Accreditation schemes are voluntary schemes that good landlords can join to demonstrate their commitment to providing quality letting services.

Many local Councils, Higher Educational Institutions and their agencies and some landlord associations operate schemes. To view the Directory of Codes click here.

Landlords have an ownership in their local scheme, together with other key local private rented sector stakeholders, through representation on their scheme’s management group.

The Environmental Health or Housing Department of your local Council will advise you if a scheme is operating in your area.

The requirements of an accreditation scheme usually cover property condition, management practices and relationships with tenants.

Accreditation schemes require reasonable standards, not basic legal minimum nor ‘Rolls Royce’.

Scheme operators promote accredited landlords to prospective tenants; accredited landlords therefore gain a market advantage.

To encourage their local landlords to become accredited, local Councils provide a range of exclusive benefits.

Some schemes include Accredited Tenant Schemes that acknowledge and encourage tenants to be responsible tenants and neighbours.To view an example, click here.

ANUK have produced a model landlord accreditation scheme (new version 2 available) linked to an Accredited Tenant Scheme. This is available for ANUK members to use when setting up a new scheme.

Modern day local Councils have a strategic role in providing a wide choice of quality housing for their citizens – to enable, this local Councils are using accreditation as the mechanism to work in partnership with good private landlords.

Local Councils increasingly work in partnership with accredited landlords to assist them to provide some essential specialist services e.g. tackling homelessness and area regeneration.

The four national landlord associations, namely the British Property Federation, the National Federation of Residential Landlords, the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association, support accreditation.

ANUK has produced a Landlords Training and guidance Manual covering many aspects of property managment and tenancy matters.  To download this manual click here.  Please NOTE that the manual is currently being redrafted to take account of the Housing Act 2004.

Accreditation promotes the image of quality private rented sector accommodation.