A local authority that started to reverse its own housing problem by forming a partnership with private landlords is now heading-up the country's most adventurous scheme of its kind.

Salford City Council has joined forces with the Residential Landlords Association to broaden its training package - aimed at raising professional standards in the private rented sector and awareness among its own officials.

The Council is the founder and secretariat for Authorities and Landlords Improving Standards Together - a North West accreditation network that covers 33 local authorities, and other organisations, from Oldham, across Greater Manchester to the Wirral, north to Carlisle and south through Cheshire to Nantwich.

And, as the RLA delivers professional training services, Salford's landlord accreditation team reciprocates with support and advice for local landlords.

"We are working together in a true, mutually productive and beneficial partnership, says Caren Kihal, Principal Officer for Housing Market Support in Salford City Council's Housing Services Division.

The free voluntary accreditation means that landlords can get key updates on new legislation and council policy - from the licensing requirement of the government's new 2004 Housing Act to housing benefit regulations and antisocial behaviour legislation. Salford City Council also provides references, a rental bond scheme and a landlords' forum.

The expanding training and update sessions cover tenancy management issues for both novice landlords, with perhaps one inherited property, to the more experienced with portfolios built up over many years.

"But the common factor is they may not all know as much as they could about the latest developments in housing and tenancy law," says Caren.

"This scheme is all about local authorities getting serious and recognising that landlords play an important role. There is no future in the historically frosty stand-off between private sector landlords and local authorities. We can all benefit from working together.

"This is the way forward for better informed professional landlords and council staff. It maintains consistency and value in the local housing market. It raises standards and conditions for everyone's benefit. And we all do our jobs better."

The Residential Landlords Association is a natural partner. The leading professional organisation, whose members own over 100,000 private rented properties throughout the UK, is dedicated to raising levels of professionalism throughout the private rented sector.

The RLA already stages specialist landlord updates for local authorities around the country, and recently introduced a new, registered members' scheme that promotes continuous professional development.

"It's important to have a modern generation of landlords who meet the highest values of the profession," says RLA Chairman, Chris Town. "Far from being traditional opponents, local authorities and private sector landlords are often both wanting the same thing - so working together to achieve it makes the best possible sense."

It was the growing threat to Salford's own housing market that gave birth to the landlord accreditation scheme. Demand was dropping for some properties - so they fell empty and were boarded up because landlords felt they couldn't get a fair rental value from them. Something had to happen.

So a solution - to attract tenants by working alongside landlords and developing an accreditation scheme and training package - grew into the first of its kind in the north. It is now one of the largest and probably the most advanced schemes in the country and is a widely recognised model of best practice.

The Salford scheme now has more than 2,300 properties and 500 accredited landlords - accounting for 40% of the city's private rented sector housing stock and around 45% of the city's landlords.

Authorities and Landlords Improving Standards Together shares good practice and consistency across the region and works alongside the national body Accreditation Network UK.

• A new round of courses, including evening sessions, begins in September. For further details call Salford City Council on 0161 603 4254.

The Residential Landlords Association (tel: 0845 666 5000) is a leading national organisation for professional landlords, residential property investors and self-managers - with members owning over 100,000 properties in the UK private rented sector. The range of members' services - on www.rla.org.uk - includes legal advice, insurance, financial services, credit referencing and training. For tenants there is www.tenantdocs.co.uk - where tips include a free download of the RLA's award-winning Plain English tenancy agreement. The RLA operates a web-based property search on www.homes2rent.net and publishes the bi-monthly Residential Property Investor magazine.

For further press information and interviews please contact

Brian Johnson at Powell Communications - tel: 0161 834 9836, fax: 0161 839 2660; brian.johnson@powell-pr.co.uk