Research among the membership of both organisations has indicated the need for a national unified voice for private-residential landlords. Following several months of negotiations between the governing bodies of the NFRL and NLA, this merger reflects landlords’ desires that their views are represented with one voice to policy-makers. The merger will create the largest representative body for landlords in the United Kingdom.
The larger NLA, combining the strengths of both organisations, will better represent the needs of all landlords at a time when the private-rented sector faces major challenges, according to the associations. The merger will mean a wider range of products and services being made available to members as well as a significant development of local landlord networks.
David Salusbury, Chairman, NLA, in welcoming the merger, said: “The aims and objectives of the NFRL and NLA are very similar. It is these synergies which make the merger an obvious next step for both organisations.
“The newly enlarged NLA, with almost 20,000 paid-up landlord members, is now the pre-eminent voice for the private-rented sector and this will mean increased commercial benefits to our members but also a greater ability to influence policy at all levels. At a time of doom-mongering headlines about the housing market, this merger is good news for the entire private-rented sector.”
Current members of the NFRL will automatically become members of the NLA. The five existing directors at the NLA will remain in place but will be augmented by two former NFRL directors. One of the new NLA directors, Barry Markham (former NFRL Chairman), will become a Vice Chairman of the NLA.
