FAQ's

What is Landlord Accreditation Wales?

The Landlord Accreditation Wales (LAW) Scheme is a national scheme. It recognises good landlords and helps them differentiate themselves from less reputable landlords who give the rental market a bad name. It also allows tenants to seek out professional landlords who offer good, well managed accommodation.

It works by accrediting the landlord, not the property, therefore identifying the participants as competent and professional in their dealings with their properties and tenants, and with the skills necessary to run a successful business.

As an organisation LAW supports landlords with information and guidance on changes in legislation as well as sharing best practice. LAW is recognised by its distinctive logo (shown at the top of this web page), which members are able to use as a badge to demonstrate their professionalism and gain market advantage.

Who can become accredited?

Any individual, partnership, limited company or agent can be accredited; including people thinking about becoming a landlord who do not own property at present.

How do I become accredited?

An individual applicant is required to do the following to become accredited:

Sign a declaration that they are a 'fit and proper' person
Agree to the Code of Conduct set out by the scheme
Successfully complete a one day professional development course.

I am part of an organisation. Can the organisation be accredited?

Yes.

In order for an organisation to become accredited (whether a partnership or limited company, including agents) you must meet the following criteria:

All staff including Directors or Partners actively involved in the rental business must sign up to the code of conduct and certify themselves as fit and proper.
Two thirds (2/3) (rounded up) of the staff, including Directors or Partners actively involved in the rental business must successfully complete the one day development course.
If the company is an agent, they must be a member of a recognised professional scheme for managing or letting agents. This includes:
- The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
- National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS)
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
- Association of Letting & Management Agents (ALMA) [South Wales only]
or any other scheme to a similar standard, recognised by the scheme administrator.

All individuals who sign up to become accredited and successfully complete the course will contribute towards the organisation becoming accredited as well as become accredited in their own right.

How much does it cost to become an accredited landlord?

There is no fee associated with becoming accredited. However there is a charge to cover the cost of the development course, which you must attend to be part of the scheme.

The course costs £75.00 if booked on-line. This is a 20% price reduction on the normal fee of £90.00 , which applies for paper applicants.

How long does accreditation last?

Accreditation lasts for five years. We will contact you when your accreditation is due to expire and advise you of the procedure for renewing. This will involve a re-declaration and submitting a record of your continued professional development (CPD) activities.

CPD points can be accrued by attending additional training, landlord information days, forum meetings and by being a member of a recognised landlord association, essentially all the things members will do in order to maintain their level of knowledge and expertise. During the 5 year life of your accreditation you may be contacted at random to check your CPD activities. It is therefore recommended to average 10 points per year.

What is a 'fit and proper' person?

The definition of a fit and proper person comes from the Housing Act 2004, and broadly speaking it is a person who can be reasonably assumed to be a good landlord.

The definition of a fit and proper person can be found here.

What does the Code of Conduct require of me?

It requires landlords to work within the legal rules relating to letting and managing. It also requires urgent work to be carried out promptly, and where on-going maintenance is required, a plan of action should be drawn up and made available for tenants and Local Authority staff to view.

To read all the points in the Code of Conduct click here.

What will the course teach me?

The course provides an overview of the major rules and regulations that should be adhered to when running a successful business. This includes landlord and tenancy issues, health and safety, contracts and property management. To complement the course you will also receive a reference copy of a Landlord Guide, which will comprehensively cover issues taught in the course, and more.

How will the LAW scheme benefit me?

Recognition: Being an LAW Accredited Landlord you will be set apart from the rest. The scheme will provide public recognition that you are a reputable landlord who not only maintains property standards, but who also treats tenants fairly and manages the property well.
Market Advantage: The LAW marketing campaign will ensure that accreditation is understood and widely recognised by current and future tenants. The LAW website also contains a property database allowing tenants to search for Accredited Landlords and the properties they let. Also in some areas the scheme is fully supported and linked into initiatives run by Universities, etc.
Branding: You will be able to use the LAW logo in adverts and letterheads to promote yourself, giving you an edge above the rest.
Information: As an accredited landlord you will have access to training and best practice guidance. Landlords can take advantage of our guidance materials and events to enable them to understand fully property management and how to deal with tenancies in an ever changing environment.
Supplier Benefits: As an accredited landlord you will have access to a range of specially discounted services which have been negotiated for you by LAW. See our up to date list of rewards.

What do I get when I become a member?

Once part of the scheme, we will provide you with:

A membership information pack
A membership card with membership number
Your accreditation certificate
The scheme logo design and standards

I am already accredited with the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme; do I also need to join this scheme?

Yes, you should join this scheme, and you will benefit from being bi-passed into full membership of LAW, with no need to attend the day's training or pay the fee.

As an accredited landlord, I would like some assurance that potential tenants will look after my property. How will you achieve this?

We will work with tenant groups and also use our website to educate tenants, and improve engagement with them. We believe that a good landlord deserves a good tenant and vice versa.

Who operates the LAW scheme?

The scheme is run through a partnership of the 22 Local Authorities in Wales. The Local Authorities also work closely with other organisations such as Universities, Landlord Associations, etc.

The scheme is administered by Cardiff Council on behalf of the partnership.

How do I apply?

You can apply online to become an LAW Accredited Landlord.

I have a question that isn't listed here. How do I contact you?

See our contact us page.

Landlord Accreditation

What?

FAQ's

Latest News

Latest Events

Downloads