RLA and NLA landlord associations to merge

The UK's two largest landlord associations, the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), have announced a merger.

Members voted in favour of the merger yesterday. The new single organisation, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), will now be formed and will have a membership of more than 80,000 landlords and manage around half a million properties, which is about 10% of the private rented sector.

The new association will launch officially on 1st January 2020.

The two chairs, Alan Ward of the RLA and Adrian Jeakings of the NLA, have said 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. We will be seeking candidates internally and externally and we would welcome expressions of interest from members for these posts."