A row has broken out over a leaflet promoting ARLA licensed agents to consumers.
The leaflet fails to mention both ARLA members who are not licensed, and NAEA members who also handle lettings.
It also says that using any agent other than an ARLA licensed member could cause consumers financial loss.
The leaflet says: “A licensed ARLA agent is qualified and is required to keep up to date with the latest developments in the market and with the changing legislation affecting letting and property management.
“Without this knowledge and expertise, whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, you may be badly advised or misled – or you may even suffer financial loss as a result.”
The leaflet urges consumers to look on the ARLA website to check whether ‘your local letting and property management agent is licensed by ARLA’.
The leaflet has been sent to ARLA licensed agents, who are invited to display it in their offices, and to purchase more leaflets if they want. ARLA licensed members have also been sent a new window sticker.
The accompanying letter, which is headed by NAEA, ARLA, NAVA and ICBA logos, says: “We will be ensuring that, wherever possible, we tell the public that they must only use an ARLA Licensed Agent.
“However, we really need your help to achieve this. Please inform potential clients of your status by placing the enclosed sticker in a prominent position in the window of your office.
“This will offer you a marketing advantage and greater credibility than your unlicensed competitors.”
But the leaflet has not gone down well with everyone, with some agents expressing their disquiet.
One ARLA licensed member said he was astonished that the leaflet made no mention of non-licensed ARLA members, while Trevor Kent, an NAEA member and former president whose business offers both sales and lettings, said the leaflet was thoroughly divisive.
He said: “But it’s even worse than marginalisation of NAEA members, who of course have all the same public rental protection safeguards as ARLA.
“As I have been pointing out for ages, it is also ‘non-licensed’ members of ARLA and NAEA who are being spun against by their own associations.
“I really don’t see how NAEA, ARLA and NFoPP can live with themselves in following this divisive and ultimately self-destructive policy of inciting the public to only use ‘half of their own members’.
“We non-licensed members pay the same but soon won’t even be able to show a logo – unbelievable!
“Frankly, and I am really sorry to say this about an organisation I have served and promoted for free for decades, but I would not be surprised to see mass non-renewals at the end of the year.
“Will I have to reprint my cards with FNAEA MARLA RIP soon?"
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Comments
The point that has been missed here is that in 2012, ARLA seems to think the way to promote something is with a leaflet. Says it all really. That said, NALS are a shambles too.
Well - its saved me some money next year.
NAEA and ARLA membership removed from my budget. NALS and SAFE cheaper and more honourable and transparent.
Thanks NFoPP - you saved a debate at the next Board Meeting.
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!
@NALS Chap - I am an ARLA member but also joined NALS as I respect their ethos and lack of self promotion.
You make a valid point and you are right - the only way this can be addressed is with a cohesive voice. SAFE at least is focussed as you say on the consumer. as such, it has gained a lot of respect, momentum and support very quickly.
Likewise, just when we need a cohesive voice, NFoPP do the opposite and create divisions within. Madness.
I'm only a humble NALS member (and I have said it that way to forestall all you ARLA chaps saying NALS is only for unqualified oiks who want to appear as a professional regulated agent without the desire to qualify oneself) but with NALS you know exactly where you stand; one organisation, one voice, one message. And with their promotion/inception of SAFE, an organisation that genuinely has the interests of its members and their clients at the forefront of their strategic thinking.
Perhaps ARLA members will vote with their feet?
A reason the industry hasn't been properly regulated is there are simply too many bodies trying to represent it so the size of the Lobby to parliament just isn't weighty enough! For as long as ARLA/RICS/NALS et al keep up their pissing contest against one another, the government have the opportunity to divide and rule.
@Ace - nor have I. Perhaps they are on a fairway somewhere.....
I see this as an opportunity to promote the RICS brand - it will be shame if its a missed opportunity.
@ RICS Agent
Yes I have, but not had a response yet !
@ACE - spot on Sir! I hope you have made representations to RICS (I have) and that they will issue a press release reminding the public of their existence. I wont hold my breath though.... they are not great at promoting members interests - which sad for such a trusted brand.
Gregory,
You have missed the point. It is not the idea that the public should use only qualified or approved agents that is the issue, that in my view is extremely good advice.
The problem is that ARLA are claiming they have a monopoly on the situation which clearly they do not.
Such claims are extremely damaging 14and should not be made in any form by an organisation who aim to be respected by the public.
@GFD, I hope you are right but strongly suspect you are not.
so many comments - but the truth is, whilst it may anger industry - the members of the public who even know about ARLA simply wont care.
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.
NFoPP appears to be run by ARLA. I see4 little benefit to NAEA.
When I joined NAEA the represented my sales and lettings business - now just sales - did their go down? No.
So I joined ARLA as well whom I pay to shaft me and my NAEA membership.
I must be mad.
@ Gregory o'Neil - not a good business plan. Halve your dwindling membership overnight and go bust.
Doh!
Trevor Kent is talking sense - I just hope that NFoPP will heed his wise words.
Well, ARLA is a members club and they are free to do what they like.
I will say, this illustrates who wears the trousers in the NFoPP. Clearly NAEA stock has been down valued - what does the NAEA chairman think?
I am really disappointed at the ARLA campaign - its such a bad show for other NPoPP and RICS professionals and is extremely arrogant
I agree with ARLA and non licensed offices should be barred from NFOPP.
If you do not meet the criteria then get out of the business or step up and stop moaning.
HAHAHAHAHA - funny. Forget the idiots at ARLA. Laughing at the comments about EW. I never worked with him - but remember my first night out in his company - All I can say is 2003, David Blaine - food - police. I would defo make him PM..... he couldnt make things worse and at least it wouldn't be boring!! '
1. ARLA has really screwed up. Mad marketing or what.
2. I worked with EW as well and I know who you are 'sceptic'!! - in fairness Eric has strong views but knows his stuff like. He is the single biggest influence on me - but would I make him PM - no. We would be at war - with Wales within an hour!!
I agree with 'sceptic' - NEVER do the beer thing with him. He doesn't get hangovers. But we have had some GREAT nights!
EW and Bushells would like to promote responsible drinking - especially if we are buying.
I KNOW Mr Walker very well - and frankly I would make him Prime Minister - if you know him you will appreciate how funny that would be - in a nice way.
EW doesn't do " I respectfully disagree with the Right Hon. Gentleman" - you would get "Dear Boy - don't mean to be rude, but you are talking absolute Bollocks" - I worked with him for 3 years and trust me - he says what he thinks. Last comment - NEVER EVER try and match him beer for beer.
As usual - EW says what industry SHOULD say and as always without being horrid.
Eric for Housing Minister.... ?
I do not know anyone at ARLA.
I agree completely with Eric's comments regarding licensing, it would be desirable and helpful.
At present the industry is fragmented, and it is clear that some of the main players do not understand its full extent and complexity.
If ARLA wish to take a positive role in taking matters forward, they need to put up their hands and apologise to all those they have offended. Otherwise I see no future for them in our industry.
I don't agree with the ARLA stance regarding NAEA, RICS, NALS omission from their leaflet but I actually support the concept of licensing. ARLA has a vision - and its a noble one - but until the message to the consumer is a single voice - it wont work. Customers deserve respect and industry needs to step up to the mark and put their customers first. We exist because of them and they should be our number ONE priority.
I know many senior ARLA people and believe me - they sincerely care about standards and are good people. Nevertheless, there is an element of the 'establishment' that takes any new initiative as a challenge - almost an impertinence.
This has to change. ARLA has fractured the message to consumers and now have divided their own NFoPP brotherhood. I find that sad and astonishing in equal measure. I have been an NAEA and ARLA member for a long time. Now I find my offices omitted from ARLA search results.
I now have 3 unlicensed offices - yet customer have the same protection as they do for the licensed ones! The manager of another agent opposite one of my offices has an ARLA logo on his business card - yet has NO CMP as his company is not licensed. Confusing or what?
Does ARLA really expect my Clapham office to give out leaflets which suggest my Fulham office should not be entertained?
The principle is good - the delivery poor. How must professional colleagues at RICS feel? Or Law Society? Or NALS?
The ONLY way to educate the consumer and eradicate rogue agents in the absence of statutory regulation is to join forces and amplify the facts. That is why we helped form and promote SAFEagent. There is nothing in it for us other than a belief we can do something for the good of the industry without the politics.
SAFE agents numbers are swelling - are NFoPP's? No.
Support a cohesive principle and then fight for market share of member agents - don't draw the public into the politics. They are too important.
@ace - it was irony in respect of their PR abilities. But I agree. It really is disgraceful.
The reason SAFE agent has been so successful is epitomized by ARLA's actions. Instead of joining with others and sending a cohesive message to the public, they fracture in to self interested groups determined to out do each other thus causing further consumer confusion.
The more I see of SAFEagent the more I admire their non political stance weighted to the consumer not themselves.
@ Naea member - 21 years
Storm in a T-cup it isn't. How can a professional body make claims which are completly incorrect and get away with it.
ARLA's comments are totally irresponsible and unfair, the people in charge should do what the Murdochs did with the News of the World and wind the organisation up
Storm in a tea-cup - no one is going to distribute the leaflet anyway and with ARLA's PR, no one will know about it either.
Even their foray into twitter leaves you seeking a can of redbull - my favourite this week is "#ARLA's in-house coffee morning for @macmillancoffee has raised over £300!"
@ACE - I feel that is true of many regulators - they tend to be self serving and self interested. Personally, I have massive respect for RICS, but on this issue they are anonymous and refuse to engage with anyone on the subject.
Still, better to thought a fool than to be like ARLA and issue a leaflet removing all doubt.
@Arla Member
I am pleased you agree. As a sole RICS qualified practitioner, it is extremely disappointing how little support our governing body gives in these sort of circumstances.
They are happy to take our money and ensure we comply with the precise detail of the clients money rules, but they do nothing to promote what we do and allow organisations such as ARLA to walk all over us.
ace - I have a leaflet and it IS true and yes it is a slur on RICS professionals.
That said - if RICS is so concerned, perhaps you may like to explain why the word "Lettings" does not appear anywhere on the RICS website??
I haven't seen the leaflet. But if what you say in this report is true ARLA need reporting to the ASA.
As a member of the RICS I take great exception to the comment that only ARLA members offer proper advice to clients. I cannot speak for members of other organisations but these comments are truly outrageous and I hope they will be withdrawn immediately.
I think this new leaflet and licensing scheme is excellent. Well done PBK and Mr Potter.
I also think its a good idea to put pencils up your nose and pants on your head
Wibble.
It seems obvious that this was rushed to launch in an attempt to knock the wind out of SAFE's sails.
Now, rushed is a not a word usually associated to NFoPP as there are faster moving plants. Nevertheless, by their standards it has been thrown together hastily and as such is ill considered and clumsily executed.
I am certain that within a few months - this will have been dropped / amended / adapted - or knowing ARLA, all three in random order.
What is certain - it creates confusion and is frankly stupid beyond words.
Speechless - not that it matters as I am typing.
There is NO WAY ON GODS EARTH I am paying NFoPP another penny after this back stabbing
What will NFoPP do now - lose members or make a humiliating climbdown.
Again - the self proclaimed consumer guardians damage the industry. SAFE has tried to unite regulators - NFoPP fractures in to pieces all by itself.
This is the most cataclysmic error of judgement I have ever seen - and in the context of NFoPP - that is a sad indictment.
Get the SAFE steering committee to sort ARLA out - at least they get results in the real world because they work in the real world.
Rant over - for now.
Why am I not surprised. its all about people keeping their jobs in high places and getting the dosh in - the rest of us are just the pawns in their massive chess game. Which member of the public gives a dam about NAEA ARLA or anything else? its all just so rude to those of us who have paid in for all these years - and yes I am Licensed and NO nobody Ive told is interested!!!!!
Here is an idea.
Is there anyone out there who SUPPORTS these leaflets and licensing in their current form.
Just for some balance.
Well, clearly NFoPP doesn't give a toss about its fee paying members.
I URGE ALL NAEA MEMBERS TO EMAIL NFoPP AND ADVISE THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
@Ray Evans - you are spot on. ARLA and their NFoPP team have achieved nothing other than increasing costs and anonymity. There are secret societies who are better publicised.
If ARLA had any sense, they could have promoted themselves by piggy-backing SAFE - at least those guys know how to get a message across. Why? Because they are successful agents, not serial committee members who couldn't get an instruction if their lives we at stake.
Why couldnt they say 'we support SAFE initiative and remind the public that ARLA licensed member are the benchmark of professional standards" - I will tell you why - because they didn't think of it first.
This flawed concept has been 'rushed' to undermine SAFE and it has #failed.
Potter is too busy "expressing his fury" at anyone who doesn't see things his way, and PBK is the industry equivalent of Judith Chalmers - but less orange.
I just hope Tim Hyatt can drag them beyond the 19th Century.
I am appalled that as NAEA members, we weren't warned that our brother in ARLA were planning a campaign to UNDERMINE us and to tell the public NOT TO USE US!!!!
Surely, we could have been given a heads up and notice that we faced a choice to become ARLA licensed or get shafted.
Licensing CAN NOT succeed in its current format. If ARLA dont do something - they will wither and die.
Just a little more from me.....
A repeat from some time ago.
ARLA members are, on the whole, quite rightly proud of their specialist membership and their service, as I am sure are NAEA members with sales.
However, in my view even if both are offered under the same roof, they are entirely different. NAEA members who wish to do lettings should be qualified or become so and become ARLA members?
Great confusion is being caused, for both members and the public, by the 'blurring' of the differences between the specialist divisions - NAEA and ARLA which has occurred since the inception of NFoPP. Either keep them separate (which I think they should be because of the culture and the skills, qualifications, experience, required). If not, somehow fully integrate them properly.
1. Can anyone please give me a GOOD reason why the NFoPP continues to confuse members and the public by having the NAEA still involved/promoting Lettings when ARLA is the dedicated Lettings Division? (That includes you Mr Peter Bolton King)
2. However, at the moment being a Member of the NAEA or ARLA means very little, if anything, to the general public. Since the their amalgamation into the NFoPP they have lost their 'clout' and have just become part of an un-necessary overblown self-serving courses/insurance selling organization.
I say again, the general public do not know of or recognize it.
3. NFOPP, sort it, DO SOMETHING, get your act together and start promoting/protecting members interests instead of cosying up to every organization that wants to impose more costly conditions upon them or to sell them something. If you do not do so soon you will become defunct.
RIP ARLA. I am intending to dump my NAEA membership as I feel totally betrayed.
This was THE FIRST I heard of it - not even given an opportunity to gain Licensed status before leaflets undermining me hit the streets - not even the courtesy of a 'heads up'.
The only saving grace is that ARLA will fail in the PR stakes in telling the public about it
I am livid - and yet you know what? No one at NFoPP cares. The only time I hear from them is when my fees haven't been paid on time.
This nonsense is nothing to do with actual people trying to administer ARLA (the lettings division) or NAEA (the sales division - it is caused by the NFoPP - the CONTROLLING body!
The NAEA members who are in lettings should be grandfathered into ARLA? However it is done it must be sorted out and quickly or Big T's thoughts will become reality.
They are in a complete mess even with PBK being constantly 'promoted' from Secretary until he is now CEO (Chief Executive Officer!) Maybe a book should be written called "How to Confuse the Public"
This is even worse, if possible, than the arrogant NAEA approach re NAEA licensing. I have just completed my final NFOPP Lettings exam and had been planning to take the steps to be a member of ARLA as well as NAEA. Now wondering.
I have had no response from NAEA to my request for the alternatives to taking their expensive & inconvenient CPD courses. PBK says there are many options, but as far as I can tell NAEA don't actually tell us what these are. I would very much like to know just what the alternatives are, for both Lettings & Sales, and to have this information clearly stated on their website for all of us to see.
I have asked them for this info once by email, and once before via this medium. An answer is eagerly awaited, or even an acknowledgement.
I don't want to have a go at ARLA - but I have a dilemma.
I am a licensed member. 2 of my offices are not. I support regulation and the principle of licensing but how can I give out leaflets which tell landlords not to use 2 of my offices?
If I did this and promoted ARLA licensing, I would have 2 very unhappy managers BOTH OF WHOM are NAEA members.
Offices are always fighting over areas as it is!!
What is this? The Arrogant Regularoty Letting Autonomy?Who does ALRA think they are?
Despite the promise of a 'small supply of leaflets' - we got one. Fear not though - we can always BUY more.
ARLA is becoming obsolete. Its almost as if they are trying to self destruct. there is no way I am going to cough up for NAEA membership next year when the NFoPP has sanctioned this professional undermining of a sister organisation. Disgrace,.
Who makes these decisions? A couple of cronies who havent worked front line in years I suspect. NO ONE bothered to ask my opinion. I see no point in remaining with NAEA or ARLA. As one of my managers said "Is there any point? Landlords don't care and never ask."
WTF???? So - after 23 years as an NAEA member - ARLA (NFoPP) are actually telling consumers not to use me???
I am truly shocked and really cant believe its true.
I am with Big T on this. Its an absolute disgrace. How dare the association I have promoted kick me in the teeth in this way. We have already taken to decision that we will not renew our ARLA and NAEA memberships. Instead, we will join NALS and SAFE who actually understand that promoting consumer confidence is more important than filling ARLAs coffers.
This ill thought out plan is utterly unbelievable and will backfire.