NLA / NFRL merger challenge

The big news in landlord world at the moment is the recent announcement of the merger of the two big landlords associations, the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the National Federation of Residential Landlords (NFRL).

However I am sure many landlords will be frustrated to read that there appears to be a question mark over this happening, due to wrangling at NFRL director level. This report states that two of the directors, who were apparently not present at a crucial meeting or party to the merger statement, are thinking of challenging the its validity.

I have to say that I am not really surprised. The world of landlord associations seems to be riven with strife and argument. A few years ago the main organisation was the NFRL. At that time this was an umbrella organisation which most local organisations belonged to, including the NLA (then called the Small Landlords Association). This seemed a very sensible idea as it allowed local organisations to keep their own identity but to work together at national level.

However then, due to various arguments, various large associations left the NFRL to go it alone, including the then Small Landlords Association, and the NFRL as a result became less representative. This was bad news for landlords in general, as smaller organisations carry less clout when lobbying government. (Although the Small Landlords/NLA then went from strength to strength, becoming very large (hence the name change) and they now manage one of the three government authorised tenancy deposit protection schemes.)

Every now and again I received reports (from my landlord association mole) about what was going on, mainly in the NFRL, and it was generally depressing news about director level tiffs and spats. Which I felt was an enormous shame, as landlords need a unified body to speak for them at government level.

So I really hope that this time they will be able to over come their differences (whatever they are – and I am sure that the majority of landlords do not really care what they are) and start to work together for the good of ordinary landlords. Which after all is what they are there for.