ARMA’S 2020 In Review

Posted by The Property Institute on 28th January 2021 -

2020 was a year like no other – especially for ARMA. Whilst there were many challenges throughout the year, ARMA managed to grow its membership, expand its training, launch a new membership category and was behind a number of key industry successes and achievements in the leasehold management sector.

Download our 2020 Year in Review infographic, here.

ARMA Membership Growth

ARMA begins 2021 with a member count that is higher than ever, totalling 326 Managing Agent Member firms and bolstered by the 37 managing agents it welcomed onboard in 2020. ARMA members now represent almost 40% of the managing agent market, equating to a whopping 1.5m residences (around 50% of private sector leasehold properties). To give you an idea of how quickly ARMA has grown, its members managed just 700,000 homes in 2014.

An integral part of ARMA’s membership, Partner, Network & RMC/RTM member firms now total 157. ARMA Partners are companies that provide essential services to members, whilst those in the Network category are developers, freeholders, freehold agents, Housing Associations and other corporate landlords/local authorities.

ARMA Training Courses

Despite having to put its usual classroom-based training course programme on hold during the first lockdown between March and May, ARMA’s training was back up and running online by June. Throughout the year, ARMA delivered 57 Training sessions, 47 of which were online. This equated to 294 hours of training provided, upskilling 1,685 delegates with a combined total of 7,833 CPD hours. In 2020 alone ARMA launched 23 New Training Courses and Webinars, a figure that trumps any other year.

ARMA COVID-19 Crisis Support

From the very start of the pandemic, ARMA was highly reactive and proactive, ensuring its membership was kept up-to-date on the latest advice and guidance, as well as engaging with Government to ensure the property sector was considered when new guidelines and advice were being issued. ARMA also moved events and training courses to an online platform, including its Annual Conference, making it safe and convenient for members to continue learning and tapping into the latest industry updates.

Throughout 2021, ARMA delivered 45 COVID-19 email updates featuring advice, guidance and news, along with over 25 member/partner video briefings for members. ARMA also issued 2 Best Practice Guideline documents for property managers, sector suppliers and business owners, including working safely during the pandemic and returning to work safely

Industry Success

Whilst the pandemic grabbed a lot of the headlines, there were plenty of developments and achievements across the sector, with ARMA proving to be a driving force behind many of them. Highlights include:

• A cross-sector letter to the Chancellor, helping to secure £1bn Building Safety Fund
• Freeholder Industry Pledge
• New ARMA membership category launched in the form of ‘Network’, formalising our long-standing engagement with landlords and freeholders
• ARMA Building Safety Forum
• Cladding & Building Safety Campaign launched
• Extensive press & broadcast media coverage, including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, BBC News Live, ITV News, BBC Radio 4 & BBC Radio 5 Live
• Extensive meetings & engagement with No. 10, MHCLG, special advisors, and 20 MPs

After a tough 2020, ARMA adapted and enters 2021 with its biggest membership total to date and a proven online training platform in place. In its 30^th year, ARMA will continue to work tirelessly to support its managing agent members and Partners whilst championing the rights of leaseholders across England and Wales.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of joining ARMA as a member, CLICK HERE.