Formed in 1991, ARMA is the only body in England and Wales to focus exclusively on matters relating to the block or estate management of long leasehold residential property. With over 200 corporate members managing in excess of 800,000 units in more than 32,000 blocks of flats or estates (at least 60% of which are lessee-controlled properties), the Association’s founding principal aims are to represent its members and the interests of lessees, resident management companies and investor freeholders.

ARMA members comprise selected firms and sole practitioners engaged in the management of residential leasehold blocks of flats in the UK. All members agree to adopt and abide by ARMA's principal objectives and undertake to comply with the code of practice issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

ARMA’s principal objectives

• to create and maintain an awareness amongst property owners, developers, residents as well as national and local government of the proper role of - and indeed the need for - residential managing agents.
  
• to provide a forum where members involved in the management of residential blocks of flats can discuss and develop management practices to enhance service to clients and lessees.
  
• to promote the highest standards of management.
  
• to fix and endeavour to maintain consistent standards of practice amongst members in an otherwise unregulated market.

So why become an ARMA member?

Corporate members of ARMA enjoy a wide range of exclusive benefits, resources and services which help them manage with confidence:-

• A wealth of advice, information and updates on current acts and other legislation that is totally unrivaled and is available for members to download at any time through the exclusive members only area of the ARMA website.
  
• ARMA’s technical officers are on hand to provide advice and support on the diverse issues that property managers face each day.
  
• In the event of unresolved complaints, complainants have access to an independent Adjudication scheme run by the Independent Dispute Resolution Service.
  
• Members are always kept up to date with the latest industry news through regular e-briefings and the ARMA Quarter Day newsletter.
  
• ARMA members get discounted rates to all ARMA events such as the ever popular ARMA Conference and regional briefings which are the ideal opportunity to network.
  
• Members’ employees get the opportunity to develop their careers through access to all ARMA training materials and course at special discounted rates.
  
• Members get additional support through free Business Support, FSA and Health & Safety Helplines

Of course, ARMA members can pass on these advantages to their clients and customers though offering them a better service.

An extensive list of all the benefits open to ARMA Members can be found in ARMA’s Benefits of Membership booklet which can be downloaded from www.arma.org.uk in the Downloadble Publications section.

So why use an ARMA member?

• They are part of an association that commits them to reputable practices and the highest levels of service in the sector so they can offer much more to their clients.
  
• They endorse, accept and undertake to comply with the Code of Practice relating to service charges published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and as approved by the Secretaries of State for England and Wales under the terms of Section 87 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.
  
• They undertake to maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurances.
  
• They undertake to maintain adequate books and records, safeguard their clients’ money and ensure a regular audit thereof.
  
• They are required to have a published internal complaints procedure. Details should be requested direct from the member.
  
• They are expected to maintain a current Health and Safety Policy statement.
  
• Their clients have access to ARMA’s Practice Committee when a member is considered not to have honoured their undertaking to ARMA.

As well as all of this, ARMA is always working with national and local government to enhance the profile and understanding of residential managing agents. ARMA lobbies government and key MPs, voicing the views of the profession as a whole and endeavouring to protect lessees, clients and managing agents where legislation can have an undesirable impact on this complex yet unregulated sector.

Open the ARMA leaflet: "Benefits of Membership" (available as a PDF file.(562 Kb)

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