How to Get Accredited: PRS Accreditation Scheme Explained

What is accreditation?

Accreditation is a process by which an individual, organisation, or program is officially recognised as meeting specific knowledge, skills, and competence standards. This recognition is typically granted by an authoritative body within the field. The Private Rented Sector Accreditation Scheme (PRSAS) validates that landlords and letting agents have the necessary understanding and ability to manage residential properties effectively and within the law. By gaining accreditation, landlords and agents demonstrate their commitment to professionalism and adherence to high standards, often leading to increased trust from tenants and potential clients.

PRS Accreditation Scheme Pricing and Features

The PRS Accreditation Scheme, operated by the Guild of Residential Landlords, offers different subscription plans with distinct features to cater to the needs of landlords, letting agents, and those seeking accreditation renewals.

Guild subscribers

Subscribing to the Guild of Residential Landlords will allow for an immediate discount to the accreditation scheme detailed below for landlords and agents.

Landlords

For £75.00 for three years, landlords, whether companies or individuals, receive access to online content, followed by a quiz to test their knowledge. Guild subscribers receive a 50% discount by entering the code GUILDACCREDIT.

Upon completing the quiz, you'll receive accreditation for three years, after which you can add one free sub-user, such as a family member or staff member. You can complete the online content at your own pace within 12 months from the comfort of your home or office.

Benefits include discounted building insurance, public recognition, the opportunity to display the accredited badge on your advertising for a marketing edge, and discounts to Deposit Protection Service and Property Redress Scheme. Accredited landlords also can obtain discounted annual subscriptions to the Guild.

Agents

Letting agents can subscribe to the scheme for £99.00 for three years. Like landlords, agents enjoy access to online content and a subsequent quiz, with a 50% discount available to Guild subscribers who enter the code GUILDACCREDIT.

Post-quiz, agents are awarded three years of accreditation and the ability to add three free sub-users. Agents can complete the online content at their leisure over 12 months from the convenience of their home or office.

The agent subscription plan includes all the benefits of the landlord plan: discounted building insurance, public recognition, the right to display the accredited badge on advertising, and discounts to the Deposit Protection Service and Property Redress Scheme. Accredited agents also can obtain discounted annual subscriptions to the Guild.

Renewals

The renewal cost for accreditation ranges from £60 to £80 for three years, depending on whether you are a landlord or an agent. This must be completed within six months of the accreditation expiring. Unlike the other plans, there is no content to read before the simple CPD quiz about recent or future landlord/tenant updates.

Like the landlord and agent plans, Guild subscribers can avail of a 50% discount using the code GUILDACCREDIT.

The renewal plan also includes the same benefits as the other plans: discounted building insurance, public recognition, the right to display the accredited badge on advertising, and discounts to the Deposit Protection Service and Property Redress Scheme. Accredited landlords and agents also can obtain discounted annual subscriptions to the Guild.

Join the PRS Accreditation Scheme now for £75 or £99, and remember, Guild subscribers receive a 50% discount.

Passport accreditation

If you are already accredited, you can passport from your current accreditation into ours free of charge.

The passport will match your current accreditation expiry up to three years. For example, if you have one year left to run on your current accreditation, the PRS Accreditation will also be for one year.

We accept most accreditation providers, including NRLA and local authority ones, as long as some form of training is completed and a quiz at the end with a pass. We will contact you if we are unsure of the provider you enter on the form.

When selecting the passport option, you must upload your current accreditation certificate from your provider.

How do I become accredited?

Signup for accreditation (new, renewal or passport) here: https://www.landlordsguild.com/amember/signup/accreditation-signup

If you're a Guild subscriber, login and enter the discount code GUILDACCREDIT.

If you have previously been accredited, log in to retrieve details entered before.

You will receive an email with instructions and links to the content (primary accreditation) or the quiz (renewal).

More information

More information can be found on the Private Rented Sector Accreditation website: https://prsaccreditation.com.

Accreditation frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How long does the content take to read?

There's no simple answer, as it depends on how speedily you read the content. Some customers read the content and take the quiz the same day, whereas others take their time and read the content over some time. You can return to the content anytime, but it must be completed within 12 months of purchase.

What happens after I purchase accreditation?

You will receive an automatic email with instructions and a link to the content or quiz, depending on if it's the primary accreditation or renewal. You can also find the necessary links and instructions on the accreditation account page here: https://www.landlordsguild.com/amember/content/Accreditation.8.

I've been accredited, but the renewal option is not on the signup page. What do I do?

We have updated our systems, and renewals must be completed within six months of the expiry of the accreditation. If the renewal option is not showing, you may be after six months from expiry and must do the full accreditation. However, if you beleive you are within six months, some older accounts will need a manual adjustment to display the renewal option. Please submit a support ticket requesting this.

What's the pass rate for the quiz?

To pass the quiz, you must achieve a 70% pass.

What happens if I fail the quiz?

You get two attempts to complete the quiz. The questions are randomly taken from a bank of questions.

If you fail a second time, you must purchase the accreditation again to become accredited.

If you fail the first time, we recommend reading the content carefully. All the questions relate to the content, and there are no trick questions. It's rare for customers not to achieve 70%.

Is the accreditation certificate recognised for licensing?

Many local authorities throughout England recognise the PRS accreditation scheme. Some offer a discount to HMO licensing if you are accredited with us. Others make it mandatory to be accredited before providing a license.

You must check with your local authority, who usually lists recognised accreditation schemes on their website.

It's difficult for us to display a list of local authorities here because it's constantly changing, and you are better to check when you are ready to obtain a license.

How long after completing the quiz will I receive the accreditation certificate?

After completing the quiz with a 70% pass rate, the accreditation certificate will be available within a few seconds of completion. To download the accreditation certificate, follow these steps:

1. Go to the dashboard of the account area: https://www.landlordsguild.com/amember/member
2. Log in if prompted
3. The certificate is on the right side, underneath useful links where it says Accreditation certificate.

If you don't see it immediately, please let our system update several seconds after completing the quiz and refresh the page. Please submit a support ticket if you don't see it within five minutes.