Letting agent registration scheme launches (NALS)

Landlords using a letting agent may be interested in the recent launch of a new licensing scheme for letting agents guaranteeing a minimum standard of service.

To gain NALS certification a letting agency must hold professional indemnity and client money protection insurance.

It must also have a customer complaints procedure in place and meet defined standards of customer service.

All letting agents bearing the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) logo can now call themselves NALS licensed following the introduction of new regulations.

The move has taken operation with immediate effect and licenses are now being issued to participating letting agents around the UK.

The NALS scheme is supported by government and professional bodies such as ARLA, NAEA and RICS.

NALS chairwoman Caroline Pickering said the move would benefit letting agents, landlords and consumers as it represents a move towards a more regulated industry.

"The consumer directly engages with the term licensed and instantly connects this with protection, demonstrable quality and a benchmark of acceptable standards," she said.

The 1,400 letting agents which are already registered with the scheme will now become licensed.


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