The National Landlords Association (NLA) have launched a new online learning initiative for private residential landlords where they can learn how to be better business managers in a virtual classroom setting.

The residential landlords e-learning scheme will enable private landlords to become more competent in managing their property portfolio and dealing with rent collection issues and problem tenant management.The learning initiative will also count towards residential landlords gaining local accreditation too.

The ' virtual classroom' approach comprises of a structured learning mechanism that, once completed, will allow the participating landlords to review what they have learned by testing their newly obtained knowledge in a quiz at the end of the initiative. The NLA assert that residential landlords have a duty to keep up with changes that may affect their business and tenants and the learning initiative will provide a simple approach to keeping on top of things as the property management market evolves. The association sees the virtual classroom for residential landlords as a way to improve standards in the property management market overall and will be promoting the initiative to private landlords ranging from the smaller business manager to larger operators that are responsible for significant numbers of property in the UK. The website www.landlorddevelopment.org.uk is accessible to all NLA members free of charge with a £40 annual fee payable by non members.