The first letting agents in Scotland have completed a new training course, ahead of the mandatory licensing regime in the country by next January.
By then, letting agents must be compliant with new rules which include training, following a letting agency code of practice and being listed on a public register.
A total of 81 agents have now graduated from a programme called LETWELL, developed by Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS) and the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland.
LETWELL is also supported by the Council of Letting Agents and the Scottish Association of Landlords, which are promoting the courses.
A LETWELL spokesperson said: “We have seen a steady increase in awareness amongst letting agents but there is still more to be done to ensure everyone who needs to be, is compliant by the deadline.
“As well as agents, lawyers who undertake letting work will also be required to register and, in some cases, complete additional training and qualification.”
What happens in Scotland does eventually seem to head south, if the introduction of a lettings fee ban is anything to go by.
There remains pressure on Westminster to introduce regulation of letting agents in England – something that Scotland is doing and that Wales has already done, through its Rent Smart Wales scheme.
This is an expensive course; an LAS accredited learner will pay £1020, a CLA member will pay £1080 and anyone else £1530 – lets hope that there will be some more cost effective alternatives soon. I agree with mandatory licensing of agents, I just think it shouldn’t be so costly.
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ARLA bundles range from £230 to £300. http://www.arla.co.uk/lobbying/scotland-agent-regulation/
I understand those who have already completed the level 6 ARLA Scottish qualification in the past 3 years and have maintained CPD during this time, meet the necessary requirements. So certainly more than 81 people qualified in Scotland!
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I did the ARLA course years ago and learnt very little from it. The training courses I’ve done with LAS have been excellent with the knowledged gained from the face to face learning more easily retained and applied in practice. You get what you pay for!
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