required to promote standards in this growth sector of the property market.

ARLA appraises and regulates all member companies and provides guidelines, training and advice. This ensures that a framework of ethical standards and professionalism is maintained at a level far higher than the law demands as the skills of member firms and their staff are continually developed by ARLA seminars and training courses. These are held at national and local levels and one of Ashton Burkinshaw's Directors is an ARLA trainer.

Membership is only achieved after strict investigation and interview. ARLA members must have a full understanding of the terms and provisions of successive Rent Act's, Housing Act's, Landlord and Tenant legislation, Safety legislation and contract law.

ARLA is recognised by government and local authorities, consumer interest groups and the media as the leading professional body in the private rental market, now understood to be vital to the housing sector and the economy as a whole.

ARLA has the experience and knowledge to equip letting agents to deal with the complexities of letting for both landlords and tenants and to campaign for necessary changes in legislation and practices.

ARLA launched the Buy-to-Let scheme which is a joint initiative with mortgage lenders. The scheme is designed to help private individuals to invest in property to let without being penalised by mortgage surcharges or paying commercial rates of interest. Mortgage lenders in the Buy-to Let scheme will take account of rental income likely to be achieved from a property.

Ashton Wingate, Frances Burkinshaw and Douglas Rogers the individual companies prior to the merger into Ashton Burkinshaw have been members of ARLA since July 1985 and were the first members in Kent to join the Association. The Directors have always maintained a very high profile within the Association. Two of our Directors have previously been Chairman and one Vice President. There has always been at least one Director on the ARLA National Council.

Further information is available on the ARLA website.