LETWELL Programme
Partnership between Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS) and CIH Scotland

LETWELL Programme

LETWELL is the professional development programme delivered via a partnership between Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS) and the CIH Housing Academy.  The programme, which will run again from January 2020, was created specifically for Scottish letting professionals, takes full account of the Scottish Government’s regulation of letting agents and associated training requirements for specific staff within agencies.  Information on who needs to undertake training is detailed here. The relevant legislation is the Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016, Section 1 (5).The programme reflects the requirements on agents and incorporates learning which can lead to the CIH level 3 certificate in letting and managing residential property.


LETWELL is a programme committed to learners not only acquiring knowledge but reflecting on their own practice as letting professionals and enhancing their contribution to their business and to good practice within the sector. With that aim in mind, each of the five modules comprising the programme has a clear set of learning outcomes and content will be continually updated in line with relevant legislative and policy changes.

As a letting professional, gaining a qualification is not only a route to compliance with the forthcoming regulation, it is a great way to ensure that you are able to perform your role to a high standard, provide an excellent service for landlords, and develop your knowledge of key legislation and best practice to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

High quality training programmes and qualifications not only benefit individual development, but add value to lettings businesses and can impact on reducing business risks including in respect of regulation and compliance. Demonstrating that staff have high quality learning can enhance your reputation with customers looking for high quality service.

Who is LETWELL for?

The LETWELL programme, consisting of five dedicated training days to assist completion of five units of learning and three written assessments, is for letting agency staff requiring an accredited qualification. There is no exam. The training days are also suitable for those working within the industry but who do not necessarily want to work towards the CIH Level 3 certificate in letting and managing residential property.

When and where can I participate?

The full training programme will run again from January 2020 and will be delivered in Edinburgh and Glasgow. If you would be interested in attending in Aberdeen please let the LAS team know.  The Programme will be available to book shortly via the ‘courses’ section of our website.  In the  meantime if you would like to note interest in advance please contact the LAS team.

 

How much does training and qualification cost?

Option 1: Pay for all 5 training courses upfront and receive a 10% discount

Learner status Cost per training course Total cost to attend all 5 courses (receive 10% discount) Cost of qualification*
LAS Accredited £135 + VAT

(£162 incl. VAT)

 £607.50 + VAT

(£729 incl. VAT)

 £450
CLA member £150 + VAT

(£180 incl. VAT)

 £675 + VAT

(£810 incl. VAT)

 £450
All others £240 + VAT

(£288 incl. VAT)

 £1080 + VAT

(£1296 incl. VAT)

 £450

 

Option 2: Pay as you go

Learner status Cost per training course Total cost to attend all 5 courses (pay as you go) Cost of qualification*
LAS Accredited £135 + VAT

(£162 incl. VAT)

 £675 + VAT

(£810 incl. VAT)

 £450
CLA member £150 + VAT

(£180 incl. VAT)

 £750 + VAT

(£900 incl. VAT)

 £450
All others £240 + VAT

(£288 incl. VAT)

 £1200 + VAT

(£1440 incl. VAT)

 £450

*No VAT payable on the qualification assessment. The fees payable to CIH are in addition to the fees paid to LAS to attend the five training days.

All training day and qualification fees are payable in advance. The programme providers reserve the right to vary programme fees from those advertised.

Please note learners are required to attend all five training dates of the LETWELL programme.

What can LETWELL programme participants expect?

The programme consists of five modules, aided by five days of training delivered over several weeks. For most learners attendance will be spread over approximately 5-6 months.

What’s covered in each of the sessions?

Here is a summary of what you can expect to cover during the five sessions that comprise the LETWELL programme.

Professional practice for letting agents

Learning outcomes

What you will cover
  1. Understand the terms of business with landlords, tenants and agents.
  • Common terms of business between landlords and agents.
  • Legislation which impacts on the relationship between agent and landlords and tenants.
  • Codes of practice and ethics that impact on the relationship between agent, landlord and tenant.
  1. Understand business development opportunities.
  • Key concepts in business development for letting agents.
  • Potential opportunities for cross selling and referral opportunities.
  1. Understand how to assess own performance.
  • The concept of ‘reflective practice’ for letting professionals.
  • Reflection on your own practice.
  • The role of feedback in improving performance.

Letting residential property

Learning outcomes

What you will cover
  1. Understand different types of tenancies.
  • Common tenancy types in Scotland
  • Comparisons of different types of tenancy agreements
  • The legal rights and responsibilities of landlord and tenant.
  1. Understand how to prepare a property to let.
  • The key areas of a market appraisal and advice required from agents.
  • How a property should be prepared for letting.
  1. Know how to market properties for let.
  • The relevant codes of practice and consumer protection law and how this applies to marketing property.
  • Procedures for advertising property and arranging viewings.
  1. Understand the requirements for selecting a tenant and setting up a tenancy in Scotland.
  • Selecting and verifying a prospective tenant.
  • The law and necessary documents required in setting up a tenancy.

Ending tenancies of residential property

Learning outcomes

What you will cover
  1. Understand how a tenant can end the tenancy.
  • The process required when a tenant legally ends the tenancy.
  • The process required when a tenant abandons the property.
  1. Understand how a landlord can end the tenancy.
  • Legislation on notice requirements.
  • The process required to end tenancies including serving legal notices to end tenancies.
  1. Understand the legal process for a landlord to obtain possession.
  • The stages in applying to court for possession.
  • How landlords can avoid actions for harassment and illegal eviction.

Property standards of residential properties

Learning outcomes

What you will cover
  1. Understand the legislation relating to property maintenance and repair.
  • Health and safety legislation for property that is let.
  • The landlord’s repair and maintenance obligations.
  • Tenants’ obligations to the repair and upkeep of the property.
  1. Understand procedures for property maintenance.
  • Undertaking routine inspection and maintenance.
  • Dealing with emergency repairs.
  1. Understand the definition of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and the extra responsibilities this places on landlords.
  • What defines an HMO
  • The additional health and safety and repair requirements that apply to HMO’s.
  1. Understand licensing schemes and the extra responsibilities they place on landlords.
  • The scheme of HMO licensing in Scotland

Tenancy management for residential property

Learning outcomes

What you will cover
  1. Understand the financial aspect of letting a property.
  • Reviewing the rent.
  • Processes for collecting rent and managing arrears.
  • Assessing other costs involved in letting a property.
  1. Understand how agreements can change during the tenancy.
  • Options available to landlord and tenant to make changes to an agreement during the tenancy.
  • How changes to the agreement should be processed.
  1. Understand how tenancy issues are prevented and resolved.
  • Identifying problems that may arise during a tenancy.
  • Tackling common problems.
  • Preventing common problems.
How do I book onto the courses?

To enrol in the LETWELL programme, you have to commit to attend all the necessary training courses.  Once dates for a full programme are announced you will see the courses in the booking section of the LAS website.

To book onto the course, you may choose to pay for all five courses upfront and receive a 10% discount, or opt for a ‘pay as you go’ strategy allowing you to stagger the cost. Please note that the training costs are payable to LAS.  Registering for the qualification is done through the CIH Housing Academy who will invoice you for this cost separately.

What can qualification candidates expect?

Programme participants wishing to undertake the assessments leading to the CIH Level 3 ‘certificate in letting and managing residential property’, will be registered for the qualification through the CIH Housing Academy as the approved qualification centre. The CIH Housing Academy is responsible for delivery of the qualification within the LETWELL programme.

Attendance at all 5 sessions comprising the programme within a single 5 month period is normally a requirement on learners undertaking the qualification.

Candidates have to successfully complete at least all written assessments to be considered for the award of the CIH Level 3 ‘certificate in letting and managing residential property’. Currently, there are three written assessments designed to cover the five qualification units.

Candidates will have online access to a learner handbook detailing all policies and procedures. Candidates will also have remote access to their assessor via email for the duration of their studies on the programme. Candidates will be expected to submit assessments electronically and by the deadline set for each assessment, except in exceptional circumstances. The CIH Housing Academy will however put in place reasonable adjustments designed to help reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the learner at a substantial disadvantage in respect of assessment.

The issue of certificates to successful candidates can take in the region of 12-14 weeks from their final assessment submission deadline, although every effort will be made by the CIH Awarding Organisation to ensure certificates are issued to candidates as quickly as possible.

Candidates who successfully complete this qualification may wish to consider progressing to a CIH Level 4 qualification. Details of CIH qualifications can be found on the CIH website.

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