Residential Letting Agent Training
As it stands, there is currently no official qualifications that are required to beginning a residential letting agency business. It will however, be handy to gain some obtain some professional training or qualifications in the property industry, as well as in business management, accounting or marketing.
· The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA - see www.arla.co.uk/training) runs training courses in various different aspects of the letting agency profession. In conjunction with the NAEA it has developed the Technical Award in Residential Letting and Property Management, which is regulated by the Government's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
· The National Association of Estate Agents offers a Diploma in Residential Letting and Management on a distance-learning basis, along with a range of short courses on different aspects of the industry.
· The Guild of Letting & Management offers a Diploma in Residential Letting and Management through the Letting Training Centre (www.lettingtrainingcentre.co.uk).
You can also check the industry's Sector Skills Council (SSC) at www.assetskills.org to find courses at degree level and qualifications in letting property.
S/NVQs and other qualifications in business and accounting can also come in handy and will help in providing a good background in the general issues involved in starting and running a business. City and Guilds (www.city-and-guilds.co.uk) and Learndirect (www.learndirect-business.co.uk) can provide information about useful courses in general business administration.