Lettings qualifications

Learners must complete four units to receive the full certification from Propertymark Qualifications. Each unit can be studied in any order, giving you the flexibility to structure the course for maximum engagement and accessibility.

Unit 1: Health and Safety, Security and General Law

Unit code: COM1 | England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Unit code: SCOM1 | Scotland

Understand the general concepts of law relevant to a property professional. It deals with the historical development of the law as well as current concepts, relevant statute and common law.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand health and safety at work legislation and its relevance in and out of the workplace
2. Understand the issues around keeping safe when visiting property and maintaining a secure system when dealing with keys
3. Understand the general legal concepts relating to the provision of property services
4. Understand the common law duties of agents and agents’ authority
5. Understand the basic elements of the law of contract
6. Understand the basic elements of liability outside the law of contract
7. Understand the basic concepts of land law
8. Understand the basic concepts of discrimination
9. Understand the requirements of the data protection legislation
10. Understand the requirements of the legislation dealing with the handling of money

Unit 2: Customer Service within the Property Sector

Unit code: CSPS1

Covers customer relations in a business environment and the general principles of customer service in the property sector. Includes the importance of record keeping, particularly when dealing with complaints and dispute resolution.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the range of property related services that can be offered and promoted
2. Understand the principles of customer service and customer relations
3. Understand the importance of administration procedures and record keeping
4. Understand the complaints and disputes procedures

Unit 3: Introduction to Residential Property Letting Practice

Unit code: IRPLP | England and Wales

Learn about the type of occupation rights offered to occupiers/tenants and factors that affect the rents that can be charged. This unit covers the relationship between agent and landlord, occupier and/or tenant; the statutory checks that must be made relating to a property and the protection that must be offered.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the different types of residential occupation
2. Understand the fundamental legislative provisions and Codes of Practice that affect the lettings market
3. Understand the relationships between the agent and the landlord(s)
4. Understand the relationship between the agent and occupier(s)

Unit 4: Introduction to Residential Property Management Practice

Unit code: IRPMP | England and Wales

This unit looks into the obligations an agent assumes when undertaking the management of a property. It includes maintenance and repair obligations, processes to fulfil those obligations, the renewal and ending of a tenancy agreement and methods of dispute resolution.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the ongoing obligations of the parties concerning condition and safety of property
2. Understand the ongoing obligations to the parties concerning management of properties
3. Understand the ways in which occupancy/tenancy agreements could be continued or ended
4. Understand how to deal with deposit returns and disputes

Learners who want to develop their knowledge in other areas of property can progress onto other Level 3 qualifications such as:

• Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Lettings/Sales/Commercial)
• Level 3 Award in Inventory Practice for Residential Lettings (England)

Property agency management qualifications

Those advancing into management roles can also move onto the Level 4 Certificate in Property Agency Management, building the leadership skills essential for career growth.

More info

Candidates are required to pass the four units listed below, they can be completed in any order. Once all four units have been passed, Propertymark Qualifications will provide certification for the full qualification.

Unit 1: The Role of the Property Professional

Unit code: CiPA01 | All pathways

This unit considers the role of the property professional and starts by considering the ethical issues faced by property professionals and the Code(s) of Practice they may be obliged to abide by.

It looks at a range of key legislation applicable to property agents and working effectively with IT within a property agency. Finally, elements of customer service including communication skills and how to handle customer complaints are considered.

This is a common unit for all nations and disciplines

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand professionalism in the role of a property agent
2. Understand key legislation applicable to all property agents
3. Understand how to work effectively with Information Technology (IT) within a property agency
4. Understand how to work effectively and professionally with clients and customers as a property agent

Unit 2: The Practice of a Property Professional

Unit code: CiPA02 | All pathways

This unit is about working in a property agency. It starts by considering a range of health, safety and security issues before switching to property types, basic building construction and building defects.

The unit covers the services found in properties and the problems that affect those services. Environmental issues, sustainable features and local environmental factors are included. The unit concludes with selling techniques, marketing of individual properties, and agents themselves.

This is a common unit for all nations and disciplines

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand health, safety and security in property agency
2. Understand basic property types and basic construction methods
3. Understand the provision of services and environmental considerations relating to properties
4. Understand the basic techniques for selling the services of a property agent
5. Understand marketing methods in property agency

Unit 3: General Law and Practice for Property Agents

Unit code: CiPA03 | England and Wales
Unit code: CiPA04 | Northern Ireland
Unit code: CiPA05 | Scotland

This unit provides an introduction to the general legal concepts relevant to the sale, letting and management of residential and commercial property and takes into account some of the specific issues that can arise.

There are three different versions of this unit that cover the geographical areas England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. They are common units across any nation pathways.

The unit you will study is determined by the nation you choose when registering.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the fundamental principles of the law of agency
2. Understand the fundamental principles of contract law
3. Understand the fundamental principles of land law
4. Understand the fundamental principles of town and country planning law
5. Understand the fundamental principles relating to the law of tort (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or delict (Scotland)
6. Understand relevant principles of discrimination law
7. Understand the different methods available for handling complaints and dispute resolution

Unit 4: Residential lettings, property management and practice

Unit code: CiPA06 | England
Unit code: CiPA07 | Wales
Unit code: CiPA08 | Northern Ireland
Unit code: CiPA09 | Scotland

This unit covers legal knowledge and practices which can be implemented to the benefit of residential letting agents and their clients.

The unit you will study is determined by the nation you choose when registering.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the main services offered by letting agents
2. Understand the market appraisal process
3. Understand the preparation required before marketing a rental property
4. Understand inventories and schedule of condition reports, check-in and check-out procedures and tenancy deposits
5. Understand the legal requirements to ensure safety, energy efficiency and fitness for human habitation in residential property offered for letting
6. Understand the legislation relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
7. Understand the processes for dealing with applications and offers, and the referencing of applicants and guarantors
8. Understand the process of preparing and providing tenancy documentation (England, Scotland & Northern Ireland) or occupation contract documentation (Wales)
9. Understand the management of rents payable in respect of residential tenancies (England, Scotland & Northern Ireland) or occupation contracts (Wales)
10. Understand the procedures to be followed when tenancy agreements are amended, extended or renewed
11. Understand the principles of tenant protection and how tenancies (England, Scotland & Northern Ireland) or Occupation Contracts (Wales) can be ended
12. Understand repairing responsibilities and how repairs and maintenance should be managed

The structure of this qualification allows for learners to deepen their expertise across different property sectors and geographical areas. For instance, learners who complete the lettings pathway can expand their skills by registering for the sales pathway and completing one additional unit to gain a second qualification. 

Learners are also able to demonstrate their knowledge of property agency in other nations by registering for a different nation's pathway. For example, a learner who has achieved the lettings pathway for England, could register for the Lettings pathway for Scotland where the two Core units (which are common across the qualifications) do not need to be taken again.

Property agency management qualifications

Those advancing into management roles can also move onto the Level 4 Certificate in Property Agency Management, building the leadership skills essential for career growth.

More info

Candidates are required to pass the four units listed below, they can be completed in any order. Once all four units have been passed, Propertymark Qualifications will provide certification for the full qualification.

Unit 1: Health and Safety, Security and General Law

Unit code: COM1 | England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Unit code: SCOM1 | Scotland

Understand the general concepts of law relevant to a property professional. It deals with the historical development of the law as well as current concepts, relevant statute and common law.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand health and safety at work legislation and its relevance in and out of the workplace
2. Understand the issues around keeping safe when visiting property and maintaining a secure system when dealing with keys
3. Understand the general legal concepts relating to the provision of property services
4. Understand the common law duties of agents and agents’ authority
5. Understand the basic elements of the law of contract
6. Understand the basic elements of liability outside the law of contract
7. Understand the basic concepts of land law
8. Understand the basic concepts of discrimination
9. Understand the requirements of the data protection legislation
10. Understand the requirements of the legislation dealing with the handling of money

Unit 2: Legal Aspects of Letting and Management

Unit code: RLPM2 | England/Wales
Unit code: NILPM2 | Northern Ireland
Unit code: SRLPM2 | Scotland

Covers the law specific to the letting and management of residential property, including law and legislation regarding granting, administration, financial management and termination of various residential tenancies.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the common elements of agreements to occupy residential properties
2. Understand the requirements for regaining possession of let property and the protection available to the occupier
3. Understand the statutory regulations of landlords and agents
4. Understand the fitness standards for dwellings and the responsibility for repair
5. Understand the requirements for safety in let property
6. Understand the legislation relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
7. Understand the legal requirements relating to tenancy deposits
8. Understand consumer and business protection legislation applicable to residential letting
9. Understand the key requirements of any transactional tax relating to residential property
10. Understand the main criteria relating to the regulation of insurance based activities

Unit 3: Residential Letting and Property Management

Unit code: RIMP3 | England/Wales
Unit code: SRIMP3 | Scotland

This unit examines the processes undertaken by the inventory provider from agreeing to their Terms of Business and cost through to undertaking the required services on behalf of their client.

It explains the scope and purpose of the inventory provider’s service from the inventory, check-in and periodic visit, through to the check-out. It considers how these reports are used by the parties and any instructing agent. It also covers government-authorised tenancy deposit protection schemes and their processes.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the elements of a letting agency’s Terms of Business and the agent’s authority to act
2. Understand the process for dealing with offers including the referencing of applicants and guarantors
3. Understand the key terms commonly found in tenancy agreements and appreciate what checks need to be undertaken and what documents should be in place before a tenancy agreement is executed 
4. Understand the procedures to be followed when allowing a tenant into occupation for the first time
5. Understand the letting agent’s client accounting procedures
6. Understand responsibilities surrounding the on-going management and maintenance of the property
7. Understand the processes involved in extending, renewing or terminating a tenancy agreement including breaches by either party

Unit 4: Residential Inventory Management and Practice

Unit code: RIMP4 | England/Wales
Unit code: SRIMP4 | Scotland

This unit covers the processes undertaken by an inventory provider, from agreeing to terms of business and cost, to undertaking required services on behalf of a client. The scope and purpose of the inventory provider's service is considered, from the inventory to check in, periodic visits and check out. 

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the content and importance of terms and conditions of business
2. Understand the processes and reasons for inventory preparation
3. Understand the processes and procedures involved with the check-in
4. Understand the purpose and scope of periodic visits
5. Understand the purpose and scope of the check-out
6. Understand the post check-out procedure and deposit return process

The full assessment criteria and the knowledge, understanding and skills details for each learning outcome are available in the full qualification specification. 

Learners who want to develop their knowledge in other areas of property can progress onto other Level 3 qualifications such as:

• Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Lettings/Sales/Commercial)
• Level 3 Award in Inventory Practice for Residential Lettings (England)

Property agency management qualifications

Those advancing into management roles can also move onto the Level 4 Certificate in Property Agency Management, building the leadership skills essential for career growth.

More info