This month sees the launch of a new trade body for the lettings sector – the National Residential Landlords Association.

It’s the offspring of the two landlord bodies which in the autumn agreed to merge – the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association.

The new organisation – which formally comes in mid-January – will have a membership of more than 80,000 landlords making it by far the largest organisation in the sector. 

Its members will own and manage half a million properties in England and Wales, about 10 per cent of the private rented sector. 

Ben Beadle is to be the chief executive of the new body, having formerly been director of operations at Touchstone, part of the Places for People housing group. Previously he was managing director of TDS Northern Ireland and Director of Customer Service with the TDS, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.  

The two outgoing chairs of the RLA and NLA, Alan Ward and Adrian Jerkings – who both leave their posts this month – say in a joint statement: “We are delighted that landlords have backed plans for a new, stronger body to represent them and their interests.The new organisation will have a more powerful voice to support landlords, provide services to them and to lobby government.

“Both organisations will now move forward together to appoint a new chair and directors for the NRLA.”