ARLA (Association of residential Letting Agents) This is the only professional selfregulating body to be solely concerned with lettings. It was formed in 1981 as the professional and regulatory body for letting agents in the UK. It was recognised that the requirements of the residential lettings market were so detailed and specific that a separate organisation was required to promote standards in this important and growing sector of the property market. All members are required to have professional indemnity insurance cover. In addition they are covered by a bonding scheme, which provides financial protection for client monies.

NALS (The National Approved Letting Scheme) This is an accreditation scheme for lettingsand management agents offering peace of mind to landlords and tenants in knowing that they are dealing with a firm which agrees to meet defined standards of customer service, together with having in place the necessary insurances to protect clients' money plus a customer complaints procedure offering independent redress.

TDS (The Dispute Service) The Tenancy Deposit Scheme was established under the Housing Act 2004. It requires landlords to register details of the start and end of all Assured Shorthold Tenancies on which they take a deposit. The Dispute Service (TDS) runs this particular scheme and is required to supply summarised details of all tenancies to [the Department of] Communities and Local Government (CLG).

TPO (The Property Ombudsman) The Letting ombudsman can resolve disputes referred by landlords or tenants and relating to lettings and management agents that are members of the Scheme. These agents follow the Code of Practice for Letting Agents in common with the Code of Practice for Residential Sales. Note that disputes relating to repayment of deposits paid by tenants and which are protected by an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme should be referred to TDS.