David Salusbury, former chairman of the National Landlords Association, the UK Association of Letting Agents, and of mydeposits, has died at 74 after a short illness.

A familiar and distinctive figure at many industry events, Salusbury served 30 years with the RAF before joining the then Small Landlords Association in 2001 and becoming its chairman in 2003.

Charged with turning the body into a national association, he changed the name to the NLA and went on to lead it for over ten years, overseeing its remarkable transformation into an organisation consulted by the Government and with over 16,000 members.

He served as chair of the NLA spin-off mydeposits, an insurance-based deposit protection scheme, and also brokered the deal with UKALA in 2010, serving as its chairman until 2016.

Richard Lambert, CEO at the NLA, said: “Throughout his life and career, David Salusbury commanded respect. Without his drive and determination, the NLA would be unrecognisable as the organisation it is today.”

Eddie Hooker, CEO of insurance firm Hamilton Fraser and of mydeposits, said: “David was instrumental in helping found and set  up mydeposits, with myself way back in 2006 and I will forever be in his debt for his drive, commitment and belief in both tenancy deposit protection and the ability of my team at Hamilton Frazer to deliver a workable scheme.

“David was extremely proud of his achievement with my deposits and he and I spent many hours every week discussing strategy right up untkil the end.

“He was both a mentor and a chairman in the truest sense, but above all a great friend and I will miss him tremendously.”

There is a full tribute here:

https://landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/former-nla-chairman-david-salusbury-obituary