The Property Institute

With a legacy of over fifty years’ experience in residential property management, The Property Institute originates from the merger of The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) and The Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) in March 2022.

Established in 1991, ARMA, the leading professional body for residential managing agents in England and Wales, was created to bring together companies involved in private residential block management.

IRPM, the professional body for residential property management specialists, set industry standards by providing accredited qualifications, career guidance, and resources to assist property managers in their roles, and was founded in 2002.

The History of ARMA – The Association of Residential Managing Agents.

ARMA was founded in 1991 with the aim of bringing together professionals involved in residential block management.

Its principal objectives were to…

promote the highest standards of management.
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.
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.
fix and endeavour to maintain consistent standards of practice amongst members in an otherwise unregulated market.
They are expected to have a published internal complaints procedure. Details should be requested direct from the member.

ARMA-Q (2015) is the new self-regulatory regime for managing agents that are members of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA). It comes into force from 2015 and aims to raise standards and quality of service across the residential leasehold management sector. It features commitment to a new consumer charter and industry standards, which are specific to managing agents. Compliance with the standards and charter will be overseen by an independent regulatory panel made up of industry experts and chaired by former housing minister The Rt Hon Keith Hill. Importantly, leaseholders are also represented on the panel. Find out more about ARMA-Q at: www.arma.org.uk